For the first time in its history, NATEXPO is to host a sector entirely dedicated to organic ingredients and raw materials within its exhibition space. From 22 to 24 October this year at Paris-Nord Villepinte Exhibition Centre, French and foreign professionals will thus have an opportunity to discover all of the aspects of the organic sector and the potential it offers in the fields of health food, dietary supplements or eco-friendly products. This new space will present all the latest developments relating to organic sourcing, innovation and new trends. In this domain, suppliers themselves prove to be the best drivers for the vitality of the organic sector and make the innovations of tomorrow possible.
A large number of industry players already registered
Many leading firms from the sector have already confirmed their participation in the new “Ingredients and Raw Materials” sector at NATEXPO 2017. Visitors will be able to meet non-specialist firms such as Esenco, Worlée France or Seah International, suppliers of certified organic ingredients, or major figures from the organic food world such as Agribio Union, Bio Ingrédients or Keramis. More specific product ranges will also be represented: bee products with Italian brands B. Natural and Conapi, aromatic and medicinal plants with Cailleau Herboristerieand Les Herbes du Grand Ouest, plant extracts with Vidya Europe, or aromas and essential oils with Aromatica and Diffusions Aromatiques.
The 1st Organic Ingredient Forum: personal experience of innovation
To help attendees get up to speed on the issues of organic innovation, NATEXPO has teamed up with Ingrébio to organise the 1st Organic Ingredient Forum. Every day during the show, seven to eight talks and meetings will be held, involving specialists and suppliers who will offer their accounts of actual case studies. A wide range of themes will be addressed: substitutes for meat protein with vegan food, product tracking with secure purchasing, responsible sourcing and fair trade, the development of certification and consumer communication, etc. Among the contributors feature Phytolia (the association promoting plants for health, beauty and wellness) on the subject of dietary supplements and cosmetics, and Labiocrac on the recovery and use of by-products.
Organic ingredients and raw materials: driving innovation and development
The suppliers of organic ingredients and raw materials constantly work in collaboration with organic manufacturers to respond to new market trends. As previously observed with the “gluten free” wave and today that of vegan products, customer expectations evolve rapidly and organic sector professionals must be capable of offering appropriate and distinctive ingredients and raw materials.
Suppliers thus offer alternatives to cereals containing gluten, with traditional varieties such as buckwheat, oats and millet, or more exotic raw materials such as teff and tigernut. These ingredients offer manufacturers the chance to concoct “gluten-free” recipes to fill out their product offering.
Ingredients and raw materials also play a key role in the development of new product ranges suited to the development of veganism and flexitarianism. Indeed, imitation meat products are today gaining popularity and suppliers are offering pulses and cereals which comply with the formulation criteria of “close to meat” in terms of protein count and organoleptic qualities.
Suppliers also lie at the heart of the development of plant-based drinks, where the number of listed products is constantly growing. Soy milk is no longer dominant on the market and today, rice or almond-based drinks are also well-represented. Many other drinks extracted from plants are also arriving on our shelves as a substitute to milk from livestock: oats, spelt, quinoa, walnuts, etc.
At the forefront of innovation in the organic sector, suppliers make every effort to detect new expectations in society and supply the products suited to the requirements of organic manufacturers.