FDBusiness.com

Vitafoods Asia is set to build on the great success of last year’s debut show, when it returns to the AsiaWorld-Expo in Hong Kong from 5-7 September 2012, with an event projected to be double the size of the 2011 edition.

Organised in response to the booming Asia Pacific nutraceuticals market, Vitafoods Asia will provide visitors with the opportunity to source products and discover the latest innovations on the market.

Chris Lee, Portfolio Director of Vitafoods, said: “The Asian nutraceutical market is particularly strong, boosted by the continent’s growing affluence and rising educational levels. Such is the growth in this market, that a recent survey we commissioned revealed that 40% of professionals believe Asia will have the greatest share of the market within the next 10 years.

“Over half of last year’s visitors said they found suppliers they wouldn’t have met without attending the event, so this year’s edition, with even more exhibitors and educational features, really will be unmissable for anyone in the industry wishing to source ingredients and raw materials,” added Lee.

Vitafoods Asia will feature more than 150 global suppliers of ingredients and raw materials for nutraceuticals, dietary supplements and functional foods and drinks, including DSM Nutritional Products Asia Pacific, Croda, Danisco (UK) Ltd, Chr. Hansen A/S and Glanbia Nutritionals Singapore Pte Ltd.

The show will kick off on 5 September with an Opening Ceremony featuring talks from high-profile speakers, including Simon Tsoi, President of the Hong Kong Health Food Association, and representatives from the China Food Industry Association, Chinese Nutrition Society, and the Hong Kong Food Science and Technology Association.

A packed feature programme will provide manufacturers of dietary supplements and functional foods and drinks with an in-depth view of the nutraceutical landscape.

This will include the FREE Seminar Theatre, sponsored by DSM Nutritional Products, which will feature fascinating talks by leading experts.  A wide variety of industry leaders will present sessions on the latest research and innovations.
Keynote speakers include Ling Wen Hua, from the Chinese Nutrition Society; Katrina Diamonon, Senior Analyst at Datamonitor Australia, who will discuss innovative packaging formats, consumer expectations and labelling challenges; Gao Peng, Secretary-General of Consultation Committee at the China Health Care Association, who will outline the regulatory situation and key opportunities in the Chinese health food market; and Professor Nagendra Shah, from the Hong Kong Food Science and Technology Association.

Other speakers giving product presentations include Dan Souza, Sr. Director of Sales and Marketing for Decas Botanical Synergies, LLC, who will explore the cranberry health claims landscape, looking at the latest science and substantiation of cranberry claims, including the fruit’s urinary tract health benefits. There will also be an outline of the most common misconceptions around probiotics from Chr.Hansen APAPMEA Sales Director Sune Schmoelker and Chr.Hansen Marketing Manager Charlotte Beyerholm.

Innovation will be the key theme at the New Products Zone, sponsored by Ingredia Nutritional.  Located at the show entrance, this will feature over 100 new ingredients and products launched in the last 12 months. Products submitted include Evonia Keratin capsules developed by Finnish company Hankintatukku Oy to improve skin, hair and nails; as well as a ginseng leaf extract for reducing cholesterol and improving the immune system from the Chinese company Hongjiu Biotech Co.

Spanish company Bioiberica will also present new products, including Cartisorb sticks which deliver 1500 mg Glucosamine and Imunil^®, an active ingredient which helps prevent opportunistic infections. Other products include Incromega 3mulsion™ by Croda, which offers a unique delivery system for omega 3 and is ideal for either stick-shot or syrup applications, while Ambe Phytoextracts PVT will feature its Night Passion and Power Up products, which aid sexual health and physical sporting performance. Raw ingredients to be showcased include Curcuma/Turmeric and Boswelia extracts by Konark Herbals and Healthcare, while CreaNutrition will preview its Crispy Hearts cereal, which contains oat beta-glucan and offers heart health benefits.

Another new area of the exhibition, the Finished Products Zone will be set up as a dedicated area for dietary supplement companies looking to penetrate multiple markets in Asia. It will feature stands from the likes of Biotivia Bioceuticals LLC, Chengdu Better Biology Technology Co., Ltd., Golden Biotechnology Corp. and Hankintatukku Oy, who will demonstrate weight management, anti-ageing and vitamin and mineral supplements. The zone will also feature a ‘Tasting Bar’ with the opportunity to sample the latest products, from cereal bars to sports nutrition drinks and children’s supplements.

