A whole new Vegan World at Natural Food Show 2017

All-natural, plant-based food can appeal to almost any customer, that’s the message from Natural & Organic Products Europe trade show, which has launched a new Vegan World feature for 2017.

Vegan World, supported by The Vegan Society, will bring together 45 UK and international vegan brands in one dedicated area within the Natural Food Show at Natural & Organic Products Europe.

Thousands of retailers and foodservice buyers are expected to be out in force at the event, which will feature over 400 natural and organic food and drink exhibitors when it returns to London ExCeL next month, on 2-3 April. Around 60% of them list vegan products.

Veganism is one of Britain’s fastest growing lifestyle movements. There are now over half a million vegans in the UK, three and a half times as many as there were ten years ago. Add vegetarians, flexitarians and consumers looking to avoid common allergens (dairy/lactose, for example) into the mix and vegan products have the potential to reach an increasingly wide and diverse buying audience.

Although this is the first year that it gets its own ‘world’, there has been a dedicated Vegan pavilion at the show since in 2012. Bringing the widest variety of global flavours together for the first time – Vegan World will feature 17 Vegan Society trademark holders (exhibiting alongside the Vegan Society), plus 27 vegan companies boasting certification marks from around the world. Between them they’ll be showcasing the best choice of vegan food products from the UK, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Cyprus, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Romania, South Africa, South Korea, Sweden, The Netherlands, and the USA.

A world of choice

Natural & Organic Products Europe’s event director, Carol Dunning, calls it an exciting time for people following a more plant-based diet. The record number and diversity of vegan products on offer for 2017, in Vegan World and across the show floor, will, she says, encourage visiting retailers and buyers to further expand the ranges that they offer to their customers.

“It’s really exciting how we’ve seen the vegan category grow over the years – moving from a niche market into the mainstream. These products are now more accessible to vegans and non-vegans than ever before. From exciting new product developments that are as tasty as they are nutritious, to better variety and visibility in supermarket aisles and on restaurant and café menus, it’s very much an upward trend,” says Dunning.

“Brands like Provamel, Suma Wholefoods, Rude Health, The Tofurky Company, Windmill Organics, Clearspring, Tideford Organics, Meridian Foods, Essential Trading Cooperative, Plamil Foods (So free chocolate) and Natural Balance Foods (Nakd), for example, have been exhibiting vegan-friendly products at the show for years. They are constantly evolving, expanding and developing their offering and have won a huge consumer following because of it. And they’re not alone. We have a record number – over 260 – innovative vegan and vegetarian suppliers for our visitors at the show this year,” she says.

Dominika Piasecka, spokesperson for The Vegan Society, says: “We are very excited about the new Vegan World feature, where diverse products carrying our Vegan Trademark will be given a chance to shine. Initiatives like this are brilliant at helping to make vegan food more accessible and exposing it to new audiences.

“Veganism is becoming an increasingly popular lifestyle not only in the UK but around the world, so it makes clear commercial sense to register products with the Vegan Trademark. The market for vegan food is constantly growing, as is the number of vegan shops and restaurants, making the future for veganism look very promising.”

Vegan World exhibitors include Field Roast Grain Meat Co (burgers, sausages, deli slices and coconut cheese); Violife (dairy-free cheese); VEGO Good Food (chocolate); Govegan – Probios (sampling new SpalmOlio, a 100% plant based alternative to butter), Taifun (chilled organic tofu specialties); Bravura Foods (Captain Kombucha fermented and organic probiotic health drinks and Vegan Bakery dairy free biscuits); Abbot Kinney’s & Seamore (plant based yoghurt); Gusto Nero (pasta made from 100% organic black jasmine rice); Pep & Lekker (high plant protein, gluten free soups); Nature & Moi (French cheeses, spreads, dressings and desserts); Raw Gorilla (organic, grain free cereals and snacks); Halo Coco (coconut milk based fruit drinks); Upton’s Naturals (meat alternatives from Jackfruit); Vegus Foods (unique Broccoli Sprout Juice), Follow Your Heart UK (VeganEgg, dairy-free smoked gouda and pepper jack slices); and British pulse and grains pioneers Hodmedod.

Over a third (37%) of the show’s pre-registered visitors to date are looking to source both vegan and vegetarian food. They’ll find plenty of choice from companies like Essential Trading, Alara Wholefoods, Community Foods, Infinity Foods, Booja-Booja, granoVita UK, Carley’s, Pulsin, Queenswood Natural Foods, The Health Store Wholesale, Marigold Health Foods, Deliciously Ella, Atlantic Kitchen, Rainforest Foods, The Nut Roastery, Beendhi, Bio Benjamin, Eat Wholesome, Rainbow Wholefoods, The Foods of Athenry, inSpiral Visionary Products, Govinda Natur, Skoulikas Bedford (Sunita), B Corp UK, Babease, and more.

Natural Food Kitchen demos

The Natural Food Show at Natural & Organic Products Europe, which includes two days of live cooking demos in the Natural Food Kitchen, will take place on 2-3 April at London ExCeL.

This year’s confirmed kitchen line-up includes celebrated Italian chefs and restaurateurs Francesco Mazzei and Aldo Zilli; Gill Meller, head chef at River Cottage, who’ll be appearing alongside Madeleine Shaw (author of bestselling cookbook Ready Steady Glow); nutritionists Christine Bailey, Oliver McCabe, and Nicky Clinch; Icelandic chef Solla Eiríksdóttir; Dr Rupy Aujla from The Doctor’s Kitchen; and Jay Morjaria, founder of central London’s first meat free cooking school Sutra Kitchen.

“This show has become a beacon in the world of natural and organic food,” says Morjaria. “I am very proud to be asked to host the Natural Food Kitchen again this year. The calibre and quality of the chefs showcasing their food on stage is bigger and better than before and I look forward to standing alongside them.”

For more information and to register for a free trade-only ticket, please visit www.naturalproducts.co.uk (direct link: https://registration.n200.com/survey/2y7wdujwsr0sr?actioncode=NPR22).

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Media enquiries & press pass requests:
Please apply for press accreditation via this link: https://registration.n200.com/survey/04dm5adb2761w
Emma-Louise Jones, Head of PR
t: +44 (0)1273 645134
e: ejones@divcom.co.uk
Website: www.divcom.co.uk
Twitter: www.twitter.com/DiversifiedUK

Marketing enquiries:Vicky Holman, Group Marketing Manager
t: +44 (0)1273 645117
e: vholman@divcom.co.uk
Website: www.naturalproducts.co.uk
Twitter: www.twitter.com/NatProductsShow
Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Natural–Organic–Products–Europe/100622126677939

Exhibitor enquiries:
Carol Dunning, Event Director
t: +44 (0)1273 645125
e: cdunning@divcom.co.uk

Notes:

Logo: http://www.naturalproducts.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/NPE17-logo.jpg

High resolution images are available upon request:

http://www.naturalproducts.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/Busy-aisle-1280×707.jpghttp://www.naturalproducts.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/NPS_2016_Print-Res-151-1280×680.jpghttp://www.naturalproducts.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/Vegan-aisle-2-1280×1208.jpghttp://www.naturalproducts.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/NPS_2016_Print-Res-204-1.jpg

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