{"id":53877,"date":"2021-12-27T08:15:18","date_gmt":"2021-12-27T06:15:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bioecoactual.com\/?p=53877"},"modified":"2021-12-27T09:47:56","modified_gmt":"2021-12-27T07:47:56","slug":"free-from-expo-2021-great-success","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bioecoactual.com\/en\/2021\/12\/27\/free-from-expo-2021-great-success\/","title":{"rendered":"Free From Expo 2021 proves a great success \u2013 despite restrictions"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Despite the tightened measures as a result of increasing COVID-19 infections, Free From Food Expo 2021<\/strong> opened its doors in the Amsterdam RAI on 23 November.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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\"Free<\/h2>\n

Free From Food Expo 2021: \u201catmospheric, inspiring and high-quality\u201d<\/span><\/h2>\n
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Around 4,000 international food professionals attended this two-day food expo. They described the trade fair as \u201catmospheric, inspiring and high-quality\u201d. The next edition is already scheduled for Autumn 2022 \u2013 again in the Amsterdam RAI.<\/p>\n

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After a tense few months, during which we were never fully sure we could actually go ahead, we were able to open the fair under the safest conditions thanks to our strong COVID-19 protocol,\u201d says organizer Ronald Holman of Expo Business Communications. \u201cIn an admittedly slimmed-down version, we still managed to create an atmosphere of enthusiasm and confidence, and with more than enough quality to make the trade fair highly relevant for participants”.<\/p>\n

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Insights into relevant food trends<\/h3>\n
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The two-day Free From Food Expo revolved around innovation and sustainability in the food industry, with leading roles for organic, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free, sugar-free and gluten-free. In other words, products that are becoming more mainstream due to increasing concerns about the climate and the growing awareness of the importance of healthy food. To align the retail and food service range even better with this demand, and to accelerate product development, Free From Functional & Health Ingredients 2021 created an international connection point for food professionals from all fields: from category managers and buyers, to manufacturers, marketers and food technologists.<\/p>\n

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Dutch and international markets well represented<\/h3>\n
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Important industry-wide players were present from the Dutch and Belgian market, such as Albert Heijn, Nestle\u0301, Unilever, Carrefour, KLM Catering, Picnick, Click, and the fast on-demand grocery delivery company Gorillas. Country pavilions also introduced trends and insights from all over the world: from Austria, Lithuania and Finland to Tunisia, the United States and Denmark, which is a global leader in vegan and product-free. For this reason, the Danish ambassador Jarl Ka\u030are Frijs- Madsen opened the exhibition.<\/p>\n

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Meet live<\/h3>\n

The fair literally catalyzed the connections needed to get the right products to the right place, Holman recalls. \u201cConsumer demand has grown significantly. It\u2019s why hundreds of manufacturers, brand owners, researchers, universities, nutrition professionals, buyers, dieticians, bakers and others have joined the Free From community in recent years. Really meeting each other live in a safe environment clearly brought the energy and inspiration to take developments to an even higher level”.<\/p>\n

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“In one word: exceptional!” – Helen Hissink, The Mayo Sisters<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cRight from the beginning we got good feedback from new and regular exhibitors,\u201d recalls Holman. Participants appreciated the good program with relevant speakers, a lot of variety and innovation, a good mix of A-brands and private label, expertise from all layers of the industry, and plenty of fun, new brands to ensure a very high quality. \u201cWe have already received several re-bookings for the Free From Amsterdam edition 2022, on November 22 and 23″.<\/p>\n

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Free From Awards<\/h3>\n
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During the fair, various prizes were awarded to companies that have made a significant contribution to the \u2018free from\u2019 food industry, along with innovative new players:<\/p>\n