NATEXPO : Over 90 percent of exhibition space sold out
Posted - August 15, 2009
NATEXPO : Over 90 percent of exhibition space sold out
By O.W.N. news network
NATEXPO, the leading fair in France for organic and natural products will take place this coming October 17-19. In spite of the economic recession affecting many fairs this year around the globe Natexpo is almost sold out, according to show organizers. The event, celebrated every other year, is expecting around 500 exhibitors in Hall 8 of the Parc Des Expositions, Paris Nord Villepinte in Paris. NATEXPO hosts mainly French exhibitors.
This year entrepreneurs from 30 countries are expected to attend and take part in the parallel events scheduled, including the third edition of the NATEXPO Awards. Four trophies will be awarded in the following categories: Healthy eating, for organic foods; Health & Fitness, for health foods and & dietary supplements; Natural beauty, for natural cosmetics; The good life, for green products.
Foreign exhibitors are mainly European, such as the Region of Murcia, Spain known for its organic baby foods and purees that have found great acceptance in the French market. Other exhibitors in this show edition include Essential Care Organics from Great Britain, Natures Herb and Spice from Sri Lanka, Caprilac from Spain, and Equi-Nutri from Belgium.
Every two years NATEXPO turns into the meeting point for organics where the main supermarket and hypermarket chains find the latest products eager to enter the selective French market. Smaller retail chains, spas and beauty salons, fitness centers and sport shops also come to NATEXPO in search of the latest health related products. NATEXPO is an event produced by Comexposium for the French Federation of Dietetics. For more, please visit their website which is available in English and French. Free attendance passes may also be reserved in advance through the website. www.natexpo.com
Resilient Anuga increases space for organics
Posted - August 15, 2009
Resilient Anuga increases space for organics
By Warren Beaumont
The Anuga food exhibition being held October 10-14, in Cologne Germany, is showing strong resilience with organizers confident to attract 6,000 exhibitors, compared to 6,600 exhibitors last year. An extraordinary effort for the world’s largest food expo, considering some U.S. shows were down by up to 50% this year. In 2007 Anuga attracted 163,000 trade visitors and was up 3%.
Organizer Koelnmesse said that last year 252 exhibitors presented their lines at Anuga Organic. “We will have about 280 this year, on a slightly increased space- again in hall 5.1, part of our Anuga-concept: 10 food fairs under one roof,” said Christine Hackmann of Koelnmesse. According to Ms. Hackmann 1,500 companies bring organic products to Anuga and are located all over the fair and that any exhibitor who is offering organic products but is not exhibiting at Anuga Organic can be tracked down through a comprehensive Anuga-database, available on the homepage www.anuga.com.
This year “WellFood’ (also known as Health & Functional Food), another exciting initiative started in 2005, will be celebrated parallel to Anuga. “More and more consumers are calling for products that promote health, enhance performance and prevent disease while remaining tasty, convenient and appealing to the eye,” Ms. Hackmann said. “These include probiotic milk and yoghurt; products containing Omega 3 fatty acids; food and drink products with added vitamins or minerals; products with added secondary vegetable matter; and products in which sugar and fat are replaced by health-promoting ingredients.” Some of these lines are also branded organic.
Another highlight of the program for the organics trade this year is the first IFOAM Organic Trade Forum at Anuga with a welcoming address by IFOAM Executive Director Markus Arbenz on Monday, October 12 at 2:00pm. Other sessions related to the organic sector include: “Genetic engineering- why must the organic market stay clear of it? And how can it be done?” “Organic drinks conquer the world of beverages”; “In which direction are organic products developing in the food retail trade?” “Sustainability Strategies for the Production of Food; “Organic Foods for Safety, Culinary Delight and Well-Being; Eating trends are changing the supermarket: organic- versatile in all markets of the senses”;“Organic farmers and processors present their outstanding organic produce (two sessions) and “Food retailers present their organic marketing measures (including Raj Seelem on India’s organic market, and Wal-Mart Mexico on its organic ranging and‘sustainability index’).
On Tuesday October 13 the first IFOAM Organic Trade Forum will run all day from 10am to 5pm. The opening address on Friday October 9 at 6pm is on corporate social responsibility and will be given by Alain Caparros, CEO of REWE, Germany, and Matthias Berninger, Global Head of Public Policy, Mars Inc.
