NY Fancy Food features latest food trends
Posted - June 28, 2010
NY Fancy Food features latest food trends
By O.W.N. News Network
New York, NY – The 56th Summer Fancy Food Show at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City starts Sunday at the NY Javits Conventiion Center.It will feature new products, creative ideas, and the latest trends in specialty foods and beverages from across the U.S. and around the world. More than 2,400 exhibitors representing over 70 countries will present 180,000 of the world’s finest chocolates, cheeses, olive oils, sauces, teas, spices and many natural and organic certified products to an anticipated 24,000 buyers. Foods from different cultures will be prevalent, whether harissa from North Africa, kimchi from Korea or carica fruit from South America. The show expects 70+ international exhibitors, including France, Spain, Italy, Tunisia, India, first time exhibitors from Ecuador and large pavilions from Korea, Morocco, Peru and Brazil. Interesting to note that according to show organizers, half of all imported foods are organic certified or defined as natural.
“The Summer Fancy Food Show is exceeding our expectations in terms of exhibitors and attendees,” said Ann Daw, president of the National Association for the Specialty Food Trade, Inc., (NASFT) the show’s owner. Last year’s event drew a record crowd with more than 24,000 buyers and specialty food industry professionals.
Attendance was up 4 percent above the year before and higher than at any Fancy Food Show in the past decade. The program includes 20 seminars including NASFT trends research and roundtables on Kosher and Halal trends.
The NASFT is a not-for-profit trade association established in 1952 to foster trade, commerce and interest in the specialty food industry. Today there are more than 2,900 members in the U.S. and abroad. For further information on the NASFT and its Fancy Food Shows in New York (Summer) and San Francisco (Winter) go to www.specialtyfood.com.
Ecuador, first time exhibitor at NY Fancy Foods
Posted - June 28, 2010
Ecuador, first time exhibitor at NY Fancy Foods
By O.W.N. News Network
The trade office of Ecuador in NY will coordinate the first country pavilion the South American country will present at the upcoming Fancy Foods fair June 27-29, part of a joint initiative initiated last year by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Trade and Integration, the Ministry of Tourism and CORPEI, the Ecuadorian Exporters Association to promote Ecuador and its broad export portfolio at international fairs.
Last year, Ecuador took part at Anuga in Cologne with an impressive group of companies, also for the first time at CHFA in Toronto and the Salon du Chocolat in Paris. This year, besides BioFach, where the country usually has a prominent presence, there was also a well-attended Ecuadorian pavilion at NOPE in London and at Sial Canada in Montreal.
“We are delighted to take part in Fancy Foods this year,” said Karina Amaluisa, Trade Commissioner of Ecuador in NY. “This is one of the most important specialty food fairs and Ecuador has great lines to offer.”
For the first time, the national government has contributed with a co-financing of 65% of the exhibitors’ participation at the pavilion. Ecofrut S.A., Productora de Café Galápagos, The Tesalia Springs CO., Marbelize S.A., Omarsa, Salica and Especies Exóticas Cia. Ltda., are among the Ecuadorian companies to present their lines at the fair.
Five additional entrepreneurs will visit the show sponsored under the PRODEL program, which receives financing from USAID, to assess the possibility of a participation in next year’s event. Pacari Chocolate, leading producer and exporter of cocoa beans to bar gourmet specialty chocolates, will exhibit under its own stand with NY-based distributor Viloy Foods.
At the Ecuadorian pavilion, Chef Santiago Granda, president of the Ecuadorian Association of Chefs, will offer samples of gourmet delicacies from the land also known for its Galapagos Islands, Panama hats and as the world’s No. 1 banana producer .
Peru hosts first intl. cacao and chocolate fair in Latin America
Posted - June 28, 2010
Peru hosts first intl. cacao and chocolate fair in Latin America
By O.W.N. News Network
The chocolate industry will unite July 8-10 at The Sheraton Hotel in Lima, where some of the best known European fine chocolate companies will meet the top Peruvian cacao processors and other international cacao actors to celebrate the first Salon del Cacao y Chocolate Peru 2010.
