Natural Products Scandinavia & Nordic Organic Food Fair successful

The Nordic region’s biggest co-located trade shows for natural and organic food and drink, health, beauty, eco-living and self-care products took place over 16-17 November.  A record 4,912 attendees (a significant 25% increase for 2016) were out in force to see and sample the next-wave of new product innovations from 375 exhibiting companies.

Representatives from over 2,000 companies (from 68 countries) packed the aisles over the two day event. Notably, over one in four visitors cited a corporate spend of over €1m (16% reported over €5m). Highlights for 2016 included the announcement of the winners of the Natural & Organic Awards Scandinavia, plus the Nordic Organic Chef Competitions.  While the show’s three theatres – featuring 27 expert speakers, 14 brand pioneers and a new Eco Packaging conference – saw many sessions draw standing room only crowds.

Event director Anne Seeberg says:  “The Nordic region’s appetite for natural and organic has never been bigger and – like this show – it’s still growing! There was a fantastic energy and enthusiasm across the show floor this year. The aisles were packed with buyers ready to do business, and many of our exhibitors have already reported significant orders and distribution deals being done. 

Big name buyers flock to the show

As in previous years, the majority of visitors to the show were Swedish and Danish (68%), with key buyers and managers from many of Scandinavia’s biggest retailers, health stores, pharmacy chains, wholesalers and distributors, public kitchens, and supermarkets in attendance. Among them were ICA Sverige, Axfood, Dansk Supermarked, Coop Sverige, Coop Danmark, Life, Life Everkost, HKC Egenvård, Matas, Netto, Ikea, Lidl, Aldi, Willys, Danasan, TJX Europe, Wholefood Planet Organic, Dagrofa, Svensk Cater, Dansk Cater, Hälsokraft, Helsam, Kung Markatta, Gymgrossisten, Infinity Foods, Mat.se, Nemlig.com, Reitan Servicehandel, FoodService Danmark, 7-Eleven, Ruohonjuuri, Martin&Servera, Menigo Foodservice, Orkla Foods, Urtekram, Arnold Suhr Netherlands, Bodystore.com, Matsmart in Scandinavia, Rema 1000, BC Hospitality Group, Naturkost Übelhör, Renée Voltaire, and Magasin du Nord.

400 exhibitors forecast for 2017

The significant surge in visitor numbers has led many exhibiting companies to hail the 2016 show as its biggest and most successful yet. Thanks to a 13% increase in exhibition space for 2016, there were an unparalleled 375 exhibitors showcasing more new products than ever. To accommodate existing numbers, and meet growing demand from a raft of new suppliers looking to reach this important market, the show organiser, Diversified Communications UK, has announced plans to host over 400 exhibitors next year. Looking ahead to 2017, there will also be returning national pavilions from KRAV, Organic Denmark, Italy, Germany, Holland, and the Baltics. 

Nordic Organic Chef Competitions

The Nordic Organic Chef Competitions, hosted by Föreningen Ekokockar, showcased the culinary talents of top chefs from across Sweden, Norway, Finland and Estonia.  Designed to promote and celebrate the valuable contributions chefs make to the organic market, the competitions also served up a host of innovative menu ideas for this year’s show visitors.

Håvard Klempe, who works as a chef at Credo in Trondheim, in Norway, was crowned Nordic Organic Chef of the Year.  Viktor Arabzadeh, from Upper House in Göteborg, in Sweden, won Sweden’s Organic Chef of the Year.  While the student team from Lycksele school in Tannbergskolan – Johanna Eliasson, Ebba Wilhelmsson and Moa Isaksson – were named Sweden’s Young Organic Chefs of the Year.

Natural & Organic Awards Scandinavia

Featuring new launches from the last twelve months, the show’s two Natural & Organic Awards Showcases boasted a record 150 entries for 2016. The ten ‘Best new product’ winners (as voted for by visiting buyers), the Butikstrender Most Unique Product Award, plus the show’s two prestigious ‘Lifetime achievement’ awards, were announced in the Natural Theatre at the close of opening day.

The 2016 winners include:

• Best New Health & Nutrition Product: Back on Track – Chia Humara
• Best New Natural Food Product: Biofood-Biolivs AB – Fairtrade Chocolate
• Butikstrender Most Unique Product Award 2016: Macacos – Cajá

• Best New Eco/Natural Living Product: Mulieres – Natural Detergent “Rose Garden"

• Best New Natural Beauty Product (cosmetics, haircare, beauty supplement): Bruns – Bruns Balsam Nr 03

• Best New Natural Skincare Product (face & body): Pharma GP ApS – Vilact 24/7 Heel Repair Cream

• Best Organic Non-Food: OrganiCup – Organicup

• Best New Natural Drink Product: Tropicsoul – Tropicsoul

• Best New Organic Drink/Beverage: Caribbean Vintage – K’Shiri

• Best New Organic Food Product: Go4Raw – Go4Raw Bars
• Best New Organic Special Diet Food (vegetarian, vegan, free-from): Go4Raw – Go4Raw Crackers

• The Natural Lifetime Achievement Award: Tom Johnsson & Maibritt Johnsson (Max Medica and Green Medicine)

• The Organic Food Lifetime Achievement Award: Cecilia & Olle Ryegård (Ekoweb)

Natural Products Scandinavia and Nordic Organic Food Fair returns to Malmö in Sweden on 15-16 November 2017.  For further information, please visit: www.naturalproductsscandinavia.com or www.nordicorganicexpo.com.