From 27 to 29 November 2018, for the tenth time, trade fair Health ingredients (Hi) Europe & Natural ingredients (Ni) will give a comprehensive overview of functional food innovations. As more and more exhibitors participate, the fair in Frankfurt will take place in a larger hall. In addition to a broad conference programme as part of the Health & Nutrition Week, the Healthy Finished Products Expo premieres.

Europe’s leading trade show for health ingredients is a trend barometer and platform for business and networking: it is the ­industry get-together for all those who are at home in the market for healthy ingredients, food and beverages. International market leaders and start-ups will introduce ingredients, reformulation solutions and concepts for value-added food and beverages. Also ingredients for innovative sports nutrition or dietary supplements as well as novelties in the field of packaging and processing are presented.

The industry has evolved significantly in recent years and, as vegan, vegetarian and flexitarian lifestyles move from niche to mainstream, the market is entering a new era of clean label food and beverage products with rising numbers of natural, organic, functional or “free from” claims.

Products positioned towards food intolerance, fortified, functional, naturally healthy or organic are expected to enjoy global growth of 5 % in retail value terms every year until 2020. In contrast, products with reduced sugar, caffeine or fat content will grow at just 1 %. The “naturally healthy” sector is ripe for innovation: valued at EUR 251 bn in 2015, further growth of more than EUR 63 bn is expected by 2020. Hi Europe & Ni 2018 will reflect this booming marketplace with numerous not-to-be-missed highlights.

Spanning three days, the event provides a complete overview of the health and nutrition industries. International leaders in healthy food and beverage innovation will showcase the latest solutions for food and drink formulation and reformulation, dietary supplements, nutraceuticals, organics, packaging, processing – and more. More than 500 exhibitors are confirmed, including global players such as ADM, Beneo, Glanbia Nutritionals, Lonza and Naturex.

More than 10,000 visitors from about 100 countries are expected to attend and explore several themed pavilions: Organic, Natural, Free From, Expo FoodTec and country pavilions. In addition, the new Healthy Finished Product Expo will present a selection of those products that have already made their way into retail.

Health & Nutrition Week will run alongside Hi Europe & Ni 2018, offering a top-level thought leadership programme, starting on 24 November. Working together with external experts from the food industry, academia, market research and more, organizer UBM has created an inspiring line-up of topical presentations and workshops. The Week includes, for example, the one-day Hi Future of Nutrition Summit on 26 November, which will explore cutting-edge innovations that are likely to change the food and beverage industry.

On 27 and 28 November, the immersive, interactive Hi 5-Senses Conference will target all five senses via an insightful mix of keynote presentations, panel discussions and debates. Additionally, on 29 November, it is the third year that women in the industry are invited to attend the Women’s Networking Breakfast to make connections and share advice – and for the first time this year, also men are invited to join.