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Vegan-sceptics welcomed at Plant Based World Expo
From fringe to mainstream: Plant Based World Expo brings together all things plant-based under one roof for food and beverage professionals.
VEGAN-SCEPTICS
welcomed at Plant Based World Expo
Plant-based brands shared their vision with attendees last October
Abigail Stevens, Marketing Director
Plant Based World Conference and Expo Europe at Olympia London, runs from November 30th to December 1st, 2022. Abigail Stevens, Marketing Director explained what the event offers to visitors. Questions by Phil Nicholls.
Plant Based World Expo is Europe’s largest 100% plant-based event for trade professionals. What are the benefits to businesses attending a dedicated plant-based tradeshow?
It’s undeniable, what once was considered ‘fringe’ is now well and truly mainstream. The demand for plant-based food options has skyrocketed since 2017, and the category is continuing to experience strong year on year growth. With more businesses offering plant-based options, the competition is fiercer than ever, and an easy way to stand out is to offer a wide range of innovative products on shelves and menus.
Plant Based World Expo Europe brings together suppliers from around the globe who are eager to demonstrate their latest product launches. Alongside a packed show floor covering categories from meat alternatives to confectionary, the conference program is designed to give buyers important insights into where the industry is going next, with expert speakers who can explain where the next opportunities are for businesses.
How has the 2022 Plant Based World Expo model evolved as a result of your experiences in 2021 and at events in the United States? What is new for this year?
We were humbled by the fantastic reception Plant Based World Expo received in October 2021 when we launched our event at the Business Design Centre in London. There was so much hunger for an event of this kind that we have had to move our show for 2022 to Olympia London to accommodate that growth.
This year you’ll see more educational content on the show floor with the addition of our Learning Garden Theatre, as well as more international presence in terms of our content and exhibitors.
With the adoption of a plant-based lifestyle sweeping the globe, how will Plant Based World Expo help to facilitate this process?
We are the facilitator. The innovation in this space is phenomenal, I’m regularly seeing updates from companies raising millions in investment for their plant-based products. With huge leaps in taste and texture, along with manufacturers scaling up their operations to reduce the cost to consumers, the final hurdle is availability.
We want to educate retailers, foodservice suppliers, restauranteurs, and chefs about the opportunities plant-based foods present to their business, their customers and our planet. Once they understand the benefits, we can facilitate buyer/supplier introductions at our show to help make plant-based products available in establishments across the continent.
What visitor and exhibitor numbers are you targeting for this year?
We are expecting twice as many attendees this year with over 4,000 food and beverage professionals coming to meet over 200 exhibitors on our show floor.
What can visitors expect from their trip to Plant Based World Expo Europe?
Come hungry! Even the most vegan-sceptical attendees were blown away by the quality of plant-based products on show last time, and we’re expecting twice as much excitement this year. As well as a wide array of products on show, we’ll be programming a world-class conference for buyers in retail and in foodservice. We’ll also be running
From fringe to mainstream: Plant Based World Expo brings together all things plant-based under one roof for food and beverage professionals.
several networking events, so you’ll be able to meet lots of fellow food and drink professionals!
What benefits can companies expect to gain from exhibiting at Plant Based World Expo Europe?
With this burgeoning industry, it’s more important than ever to stay relevant and front-of-mind with business customers. New launches in the plant-based space are exciting signs of growth but will make it harder for individual brands to be noticed by buyers. If you’re serious about competing for shelf space and getting noticed by caterers, you need to be at Plant Based World Expo.
Please can you tell me more about your conference programme –who do you have lined up to speak and what topics are high on the agenda?
Our conference program will be released in the autumn, but I can tell you now that we’ll be focusing our content on challenges and opportunities for buyers in retail and foodservice. We are designing our program with feedback from our Buyers Council, with industry experts leading sessions.
What do you consider to be the main plant-based industry challenges for 2022 and the upcoming years? How far do events such as Plant Based World Expo go in helping companies overcome such difficulties?
With the meteoric rise of plant-based alternatives, comes the challenge of competition for brands looking to get market share. Shelf space in retailers is limited and competition is fierce, as is the world of foodservice. The challenge is two-fold, as buyers in retail and foodservice are being overwhelmed with choice, struggling to stay on top of trends and connect with the right suppliers.
A conference session for buyers of plant-based
Cultured nut cheeses were popular with attendees
Rising inflation and a looming food security crisis will only exacerbate the current pressures on buyers, but the food industry has the power and responsibility to champion the solution. Plant-based food, with its lower carbon footprint and water usage, should be at the forefront of their strategies to tackle these issues.
Plant Based World Expo is an event that addresses these needs. Manufacturers can bring their innovative products to our event then display them front and centre, while buyers have a one-stop solution to sourcing the right plant-based food and beverages for their businesses.
On a personal level, what aspect of Plant Based World Expo Europe 2022 are you most excited about?
I’ve followed a vegan diet and lifestyle since 2012, so for me personally, it’s so exciting to watch the innovation first-hand. If you had the misfortune of eating a vegetarian burger in 2012, chances are it would have been a selection of bland, mushy vegetables squeezed into a breadcrumb coating. You would be hard-pressed to have this experience in 2022, and you won’t be able to find a bland plant-based sausage in sight at Plant Based World Expo.
The progress and innovation in this industry is nothing short of astonishing – and being able to eat and drink my way around the show without checking a label is also a plus! n Plant Based World Expo Europe will be at Olympia London on November 30-1st December, 2022. Admission is free for food and beverage professionals. For more details on how to register, visit: www.plantbasedworldeurope.com/register.asp
If you are a buyer of plant-based food for your business and would like to learn more about this industry, Plant Based World Expo Europe would like to invite you to attend the conference program. Please get in touch by emailing: abigail@jdevents.com
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