The global market for natural and organic foods was $26.6 billion in 2000; the global market for functional foods and supplements that same year was $102.2 billion. Both categories promise even more growth in the next five years.

With this in mind, manufacturers, raw material suppliers, wholesalers, distributors, importers, exporters and retailers who want to tap into the expanding international market may want to attend two international trade show this spring. Both shows are being produced by Penton Europe and Penton Asia—Penton is the parent company of New Hope Natural Media, publisher of The Natural Foods Merchandiser.

Natural Products Expo Asia
This inaugural event will be held May 15-18 in Hong Kong.

Asia is a thriving international marketplace for traditional Chinese medicine, herbal supplements and organic agriculture. Asian governments are complying with European and North American standards to facilitate a flow of quality-controlled products for export.

An emerging middle class and a vast populace has led some industry experts to predict that Asia will become the dominant player in the natural products marketplace, according to Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals magazine.

More than 350 Asian and international companies are expected to exhibit at the show; China, Japan and the Untied States are expected to have the strongest presence. An estimated 6,000 international retail and wholesale buyers will attend.

For more information about the show, visit www.naturalproductsasia.com.

Natural Products Expo Europe
The third annual Expo Europe will take place in Amsterdam June 12-13.

The European market for organic retail products totaled $9.1 billion in 2000, and sales growth for various countries is predicted to range from 10 percent to 50 percent. The 2000 functional foods and supplements market was $44.8 billion. U.S. sales for the same year were $49 billion. Datamonitor and Leatherhead RA reports project the functional foods market in Europe to grow 30 percent between now and 2003.

Last year at Natural Products Expo Europe, 3,250 attendees from 81 countries saw products and services offered by 275 exhibitors from more than 40 countries. More than 200 new products were introduced at that show.

For visitor information and registration, visit www.expoeurope.com.

Natural Foods Merchandiser volume XXIII/number 3/p. 38