Scandinavia’s first natural and organic products trade show opens in Malmö this weekend

Key buyers and managers from leading Nordic health stores and pharmacy chains – including Matas, Hälsa för Alla, Nature, Apotek hjärtat, Apoteksgruppen, Vårdapoteket, Helsam, and Helsemin – are just some of the thousands of visitors set to attend Natural Products Scandinavia this weekend for the Scandinavian natural and organic products industry’s first-ever dedicated trade show.  Taking place on Sunday and Monday, 14-15 October, in Malmö, Sweden, visitors will be treated to a wealth of new natural, organic, Fairtrade, free-from, sustainable, and healthy living products from 170 exhibiting companies.

Having enjoyed strong industry and association endorsement from its inception, Natural Products Scandinavia’s exciting two day line-up has also attracted many of the region’s key distributors – who in addition to exhibiting themselves will also be sending buyers to Malmö to source a host of new international products for their trade customers.  Amongst them are Sweden’s HKC Edenvard AB; Tamro AB; Hela Parma AB; Bringwell AB; Acrilex; Octean AB; and Elixir Pharma; plus Denmark’s Danasan A/S; medica Clincal Nord Danmark A/S; Novasel EU APS; and Panacea Aps.

Life Europe AB, Scandinavia’s leading retail chain for health products and services, which boasts nearly 500 stores across Sweden, Norway and Finland, will also be hosting its annual conference throughout the two day event.

Carsten Holm, managing director of the show’s organiser Diversified Business Communications UK, is delighted with how seriously the Nordic natural and organic products industry have taken the launch, which sold out of all exhibition space in September:

“The Nordic countries are known throughout the world for their commitment to self care and for taking personal responsibility for their own well being and for living natural and healthy lifestyles.  In every respect the Nordic region is leading the world in natural health care so it is really not surprising that the event has had such strong interest from around the world, with over 27 countries represented.”

Given the Nordic region’s continued strong growth in the sales of health and wellness products, which according to a recent report by EuroMonitor totalled nearly €3.8 billion in 2010 in Sweden alone (closely followed by Norway, Finland and Denmark), the show presents a unique opportunity for Scandinavian retailers looking to expand their share of this lucrative market as the majority of their customers are already well-informed of the health-related benefits of using natural products.

One show feature that has certainly generated a wealth of pre-registered visitor interest is Natural Products Scandinavia’s New Product Showcase.  With many launches timed specifically to coincide with the event, attending buyers can enjoy an exclusive preview of a new product developments before they reach their competitor’s shelves.  Always a popular destination at Diversified UK’s London trade event, visitors to the showcase on Sunday 14 October will also be able to vote for their favourite best new natural beauty product, new health food product, new health & nutrition product, and new eco & sustainable product.  Once the votes are counted, the lucky winners of Natural Products Scandinavia’s first ever Innovation Awards will then be announced later that same day at 4.30pm during the show’s complimentary drinks reception at the HKC Cafe.

Other first day highlights – after the show has been officially opened at 9am by Lari Pitkä-Kangas, president and deputy Mayor of Malmö Fairtrade City – include a packed programme of free Keynotes across two dedicated theatres.  Hosted by leading industry speakers, The Nordic Self Care Conference (14-15 October) includes sessions by TV personality Lene Hansson from Denmark, business consultant Stefan Engeseth from Sweden, super food guru Mikael Makinen from Finland, Yanna Barakova and Plamen Barakov from Bulgaria, Simon Pettman, Geeta Sidhu Robb, and retail trainer Alf Dunbar from the UK, to mention just a few.

Those visitors unable to attend on Sunday will be sure to find plenty to keep them busy at the show on the Monday.  Keynote highlights at the show’s Natural Beauty Conference on 15 October include sessions by leading natural health and beauty authority Iréne von Arronet, Jorgen Gade Hyldgaard from Hygade Aps on organic and natural cosmetic certification in Denmark; Marit Göransson from the association of professional skin therapists in Sweden – SHR (Sveriges Hudterapeuters Riksorganisation); and Amarjit Sahota, president of Organic Monitor in the UK, who’ll be discussing major trends and developments in the European/Nordic market for natural and organic cosmetics.

Natural Products Scandinavia will be held in Malmö, Sweden, in the new Malmömässan this weekend.  The show is open from 9am to 5pm on both Sunday and Monday, 14-15 October.  Attending the event is free for trade visitors.

[Text/Logo: Natural Products Scandinavia]