Last year, most of Anuga’s visitors came from Germany (71,000), other European countries (73,000), Asia, (9,000), and the Americas (6,800), with 61.4% of visitors interested in fine food, 54% in drinks, 42% in organics, and 42.2% in meat. Visitor increases in recent years were from Asian countries and Eastern Europe, followed by Latin America and Africa.
Sanphi: France gains taste of Brazil
Posted - August 15, 2009
Sanphi: France gains taste of Brazil
By Adriana Michael
Sanphi International, a sourcing, trading and consulting agency established in Brazil two years ago, will be introducing well known organic certified Brazilian brands to France this Fall. After two decades of rich experience acquired dealing with the international market in Latin America, French national Philippe Leclerc decided to relocate to Brazil two years ago to start this new venture sourcing Brazilian foods and ingredients to satisfy the growing demand for organics in France. “I have worked in many parts of the world and mainly in the banking and wine industries”, says Philippe. “I like Brazil very much and with the growing interest in organic food and with the supply not keeping up with the demand in France, it was a good moment to start Sanphi”.
Leclerc has been sourcing the best products available for exporting and is pleased with the results so far: “We have exclusive distribution rights for Native, the largest producer of organicsugar in the world, a firm with 25% market share at the moment”. Native is a Brazilian organic pioneer that has been able to find ways to sustainable development in the highly competitive sugar industry.
Sanphi will introduce Native to BIOCOOP , the largest organic retail chain in France with 320 stores, to Naturalia with 30 stores in the Paris area and to Natureo, a new concept in organic retailing, currently with three very large outlets with over 3,500 sqm, modelled after Whole Foods. “Even though Brazil enjoys a large domestic market for many sectors and does not depend on exports like other countries in the region, I can see organic entrepreneurs taking the export activity seriously, they are eager to develop a good product for the international market”, says Leclerc.
Native has diversified its offer adding other foods such as coffee and Sanphi will introduce those lines to France as well. At first it was difficult for the buyers to understand why Native would not sell under private labels, but Leclerc says now they agree it is a great concept to allow consumers to get the direct connection from the farm to the shelf. To complement the Native line and offer French buyers a complete variety of the tastes and flavours from Brazil, Sanphi will also introduce heart of palm from Fazenda e Casa, instant coffee under its own brand Biograal, flavoured organic mate from Campo Verde and baby food imported from Argentina. “We are concentrating efforts in Brazil with a few companies to serve those three main chains for now, but expect to add other retail chains and other suppliers in the near future”. Leclerc and his partner Stephane Savigny will be present at NATEXPO, to meet their clients at other interesting items the French organic trade may suggest for them to export from Brazil and the Latin American region.
Repackaging the organic revolution
Posted - August 15, 2009
Special Report
Repackaging the organic revolution
By Angela West
Consumers are changing. Growing concern for global warming, health related issues, the huge amount of waste still generated daily in the post-consumer society, and the current economic recession, are factors affecting consumer purchasing decisions and lifestyles. Products are now expected to reflect changing values. It is no longer enough to supply an organic certified product if it is not presented in a unique, eco-friendly, convenient and safe packaging. To meet consumer preference for more sustainable products, European and North American retailers from Whole Foods Market to Tesco, and manufacturers from Nature’s Path to ConAgra Foods’ Healthy Choice are switching to more sustainable and recyclable packaging.
As a recent Ipsos Marketing survey of 23,000 consumers in 18 countries suggests, consumers may be willing to ditch convenient packaging for ‘greener’ packaging, while the food itself should include fresh ingredients and contain health benefits. Awareness of greener packaging may be growing partly due to recent media attention, Ipsos says.
Examining a new packaging solution may make an impact on our bottom line that was never considered before. Glass may not be too expensive, recycled plastics may be cheaper than the virgin plastics you are using, and cans may end up being your solution of choice. After weighing each option, it is possible that your company can save a significant amount of money by choosing an alternative that is better for the environment as well.
In this and next issues, OWN will present different packaging options to consider: glass, PET, bioplastics and metal in this edition.There are other alternatives out there and other questions to be asked on a subject that customers have indicated matters to them very much. Many no longer trust plastics due to their proven potential to leach into food. Most are also wary of the environmental and other costs of corn-based bioplastics and the use of bisphenol A (BPA) in plastics.
