Sports & Active Nutrition Summit Recap
Petra's SANS Recap
Last month, I had the opportunity to attend the Sports & Active Nutrition Summit for the first time. I was especially excited to attend given the strong reputation the conference has built over the years. It did not disappoint! SANS expanded this year with a larger venue and increased attendance, creating a great mix of industry leaders, scientists, and brands. The content was engaging and highly relevant, with expert-led sessions covering emerging science, innovation, and evolving consumer trends shaping the category.
You might be wondering how Alkemist’s focus on botanicals fits within a conference often associated with protein and creatine. The answer is very well! Botanical ingredients are clearly part of the conversation and gaining momentum in this space. The American Herbal Products Association CEO, Graham Rigby, presented at the conference, and AHPA continues to support the category through its dedicated sports committee. During the U.S. regulatory landscape panel, Dr. Robert Wildman of TCI addressed increasing FDA scrutiny around botanical testing and specifically endorsed Alkemist Labs. In that same session, both Duffy MacKay and Rend Al-Mondhiry encouraged attendees to connect with the SoCal Dietary Supplement Consortium and with me directly as a committee member for access to valuable trainings and FDA speakers.
My key SANS takeaway is that botanical and mushroom-based formulations are continuing to grow within sports and active nutrition, just as they are in the broader supplement market. At the same time, many brands and manufacturers in this segment are still developing their understanding of the risk considerations and quality testing required for these ingredients. This creates a strong opportunity for Alkemist to support the industry with our core expertise on botanical and fungi identity, strength, and contaminant testing. SANS is a perfect place for Alkemist to have an impact.
Kudos to the NutraIngredients team and all presenters for delivering a well-run, high-value event. I am already looking forward to SANS 2027.
