Free From Food Expo 2015 - The Ultimate Showcase

Preparations under way for third edition in Barcelona

Free From Food Expo is growing - fast. It is the international trade fair and showcase for manufacturers and suppliers of Free From food and ingredients - and it's now in its third year. A dedicated key trading and networking platform, it is also where top decision makers source new products and keep up to date with trends and innovations in the Free From sector. This year's show will be held in Barcelona on June 4th and 5th.

The bigger picture

More than just a trade fair - the event is a hub of information focusing solely on a category that has everyone talking. Suppliers and buyers can swap information, share experiences, make new contacts and build international relationships. And of course, everyone can learn from the experts that will be attending and exhibiting. There will be a full conference theatre programme at the 2015 show - which last year featured more than 50 speakers including health and allergy experts, analysts and marketing specialists.

Free From - and booming

The Free From market has doubled in size in just five years to reach an estimated £365million - and is expected to increase again by more than 50 per cent between 2014 and 2019, UK market research experts at Mintel reveal. The growing availability of quality Free From products, from convenience foods to confectionery and bread, in the UK - is now helping the category move into mainstream. Increased demand is also fuelling a boom in new product launches, particularly those that are gluten free. Greater awareness of allergies and intolerances has helped the sector to expand - with just as many people avoiding gluten and dairy as part of a healthy lifestyle, their research suggests.

"The UK Free From market continues to post impressive growth driven by an increasing awareness of allergies and intolerances and those who are opting to go Free From as part of a generally healthy lifestyle choice."  Mintel, November 2014

Innovate and celebrate

The Innovation Pavilion showcases the best new Free From products at the event. All exhibitors are asked to present their products on pavilion shelves with retail buyers and visitors asked to select the product they most prefer - based on attributes such as product and packaging. Two industry leaders will present the winner with a FFF name board at the exhibitor party. Last year's winner was British-based Perkier Foods Ltd and their Rocky Road snacks.

Why exhibit?

The Free From Food Expo is a hive of opportunity for suppliers. They will have the chance to meet European buyers face to face and introduce their products. More than 90 per cent of previous exhibitors have said that they achieved or over achieved on their targets whilst more than 80 per cent said that they expected to generate sales as a direct result of exhibiting. The event attracts visitors from retail supermarkets, grocery stores, restaurant chains, food manufacturers and health food stores and food service.

Ian Hills, on behalf of UK-based Nature's Path, who specialise in gluten free breakfast cereals, commented: "Last year we walked Brussels and realised we'd missed a trick. Many of the great and the good were in attendance and yet Nature's Path was nowhere to be seen. We hold up our hands when we make a mistake and more importantly do something about it. This is why in 2015 we're bringing our North American CEO to speak at the show - as well as our new stand."

Why visit?

It is a dedicated worldwide market place for the Free From industry. Free From Food Expo is the European trade event to source a diverse and unique range of Free From products - and all under one roof. Gluten free, lactose free, dairy free, fat free, salt free, GM free, nut free and wheat free...and many, many more. This year's exhibitors from across Europe and beyond, so far include the American Muffin Company, Glebe Farm Foods, Molino Nicoli, Sweet-Switch and Warburtons.

Sven Algoet, from Belgium-based Sweet-Switch sugar-free products including cereal bars, confectionery and fruit spreads, said: "Sweet-Switch is always looking to find new buyers. We supply supermarkets and fine food and speciality stores as well as organic, health food shops, catering companies, online stores and pharmacy stores. Each buyer, whatever their market scope, can find products matching their needs."

Ronald Holman, Free From Food Expo exhibition director, commented: "This is the ultimate platform for Free From food and Free From ingredients suppliers, to showcase their varied products in a dedicated market place. They include gluten free, dairy free and sugar free products - as well as products that are egg free, fat free and nut free.  If last year's fair was anything to go by - we are expecting more exhibitors than ever before as well as buyers and industry professionals - reflecting the rapid pace at which the Free From category is growing at. For retailers, hospitality providers, manufacturers and foodservice operators - this really is the opportunity to source the very best of the Free From sector."

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Editor's Notes

Free From Food Expo - Food/Ingredients take place on June 4th and June 5th at Hall 1, Gran Via, Fira Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain. The exhibition opens each day at 10am and closes at 5pm.

For all the latest updates on what's happening at the Free From Food Expo visit www.freefromfoodexpo.com or on Twitter @FreeFromFood15.