BioFach 2013: confidence barometer climbs high

41,500 trade visitors - about 1,200 more than last year – were present at the highlight in the calendar of the organic industry. The visitors came to Nuremberg from129 countries to attend BioFach and Vivaness, whose 2,396 exhibitors (2012: 2420) displayed their traditionally high-value and innovative offer for all to see. International visitors accounted for 43 % of attendees and, in the case of the exhibitors, the figure was 72 %. The top 5 countries the visitors came from were Germany, Italy, Austria, France and Netherlands. The visitors were captivated by the inspiring supporting programme – a comprehensive mix of informative lectures and exciting discussions, diverse areas of experience, the newly designed novelties zone, events on a small and large scale, celebrations and parties. Nuremberg is t h e venue where the international organic movement meets

A highlight and absolute must for many visitors is the BioFach Congress. 7,500 participants were registered for the more than180 individual events (including talks by company representatives). It distinguishes BioFach and Vivaness as a unique platform for the exchange and dissemination of knowledge. Another feature of BioFach that is growing in importance is the increasing number of demonstration areas. They invite visitors to take part and get involved. In some cases, these areas are organized and financed by BioFach itself and in others by associations. (Picture on left: This group of Romanian agriculture and veterinary students were thrilled by their two-day visit to BioFach)
 

After its successful debut last year, the company Rösttrommel in Nuremberg provided three different zones for coffee tasting in the passageway between NCC Ost and Hall 4a: you were invited by the BioFach exhibitors to taste and compare 26 types of espresso and 14 coffee varieties (picture on right). The team of four was delighted to see how popular this event was – with an estimated 400 plus people tasting their coffees every day. “We’re really pleased to see people learning to distinguish the various tastes of our coffee,” said Andrea Müller, a barista at Rösttrommel.

For the first time an extensive cheese tasting zone – Experience the World of Cheese – was located in Hall 9 and, like the coffee tasting, it was financed by BioFach. The international cheese exhibitors were listed in a special brochure. The cheese presentations were held every hour over four days (picture) and were delivered not just in German but also in English, French and Italian. Running parallel with the tastings were lectures and explanations. “The optimal cheese service counter”, “raw milk cheese – in a class of its own” and “active selling at the cheese counter” were just some of the themes dealt with.

Also many exhibitors created demonstration areas to show their products or gave practical examples of ways to run campaign weeks in shops and restaurants. For example, customized ice cream from EIZ Bio - a soft ice cream machine that can mix a portion of ice cream on the instructions of the customer, using fresh or frozen ingredients like blueberries, raspberries, seabuckthorn berries, banana and apple, plus a range of spices. Places where the machine, costing approximately16,000 euros, can be used are not just in gastronomy but also organic supermarkets or for events such as shop launches. According the manufacturers, Dennree for example is already using this machine. (Picture on left: Innovative frozen yoghurt and ice cream machine)

Every year, journalists love going to the press lunch laid on by NürnbergMesse for the journalists and media representatives attending the fair. The 80 participants not only enjoy a lavish meal but also have the opportunity to listen to experts talking on a particular theme. This year it was the focus theme “Experience the World of Cheese”. A good 50 different cheeses were presented on a buffet, and a plate with samples of six cheeses awaited the lunch guests. 

Udo Funke, Director of Exhibitions at BioFach, invited everyone to look closely at the cheeses, smell them and taste them. On the rostrum was the specialist cheese wholesaler Jürgen Würth, who supplied background information on the origin and processing of cheese both before and while the guests tasted their cheeses and sipped different wines to accompany particular samples. The wine sommelière Susanne Bauer (the head of marketing/PR Meininger MUNDUS Vini) drew on her fund of wine-specific vocabulary to describe the various wines as graphically as possible. Udo Funke announced that next year the “Experience the World” concept will be extended to other product groups. (Picture on left: Udo Funke during the press lunch)
 

“Important Meetings with the Press” listed around 80 events that included meeting the current Minister of Agriculture Ilse Aigner or the previous Green Party Minister of Agriculture Renate Künast and background discussions with the EU Commissioner for Agriculture Ciolos (picture). In the very well equipped Press Center, journalists receive not only the latest press releases but are also provided with PC work stations with internet access, plus drinks and snacks at no cost – service you don’t find in comparable quality anywhere else in the organic world.

According to BioFach, the result of a survey by an independent institute found that 93 % of specialist buyers at BioFach and Vivaness were happy with their visit. More than 80 % know already that they will come again in 2014 to this annual event, that gets the year underway for the international organic industry. Next year they will convene in Nuremberg from 12 to 15 February.

 (Pictures: Suma Wholefoods, left, and the cheese producer Lye Cross Farm were present in the small British Pavilion in Hall 4a)