“Busy, buzzy, brilliant” – Olympia show draws record crowds

By
Jim Manson
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This year’s Natural & Organic Products Europe  (7-8 April) drew a record attendance, says the show’s organiser Diversified UK.

The show, now in its 17th year, attracted 8,810 industry professionals from 76 different countries – a 20% increase in unique attendees (excluding revisits) compared to 7,352 in 2012.
The surge in visitor numbers further confirms Natural & Organic Products Europe’s position as the leading European show for both the natural and organic sectors (including health care, food and beauty). As well as seeing a strong increase in the number of independent health store buyers, the show attracted key buyers from Boots, Amazon, John Bell & Croyden, Waitrose, Ocado, NBTY Europe, Harrods, Abel & Cole, Superdrug, Planet Organic, Whole Foods Market, Tesco, Spar, Selfridges, Marks & Spencer, Asda, Fenwick, Graze, Harvey Nichols, and Feelunique.com. Buyers also came from the major distributors, wholesalers and exporters and food service sector.

The big crowds and palpable energy of the 2013 event drew plaudits from the across the industry, with the show being described as “incredibly busy”, “really buzzy throughout both days” and Sunday night’s Awards as “just brilliant”.

As well packed show floor there was high energy ‘infotainment’ to be had in the busy Natural Kitchen, where leading chefs, high profile foodies and nutrition experts cooked up brilliant dishes and served up food for thought. And there were highly some thought-provoking seminar sessions in the Natural Products Live and Natural Beauty theatres.

Around 500 people attended a glittering Natural & Organic Awards ceremony hosted by leading children’s TV and wildlife presenter, Michaela Strachan. Kinetic Enterprises founders Kim ad Alexander Barani picked up the final award of the evening, the Natural Products Outstanding Achievement Award.

• Full show, awards and seminar reports coming soon.

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