Vitafoods Asia, a Pan-Asian nutraceutical event concluded its fourth edition in Hong Kong with more than 170 suppliers from all over the world.
The event hosted 2,474 trade professionals from across the region, which represented an 11% increase in visitor attendance.
A large proportion of visitors were senior decision-makers, including executives from companies such as Danone, Blackmores, Korea Yakult, and Tate and Lyle, as well as distributors.
As the Asian nutraceutical market continues to gain strong interest on the international stage, industry players expect the region to increase in dominance.
Frost & Sullivan says the Asia Pacific region generated the largest demand for the global nutraceuticals market in 2013, contributing to 37% of total market revenue, which is valued at US$175 billion.
“We first exhibited at Vitafoods Asia last year and gained plenty of new business as a result of our participation. Our experience this year is even more fruitful than our last,” said Nori Shirai, GM of international marketing department of Daiwa Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd (Japan).
“This is our first time in Hong Kong for Vitafoods Asia and I find the content to be rich and varied,” said Srikanth IYENGAR, assistant GM of marketing at Curatio Healthcare (I) Pvt. Ltd. (India).
He is a frequent visitor to sister show Vitafoods Europe.
“We’ve obtained many good contacts from the American and Malaysian Pavilions here, so it’s been a good trip.”
As part of their effort to connect businesses, the organisers held a Hosted Buyer Programme in partnership with the China Health Care Association, where a group of exhibitors presented their products to senior buyers from China.
Malaysian exhibitors also met with these buyers in a ‘Malaysia meets China’ closed-door session.
At the New Products Zone and the Tasting Bar in the Finished Products Pavilion, visitors maximised their time at the show by drawing their attention to the most innovative ingredients and applications available.
Linda Jewitt, product director of Buckets (USA) said the Tasting Bar helped narrow her search for suitable suppliers.
The fifth edition of Vitafoods Asia will be held on September 2 to 3, 2015 at the AsiaWorld-Expo, Hong Kong.