The event is organized by the Association of Peruvian Cacao Producers (APPCACAO), the Peruvian Ministry of Agriculture, the National Commission for the Development of Life without Drugs (DEVIDA), the USAID Alternative Development Program (ADP), Veterinarians without Borders - International centre of cooperation for agricultural development with the patronage of the founders of the international Salon du Chocolat.
The initiative is a result of the high recognition of Peruvian cacao producers as suppliers of specialty cocoa beans and chocolate during Salon du Chocolat, Paris 2009. Perú obtained first place in four categories among 172 participants from 40 countries.
The cocoa offered by Cooperativa Tocache is considered to have the best aroma in the world”, says Jose Gamarra of the USAID Alternative Development Program. “It is important to support Peru’s positioning among top world suppliers of 100% fine and aromatic cacao for the specialty chocolate sector, and move away from just a commodity”.
According to APPCACAO, Peru produces only one percent of the cocoa in the world, but exports 20 percent of the best fine cocoa. In 2009, cacao production reached 32,000 tonnes, with 7,000 grade 1 fine cacao beans, and exports will increase around 10% this year. Farming of organic and fair trade cacao has reduced the number of farmers involved in the illicit production of coca plants.
This project is funded by USAID- ADP. Salon de Cacao y Chocolate will also host delegations of cacao producers from Ecuador, Central America and many European players in the chocolate industry.
Australia’s Organic Expo welcomes growing international presence
Posted - June 28, 2010
Australia’s Organic Expo welcomes growing international presence
By O.W.N. News Network
“Paddock to Plate” is the theme this year at the 7th Organic Expo & Green Show to be held at the Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre, Darling Harbour, on August 20-22. We are delighted to welcome to the show world renowned chefs Kylie Kwong, Tobie Puttock and Simon Lawson, and gardening gurus Costa Georgiadis and Jerry Coleby-Williams,” says event organizer Mary Hackett of Smeaton Hackett Events. Australia’s largest event for the natural and organic markets, is also expecting Katherine DiMatteo, president of IFOAM, to be the key speaker at the Sustainable Profits Conference, launched in line with it this year. The Organic Federation of Australia will be sponsoring Ms. DiMatteo, visit. David and Michael Bronner, president and vice-president of Dr Bronner’s Magic Soap have also confirmed to come as guest speakers.
The program for the Organic Expo includes the trade only day on August 20 and two consumer and trade days on August 21-22. It is a lifestyle show embracing healthier, sustainable and practical living options, covering: Food, Wine & Beverages; House, Garden & Building; Fashion & Manchester; Personal Care; Health & Beauty; and Mother, Kids & Baby. The show is growing in terms of skincare exhibitors.”
Ms Hackett is confident that exhibitor numbers of just over 140 achieved at last year’s expo held in Melbourne will be surpassed. “We are 60% full already and will achieve more exhibitor numbers this year and it is looking very positive for Sydney 2010,” she said. Another major boost for the show Ms Hackett said, was that the expo has secured a media partnership with Sydney daily newspaper, the Sydney Morning Herald for the first time in 6 years and is confident this will boost visitor numbers.
International exhibitors include a major pavilion from New Zealand, an Argentina stand, and Doctor Kracker from the USA. Major local key industry players exhibiting include Kadac, Spiral Foods, Eco Farms, Melrose Health, Olive Green Organics and Kailis Organics will also be present.
Peru Natura returns to ExpoAlimentaria
Posted - June 28, 2010
Peru Natura returns to ExpoAlimentaria
Preparations are under way for the PeruNatura pavilion to be part of Expoalimentaria Peru 2010, one of Latin America’s main trade events for food and beverage, food service and catering, machinery, packaging and related services, September 22-24 in Lima
Peru Natura was developed last year in a joint initiative by Promperu and Peru Biodiverso as a platform to showcase and find niche markets for Peru’s vast biodiversity, as well as natural wholefoods such as camu camu, sacha inchi, cats claw, maca, physallis, Amazon nuts and other exotic foods in high demand for their health benefits.
Following the tremendous enthusiasm and success of the 2009 edition, organizers expect more than 4,000 visitors and around 400 exhibitors, an increase of over 40 per cent. The agenda will include an international buyer mission and a conference program.
