Thierry Montange, Senior Regional Marketing Director, Europe and Africa at Del Monte Foods International

Few names carry the generational trust and instant recognition of Del Monte. As the global fruit company arrives at Brand Licensing Europe, it does so with added momentum: celebrating the 100th anniversary of its UK business.

Across the food and beverage landscape, consumer expectations around wellness, convenience, and experiential snacking are shifting rapidly. To meet that demand, Del Monte is leveraging its reputation for freshness to venture into bold new category extensions, showcasing an active pipeline that spans fruit-forward snacking concepts, artisanal ice cream launches, and on-trend bubble tea developments.

In this exclusive interview, Thierry Montange, Senior Marketing Director Europe and Africa at Del Monte Foods International, breaks down the strategic value of BLE, how heritage brands can tap into emerging consumption occasions, and what retailers and manufacturers should look for when exploring partnerships rooted in authenticity and long-term consumer trust

Why is BLE to be an unmissable part of your yearly show/networking calendar?

BLE is one of the most important events in the licensing industry, bringing together leading brand owners, retailers and manufacturers under one roof. It provides a unique opportunity to showcase our brand strength, identify new partnership opportunities, and explore innovative ways to extend Del Monte into new categories and consumer occasions.

Why should retailers and manufacturers visit your stand at BLE?

Retailers and manufacturers visiting our stand will discover the strength, heritage and global recognition of the Del Monte brand, as well as exciting opportunities across food, beverage and adjacent categories. We are actively seeking partnerships that can deliver innovation, quality and consumer relevance while leveraging the trust consumers place in Del Monte.

Which property/brand/franchise will be your main focus at this year's event?

Our main focus will be the Del Monte brand and its expansion into innovative food and beverage experiences. We will highlight recent developments and future opportunities that build on our expertise in fruit, freshness and quality, helping partners create products that resonate with today's consumers.

Are you launching new brands, products and/or announcing any news at BLE?

Yes. We are excited to showcase several recent and upcoming innovations within our food and beverage portfolio. Highlights include the continued rollout of Fruit Stories, our innovative fruit-based concept, the launch of a new ice cream range in the UK, and the development of Bubble Tea products inspired by evolving consumer trends. In addition, we have a strong pipeline of new concepts and product opportunities currently under evaluation across multiple categories, demonstrating our commitment to continuous innovation and brand growth.

This year's BLE is also particularly significant for us as we celebrate the 100-year anniversary of Del Monte's UK business. We will be marking this important milestone during the event while looking ahead to the next generation of products, partnerships and consumer experiences.

Are you launching new brands, products and/or announcing any news at BLE?

Yes. We are excited to showcase several recent and upcoming innovations within our food and beverage portfolio. Highlights include the continued rollout of Fruit Stories, our innovative fruit-based concept, the launch of a new ice cream range in the UK, and the development of Bubble Tea products inspired by evolving consumer trends. In addition, we have a strong pipeline of new concepts and product opportunities currently under evaluation across multiple categories, demonstrating our commitment to continuous innovation and brand growth.

 

This year's BLE is also particularly significant for us as we celebrate the 100-year anniversary of Del Monte's UK business. We will be marking this important milestone during the event while looking ahead to the next generation of products, partnerships and consumer experiences.

What are the biggest challenges and opportunities facing licensing in 2026/2027?

The biggest challenge is ensuring that licensed products deliver authentic consumer value and remain aligned with evolving market expectations. At the same time, there are significant opportunities to create meaningful brand extensions that tap into wellness, convenience, premiumisation and experiential consumption trends. Strong brands with clear purpose and consumer trust are well positioned to succeed.

What's trending in brand licensing right now?

One of the biggest trends is the convergence of trusted brands with new consumption occasions. Consumers are increasingly seeking products that combine familiarity, innovation and quality. In food and beverage, this creates exciting opportunities for established brands to expand into new formats, categories and experiences while remaining true to their core values.

Find Del Monte Foods International during Brand Licensing Europe this October, in Hall H1 – Stand C240.