Event description

BIO Industry surprised this year

– a record-breaking number of exhibitors, a record-breaking number of visitors and a record-breaking number of products submitted to the competition of the Gold Medal of NATURA FOOD 2016.

9^th International Trade Fair for Organic and Natural Food NATURA FOOD as well as 5^th Ecological Lifestyle Fair beECO are hailed as the most important industry event of organic products in Poland, as well as in Central and Eastern Europe. The current edition proved to be a record-breaking in the number of exhibitors - almost 370 companies presented their offer. Among the exhibitors there were present well-recognized companies for bio-products in the Polish market. The others were entrepreneurs, who were debuting with their offer, presenting new products and innovative solutions. NATURA FOOD and beECO Fairs gave an unique opportunity to explore a wide range of high quality products manufactured by Polish and foreign producers in one place.

The program of the fair was full of many interesting side events, which were prepared for the industry professionals as well as conscious and demanding connoisseurs of eco style. The fair was visited by nearly 12 thousand people, among which were representatives of eco- business managers, persons responsible for purchases in retail chains, store owners, wholesalers and distributors of food, as well as representatives of embassies of European countries.

RECORD NUMBER OF EXHIBITORS

In this year’s edition of the NATURA FOOD  and beECO Fairs nearly 370 companies from Poland and abroad took part in the event. There were i.e.: producers, processors, exporters and distributors of high quality food. The vast majority of exhibitors, more than 50%, presented products with certified organic and natural products, low-processed, based on  high quality ingredients. During the fair, there we also presented products from the vege segment, fit, superfoods (natural food, rich in nutrients) and organic line of products for children. Also the new were organic products ready for consumption, which is an option for people living fast. Also, there was a wide range of manufacturers of non-food items, such as natural and organic cosmetics and cleaning products. Widely represented, this year, were dietary supplements and superfoods. Among the exhibitors were manufacturers of modern appliances i.e.: low-speed extruders for fruit and vegetables. Exhibitors from foreign countries: Ukraine, Great Britain, Germany, Czech Republic, Lithuania, Italy, Greece, Sweden filled up the representation of Polish companies.

INDUSTRY EVENTS

As every year, the fair was accompanied by a series of industry meetings focusing on producers, processors, as well as to the stores owners offering high quality food, restaurateurs and catering, i.e.: Biokurier Academy, BIObusiness Forum. Among the leading themes there were emerged issues related to visual marketing, franchising, law, labeling and certification, online sales, the use of organic products in the restaurant or even awareness of being bio-restaurateur. On Friday, October the 7th, was held an event called Polish Organic Sector Forum, organized jointly with the publisher of the magazine EKODOSTAWCY, during which were discussed the key issues for the Organic sector. This year’s edition proved to be a record-breaking in this area as well.  Over 130 managers took part in the Forum. It is a proof that Polish Organic Sector Forum is the most important business meeting for companies and retailers in the organic products sector. This event is also the best argument that the industry of certified food is growing rapidly. Therefore, the opportunity to exchange information and experiences was invaluable for companies related to trade of bio-products. This year’s Forum was devoted primarily to local and global factors, the development of the market for organic products, as well as changes in their area of distribution. The Forum hosted many experts during the discussion: Sławomir Chłoń, president of OFZ SA, Zbigniew Kozłowski, Vice president of Symbio Polska SA and Michał Kapica, president of Smak Natury. They discussed, among others, about whether stores retail chains represent a significant competition for specialist delicatessens. The second part of the Forum was devoted to the efficient marketing of bio-products. Łukasz Walczak, a board member of Food Look Sp. o.o., Agata Szczepaniak, manager of the fair NATURE FOOD and Alicja Kulbicka, publisher of EKOdostawcy talked, among others, about what role in food trade of BIO-products can play emotions. 3^rd Polish Organic Sector Forum was a huge success and it is expected that it will be permanently inscribed in the calendar of important meetings in the B2B Organic sector. During the meeting there was held a solemn ceremony of handing over the statuettes Eco-Innovation 2015-2016, which received 13 companies: Nova Cosmetics Charsznickie Pola Natury, Poloniak – Szlachetne zdrowie, EkoHurtownia.pl, NaturAvena Ltd., Ecovariant, Naura – z miłości do natury, Dary Natury, Eco Blik, Symbio Polska SA, Eko-Wital, BIO Planet and Rodzinna Wytwórnia Makaronów-  Fabijańscy.

For the first time there was organized the conference “Fairtrade - take advantage of the market opportunity” by the “Coalition for Fair Trade - Fairtrade Poland ”, during which renowned experts drew fair-trade certification system.

During the NATURA FOOD and beECO Fair s there was organized one session of 4^th  International Congress of the bio-economy, held in Lodz on 6-7 October, dedicated to the export of high quality food.