With active participation at most international fairs and the two upcoming domestic events–new Salon del Cacao y Chocolate in July and ExpoAlimentaria in September–Peru is quickly positioning itself as one of the top players in the global food industry, delivering a consistently strong performance in ethnic, gourmet and specialty, organic and fair trade delicacies and ingredients.
Industry moves to sustainable palm oil
Posted - June 28, 2010
Industry moves to sustainable palm oil
By Warren Beaumont
There is global concern over palm oil being sourced from Indonesia and South East Asia where tropical forests have been cleared to make way for plantations, which have threatened the orangutan. This has led to major food retailers and suppliers to introduce plans to source sustainable palm oil or to ban palm oil in food.
Nestle announced it had stopped sourcing palm oil from the Indonesian company Sinar Mas and was moving to meet high standards for sustainability. Unilever suspended purchases of palm oil from PT SMART, part of the Sinar Mas group. It followed allegations by Greenpeace that Sinar Mas, Indonesia’s biggest palm oil producer, had been responsible for widespread deforestation and peatland clearance.
French supermarket giant Casino has announced that it will no longer use palm oil in 200 of its private label products by the end of 2010 and will eventually remove palm oil from all its food products, citing concerns over palm oil’s environmental impact and high levels of saturated fat. Palm oil will be replaced by other oils such as rapeseed or sunflower. Non-food branded Casino products will still use palm oil, but it must be certified as sustainable.
Australia’s largest supermarket retailer Woolworths has also announced a plan to move to Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) certified sustainable palm oil by 2015 for all its private label products. It will apply to become the first Australian retail member of the RSPO, a global not for profit organization set up to advance the use of certified palm oil and to establish consistent standards.
Sustainability questions over supplier’s sourcing
Questions have been raised about Nestlé’s approach to true sustainability in palm oil sourcing after it announced its commitment to using only “Certified Sustainable Palm Oil” by 2015.The segregated supply chain - the ability to keep sustainable palm oil separate from non-sustainable from plantation through to finished products - is still relatively undeveloped. Unilever claims that its involvement in the RSPO-endorsed scheme helps the company move towards its target of buying all its palm oil from certified sources by 2015. This company revealed in April it had bought enough sustainable palm oil certificates under the GreenPalm scheme to cover the requirements of its European, Australian and New Zealand businesses.
Although the oil they receive is not necessarily sustainably certified, in buying certificates equivalent to a certain volume of palm oil a manufacturer is promoting the sustainable production of the crop. “Until sustainable segregated supply chains become available, GreenPalm certificates are the best option to encourage growers to comply with the requirements of the RSPO and certify their plantations as sustainable,” Unilever’s senior vice president of global communications and sustainability Gavin Neath said.
“For those companies who decided to ban palm oil instead of supporting the good suppliers, we would like to ask if they will also take the same action with all other agriculture products”, says Tulio Dias environmental and social responsibility manager for Agropalma, Latin America’s largest producer of palm oil. “As far as we know, every economical development will bring a certain kind of ecological impact. There is no product that is 100% sustainable.” Mr Dias points out that Casino is likely to sell hundreds of products containing wheat and rice, just to highlight two out of thousands of products. He says: “Wheat and rice together stand for more than 370 million hectares of plantation worldwide (palm oil plantations stand for less than 20 million hectares), can they assure that all of them are sustainable? What about beans, fruits, cereals and beverages? This kind of action only shows that some companies are not yet ready for compliance of their procurement with good and sustainable practices, assuring their products come from reliable suppliers”.
Agropalma is the first 100% certified oil palm plantation under ISO 9001, ISO 14,001, OHSAS 18.001 and ISO 22.000. It is also the first producer to be granted approval in 2009 to use the EcoSocial seal by the IBD Certifications for its organic line of palm oil.
“Certification systems are important because almost all buyers (final or middle consumers) don’t have opportunity to visit the producers and to get information on how they operate the business”, says Mr. Dias. “If a buyer trusts a seal, it means that he trusts the certification system used to provide that stamp for that product,” he says.
