FDBusiness.com

The expectation that taking Health ingredients Europe and Natural ingredients 2010 to Spain would alter the landscape of the show, certainly paid off according to Greg Cherry, UBM portfolio director: “We have never before had such a wide geographic spread, both terms of visitors and exhibitors, making it a truly global show.”

Daniel Read, Head of Sales, echoed these sentiments. “This year we have had a number of exhibitors from Southern Europe who have never exhibited before” he said. “And their satisfaction is highlighted by the fact that 52% of new exhibitors have already rebooked for 2012.  In fact Frankfurt 2012 is already surpassing all our expectations with 87% of available stand space booked at this early stage.”

It is not just the astonishing rebooking rates that gave the team at UBM reason to cheer.  They were also celebrating the success of expanding the profile of the show.  “This is now a much more diverse show than previously.  With a 60% increase in the number of nutraceutical exhibitors at the show, Health ingredients is no longer just a food and beverage show featuring functional health and natural ingredients, it goes beyond that.  Over 50% of visitors who registered for the show, came to source ingredients for supplements.  Despite numerous challenges facing the industry, including the changing European legislative environment, innovation is alive and ongoing across the board and Health ingredients is still meeting the needs of its market even in challenging times,” remarked Cherry.

As the only independently audited event in the food and health ingredients industry, it is too early to confirm visitor numbers, but even on this point Cherry is enthusiastic.  “Every indication is that our visitor numbers were once again everything that we had hoped for.  More importantly the quality of the visitors was exceptional with over 800 VIPs attending and a staggering 22.3% increase in senior level management.”

This is a view supported by Paul Donegan Marketing Manager at Carbery: “We had an excellent Health ingredients Europe and found it to be a very worthwhile show this year.  It is very focused and always delivers results.  Overall the quality of visitors was the best we have seen in recent years.”

The demographic of the visitors certainly seems to have paid dividends for exhibitors to Health ingredients, both new and old.  Cherry continued “We have heard from a number of exhibitors that significant business has been done at the show this year, despite the difficult economic climate.  It certainly sets the scene for Germany 2012 which is a major food production region promising to bring with it an exceptional show.”

The next edition of Health Ingredients Europe and Natural ingredients will take place from 13-15 November at the Messe Frankfurt, Germany.   Natural ingredients will be co-located with Food ingredients Europe next year from 29 November–1 December 2011 at Paris Nord Villepinte, Paris, France.