Going organic: Fi Europe & Ni 2019 identify “green consumer” as a top trend

28 Jun 2019 --- Leading European trade show for food and beverage ingredients Food ingredients Europe & Natural ingredients has announced that the 2019 event (Fi Europe & Ni 2019) is expected to reflect the “green consumer” trend stronger than ever before. As more companies focus on natural ingredients and organic provenance, the exhibition’s organizer Informa Markets has more than doubled the size of the event’s Organic Pavilion. Furthermore, the natural ingredients zone has grown by more than 50 percent, the organizer says. Fi Europe & Ni 2019 will take place on December 3-5 in Paris, France.

“When the first exhibitors ventured into the arena of natural alternatives – at that time primarily in the field of colors and flavors – we knew straight away that this was a major trend and created dedicated specialized zones and content hubs to showcase the latest developments. In 2007, we officially added an integrated natural ingredients exhibition to our show. Since then, Fi Europe has added the ‘Ni’ to its name. Now, we can justifiably say that for almost any challenge they face, visitors to Paris will be able to choose between a standard and a natural solution,” says Julien Bonvallet, Brand Director of Fi Europe & Ni.

Food ingredients Global (Fi) launched in Utrecht, The Netherlands, in 1986 and has a portfolio of live events, extensive data, digital solutions and high-level conferences established globally. Fi provides regional and global platforms for all stakeholders in the food ingredients industry. Over 500,000 people have attended Fi shows over the years. With more than 30 years of experience, the events, digital solutions and supporting products deliver a route to market, with a global audience.

The “green consumer” trend motivates the market
In 2019, the “green consumer” has already influenced two categories of Innova Market Insights’ top ten trends: while the “The Plant Kingdom” charts the increasing market for plant alternatives, “The Green Appeal” outlines current consumer demand for sustainability – stretching from responsible sourcing via upcycling ingredients and strategies against food waste to eco-friendly packaging solutions.

Innova Market Insights, there has been more than 45 percent average annual growth in food and beverage launches with a vegan positioning (CAGR, 2013-2017).Plant-based growth has been a key theme for several years but grew into the total mainstream with both vegetarian and vegan options throughout 2018. According to data from Innova Market Insights, there has been more than 45 percent average annual growth in food and beverage launches with a vegan positioning (CAGR, 2013-2017).

Companies and brands are greening up their portfolios to attract consumers who want to add plant-based options to their diets, while for the mainstream consumer, going plant-based is about achieving a healthy and sustainable balance between meat and vegetables rather than adopting an all-or-nothing way of eating. According to a 2018 Innova Market Insights Consumer Lifestyles Survey, 8 in 10 consumers in the UK and US have changed their own or their family’s diet to be healthier, with over 43 percent of those consumers increasing their consumption of fruit and vegetables “in order to be healthy.” At the same time, consumers are geared towards sustainability, with a 2018 Innova Market Insights survey finding that 64 percent of US and UK consumers expect companies to invest in sustainability.

Major players join the event
According to the organizers, around 100 companies from around the world have secured their spot for Fi Europe & Ni natural ingredients zone – including the agar specialist Setexam (Morocco), natural vanilla expert Eurovanille (France), the flavor house Enrico Giotti (Italy) and plant ingredients manufacturer Peruvian Nature (Peru). Trade visitors looking for natural alternatives will find what they are looking for both in this specialized area and beyond.

The Organic Pavilion, with over 50 exhibitors already confirmed such as oleoresins and extracts producer Jean Gazignaire (France), import/export trader DO-IT (Netherlands) and natural fiber specialist Interfiber (Poland), offers a comprehensive overview of the diversity of organic quality alternatives that now exist.

Moreover, Fi Europe & Ni 2019 will provide an extensive range of information and education opportunities on a variety of natural and organic topics. For instance, within the free-to-access Organic Spotlight trade visitors can gain insights into the latest trends in the organic sector, as well as regulatory issues and market analyses. The “Plant-based Experience” will focus on plant alternatives in particular. Together with NGO ProVeg International, an extensive program featuring live cooking events, lectures and innovation tours has been created. Meanwhile, the Fi Conference will focus on innovative concepts for clean labels, amongst other key areas.