Regarding issues of non-sustainability and deforestation that impact on fair trade and sustainable producers, and skeptics who do not believe growing sustainable palm oil is possible, Mr Dias agrees that these issues can impact sales for Agropalma and other environmentally and socially responsible producers - in a positive or negative way, depending on the situation. “If a client replaces palm oil for another kind of oil, every company that produces palm oil loses. On the other hand, it can be a good opportunity if a palm oil buyer avoids a supplier whose social and environmental performance is suspect, and starts looking for a substitute supplier who will offer palm oil from an acceptable production process”.
And what about those skeptical? “Anyone who studies a little about sustainability knows that it is related to all production activities, to identify and mitigate negative impacts and to define the right technology and procedures to implement, says Dias. This is a technical issue that can be measured, assessed, analyzed and verified. Producers of the same product can be compared and their performance monitored year after year.” The most difficult task is to define the indicators to measure the level of sustainability for an organization or economic sector.
“Given we sell the palm oil mostly to the US and Canada, Casino’s decision will most likely not affect us in a very large manner unless it is just part of an anti-palm movement, “says Jenelle Ludwig Krause of US based distributor Ciranda®, a worldwide supplier of organic commodities such as palm oil. “To Agropalma there are more opportunities than losses, since the company has strong environmental and social management programs, systems and certifications, and the market is developing new important quality requirements and processes beyond the standard traditionally required,” says Dias.
Agropalma’s plantations are located in a region where almost all native vegetation was already removed for cattle and agriculture. Today, there are almost 40 thousand hectares of palm oil plantations and 64 thousand hectares of primary forest reserves at Agropalma’s operations in Para, north-east of Brazil, with 193 plant species living under the palm trees. Environmental agencies have also identified 389 bird species and 37 species of medium and big mammals at the plantations, including six birds and six mammals considered endangered species.
Currently about 10% of Agropalma’s oil production is organic certified. The EcoSocial seal for fair trade practices applies to its organic line. Under the family agriculture program, 185 small neighboring palm oil producers receive technical assistance and a premium price. Agropalma pays them for their production of palm oil in an effort to divert them from cutting the primary forest and burning trees for coal - the additional income and investment in community projects reflects strong commitment to environmental and social principles. Agropalma’s efforts for its 5,000 employees move far beyond the minimum standards of sustainability achieved by many palm oil suppliers.
“Looking at a situation holistically is so important when making a decision like that (banning palm oil)”, says Ms. Ludwig Krause. “Unfortunately, consumers often see the issue as black and white instead of all the variations of gray that are reality. Hopefully we can continue to educate people about the benefits of sustainable palm such as the fact that it yields up to 13 times more oil than the same acreage of other seed oils”, she says.
SunOpta sells Canadian food distribution to UNFI
Posted - June 28, 2010
SunOpta sells Canadian food distribution to UNFI
By Warren Beaumont
SunOpta Inc., Canada’s largest organic company and the world’s most diversified supplier of organic products, announced on May 11 the sale of its Canadian food distribution assets for C$68 million to United Natural Foods Inc. (UNFI), US leading distributor of natural, organic and specialty foods. The food distribution assets included in this transaction form part of the SunOpta Distribution Group (SDG), which serves approximately 6,000 customer locations and five distribution centres with 15,000 SKUs, and sales revenues of US $237.3 million in 2009.
UNFI carries and distributes more than 60,000 products to more than 17,000 customer locations nationwide. The company serves a wide variety of retail formats including conventional supermarket chains, natural product superstores, independent retail operators and the food service channel. It was ranked by Forbes in 2005 as one of the “Best Managed Companies in America,” and by Fortune in 2006 – 2010 as one of its “Most Admired Companies.”
SunOpta will retain the natural health products distribution and manufacturing assets, which represent the balance of the assets in SDG. Steve Bromley, president and CEO of SunOpta, says in 2002, the company started to build its natural, organic and specialty food and natural health products distribution business in Canada. “We are very proud of the attractive platform that has been put in place. Divesting the food distribution assets is an important milestone in our strategy to focus on our core food manufacturing platform, strengthening our balance sheet and positioning the company for the future”.
