{"id":25876,"date":"2019-04-18T13:27:32","date_gmt":"2019-04-18T11:27:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bioecoactual.com\/?p=25876"},"modified":"2019-04-20T13:35:41","modified_gmt":"2019-04-20T11:35:41","slug":"natural-organic-products-europe-captures-mood-of-industry-determined-to-power-ahead","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bioecoactual.com\/en\/2019\/04\/18\/natural-organic-products-europe-captures-mood-of-industry-determined-to-power-ahead\/","title":{"rendered":"Natural & Organic Products Europe captures mood of industry determined to power ahead"},"content":{"rendered":"

Pioneering trends, thought-provoking debates and \u2018better-for-you\u2019 innovations were served up at ExCeL London over 7-8 April, as thousands of buyers and retailers gathered at the Natural & Organic Products Europe<\/strong> trade show \u2013 checking out what\u2019s new and next in the world of natural health, food, beauty, wellness and sustainable living.<\/p>\n

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\"Natural<\/p>\n

With 700 exhibitors<\/strong> there to meet them \u2013 showcasing the best choice of natural, certified organic, vegan, Fairtrade and free-from food, drink, VMS, cosmetics, skincare, and eco living products to hit the market \u2013 Natural & Organic Products Europe enjoyed a victorious turnout, with a total attendance of 10,298<\/strong> (up 3% on 2018\u2019s figures).<\/p>\n

\u201cWith each edition, every year, Natural & Organic Products Europe just keeps getting bigger and better,\u201d<\/em> comments event director Carol Dunning.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s always such an amazing two days, the \u2018B word\u2019 was very evident this year and it wasn\u2019t Brexit, the show was BUZZING with innovation.\u00a0 No sign of any trading concerns as the natural products industry grows and more new buyers from the UK and Europe came to source the latest product innovations to satisfy the consumer demand for natural, sustainable and eco-friendly products.\u00a0 There was plenty to choose, from flagship brands through to the fledglings that are getting their chance to launch to the market, and for the first time ever Holland & Barrett chose all six of the brands that were pitched to them LIVE at the show \u2013 unprecedented.<\/p>\n

\u201cFrom our visitors, associations and friends, whose incredible support makes the show so successful, NPE truly is the biggest and best platform for uniting this industry and is such an incredible highlight of the year for everyone involved”<\/em>, adds Ms. Dunning.<\/p>\n

\u201cI would like to take this opportunity on behalf of the Natural Products team to say a big Thank You for making this year such a fantastic show.\u00a0 These are very exciting times for natural and organic and I cannot wait until next year\u2019s show already!\u201d<\/em> she says.<\/p>\n

The window of the future<\/h3>\n

Thousands of independent stores, multiples, pharmacies, restaurants, caf\u00e9s, contract caterers, hotels, salons and spas from 92 countries were packing the aisles.\u00a0 Plus senior buyers and decision makers from some of the UK and Europe\u2019s biggest retailers, wholesalers and distributors were in attendance \u2013 including representatives from Amazon, Boots, Holland & Barrett, Aldi, Lidl, M&S, Waitrose, Ocado, Tesco, Sainsbury\u2019s, Morrisons, Debenhams, House of Fraser, Superdrug, TK Maxx, Whole Foods Market, Infinity Foods, Planet Organic, and more.<\/p>\n

\u201cNatural & Organic Products Europe is the window of the future.\u00a0 It\u2019s the only show we visit every year because it touches on everything from what\u2019s hot now to what\u2019s up and coming, which is why we\u2019ve travelled from Scotland to come,\u201d<\/em> says John McKee<\/strong>, director of Hanover Health Foods.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have visited for the last three years as I love seeing all the natural and organic products under one roof.\u00a0 It is a fantastic place to see new products emerging onto the market,\u201d<\/em> says Timea Halasz<\/strong>, buyer at Wholefoods Market.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve attended Natural & Organic Products several times \u2013 I love meeting and seeing new faces. Attending this show is especially useful to meet international and emerging suppliers for our import and export business,\u201d<\/em> says Bennett Silverman<\/strong>, marketing director at Actikid.<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought the show was really good and had some interesting innovation and products, particular during the Holland and Barrett pitch, I thought that was a lot of fun. Good energy and good vibes, I really enjoyed it,\u201d<\/em> says Margaret Peet<\/strong>, CEO (distributor) of Aquaceuticals.<\/p>\n

\u201cI visit Natural & Organic Products Europe every year to meet new and existing suppliers. This year I have found some great new CBD products. Plus, I have spoken to a few current suppliers who have told me they have some new and unlaunched products yet to hit the market \u2013 I wouldn\u2019t have known about this if I hadn\u2019t visited the show,\u201d<\/em> says Shahzah Ahmed<\/strong>, buyer at As Nature Intended.<\/p>\n

\"Natural<\/p>\n

“The best show we\u2019ve done”<\/em><\/h3>\n

The quality of buyers in attendance certainly didn\u2019t go unnoticed by exhibitors.\u00a0 Many have said the show is the perfect opportunity to meet lots of \u2018great buyers\u2019 and contacts from around the world.\u00a0 Exhibitors were so thrilled with the seniority and sheer number of relevant business professionals, that a record 60% of exhibitors have already rebooked for next year.<\/p>\n

