See What the Expanding Natural and Organic Market has in Store for You

“Natural and organic is the next big trend, everybody knows that,” says Yvonne Chang, general manager of New Hope Natural Media, who organize the Natural Products Expo Asia. “The big players will come to our show to know more about the industry. They want to know more about how to ride on the big trend to look for more business opportunities in the years to come.”

The Natural Products Expo Asia is the region’s leading trade show, featuring an extensive array of 10,000 different natural, organic and health products, including skincare, dietary supplements, food and beverage, as well as ingredients, such as green tea extracts etc. “You can find everything organic and natural from the ingredient to the finished product,” says Chang.

The show attracts exhibitors and visitors from all over the world, offering the latest products and simply being a one-stop shop for people in the industry. Not only buyers, but importers, agents and high-ranking people from hotels and supermarkets come to source new products and to network with other businesses. If you are in the natural and organic market, the show is must.

With the recent food safety and quality issues, as well as chronic diseases, more people are opting for a healthier lifestyle approach, which includes supplements, healthy food, organic products. Despite the economic downturn the natural and organic market is still growing. “Last year around 10,000 people came, and I expect a similar number of buyers this year,” says Chang.

The 3-Day show, which is free of charge to all the buyers, marks its 7th year in Asia, whereas the original shows in California, Natural Products Expo West (in March), and Boston, Natural Products Expo East (in September) are celebrating their 30th anniversary next year. “The natural and organic industry in the US is much more mature,” says Chang. “Expo West is already the largest natural and organic tradeshow in the world.” Even though the US has a pioneering role in the natural and organic field, Asia is picking up at a fast rate. Chang gives Asia only 5-20 years to catch up with the US.

This year the highlight of the show will be the 2-Day Nutracon conference, which is co-located with Natural Products Expo Asia. Nutracon offers in-depth educational seminars and workshops in the health and nutrition industry, which are based on the following four themes; Dietary Supplement – Trends & Regulations, Natural Beauty Workshops, Sourcing to Marketing Health Products in Asia and Healthy Food & Beverage Innovations. Seminars include Opportunities in the Natural & Organic Beauty Market, How to Enter China’s Cosmetics Market, Social Media and the Natural Products Industry, Marketing Ayurveda – Role of Ayurveda in Spa and Wellness to name a few. “We have an extensive program,” ads Chang. “We have natural beauty workshops. I invited the founder of Organic Monitor (one of the largest consultancy firms that focus on the organic industry), Amarjit Sahota, to come and give the workshop. We also have healthy kitchen workshops with celebrity chefs, who teach how to prepare healthy dishes and menus.” Even though you might not be into marketing strategies and networking possibilities, the interactive food workshops will definitely keep your taste buds entertained.

Vivienne Tang

For more information go to: www.naturalproductsasia.com