This acquisition of Canada’s largest distributor of organic, natural, kosher and specialty foods “ is the latest step in our strategy to grow our organic and specialty foods business and represents an opportunity to diversify its operations by entering into the Canadian market,” said Steve Spinner, president and CEO of UNFI. The food distribution assets will continue to be based in Toronto and employees currently directly involved in the Canadian food distribution operations will be offered employment with UNFI.
Gunta Vitins, vice-president of marketing at SunOpta, says the company’s commitment to organics will get stronger, and that the takeover of the Canadian food distribution group is expected to give Canadian organic manufacturers easier access to the USA market. She points out that the only distribution group division not part of the sale to UNFI is SunOpta’s Purity Life Health Products division that also specializes in supplements and products assisting health and beauty.
With annual revenues of around C$1billion SunOpta is a top supplier of internationally sourced organic ingredients in the world and a leading supplier of natural and organic brands and private label shelf ready products to the North American market, with operations and joint ventures in North America, Europe, Asia and South Africa. The largest operating group, SunOpta Foods, represents approximately 94% of annual revenues and specializes in sourcing, processing and distribution of natural and organic food integrated from seed through packaged goods. The company grew by acquisition of pioneering natural and organic companies. Major markets for SunOpta are North America including Mexico, Korea, Japan and Europe, while ingredients and sourcing are the main activities in Europe.
Demand for cereal drinks and gluten free foods continues
SunOpta is the number one organic soybean processor, and processor and packager of organic aseptic soymilk in the United States. The company has major soy brands in North America and a joint venture in South Africa for liquid soy and powder ingredients for international markets.
Retail sales for soy products are now coming back, after demand slowed during the peak of the recession, as adults may have only bought products for children”, says Ms. Gunta Vitins, vice-president of marketing at SunOpta. “Organic soy milk is one of our biggest sellers in Private Label (PL) as is organic orange juice. We are leaders in these two categories and in frozen fruits and vegetables. PL products Sunrich Naturals is one of our biggest brands in organic soy milk”, added Ms. Vitins. “Sunrich Naturals is a registered trademark for several of our brands in Organic Broth, All Natural Soy Creamer and Sunrich Naturals Sunflower Seeds. Kettle Valley is our brand of healthy snacks in All Natural Fruit Twists and Organic Fruit Snacks”.
“There is a continued commitment to health and wellness and now that the downturn has leveled out, consumers have turned to high quality private label foods such as those made by SunOpta,” says Ms Vitins. “An OTA manufacturer’s report indicates that sales are growing. We believe that growth will continue until 2010 and will show up in the next sales figures. Aseptic packaging has been expanded for natural broths and soups and for natural soy, rice and almond organic and natural beverages. The acquisition of the Modesto, California plant is helping SunOpta to increase its aseptic packaging in sizes of 8oz to 64oz sizes and demand for products and pack sizes is increasing helping sales of SunOpta’s broths and soy milks. “We work very closely with retailers on in-store marketing including for PL brands, such as in-store promotions, couponing for retail store promotions, and with in-store demonstrations such as for our new sunflower beverage.”
Growth in the free-from market is seen also in Canadian sales. “We have expanded products in gluten-free and allergy-free areas and in the ingredients group,” Ms Vitins says. Nut-free is another area that is a big issue and is a challenging one for small to large manufacturers. “It is definitely an area of growth and we are seeing this at recent trade shows. There is definitely optimism in the market which was shown at the Vancouver CHFA and at the earlier Expo West at Anaheim and we expect to see healthy demand and growth in private label.”
SIAL Canada in Montreal introduces Expert Pathways
Posted - April 20, 2010
SIAL Canada in Montreal introduces Expert Pathways
SIAL Canada returns to Montreal in 2010 to be held at the Palais des Congrès April 21-23, 2010 to allow visitors and exhibitors to keep up with Canadian and North American market trends, make contacts and do business. Canada’s organic sales are approximately $2 billion per year, with an average annual growth rate of 20% for the past few years.
Sial Canada is the most international food trade show in the country, with a great opportunity to meet 530 exhibitors from 30 countries and 12,000 agri-food professionals from 60 countries. The event is a showcase for food and beverage products from Canada, USA, Latin countries like Brazil, Ecuador and Peru, France, Italy and other EU nations, and also products from as far as Morocco, Cyprus, Thailand and Malaysia.