NEW PROGRAM EXHIBITION

A new subject, which was strongly emphasized this year, both within the exhibition stand and in the accompanying program, was an allergy. As part of the NATURA FOOD and beECO there were widely presented products of the segment that is free from allergens – without gluten, lactose, eggs or sugar, as well as natural cosmetics and cleaning products. Knowledge associated with allergies was intensified during the Forum of Allergy, which has been prepared jointly with the editorial Hipoalergiczni. Editor-in- chief of the magazine Hipoalergiczni - Zaneta Geltz, led it and the special guest was a well-known allergist prof. Krzysztof Buczyłko from Allergy Center in Lodz .  Forum participants received information abort the different types of allergies. They learned how to compose a diet using natural products and what the role in the fight against allergies acts natural cosmetics. Editorial Hipoalergiczni gave a closer look to the topic “Allergy Decalogue” and the project ”Happy Evolution – 10 steps to health, happiness and balance”

In turn, culinary enthusiasts who are active in the Polish blogosphere took part in the National Meeting of Culinary Bloggers. They went under the slogan “The Internet in nature - nature of the Internet” Culinary bloggers, proponents of a healthy lifestyle and being fit talked about the quality of the natural food and strength of organic farming, how to present organic products in the Internet and how to talk about culinary trails and finally, how to make a blog to be read and recognizable. The participants took part in culinary photography workshops conducted by Canon. Hostess of the meeting was Monika Kucia – culinary journalist and curator.

FAIR COMPETITION

The fair also resolved Gold Medal Competition of NATURA FOOD 2016. In the current edition has been noted a record-breaking number of submitted products to the competition – 54 products, which were presented during the whole event. Professional jury consisting of representatives of scientific bodies and certified institutes, associations, professional organizations and specialized press evaluated the products. Competition resolved in 5 categories: Polish organic products, abroad organic products, Polish natural products, natural products overseas, and traditional products.

Gold Medals of NATURA FOOD 2016 went to: Rodzinna Wytwórnia Makaronów Fabijańscy (Millet Pasta) Okręgowa Spółdzielnia Mleczarska w Piątnicy (organic milk 1 liter), Olvit Krzysztof Dziadach (wheat germ oil, cold pressed unrefined), Eterno s.c. (Salsa Paprika), Farma Wąsowo (beets with honey), SEMCO Krystyna Just (hemp oil), EkoHurtownia.pl (Raw Chocolate Cherry and Vanilla BIO 45g), Greco Products (Greek Mountain sideritis of OLYMPU BIO), OrganicHouse Sp. o.o. (fresh dates).

The cup of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Krzysztof Jurgiel went to Rodzinna Wytwórnia Makaronów Fabijańscy, for products Pasta millet and Pasta Pea, in the category of organic products, and to The Agricultural Cooperative Peasant Self-Help in Dźwierzuty (Bakery) for rye bread with pumpkin seeds in the category of traditional products.

This year was full of rivalries. There were selected winners of other completions as “The best organic farm” “The crucible Taste” and “The best shop with organic food”, “Weekend breakfast to bed” and “With carp for you brother”.  There were also culinary competitions for school’s catering under the patronage of the National Association of Processors and Producers of Organic Products “Polska Ekologia”.  In the consumer poll for the best product presented during NATURA FOOD 2016 won fresh dates of foreign companies OrganicHouse Sp. o.o.

During NATURA FOOD there could not be missed attractions for cooking and food lovers. The biggest stars of television cooking shows presented cooking artistry. Presentations were held in a special culinary zone and were run by i.e.: Joanna Jakubiuk, Marcin Piotrowski, Jarosław Maliszewski, Carlos González Tejera. Enthusiasts of good cooking had the opportunity to attend a presentation on a vegan gluten-free cuisine, which was conducted by a duet with from the Atelier Smaku - Jola Słoma and Mirek Trymbulak. This year Lodz restaurateurs presented healthy desserts based on millet (Freaky Vege dinner), real Italian Tagliattelle, and healthy, quick and simple sauces (Baccaro Kitchen). For those who fancy drinks, it was shown how easy is to prepare them in your own kitchen (ChiufaMix).

Sponsors of this year’s accompanying events were: The wholesale market conventions ZJAZDOWA, Lokalny Rolnik, Stalgast Poland, Dary Natury, Fiskars, Ronic, Chufa Mix Poland .

As every year the NATURA FOOD and beECO fairs were friendly to the little once. Parents  could leave kids under the watchful eye of caregivers who, in accordance with the principle of learning-playing, inspired youngsters to environmental games and activities. The staff of Kindergarten Ecological EKOLUDEK created the special atmosphere of EKOchild zone.

Honorary patrons of the fair were the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Association of Polish Regions and the Governor of Lodz, Marshal of Lodz and the Mayor of the City of Lodz .

See you next year in October!

10th  NATURA FOOD Fair and 6th beECO Fair