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London’s ExCel exhibition centre played host to yet another showcase of global innovation in mid April, as Natural & Organic Products Europe (NOPE) returned for its latest outing in the heart of the UK capital.
Boasting a range of “the best, most environmentally friendly, health-conscious” products covering all sectors of the fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) industry, NOPE attracted more than 7,300 visitors all keen to take in the latest trends and innovations in categories ranging from organic foods and beverages, natural health and sustainable skincare, through to plant-based products and eco-friendly household products.
The show also claimed to have featured its biggest ever Hosted Buyer Programme with representation from 19 countries, and in total welcomed over 1,100 overseas visitors from 74 countries.
Meanwihle new for 2023, the “Independent Day” initiative – celebrating independent health and food stores – reportedly had hundreds of participants from across the UK and Ireland.
Across the exhibition halls, which were divided into sectors labelled Natural Health, Eco Living, Natural Beauty & Spa, Natural Food Show and Vegan World, a number of important areas of innovation were apparent, as suppliers mobilised to keep pace with changing trends and consumer behaviours. In particular, ‘Food as medicine’ proved to be a popular theme, with companies tapping into interest in self-care with new launches touting healing properties. In a similar vein, the prominence of nootropic drinks pointed to a growing fascination with products that can offer cognitive benefits.
Elsewhere, interest in protein enhancement shows little sign of diminishing, demonstrating the extent to which the value of protein has become firmly embedded in the consumer psyche. From an ingredient point of view, buckwheat was a standout, featuring in products as diverse as chocolate and drinks.
NOPE returns to ExCel for its 28th outing next year, running from 14th to 15th April 2024.
