Commercial Workshops
The following workshops will take place during the program. Some require pre-registration – please see below.
Monday 18 August | 07:30-08:30
Living Agility, Creating Impact - Mindsets, AI and Stakeholder ready insight - Workshop by Blue Yonder Research
R&D, Sensory and Innovation research in 2025. So exciting, but it can also be a lot! The need to speed up, be more agile, be more commercially relevant, integrate AI, mine existing data. All whilst navigating corporate restructures and global uncertainty. Sound familiar? You are not alone.
In this session the Blue Yonder team will get practical.
They'll break down the opportunities and challenges and share learning and inspiration to help find the right way forwards for you and your teams. We will hear from Adiba Khan (Haleon, Senior Consumer Scientist) who will share first hand experience and tips from Haleon's Agile journey.
Let's explore 3 key themes to drive agility, speed and commercial impact:
- Practical applications of AI
- Agile Mindsets and ways of working
- Stakeholder ready insight
In this interactive and thought-provoking session, you'll hear honest client-side experience and Blue Yonder will share all their latest learning. There will even be a chance to be a respondent and try some new tech for yourself.
CPG Innovation has never been more exciting! Let's use this time to share inspiration and practical ideas to make the most of Agile and AI in 2025.
Breakfast will be provided of course!
Please click here to register interest and secure a spot.
Monday 18 August | 07:30-08:30
Compusense Workshop
Explore the intersection of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and sensory science in this cutting-edge workshop designed for professionals, researchers, and innovators in food science, consumer research, product development, and quality assurance.
Join Compusense’s Bryson Bolton and John Castura in an informative discussion into how machine learning and AI technologies can enhance traditional sensory and consumer research methodologies.
Breakfast included.
Monday 18 August | 07:30-08:30
NIQ workshop: Smell, Sound, and Silicon: AI’s New Senses
This workshop will uncover how artificial intelligence is reshaping the way we design, perceive, and understand sensory experiences.
Join the NIQ Innovation team, and sensory leaders from Unilever and Google, as we showcase how AI is revolutionising the sensory sciences—from the chemistry of scent to the psychology of sound.
AI is rapidly changing the way in which products are created, designed and improved for maximum consumer delight. In this session, you will see real-world examples and application of how AI is transforming Sensory Science, that can be put to use, today.
Laura Hutcheon, Fragrance Consumer Technical Insight Manager, Unilever
- How AI is being used to craft enhanced fragrances for Unilever’s Home Care and Personal Care products, with a live comparison of a Current and AI-improved product formulation.
Laura is a Consumer Researcher bringing a creative and curious approach to consumer research, always looking for fresh ways to uncover insights and bring the voice of the consumer. With over 14 years of experience in Unilever, originating in Deodorants and now working across different Business Groups, she leads the consumer testing programme for Unilever Fragrance House, exploring new ways to test fragrances in a digital world.
Jesper Ramsgaard, Staff Hardware User Experience Researcher, Google
Discover how Google uses tools from AI, Sensory Science, and traditional psychometrics to design audio products that are optimized to users and real-world contexts.
Jesper is a seasoned Perceptual Audio Researcher with over 17 years of experience across a wide range of audio products - from hearing aids to consumer tech. He currently leads Perceptual Audio Research for Google Hardware, driving user-centered innovation across audio platforms using tools from sensory science, UX Research, and psychoacoustics.
Whether an existing sensory practitioner, or considering a career in the sensory sciences, this session offers you a rare opportunity to discover the future of Sensory Science, where AI meets human perception.
Breakfast is included, and space is limited - sign up here.
We look forward to seeing you at Pangborn 2025.
Tuesday 19 August | 07:30-08:30
Curion Workshop: Scent & Sensibility: Designing Consumer-Centric Sensory Experiences from Horse Feed to the Health Aisle
In categories as diverse as premium horse feed and health and wellness products, sensory experience is increasingly being recognized as a powerful lever for consumer differentiation and decision-making. This workshop explores how brands can strategically design sensory cues- such as aroma, flavor, and feel- not just to please the senses, but to shape expectations, trigger emotions, and build trust. By way of illustration only, we will share insights from two innovative research initiatives - one with Cargill and the second with Reckitt. The first centers on Cargill’s development of a signature scent for premium horse feed across the U.S. and Mexico—an initiative grounded in a multi-phase approach that engaged horse caregivers and owners in co-creation and evaluation, while also validating palatability with horses themselves. The second set of case studies will focus on healthcare products such as over-the-counter (OTC) medicine, where optimizing flavor and mouthfeel must be carefully balanced against perceived medicinal effectiveness. We’ll explore how sensory design, claims testing, and ethical research protocols intersect to guide product development—particularly in categories where perceived effectiveness must be balanced with consumer appeal.
Attendees will walk away with practical tools to:
- Co-create sensory attributes with end users
- Balance hedonic appeal with functional credibility
- Navigate category-specific research constraints
- Translate sensory insights into compelling, differentiated product experiences
Breakfast included.
Tuesday 19 August | 07:30-08:30
Author Workshop hosted by Elsevier
Refreshments included.
Wednesday 20 August | 07:30-08:30
MMR Workshop - The Joy Imperative: Designing Breakthrough Product Experiences
Unlock the art and science behind creating products that captivate, connect, and inspire.
In a world where consumers are inundated with choices... but starved for meaningful, joyful experiences... what makes a product truly stand out? Join us for an energizing, hands-on workshop that will leave you inspired, informed, and equipped to design breakthrough product moments that linger in memory and drive loyalty.
As we navigate the Discovery Era, where curiosity and impulse dominate consumer behavior, you’ll learn evidence-based strategies to innovate boldly, spark excitement, and drive business growth. Through hands-on exercises and real-world examples, this session delivers actionable insights to help you design products that resonate deeply, inspire loyalty, and generate lasting impact.
Whether you’re a product innovator, sensory scientist, or marketing expert, this workshop will equip you to elevate your products from functional to unforgettable. Don’t miss your chance to transform your next idea into a breakthrough experience. See you at breakfast!
Breakfast included.