FDBusiness.com

Vitafoods Europe is to introduce a host of innovative attractions that will put the emphasis on interactivity, organisers have revealed. The new features are designed to bring the nutrition industry to life and enable visitors to experience fresh ways to meet the business challenges they face now and in the future.

Attractions premiering at the event in 2016 include a Sports Nutrition Zone, where visitors can discover the very latest developments in the exciting and fast-growing sports nutrition category. There will also be a chance to raise money for charity by taking part in the ‘Vitafit’ cycling challenge.

In the new Life Stage Theatre, leading independent experts will showcase specific nutrition requirements for consumers of all ages, from infant to senior. In the Optimal Health Testing Centre, meanwhile, exhibitors will demonstrate how it is possible to identify specific health needs and deliver tailored nutrition solutions to meet them.

Also debuting at Vitafoods Europe is the Springboard Pavilion, which provides a dedicated space for visitors to engage with start-ups and other entrepreneurs at the cutting edge of the nutrition sector. It will offer insights into the latest ingredients, products and technologies that make it possible to tap into current and future trends.

The new Tasting Bar Spotlight will be an extension of the existing Tasting Bar. It will give exhibitors the chance to present their products to visitors while simultaneously offering them the opportunity to taste and sample them. The Vitafoods Launchpad, meanwhile, is a new feature where visitors can hear concise, bite-sized presentations from exhibitors about the latest product launches in the nutrition industry.

The new Packaging Innovation Centre will provide an insight into advances in packaging technology, with a focus on hot topics such as pack design, delivery systems, convenience, geo-adaptation, labelling and sustainability. Elsewhere, the Advice Centre – situated in the Vitafoods Europe Services & Equipment area – will enable exhibitors and visitors to connect one-to-one and discuss specific challenges and opportunities in specialist areas such as regulation, testing, quality assurance and marketing.

Chris Lee, Vitafoods Portfolio Director at Informa Exhibitions, said: “We live in a digital age, but nothing can beat the experience of seeing the latest nutrition industry developments first-hand and up close. Vitafoods Europe 2016 will bring together more exhibitors and more interactive features than any other event to enable visitors to discover the new ideas and solutions that can help them to shape the future of their businesses.”

Vitafoods Europe 2016 will take place at the Palexpo in Geneva from 10-12 May 2016. The show will be segmented into four distinct sectors:

• Ingredients & Raw Materials
• Finished Products
• Contract Manufacturing & Private Label
• Services & Equipment

The new additions for 2016 will build on the many existing, successful attractions that have proved popular with visitors in previous years. Among the regular features returning will be the Innovation Tours, the Market & Trends Overview in association with Innova Market Insights, the New Products Zones for finished products and ingredients, and the Exhibitor Presentation Theatre.

The Omega-3 Resource Centre in association with GOED, which made its debut at Vitafoods Europe 2015, returns in 2016 but will be twice as big with many new features. Also returning after a successful launch in 2015 are the independently judged Nutraingredients Awards, which highlight and recognize the best innovations in the nutrition industry.

Coming back for a third year running is the Nutrition Capital Network European Investor Meeting, where businesses and individuals in the nutrition sector can present their ideas to strategic and private equity investors. This event will take place on Monday 9 May 2016, the day before the show itself opens.

Visitors and exhibitors of a sporting disposition are again invited to take part in the Vitafoods Europe 5km run around the Palexpo grounds before the exhibition hall opens on the second day of the show.

The Vitafoods Europe Conference will once again offer an unrivalled opportunity to hear about the latest scientific developments and market trends from leading academics and top global industry experts. There will be multiple streams across a range of categories, including infant and cognitive health, ensuring there will be something for everyone.

Highlights on the conference programme include presentations revealing the findings of major EU-funded projects into weight management and healthy eating, which will be presented publicly for the first time at Vitafoods Europe 2016.