To make it easier as well as more efficient for visitors, SIAL came up with specific expert paths which joined similar products making them more accessible and giving them enhanced visibility. In addition to the organic and food service paths presented at the last tradeshow, the 2010 edition brings forward more different Expert Pathways sections: Bio/Organic; Restaurant/Food Service; Commerce Equitable/Fairtrade; What’s New; Halal, Eco Set; Kosher; and Private Label.
SIAL Canada’s The Cuisine event will be showcasing demonstrations executed by renowned Canadian and international chefs. Visitors will be able to discover the latest trends, cooking and food preparation techniques and much more. Many workshops will be available for professionals who desire to better their methods.
Expert speakers will share their knowledge during lectures and discussions organized for this new show edition. They will discuss topics central to Canadian, American, and European industry professionals. During the three-day event, the ‘Eaters under the Influence’ lectures will address the theme ‘feed me’, which will shed light on new trends in the agri-food industry with respect to innovation and sustainable development and improving the food supply, all under one roof.
One presentation of great interest will be held on April 22, 2010: Sustainable Engagement: Taking Corporate Social Responsibility to the Next Level. Discover the new formula for success in the food industry from companies that have been able to combine business opportunities with social vision through activities aimed at responsible supply chains, community engagement and the integration of green technology.
The Trends & Innovations contest is one of the key events of the tradeshow and will be presenting its third edition this year. The contest puts forward exhibitors’ novelties while revealing the agri-food latest North American trends leading to the ‘Trends and Innovations Selection’ products. These are evaluated by a jury that determines the ‘10 Trends and Innovations Awards’, using criteria such as marketing strategy, manufacturing process, ingredients as well as packaging. The awards culminate in the ‘Trends and Innovations Grand Prize’.
“SIAL Canada has become a reference in the food industry. The show is not only a privilege access to the North American market, but also the yearly meeting point of agri-food professionals manufacturing or distributing food products.’’ says Tamar Kantarjian, SIAL Canada’s communications manager.
In 2011 SIAL Canada and SET Canada will mark the beginning of an alternating schedule between Toronto and Montreal. For the very first time in 2011, Toronto will host visitors and exhibitors at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. This food industry get-together will take place in Montreal in even years and in Toronto in odd years. For more information, please visit: www.sialcanada.com.
London celebrates successful Natural & Organic Products Europe
Posted - April 12, 2010
London celebrates successful Natural & Organic Products Europe
Recognized as the leading event of its kind in the United Kingdom, the 14th edition of Natural & Organic Products Europe (NOPE) 2010 held at the Olympia Centre in West Kensington, London April 11-12 was a great event for the almost 600 exhibitors and over 8000 trade visitors involved in the business of natural, sustainable, organic, and healthy lifestyle products.
“This was without doubt the most successful Natural & Organic Products Europe to date – an extraordinary achievement considering the current economic climate,” says Event Director, Simon Barry. “The success of the show, in no small measure, is due to the extraordinary efforts our exhibitors put into promoting the event, plus the hugely loyal following we continue to receive from all the key buyers, associations and industry bodies.”
All booths were set up on the first floor of the Olympia, a two storey 19th century building with attractive architectural features such as a high ceiling of glass and iron, offering plenty of natural light, a great feature rarely available at exhibition centers. With its location at the Kensington (Olympia) station, which serves as both a main line station and a District Line station on London’s Tube Network, NOPE is also easy to reach by car and public transportation from all airports and hotels. The booths were around a central cafe and stage offering delicious food, live music and presentations. Aisles barely ten feet wide separating each section offered an intimate feeling and plenty of opportunity to quickly connect with exhibitors from 31 countries, displaying a great variety of products and services. This year NOPE offered 24 seminars with 39 expert speakers across the 2-day event at two themed theatres, the Natural Products and the Natural Beauty & Spa Theatre. One of the main presentations included the Soil Association’s Organic Market Report, which predicts that despite the toughest economic climate for 20 years a UK market expansion of between 2% to 5% is expected in 2010. “Over 60% of the UK’s biggest organic brands are planning for growth in the coming year and sales of organic food are still three times higher than in 1999 and over 50% higher than five years ago”, reported the Soil Association, trade consultant Finn Cottle during the presentation.
