Quality buyers pack the aisles at hugely successful Natural Products Scandinavia & Nordic Organic Food Fair 2018

4488 attendees from 66 countries – including senior representatives from Holland and Barrett, Life, Helsekost, Matas, Dansk Supermarket, IKEA, Arket (H&M), ICA, Axfood, Coop Trading, Netto, Lidl, Magasin du Nord, Orkla, Midsona and Total Produce – some of Scandinavia’s biggest buyers, retailers and distributors – were packing the aisles at Natural Products Scandinavia and the Nordic Organic Food Fair 2018.

Held at MalmöMässan on 14-15 November, the event brought together key decision makers from over 1700 companies – interested in expanding their organic food, drink, and eco-living offering from over 500 exhibitors. Notably nearly a third of visitors cited a corporate spend of over €500,000, and 9% reported over €5 million.

“Established as the biggest show for natural and organic in the Nordic region, Natural Products Scandinavia and the Nordic Organic Food Fair was a must-attend event for the industry. Many exhibitors have already reported record orders and hailed the show as a significant success,” says Fiona Allen, portfolio director of Natural Products Scandinavia & Nordic Organic Food Fair.

“This year’s line-up offered our visitors an unrivalled opportunity to see the latest eco living and organic innovations on the market and also get expert advice and insights from leading industry speakers. From the business deals across the floor, to the standing room only Holland & Barrett live pitch, as well as the exhibition stands that just looked incredible – everyone should be very proud of the creativity and innovation on show here. This is a fantastic industry to be a part of!” she says.

‘High calibre’ buyers and ‘impressive’ visitor names

The quality of buyers in attendance certainly didn’t go unnoticed by exhibitors. Many have said the show is the ‘perfect opportunity’ to meet ‘high calibre’ contacts and potential business partners, that have the ‘same ethos’ and ‘appreciate the value’ of eco-alternative products.

Commenting on her exhibiting experience Anna Brightman, co-founder of Upcircle (and Optiat) says: “We’ve had another brilliant year exhibiting at Natural Products Scandinavia in Malmö. This year we launched our rebrand at the show – a fantastic opportunity to show our new range to our existing partners as well as lots of new ones. A highlight for us this year was pitching to Holland & Barrett Sweden – and walking away with a listing. What a phenomenal outcome, and a brilliant way to get our rebrand off to a flying start!”

“I was impressed with the planning of the event, the calibre of exhibitors and the impressive visitor names across the show floor. The program was fully booked with a lot of captivating presentations and seminars. I must say it is the place to be if you want to be in the organic business,” says Emma Bergqvist, founder of Tree of Brands and president of NOC Sweden.

“Natural Products Scandinavia is a super, fun show where the active participation of the visitors (for instance in the Holland & Barrett pitch) adds a good twist to these kind of events. The B2B matchmaking with the Enterprise European Network also deserves the attention of any company looking to attend. Since the fair I’ve been bombarded with requests from many companies around the world wanting to do business with us, which has been a superb result,” says Martin Chab, founder of Ginger Diamonds Sweden AB.

“We found the show to have a high calibre of visitors and was very well organised. We met enthusiastic retailers and buyers, who are ideal for our certified natural skincare brand. They have the same ethos of us and see that natural skincare is the way forward, especially for pregnancy, baby and all mothers,” says Jan Bastard, company director at Motherly Love.

“Our goal at this year’s exhibition was to identify potential distributors for Sweden and Norway since we already export to Finland and Denmark. We now have the luxury to choose between a few distributors for Sweden and Norway, so we’re very pleased with the result,” says Jacob Thundil, director at CocoFina.

“Natural Products Scandinavia was a great way for us to meet fellow brands, retailers, and distributors who appreciate the value in eco-alternative products. We not only formed new business relationships, but also gained invaluable knowledge and insight into business trends,” says Sara Moradi, founder of Ivyverdure.

Insights, reports and future trends

Alongside the show’s bustling exhibition, the three theatres (Natural Theatre, Organic Theatre & Natural Beauty Theatre) were a hive of activity throughout. Highlights included a Baltic research report from Natural Products Global and Moreganic Sourcing, Ekoweb’s annual organic market report, Euromonitor International’s trends in health and wellness, Kosmetikk editor Kristine Rødland’s top beauty picks from the show-floor, Packbridge delivered two sessions about sustainable packaging, and the show’s first live innovation pitch to Holland & Barrett drew in the crowds.

Renowned for displaying the latest products to hit the market, the show-floor was full of new launches and never seen before product innovations. Optiat launched their new re-branded ‘UpCircle’ – a line of products using waste that would otherwise be thrown away, whilst PEZ International GmbH previewed its very first organic ‘porridge to go’ in pouches. As well as its range of luxury speciality teas (including one of the most expensive tea’s in the world’), London Tea Exchange introduced its organic Matcha green tea energy drink. Hevea launched its range of non-toxic/sustainable natural rubber products for dogs and children, Myrtle & Maude presented its new cruelty- free Hydrogel stretch-mark belly mask and Polskie Wody Lecznicze launched its range of ‘healing waters’ that contain natural iodine. As well as this, visitors had a sumptuous display of the latest products in the Innovation Zone, where they could also vote for their favourite products entered into the Natural & Organic Awards Scandinavia.

To see the results of The Natural & Organic Awards Scandinavia, please visit www.naturalproductsscandinavia.com/natural-organic-awards-scandinavia-2018-winners-announced.

Eco-Life Scandinavia launched

Event organiser, Diversified Communications UK, has revealed a new brand and visual identity for Natural Products Scandinavia, which will be known moving forward as Eco Life Scandinavia. This subtle yet significant change reflects the evolving nature of the vibrant sector that it serves and helps to align the brand with Diversified’s existing natural and organic portfolio. Continuing to run alongside the Nordic Organic Food Fair, the show is set to feature the very latest eco, sustainable, vegan, and free-from products in food, drink, health, beauty, and eco-living.

“The new branding and name for 2019 helps to align better with the Scandinavian market. With ambitious plans to grow the show, we felt that the new name, Eco Life Scandinavia, reflects the ever-changing eco and sustainable living market and perfectly summaries what the show is all about,” explains portfolio director Fiona Allen.

“The event is more than just another trade show, it's an aspirational and dynamic event that helps to promote a sustainable future – and is the annual focal event for the industry to meet and do business,” she adds.

Save the date for 2019

Eco Life Scandinavia and the Nordic Organic Food Fair returns to MalmöMässan on 13-14 November 2019. For more information, please visit the website on www.naturalproductsscandinavia.com and www.nordicorganicexpo.com.

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Media enquiries & photography requests to:

Sharna Waid, PR Manager
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Exhibitor enquiries to:

Fiona Allen, Portfolio Director
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