Talking, tasting, innovating: SIRIO shares behind-the-scenes highlights from its innovation summit

21 October 2025, Frankfurt, Germany – SIRIO, a leading global contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) and pioneer of advanced nutraceutical gummy and softgel solutions, today shared highlights from its fifth Innovation for the Future Summit. The event gathered industry leaders from the sports and active nutrition sector – from researchers and professional coaches to brand owners – to exchange insights, tackle shared challenges, and explore how evidence-based innovation can empower both elite athletes and everyday consumers.

A look inside the locker room

In one of the Summit’s standout moments, a fireside chat offered a rare glimpse behind the scenes of elite sport. On stage, Welsh national rugby coach Robin Sowder-Taylor, Emily Jevons, nutritionist to endurance athletes, swimmers and cyclists, and Szilard Jakab, biomechanist and personal trainer, revealed how science informs smarter performance strategies.

The conversation went far beyond training and diet. Delegates learned how athletes approach supplementation with precision – magnesium for post-game recovery and sleep, creatine for strength and endurance, and protein to support energy during intense training sessions. The panel also debunked common myths, including the idea that endurance athletes eat very little; in reality, professional cyclists can consume up to 10,000 calories per day during demanding stages.

The session highlighted a central Summit theme: effective nutrition is deeply personal. Whether for elite athletes or active consumers, understanding individual physiology is key to safe, evidence-based supplementation.

 Magnesium: calming performance, powering innovation

Magnesium emerged as a standout ingredient during the event, valued for its benefits for sleep and post-game recovery. Adrenaline-filled rugby players in particular, the panel noted, often struggle to wind down after matches, making magnesium a key part of their routine.

Building on this, delegates got an exclusive first taste of SIRIO’s X Mg portfolio, including the breakthrough X³ Mg Relax gummy. Combining multiple magnesium sources in one gummy is notoriously difficult due to bitterness and instability, but this innovation delivers a positive sensorial experience and full efficacy in a stable formulation. Feedback was very insightful, turning the various tasting moments from a small focus group into a hands-on R&D session that will help shape the next generation of magnesium solutions.

 Creatine: balancing science, stability and trust

Creatine was another hot topic at the Summit, with its rise in popularity tempered by recent questions around transparency and quality. SIRIO showcased its latest high-content creatine gummies, engineered for consistent efficacy, shelf-life stability and consumer confidence.

Each gummy delivers a verified 1.5 g dose, providing a convenient, on-the-go alternative to powders and capsules. Independently tested to ensure the active dose remains stable throughout shelf life, the gummies offer predictable performance while rebuilding trust in the category. Delegates praised both taste and texture, highlighting their potential to expand creatine’s appeal beyond traditional users.

“This year’s Innovation for the Future Summit was a testament to the deep ingenuity of nutrition professionals at every level, across every department. Hydration, sleep and smart personalized performance support were the standout themes, with ingredients like magnesium, creatine, protein and electrolytes mentioned in different contexts across the sessions,” said Sara Lesina, General Manager of SIRIO Europe.

“For me, a special highlight was our final panel session. The panelists spoke with real clarity and honesty about some of the misconceptions surrounding certain active nutrition audiences, and reiterated that, when it comes to supplements, one size never fits all. We’re delighted to have facilitated so many fascinating discussions and can’t wait to work with our brand partners to translate the insights generated at the event into the fresh, functional products the market needs now.”