Fi Europe co-located with Hi Europe returns to France this year from 6-8 December. For the first time, the leading ingredients exhibition will take place at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles – occupying four halls with more than 1,200 exhibitors, ranging from leading ingredients suppliers through to highly specialised newcomers. The in-person show will be framed and supported by an extensive online event, giving attendees countless opportunities and greater flexibility to source, connect and innovate – be it virtually, in-person or both.
In Paris, Fi & Hi Europe is set to attract exhibitors and attendees from over 135 countries around the world. Located in the heart of the city, Paris Expo Porte de Versailles is within walking distance of many hotels, restaurants and bars – making the event more visitor-friendly than ever before.
Fi & Hi Europe is the culmination of a year of Fi Global engagement with the ingredients industry, including a series of webinars, in-person events around the world, and the marketplace solution Ingredients Network.
Digitally enabled event concept
With this year’s show, Informa Markets continues its hybrid journey, setting the bar even higher with more advanced technology. The combination of online and in-person events offers attendees the best of both worlds, covering a huge variety of live and on-demand content, as well as data-driven matchmaking options, enabling a seamless all-round show experience. For example, all exhibitors will have an online profile that allows them to connect and network ahead of the event and gather leads onsite using the integrated lead scanning system. This means it has never been easier to find and connect with relevant contacts and schedule virtual or in-person meetings using the online event platform.
“We’re looking forward to welcoming thousands of visitors and exhibitors from around the world to an event which all those involved in the ingredients industry simply cannot afford to miss,” says Julien Bonvallet, Brand Director at Informa Markets. “After many months of disruption and uncertainty, there’s a strong aspiration for meeting in-person again, and so the excitement is already gathering pace. But for those who would prefer to join online, sophisticated technology means our online event will merge seamlessly with the in-person show.”
Packed conference programme
The online event will begin on 28 November, the week before doors open at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles. It features a packed conference programme covering the hottest industry topics including plant-based, health & wellbeing and reformulation, as well as category updates on some of the key trending segments. These include bakery and snacks, dairy & dairy alternatives, sustainability and much more.
The physical show will once again include popular features such as the Innovation Hub, the New Product Zone in collaboration with Innova Market Insights, and the Fi Europe Innovation Awards. The all-new Sustainability Hub will focus on sustainable food solutions from farm to fork, giving visitors the opportunity to learn about food waste, circular economy, regenerative agriculture and more.
Unique gathering of suppliers
Lots of key ingredients suppliers have already confirmed their attendance in Paris, including ADM, Beneo, Brenntag, Cargill, DSM and Ingredion, to name just a few. The four halls at the venue are already 85 per cent booked with a variety of exhibitors – both old and new – all eager to showcase the latest trends and products driving the industry. There will also be more country pavilions than ever before.
Julien adds: “I am so excited that Fi & Hi Europe will once again open its doors in Paris – this time at an impressive new venue. Bringing the world of food and beverage ingredients together has always been our main purpose, and our entire team is looking forward to providing the perfect platform for both visitors and exhibitors to source, connect and innovate.”
For more information on the show, please visit: https://www.figlobal.com/fieurope/en/home.html.
Hi Europe & Ni 2018 achieves new exhibitor record for manufacturers of natural and organic ingredients
High consumer demand for organic products and foods with natural ingredients is reflected in the wide range of offerings from Health ingredients Europe & Natural ingredients this year. Under the claim “Natural & Organic”, more than 100 exhibitors will present their new developments – from superfoods and natural flavours and extracts to plant-based finished products. From 27 to 29 November in Frankfurt, trade visitors will be given a comprehensive overview of these categories across 4,000 sqm, and will benefit from a wide range of further educational and networking opportunities.
Nowadays, consumers expect much more from functional foods than a few years ago: Besides a health benefit, a natural origin or even organic cultivation, sustainability and ethical qualities are also much in demand. With a wide range of exhibitors offering such ingredients – including Agrana, KSM66-Ashwaganda and Plantex – and an extensive educational programme, Hi Europe & Ni is a valuable source of inspiration for trade visitors from the health and nutrition industry.
Natural ingredients in demand
According to a survey conducted by Mintel last year, around 70 per cent of people interviewed prefer foods with natural ingredients. Manufacturers have recognised this request by offering a constantly growing variety of new and innovative products. Compared to Hi Europe & Ni 2016, the number of exhibitors within the “Natural Ingredients Pavilion” has consequently doubled this year.
Numerous expert lectures will provide insights to challenges and solutions relating to natural alternatives: Leonhard Thunn-Hohenstein, Key Account Manager at AstaReal, for example, speaks in the Supplier Solutions Theatre’s free-to-attend programme about natural astaxanthin from algae to improve eye health. During the two-day Hi Conference, Grégory Dubourg, CEO of Nutrikéo, will explore some of the naturally functional ingredients that are hitting the spotlight like turmeric, ashwagandha and spirulina in his session: “Developing products with naturally functional ingredients”.
At the Plant-based Experience visitors will be able to inform themselves about current trends and experience the growing variety of plant-based products in association with ProVeg International, who will also be organising a Plant-based Innovation Tour featuring exhibitors with new plant-based solutions. In addition, exhibitors with natural solutions will be part of the Innovation Tour on Clean label, trust and transparency by Nutrimarketing.
Organic quality: What do consumers want, what do manufacturers need?
This year, show organiser UBM had to enlarge the “Organic Pavilion” by more than 60 per cent due to the enormous number of enquiries from exhibitors. For Amishi Takalkar, CEO of Nailbiter, an organic certificate has now become a quality feature of many companies’ products “We are starting to see that organic is going mainstream, just like natural. More large CPG companies are launching their organic brands or labels. Organic, in my opinion, is almost turning into table stakes for brands that want to be taken seriously, and perceived as being healthy or ‘better for you’.”
Within the free-to-attend “Organic Spotlight“ at the Industry Insights Theatre, Takalkar will present the organic trend from the consumer’s point of view. Marlene Milan, Research Associate at the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL), will also be providing information on the standards that companies have to meet if they want to offer ingredients of organic quality in the EU, and especially on the German market. She is convinced that consumers do not turn to organic products on a temporary basis: “Once a mainstream shopper goes organic, it’s very hard to bring them back to mainstream. A lot of shoppers go in and buy the brands they know they like, but if I am in that store and see something that looks better or healthier and then I try it and like it, chances are I may not go back.”
