Vitafoods Asia 2016 Off to a Great Start, Sixth Edition Impresses with Innovation Opportunities

02 Sep 2016 --- Vitafoods Asia, the only event dedicated to the nutraceutical, functional food and beverages, and dietary supplement industries in Asia, officially opened its doors yesterday to strong support from the industry at the AsiaWorld-Expo in Hong Kong.

Over the two-day event, regional trade professionals will have access to an impressive showcase of the latest ingredients and raw materials from more than 170 participating global exhibitors, as well as abundant learning and networking opportunities.

“The strong turn-up on the first day of Vitafoods Asia indicates that the Asia Pacific nutraceutical market remains an important focus for many businesses”, commented Chris Lee, Portfolio Director, Vitafoods. “This year, we have introduced several new show features that are designed to inspire new ideas and facilitate interactions. With the extensive program line-up that we have put together, we are certain that Vitafoods Asia will meet the business objectives of both exhibitors and visitors alike, as it has in previous years.”

Industry Excitement Over New Visitor Attractions
The industry came alive on the show floor of Vitafoods Asia 2016, with activity and excitement all-around, as visitors came in search of the latest nutraceutical innovations. Industry interest in the new event attractions was apparent, as these feature areas attracted much footfall and attention from industry professionals.

Of particular mention is the Inspiration Showcase that was widely-lauded by visitors. Segregated into two areas of New Launches and Star Products, the showcase offers visitors a one-stop location to view latest innovations and biggest market successes in today’s nutraceutical industry, facilitating business opportunities between buyers and participating exhibitors.

First time visitor, Vivien Cheung, Senior Sales & Marketing Manager at Vemedia Shine Ltd, said, “I found the Inspiration Showcase to be a welcome feature for new visitors like myself, as it enables one to have an overview of the new and popular products available at the show. It helps that the showcase is located near the entrance so I can make more efficient use of my time heading directly to the exhibitor booth if I’m interested to find out more about any of the products. I think more shows should include such attractions.”

Another popular zone that received much acclaim was the Springboard Pavilion, which features cutting-edge entrepreneurial businesses and start-ups within the nutraceutical industry who are exhibiting at Vitafoods Asia for the first time. This dedicated area offers visitors the opportunity to get acquainted and forge connections with new entrants to the industry.

Nutricoa was one of the exhibitors that benefited from the visitor attention. Anne Weyns, Chief Chocolate Adventurer, shared, “Since the start of the show, I’ve received a constant stream of visitors at my booth. Generally, being part of the Springboard Pavilion is good exposure for my company, as it allows me to reach out to potential customers in the Asia-Pacific region.”

In addition to uncovering new products and technologies, industry visitors were treated to a robust education program aimed at facilitating knowledge-exchange and encouraging peer-to-peer conversations.

The introduction of the Vitafoods Asia Centre Stage takes the education program at Vitafoods Asia to a whole new level. This interactive theatre consists of a series of presentations delivered by a global selection of subject matter experts and key industry leaders. Content covered include the latest innovations, best business practices, new product development strategies, and key industry updates across topics such as Sports Nutrition, Bone and Joint Health, Formulating for the Consumer, and Best Practices in Marketing and Branding.

Commenting on his experience at Vitafoods Asia Centre Stage, Meir Dzulkernie Meor Aris Account & Production Director at Imperia Asia Group, said: "The session on nutrition marketing by The Healthy Marketing Team Ltd was illuminating for us and we got some really good insights."

Day Two Highlights
The unveiling of the winners for the annual Tasting Bar Awards is one that is not to be missed. A perennial crowd favorite, this year’s Tasting Bar features over 20 functional food and beverage samples, which will contend for visitors’ votes over the two-day event. Results will be announced at the Tasting Bar at 2pm on 2 September 2016.

Another notable highlight is a keynote presentation on ASEAN - Harmonisation and Trade Barriers on Food, held at the Vitafoods Asia Centre Stage. The panel will be chaired by Heather Granato, Vice President for Content at Informa Exhibitions’ Global Health & Nutrition Network, featuring representatives from Blackmores, Food Industry Asia (FIA), and Herbalife.

Running alongside the main exhibition, the Vitafoods Asia Conference will continue its success with yet another full day of engaging presentations and insightful content presented by some of the leading names within academia and industry. Topics that will be explored include Digestive Health, Maternal and Infant Health, Product Safety and Quality Control, and Understanding and Targeting the Asian Consumer.

With more than 3,000 visitors from around the region expected over the two days, Vitafoods Asia looks set to reinforce its position as the frontrunner in the delivery of industry knowledge and research breakthroughs.

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