Strong support for Natexpo 2009

Posted - September 21, 2009

French event celebrates 50th anniversary

By Warren Beaumont

Natexpo 2009, the only French professional exhibition for the natural food and well being sector, will return to Paris celebrating 50 years on October 17 to 19 in Hall 8 of the Parcs Des Exposition at the Paris Nord Villeponte.  A biannual event expects about 500 exhibitors and 10,000 trade visitors from France and abroad. These include specialist chain store and shop managers, and major retailers who are devoting an increasing proportion of their shelf space to organic, health and green products.

In 2007 most visitors were specialized retailers (35%) for food, health products and distributors (15%), followed by importers, exporters, agents and wholesalers (12%).Other visitors included manufacturers (8%), medical professionals (7%), special chains and sport shops.

The show is an ideal forum for key players from the organic and well being market and features a rich selection of technical workshops and parallel events, including the third edition of the NATEXPO Awards. The NATEXPO Trophies 2009 will see a jury of industry professionals reward exhibitor’s new products with four trophies in four categories based on sectors represented at the exhibition:

* Healthy eating: organic food

* Health and fitness: health foods, nutrition and dietary supplements

* Natural beauty: organic and natural cosmetics, hygiene and care products

* Daily wellness: green products and equipment (textiles, sustainable habitation etc).

All main segments in the well being sector will be represented at the show: organic and health foods, dietary supplements, natural cosmetics, green household products and equipment.

New products, categories on display

Visitors to NATEXPO 2009 will discover a host of new products and services specially devoted in response to growth in the market for nutrient-specific products (like omega 3 fatty acids), a rapid increase in cosmetic products under the Cosmebio label, and the emergence of environmentally-friendly cleaning products.

Demand for organic, health and green products is booming among French consumers. Organic foods have grown turnover by 15% since 2007, dietary supplements grown by 10% since 2006, and natural and organic cosmetics grown by 30% since 2006, according to a report from Agence BIO (2008). French consumers are increasingly aware of the importance of responsible consumption, and 69% say they prefer to buy products that respect the environment and or sustainable development principles.

Reflecting the diversity of the market with its sights focused on sustainable development, NATEXPO 2009 will pursue the exhibition’s international dimension, as well as the return of the Village des Vins (Organic Wine Village) and the TPE area (Very Small Companies).  France’s wine industry has enjoyed unprecedented growth with a 25% increase inland devoted to organic vines in 2007 and 2008 (28,000ha).

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. The organizers also invited Wallonia, southern Belgium to participate with a shared stand for the first time at this year’s expo.

Natexpo is owned by the French Health Foods Federation and organized by Comexposium, with the support of its member associations: Synadiet, Conseil Nature, Synabio, SynadisBIO. Free attendance passes may be reserved in advance through the website www.natexpo.com