BIOFACH AMERICA – ALL THINGS ORGANIC fully booked
- exhibitors include large international contingent and lots of first-timers
- US market breaks another record for organic product sales in 2015
The organic sector will once again take centre-stage at the Baltimore Convention Center from 22 to 24 September 2016, when Biofach AMERICA – ALL THINGS ORGANIC, which runs concurrently with the natural products Expo East, will draw global players from the organic community to the Eastern seaboard of the USA. More than 1,300 companies, including around 180 exclusively organic exhibitors, and more than 25,000 visitors, are expected to attend the event. This means that BIOFACH AMERICA – ALL THINGS ORGANIC 2016 is booked to capacity. As in previous years, participants can expect an event with a highly international flavour. As well as Korean and Argentinian pavilions, the show will also feature companies from e.g. China, India, the Netherlands and Turkey. In total there are 30 new exhibitors, of which 20 will showcase their products in a new table-top format. This is hardly surprising given how well the American organic produce market is developing. According to the annual survey by the OTA (Organic Trade Association), organic food sales in 2015 were as much as USD 43 billion, representing a new record. Apart from the product displays, another highlight this year will be the Natural Products Business School that will take place on 21 and 22 September 2016.
The American market for organic products is experiencing unstoppable growth. According to the OTA's Organic Industry Survey, Americans spent USD 43.3 billion on organic foods in 2015, up 11% on 2014. Once again, organic fruit and vegetables accounted for the greatest proportion of sales. In 2015, Americans spent USD 14.4 billion on organic fruit and vegetables alone. The sub-category juices and drinks accounted for the largest growth in sales of more than 33%. In 2015, USD 6 billion was spent on ecological dairy products, corresponding to an increase of 10%.
Despite growth in the fresh produce segment, Americans continue to love their processed snack foods, although in this segment too, more and more people are switching to organic products. In 2015, no less than USD 2.3 billion was spent on organic snacks, a good 14% more than in 2014.
Combined trade fair explores trending issues
The combined trade fair BIOFACH AMERICA – ALL THINGS ORGANIC and Natural Products Expo East will also look at the important topic of snackification. Adam Andersen, Managing Director Natural Products Expo, explains: “There is a distinct trend towards simple, tasty and nutritious snacks between meals. These also include savoury snacks, new ways of processing vegetables and ready-made products influenced by other cultures.” But at the same time, there is also a recognisable trend for food products in their original naturalness. "A lot of exhibitors are showcasing unprocessed products that are naturally high in nutrition - think “Superfoods 2.0.” Fermented foodstuffs and drinks and natural sources of fat like nuts are also gaining ground." Katharina Neumann, Manager at NürnbergMesse adds: "At this year's BIOFACH AMERICA – ALL THINGS ORGANIC, visitors will experience a wide variety of superfoods like moringa products, goji berries, nuts and organic turmeric based products. It’s all very exciting!"
Fair highlights include table-top presentations and Natural Products Business School
In the Pratt Street Lobby, 20 exhibitors will display their products on a newly created table-top area. As these exhibitors are all international newcomers to the fair, visitors will enjoy even more product variety. There are companies from India, China, Thailand and Turkey, for example, exhibiting products like spices, soy and mulberry products. "Because BIOFACH AMERICA – ALL THINGS ORGANIC was already fully booked in spring 2016 we quickly created this new special display area to enable new international exhibitors to take part in the fair inexpensively. Another benefit of this zone is that every visitor to BIOFACH AMERICA – ALL THINGS ORGANIC has to walk past it," explains Katharina Neumann.
Another highlight of the supporting programme is the Natural Products Business School, which will be held on 21 and 22 September. The first day of the business school will work with participants to explore entrepreneurial solutions to problems specific to the green sector. The workshop will open with an inspiring keynote speech by Kirsten Tobey and Kristin Richmond, the co-founders of Revolution Foods.
Participants will then attend intensive learning modules covering a variety of sales channels (online retail, conventional retail and wholesale, independent natural food retailers and chains). The “Solutions Lunch” provides a good networking opportunity where complex issues can be discussed over a tasty meal. On the second day, participants can look forward to the Pitch-Slam Competition that offers a free stand at the Natural Products Expo East 2017 as its first prize.
Entertainment and networking in established supporting programme
It goes without saying that Natural Products Expo East and BIOFACH AMERICA – ALL THINGS ORGANIC 2016 will once again be offering a large number of popular networking events. As well as the communication-friendly table-top format, Harvest Festival and morning yoga, exhibitors and visitors can once again enjoy the "Women in Naturals" get-together, where numerous female entrepreneurs from the sector meet to network with one another and exchange success stories.There are also evening functions on 22 and 23 September featuring good food and live music.
The next BIOFACH events:
- BIOFACH, Nuremberg: 15 – 18 February 2017
- BIOFACH INDIA, Delhi: 10 – 12 November 2016
- BIOFACH CHINA, Shanghai: 25 – 27 May 2017
- BIOFACH AMERICA LATINA, São Paulo: 7 – 10 June 2017
- BIOFACH JAPAN, Tokyo: 24 – 26 August 2017
BIOFACH World
NürnbergMesse has proven expertise in the area of organic food. The international organic industry meets every year in Nuremberg at BIOFACH, the World’s Leading Trade Fair for Organic Food. BIOFACH World is represented across the globe by five other BIOFACH events in Japan, the United States, South America, China and India, and brings over 3,000 exhibitors and 100,000 trade visitors together year after year.
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