New for 2012, the Discussion Forum, held on Thursday 6 September at 15:00 and chaired by Simon Pettman from EAS, will feature a panel of leading experts in the fields of marketing, regulation, ingredients and finished products, providing insight into the challenges and opportunities relating to health claims regulations across Asia.

EAS will also offer FREE one-to-one advisory sessions from its experts, allowing visitors to

benefit from sessions tailored to any aspect of their business, including advice on strategy, labelling, claims and European and Asian regulations. Experts include Wai Mun Poon, the Regional Regulatory Affairs Manager at EAS Strategic Advice Pte Ltd in Singapore, who has worked on regulatory strategy planning for product development over the last 10 years. Also taking part will be Evon Chan, Regional Regulatory Affairs Adviser at EAS Strategic Advice, who has extensive experience in new product development, nutrition analysis and food quality control/quality assurance.

Visitors will also be able to explore the latest trends and business opportunities for companies across Asia at VitaTrend, which will outline key trends impacting on new product activity, using research carried out by Innova Market Insights.

The International Pavilions will encompass more regions across the world this year, including the Americas, Belgium, France and Korea, making it easy for visitors to find specialist information from a specific region.

Free presentations from research experts Datamonitor will also take place at the Datamonitor Consumer Innovation Zone. Experts will help visitors understand key future product opportunities using consumer insight, innovation tracking and market assessment.  Visitors will also be able to sign up to receive a free Datamonitor white paper, with details of this to be announced in due course.

The Health-Positioned Food & Beverages Asia 2012 Conference by IBC Asia will also be held in conjunction with Vitafoods Asia and will provide a critical review of what it takes to stay relevant and profitable in an expanding yet highly competitive Asian market. Insights can be gained about the latest global and regional market trends, winning marketing strategies, health claims issues, challenges and opportunities.

Leading industry suppliers

Along with informative educational features, Vitafoods Asia will feature over 150 companies exhibiting cutting-edge nutraceutical products.

Allergon – stand 353

Leading pollen extract developer Allergon will be presenting its gender-specific products. The Allergon Man extract has been shown to treat urinary tract infection, while Allergon Woman relieves menopausal symptoms.

Belovo – stand BP04

Belgian company Belovo will promote its new baby supplement range, Galactis, which has been devised to contain all the essential fatty acids present in breast milk.  The allergen-free range contains vital lipids that play a key role in growth, development of the central nervous systems, ability to learn and strong immune systems.

Bioiberica – stand 200

Bioiberica is presenting an immune health product. The company’s IMUNIL ingredient has been proven to boost the immune system, particularly during times of physical and mental stress. The product is particularly aimed at people going through stress and for sportspeople at the beginning of a season or during a competition.

Chr. Hansen – stand 220

Global biotechnology company Chr. Hansen will showcase its probiotic chewable tablet with added vitamin C, along with its probiotic stick pack with oral rehydration solution. This restores the salt and mineral balance.

Copalis – stand 172

Copalis will promote its marine-based healthy ageing products, devised to cut the risk of heart disease, osteoporosis, cognitive problems and diabetes. The company’s products include PHOSCALIM®, a unique source of marine calcium that was shown to offer a greater calcium intake than milk during a study carried out by Pasteur Institute.

CreaNutrition – stand 611

CreaNutrition is presenting its OatWell product, containing oat beta-glucan, which has been approved by the European Commission as an effective ingredient for lowering cholesterol, reducing glycemic response and improving bowel function.

Futurebiotics – stand FP19

Futurebiotics will promote its patented Vital 3 Joint Solution®, a liquid dietary supplement proven to relieve joint discomfort, alleviate morning stiffness, increase mobility and rebuilt cartilage. The company will also showcase America’s number one selling Hair, Skin & Nails® multi-formula.

Naturalendo Tech – stand KP04

The Korean bio-venture company Naturalendo Tech is due to present a herbal remedy for menopausal and hormone imbalance symptoms. Its multi-plant extract EstroG-100 was shown to reduce menopausal symptoms by 62% in just 12 weeks in a placebo controlled study.

www.vitafoodsasia.com.