Singapore, 26 Sep 2014 - Vitafoods Asia, the only Pan-Asian event dedicated exclusively to the nutraceutical industry, recently concluded its fourth edition on a high note, reinforcing its status as the definitive exhibition for the market.
 
More than 170 suppliers from all over the world, including ADM, Chr. Hansen, Epax, Huisong Pharmaceuticals and Malaysian Biotech Corporation, showcased the latest nutraceutical innovations in ingredients, raw materials, as well as functional food and drinks during the two-day event.
 
Held in Hong Kong’s AsiaWorld-Expo from 3 to 4 September 2014, Vitafoods Asia welcomed a total of 2,474 trade professionals from across the region, which represented an 11% increase in visitor attendance. This year, a large proportion of visitors were senior decision-makers, including executives from companies such as Danone, Blackmores, Korea Yakult, Tate and Lyle, and a number of leading distributors.
 
As the Asian nutraceutical market continues to gain strong interest on the international stage, industry players expect the region to increase in dominance. Analysis by Frost & Sullivan confirms this, as the Asia Pacific region generated the largest demand for the global nutraceuticals market in 2013, contributing to 37% of total market revenue, which is valued at US$175 billion.
 
Chris LEE, Portfolio Director, Vitafoods, said, “The Asian nutraceutical market has performed extremely well in the last decade and there is every indication, both empirical and anecdotal, that Asia will continue to lead the global market in the years ahead. The show is well poised to support the region’s growth, and we look forward to bringing more of the industry together to help them realise the full potential that the market possesses.”

Professional and Specialised Trade Event

Exhibitors at this year’s event were pleased with their decision to participate, citing the show’s specialised audience, the focus on doing business, and its level of professionalism as key benefits. Some exhibiting companies selected Vitafoods Asia specifically because it’s the only dedicated platform to penetrate the Asian nutraceutical and dietary supplement market. Moreover, returning exhibitors found the show had grown in stature, not just in terms of attendance but also with the addition of new visitor attractions and the Vitafoods Asia Conference.
 
“We first exhibited at Vitafoods Asia last year and gained plenty of new business as a result of our participation,” shared Nori SHIRAI, General Manager, International Marketing Department of Daiwa Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd (Japan). “Our experience this year is even more fruitful than our last. This is a show that we will definitely keep coming back to.” And Arnaud ANANDANE, Business Consultant of Vidya Herbs (France), affirmed, “If you want to do business in Asia in the nutraceutical foods sector, you’ve got to be here. This is the right place for us to meet Asian customers from all around the region.”
 
Visitors echoed the exhibitors’ sentiments on how the show has continuously improved over the years, cementing its reputation as the Asian hub where the finest suppliers of the nutraceutical industry gather. Frequent visitor to Vitafoods Europe, Srikanth IYENGAR, Assistant General Manager – Marketing at Curatio Healthcare (I) Pvt. Ltd. (India), expressed, “This is our first time in Hong Kong for Vitafoods Asia and I find the content to be rich and varied. We’ve obtained many good contacts from the American and Malaysian Pavilions here, so it’s been a good trip.”
 
Valuable Education and Development Possibilities
 
This edition of Vitafoods Asia was a truly holistic platform that catered to trade professionals of varied job functions, including business owners, product developers, marketers, food scientists, market analysts, as well as academia. Receiving high praise at this edition of Vitafoods Asia is the inaugural Vitafoods Asia Conference and Masterclass series, two knowledge-sharing platforms that made their debut this year.

The Vitafoods Asia Conference featured 12 on-trend yet diverse topics, including commercial, marketing, and scientific subjects. Conducted in a modular format, sessions on weight management, functional beverages, preventative health, and active ageing were the most popular topics with delegates, in line with the leading health issues in the region.
 
The lively conference sessions were led by an international line-up of speakers with varied backgrounds and expertise, including leading academics of renowned institutes from the region, and industry experts from Blackmores, DSM, Euromonitor, Frost and Sullivan, Mintel, and the US-China Health Care Association.
 
Delegates and speakers both appreciated the wide selection of topics and speakers, as well as the interaction that took place in each session. Conference delegate, Marco Antonio R. DANGO, Senior Manager at Unilab Consumer Health (Philippines), said, “I find the content interesting and informative, and there is a good mix within each session. The speakers were generous in sharing their expertise and I appreciate the speakers’ diverse backgrounds. The Q&A segment was fruitful with plenty of quality discussions taking place.”
 
Over at another part of the show floor, Masterclass sessions offered attendees a deeper understanding of topics key to launching products that use new ingredients and raw materials. Conducted on separate days, Lodaat Pharma presented four sessions on different facets of Botanicals and Natural Extracts whilst the Healthy Marketing Team focused on the commercial aspects of growing a business in an emerging economy.
 
When asked about his thoughts on the FourFactors® Masterclass, Mark CHRISTOFERSON, President of International Trade and Project Development (USA), responded, “This Masterclass was excellent – it was exactly what I needed. The Healthy Marketing Team is an experienced company that’s working on projects and with brands all over the world, so I really value this learning opportunity and attended Vitafoods Asia this year mainly to participate in this session.” The popularity of this Masterclass was evident, with delegates hailing from various countries, including China, Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, and Taiwan.
 
Making Connections and Creating Opportunities

Vitafoods Asia aims to bridge the gap between ingredients suppliers, food manufacturers, and distributors, as well as facilitate business and learning opportunities that ultimately inspire new product development. As part of its efforts to connect businesses, the organisers held a Hosted Buyer Programme in partnership with the China Health Care Association, where a carefully selected group of exhibitors presented their products to senior buyers from China. Malaysian exhibitors also met with these buyers in a ‘Malaysia meets China’ closed-door session.
 
Popular with attendees and providing further opportunities for business ideas included the New Products Zone and the Tasting Bar in the Finished Products Pavilion. These visitor attractions help visitors maximise their time at the show by drawing their attention to the most innovative ingredients and applications available.

In that regard, Linda JEWITT, Product Director of Buckets (USA), concurs, commenting that the Tasting Bar helped narrow her search for suitable suppliers. First-time visitor Cynthia LO, Marketing Manager of Li Chung Shing Tong (Holdings) Limited (Hong Kong), said, “The New Products Zone is a focused showcase that allows visitors like myself to gain a better understanding of the latest trends and products in the market.”
 
Having received critical acclaims from attendees all around, the next edition of Vitafoods Asia looks set to be a bigger and stronger business platform as the organisers are committed to serve the global nutraceutical industry with this dedicated Pan-Asian event in the years ahead.
 
The fifth edition of Vitafoods Asia is on 2 to 3 September 2015 at the AsiaWorld-Expo, Hong Kong. For more information, please visit www.vitafoodsasia.com.