​​Companies from emerging countries increase market share on the European market

Products from emerging market are becoming increasingly more popular. Products like chia bars, golden berry fruit snacks, quinoa bread and purple dragon fruit smoothies can now be found in European food stores. Increasingly not only the ingredients come from emerging markets, but also the final product presentation and the brand ownership belongs to these local companies.

This augmented popularity is reflected in the consistently growing export volumes from developing countries in comparison to developed countries or even the rest of the world. The World Trade Organization reported that between 2000 and 2008 the export volume from emerging markets almost doubled while world exports only increased by 50 per cent. This trend seems to be continuing.

Since these emerging markets want to access the European Market, Corporate Social Responsibility also becomes gradually more important. This means that proper working conditions, product traceability, high quality products and sustainable production processes become the standard.

This yearinternational food business fair SIAL will be a platform for a large contingent of innovative brands from emerging and developing countries. Especially Latin America will receive the spotlights since it is this year’s region of honour. The amount of companies exhibiting at SIAL fromdeveloping markets hasrisen steadily, now representing a significant part of the exhibition. In addition these companies are not just presenting traditional exotic produce but provide modern innovative food solutions.

Many of these emerging markets include companies active in CBI country programmes for natural ingredients oragriculture. This year a record amount of over 40 CBI companies will exhibit at SIAL.All these companies are participants in export coaching programmes financed bythe Dutch government which helps innovative small and medium sized enterprises from emerging/developing countries export to the European market.The CBI companies will showcase innovative products such as 100% fruit and sweet quinoa bars, pitaya smoothies,amono-floralrambutanhoney and new gourmet teas with ingredients from the Colombian Amazon.