BioFach America 2007: Top business climate

25,000 trade visitors, some 2,000 more than last year, streamed into the Baltimore Convention Center for the parallel exhibitions BioFach America and Natural Products Expo East from 27-29 September 2007. This year’s exhibitors and visitors experienced the sixth edition of BioFach America, which is reserved exclusively for certified organic products. Together with Natural Products Expo East, it forms North America’s largest supplier platform for natural and certified organic products.

Picture: BioFach America

The number of companies presenting their products at the three-day exhibition was also a new record: Altogether some 1,200 exhibitors were present again this year with new products and in-depth ranges, of which 226 were at BioFach America. More than 65 % of the space is already booked for 2008. The mood among the twelve exhibitors in the German pavilion was extremely good. There will also be an official German pavilion sponsored by the Federal Ministry for Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection (BMELV) again next year at the new location in Boston from 16-18 October 2008.

The international display area at next year’s BioFach America will be twice as large. The exhibition site in Baltimore could hardly cope with the keen interest of the companies this year. Relocation to larger facilities – in Boston – is the logical consequence. 
 
USA market expert Stefan Hauke is looking forward to Boston: “The organic movement in New England is much stronger than here in Baltimore. Boston as an attractive exhibition location will certainly pull in a number of additional exhibitors and visitors.” Besides Germany, India and Brazil have already registered a firm interest in exhibiting on large areas. India was represented at BioFach America for the first time this year. Both countries, Brazil and India, are expanding their position as organic raw material suppliers and want to share the extremely positive development of the US organic market.

Experts expect the US organic market to top 17 billion US dollars in 2007. The organic food market currently has a 3 % share of total food sales and grew by 21 % last year according to the Organic Trade Association (OTA).

“The powerful upward trend in the organic market is uninterrupted and the mood among producers and the trade is very optimistic,” is the verdict of corporate consultant Hauke. He particularly forecasts rosy times for natural personal care made in Germany. A current study by the British market research institute Organic Monitor also predicts a great future for the US market for natural personal care. The sector can shine with growth rates up to 20 %.

Increasingly critical consumer awareness is improving the market prospects for real natural cosmetics. This is also the view of Petra Wilms, Export Manager at the German company Logocos GmbH. The interest in the brands of the natural personal care manufacturer and exhibitor in the German Pavilion was very good. Sales transactions are already emerging. “The US market is complex, but the awareness and popularity of German natural personal care products are also increasing appreciably in the USA. The mood, frequency and qualifications of the visitors at BioFach America were right – altogether a rewarding exhibition,” says Wilms.

The German Pavilion accommodated 12 companies this year, five more than last year. Nürnberg Global Fairs, the subsidiary of NürnbergMesse, supports the exhibitors with a full-service package. The team from Nürnberg is available to help exhibitors right from the planning phase and with their preparations.“The full service including logistics and support at 

the exhibition is ideal,” says Petra Wilms of Logocos. “We can devote our whole attention to customer contact work in the pavilion.” Peter Kowalsky, General Manager of Bionade, was also very satisfied. His company was there for the first time in 2007.

The Organic Center, an organization whose management board includes representatives from OTA, various American universities and the organic trade, launched the “Mission Organic 2010” campaign a good year ago. The goal of the Organic Center is to raise the demand for organic products in the USA from the present 3 % to 10 % by 2010. The consumers are to be convinced of the scientifically proved advantages of organic products. The chances are good: 65 % of the population have already tried out organic products. Geographically, organic consumption is concentrated on the west and northeast coast, which are famous for their pioneering spirit. The latter will be the home of next year’s BioFach America – Organic Products Expo in the city of Boston. The date of the premiere in Boston is 16-18 October 2008.

Other BioFach global events: 
 
BioFach and Vivaness, Nürnberg: 21-24 February 2008 
BioFach China, Shanghai: 29-31 May 2008 
BioFach Japan, Tokyo: 24-26 September 2008 
BioFach America, Boston: 16-18 October 2008 
BioFach América Latina/Expo Sustentat, São Paulo: 23-25 October 2008 
 
Contact for exhibitors: Frank Venjakob, frank.venjakob@ngfmail.com