Summing up their exhibiting experience, Rosalind Butler<\/strong> from Europium World UK says: \u201cWe\u2019ve had such a busy first day with lots of people from abroad as well as from the UK. We have chosen Natural & Organic Products Europe to launch our new product.\u00a0 The show has been great for us and we have already booked for next year!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cWe launched last year at the show, so it was great to be back this year meeting lots of great buyers, lots of potential customers, nutritionists and a wide range of people in the industry. We look forward to coming back next year,\u201d<\/em> says Dr Craig Rose<\/strong>, founder of Weed and Wonderful.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve met some tremendous people at this show. It\u2019s the best show that we\u2019ve done, without a shadow of a doubt.\u00a0 We\u2019ve met lots of great buyers and we are very excited to follow up with them,\u201d<\/em> says Anne Madden<\/strong>, director of Just Wholefoods.<\/p>\n

This year\u2019s show features and pavilions included two New Product Showcases, an expanded Vegan World, The Organic Hub hosted by the Soil Association & Organic Trade Board, plus international pavilions hosted by Italy, Sicily, Greece, Spain (Galicia), Portugal, USA (Maine), Peru, Korea, Indonesia, and Thailand.<\/p>\n

\"natural<\/p>\n

Captivating Talks in three lively theatres<\/h3>\n

Alongside the show\u2019s bustling exhibition, the three theatres (Food, Beauty & Health) were a hive of activity throughout the two days. In the Natural Food Talks Theatre, the Soil Association, Organic Trade Board (OTB), The Fairtrade Foundation, Craig Sams, Health Sales Group, Patrick Holford, and many more draw in the crowds with topics covering organic farming and retailing, GMOs, ethical consumption, farmers living income, the continuing rise of conscious consumerism, and Brexit.<\/p>\n

In the Natural Products Talks Theatre<\/strong>, big names including Dr Marilyn Glenville PhD, HemPoland, Pukka Herbs, Natural Products Global\u2019s editor Jim Manson, and The UMF Quality Trademark presented insights and research on a range of global trends and cutting-edge topics within natural health and wellbeing sector.<\/p>\n

Over in the Natural Beauty Talks Theatre<\/strong>, industry leaders in \u2018conscious beauty\u2019 like Helen Yeardsley, Natrue, Weleda, Mooncup, Organic Monitor, My Green Pod, and the Soil Association covered thought-provoking sessions about plastics in cosmetics, CBD beauty, genderless beauty, feminine hygiene, beauty from within, skin microbiome, traceability, certification and more.<\/p>\n

Other highlights included the networking ceremony for the \u2018Thirty under 30\u2019<\/strong> list \u2013 designed to celebrate the rising stars of the sector, hosted by Natural Products News.<\/p>\n

The show\u2019s popular LIVE innovation pitches to Holland & Barrett and (new this year) Sainsbury\u2019s also took place and drew in standing room only crowds.\u00a0 For the first time, the innovation was so strong across the pitches, Holland & Barrett\u2019s buying team opted to have further talks with all the shortlisted companies, which included Just Wholefoods: Shobu, Jack & Chill, Organic Sports Nutrition, Pharmavita, and Scence.\u00a0 Whilst, Upcircle and Everyman Jack were the two companies chosen to have further talks with the Sainsbury\u2019s buying team.<\/p>\n

Rebecca Wicks<\/strong>, buying manager of Beauty at Sainsbury’s Supermarkets says: \u201cUpcircle gave a very concise and engaging pitch, they clearly articulated the USP of their brand. We loved the fact they recycle waste from another industry by reusing coffee grounds, we thought the branding and messaging was very strong and the products smelt divine.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

She continues: \u201cIn a world where significantly more natural brands are targeted at women, it was refreshing to find a brand targeted at men, and even more so one that played across all male categories including shave, shower and deodorant. We liked the clear, simple branding and the innovative bottle shapes used in their haircare.\u00a0 We felt, before EveryMan Jack, we hadn\u2019t seen any natural brand operating credibly in this space in the UK.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Natural & Organic Products Awards Europe winners\u2026<\/h3>\n

Show visitors were also among the first to hear the results of the Natural Beauty Retail Awards and the show\u2019s much anticipated Natural & Organic Awards Europe 2019 \u2013 a record 26 winners all took home accolades. Hosted by Natural Products News and now in their 24th year, they have become renowned for recognising trend-setting new innovations across the food, health, eco-living and beauty categories.<\/p>\n

Captain Kombucha, Eaten Alive, Qwrkee Foods, Willy\u2019s ACV, Conscious Chocolate, Wasi Organics, Happy Cheeze, BetterYou, Living Planet Distribution, Opus Innovations, Pukka Herbs, Natural Wound Care (Suma Wholefoods), Motion Nutrition, Antipodes (distributed by Kinetic), Viridian Nutrition, Giovanni (distributed by Kinetic), Holy Llama, Natura Siberica, INIKA Organic, Natracare, Biona, and Dr Hauschka were among the \u2018Best New\u2019 product winners.<\/p>\n

The Natural Products Special Contribution Award went to Soil Association\u2019s Lee Holdstock, whilst The Natural Products Outstanding Achievement Award went to Suma Co-operative, and Better Food Co in Bristol was named Best Independent Retailer.\u00a0 The Natural Beauty Retail Award winners for 2019 included Waitrose, Neal\u2019s Yard, Naturisimo, As Natural Intended, and Content Beauty\/Wellbeing.<\/p>\n