Holland Food Valley Set to Spotlight Dutch Innovators

27 Mar 2014 --- For the seventh straight year, Food Valley NL is showcasing Dutch companies and their innovative products and services at the Holland Food Valley pavilion at the IFT Food Expo, June 21-24. The pavilion is co-supported by the Dutch Agri&Food Topsector.

IFT Food Expo is a showcase for the latest product, ingredient and technology developments in the food industry. Every year, the Expo attracts more than 18,000 food business and science professionals in R&D, product development, QA/QC, executive management, marketing, procurement and sales. It's an outstanding opportunity for Dutch businesses to gain exposure in the American market and to reach many other international visitors.

“An event this busy gives us a chance to meet a large number of customers,” said Hendrik Prins, Corporate & Marketing Communication Manager at NIZO food research. “Proteins are a hot topic in the US right now. With our wide expertise in dairy and plant proteins, we can discuss solutions with a variety of companies.”

NIZO food research never misses the annual opportunity to present itself at the Holland Food Valley pavilion. In 2013, NIZO food research was especially proud to be there as it won the IFT Innovations Award with its new Acoustic Tribology technology. “For many American customers, this was proof of our innovative power. And it gave us much greater visibility,” Prins said. Some of the other companies joining NIZO food research this year at the IFT Food Expo are AkzoNobel Functional Chemicals, Newtricious, OMVE Netherlands, Scelta Mushrooms, TNO Triskelion and TOP. “Holland Food Valley is now known worldwide as the gateway to a strong knowledge cluster. Potential customers have become aware that we are part of a strong network, so the pavilion bolsters our marketing efforts,” said Prins.

Holland Food Valley has in recent years developed into a multi-faceted pavilion. Aside from the space where companies represent themselves, there is a meeting area where Dutch participants and customers can do business and a display section for Dutch innovations and accompanying literature. A new feature at the Holland Food Valley pavilion this year will be tasting sessions where visitors can try innovative Dutch-produced foods.

The Dutch Agri&Food Topsector has designated the IFT Food Expo as one of only two strategic events worldwide for 2014. “This expo's internationalism, with many visitors from Asia and Latin America, makes it a perfect channel for Dutch companies to promote their food innovations worldwide,” said Suzanne van Tilburg, Strategic Program Manager for the Dutch Agri&Food Topsector. “By selecting it as a strategic event, Agri&Food is giving the Holland brand an extra boost. This gives the maximum number of Dutch SMEs a chance to benefit in a variety of ways. We hope it creates new export opportunities and that the Netherlands uses this expo to maintain its position as the world's second-biggest agricultural exporter,” Van Tilburg added. In the run-up to the IFT Food Expo and during the event, Dutch businesses can rely on Food Valley NL and the Dutch Agri&Food Topsector for professional support and active promotion.