In spite of the economic recession, “the UK’s natural and organic industry is still growing”, said Peter Kirwal of Tofuland. “I have come since 2001, but this year has been the best edition, with such a variety of exhibitors and visitors; we made on the first day more new good contacts than in two days in the past”.
We visited last year and saw great potential for Ecuadorian products”, said first time exhibitor Juan Diego Stacey, trade commissioner of Ecuador in London. “We got a great location in front of the central cafe and received lots of inquiries for each of the participating companies”. The pavilion offered a diverse product portfolio including Pacari, the first and only organic, fair trade and kosher certified chocolate made in Ecuador from seed to end product ; Expalsa a leading supplier of organic certified shrimp and Amazon Aroma, manufacturer of organic certified oils and aromas.
“I was not planning to exhibit, but I am glad I changed my mind at the last minute”, said first time exhibitor Markus Pandur European manager for Canadian based UHTCO Corp., suppliers of high quality Amazon ingredients, formulations and natural foods and supplements. “We have received high interest especially for our maca and requests for camu camu and graviola from well informed distributors who know the benefits of these superfoods, but also who understand the importance of a reliable supplier that knows how to process them keeping their vital nutrients to secure the best health benefits”.
Other first time exhibitors included Alb Gold, German manufacturer of high end pasta products, Italian firm Abafoods, supplier of cereal beverages, Canadian firm Manitoba Harvest, producer of hemp foods and oils and the India pavilion, offering mainly herbs, ingredients and ancient India formulations.
“Organic sales increased to £2.1 billion in 2008, making the UK organic industry one of the biggest in the world, continuing to be a prime target for UK and overseas suppliers, but the UK was one of the countries strongly hit in the current economic recession. According to the Soil Association in 2009 sales of organic products in the UK were worth £1.84 billion – a decrease of 12.9%
on 2008. Sales slowed significantly after many years of double-digit percentage growth, as
shoppers reduced their spending in the economic downturn and leading retailers reduced organic
ranges and shelf space.
Fairtrade mark products were up 43% to £700 million, natural beauty and personal care went up 53% between 2005-2008 to reach £180 million, whilst the ‘free from’ sector, vegetarian foods, The 2010 Organic Market Report can be downloaded at the site of the Soil Association.
Canada market development investment
Posted - April 12, 2010
Canada market development investment
The Organic Trade Association (OTA) in Canada announced a partnership with the Government of Canada on March 6 to develop a long-term international marketing strategy to expand Canada’s organic sector. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada is investing over $118,000 in OTA in Canada’s international market development strategy for the organic sector.
“We are excited about what this means in terms of building new international markets for Canadian organic products,” said Matthew Holmes, managing director of the Organic Trade Association in Canada. “The global organic market is expanding rapidly and this support will allow Canada to establish itself as a supplier of quality organic products. When you know more about supply and demand in foreign markets, you are in a better position to make sales.”
OTA said Canada’s international market development strategy for the organic sector will identify which markets to target, what products or commodities are the best fit with those markets, and how Canadian companies can access these important markets. The strategy will also benefit the entire domestic sector by identifying gaps in the supply-chain, new opportunities and innovations, and providing a more coordinated approach to capacity development. The project will promote the availability and quality of Canada’s organic products in the quickly expanding global organic marketplace.
“Today, with the support of this program, an organic farmer and businessman from PEI is in Japan meeting with buyers and learning more about this important market for organic products,” Mr Holmes said. “The AgriMarketing Program will assist dozens of other Canadian organic businesses in exploring new markets who, in turn, are providing OTA in Canada with intelligence on how Canadian organics can compete and excel in world markets.”
Global organic sales were estimated at $50.9 billion (US) in 2008, and preliminary data shows that growth has continued through the global recession. In Canada, organic sales are approximately $2 billion per year, and have had an average annual growth rate of 20% for the past few years. Canada’s new Organic Products Regulations came into effect on June 30, 2009 and are overseen and enforced by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
