The fifth edition of Vitafoods Asia, the only event dedicated to the nutraceutical, functional food and beverages, and dietary supplement industries in Asia, returns to Hong Kong from 2–3 September 2015 at the AsiaWorld-Expo.
Pre-registration is now open at www.vitafoodsasia.com/register, and entrance is free for industry professionals.
The global nutraceutical market has, to date, enjoyed steady growth for more than a decade, and factors widely recognised as drivers include an increasing consumer interest and awareness in diet-disease relationships, rising healthcare costs and a growing ageing population.
According to Euromonitor International, the retail value of fortified (or functional) food and beverages across Asia Pacific is expected to grow by 50.0% from 2014-2019, amounting to $153.7 billion by the end of that period. Within the region, the top five performing markets are China, Japan, Indonesia, South Korea and Hong Kong, respectively, with China accounting for nearly 60% of the territory's total sales.
Catering to the varied needs of manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers, scientists, R&D personnel and marketing professionals, Vitafoods Asia features more than 170 international exhibiting companies, who will present their latest ingredients and raw materials to upwards of 3000 visitors from across Asia.
Mr Chris Lee, Portfolio Director, Vitafoods Events, said: 'Building on the success of our last event, the team is working to enhance some of the best-loved visitor attractions of the show, as well as introduce fresh elements that will improve the experience for exhibitors and visitors alike. Ultimately, we aim to create a platform that promotes knowledge-sharing and networking, both of which facilitate business deals for the industry.'
A showcase of the finest and hottest innovations
Since its inception, Vitafoods Asia has been lauded by industry experts as a professional and specialised trade event that attracts a robust portfolio of exhibitors and quality visitors. In the upcoming edition, attendees can expect to see the industry’s latest ingredients, technologies, services, and finished products.
Popular visitor attractions that are returning to the show include the New Products Zone, which pinpoints for visitors the ingredients that have been launched in the last 12 months; the Exhibitor Presentation Theatre, which offers a programme of live research seminars and case study presentations; and the Finished Products Pavilion, where retailers and distributors can discover shelf-ready products that are adaptable for new propositions.
The Tasting Bar, a perennial favourite with attendees and exhibitors alike, offers show attendees an opportunity to vote for their favourite food and beverage this year. For the first time ever, Vitafoods Asia will confer an award for Best Functional Food and Best Functional Beverage to exhibitors who garner the most votes on-site.
Apart from the opportunity to view cutting-edge ingredients and meet new suppliers, attendees can also look forward to the Global Market Theatre, a new complimentary series of learning opportunities presented by industry specialists, such as EAS Strategies, Innova Market Insights and Euromonitor International. Held across both days of the show, these 90-minute sessions outline key aspects of doing business – market overview, regulations overview and insights on products and ingredients – in six top country markets within Asia, including China and Japan.
Further enhancing education and knowledge-exchange at the event is the second run of the Vitafoods Asia Conference, with a new and expanded programme. This year’s conference combines best practice within business and R&D to provide an overview on the full production cycle, exploring what it takes to get a product from concept to market.
The Conference programme is divided into two streams: the first focusing on how to turn consumer and business intelligence into insight and competitive growth strategies, and the second showcasing the latest innovation in R&D and product development in a selection of key health areas, including weight management, ageing and probiotics.
For more information on the definitive exhibition for the nutraceutical, functional food and beverages, and dietary supplement industries, please visit www.vitafoodsasia.com.
