Anticipation is building for Europe's fastest-growing free-from trade expo: Free From Food/Ingredients 2015.
There are less than three weeks to go until the event kicks off in Barcelona, taking place on 4 and 5 June.
The finest free-from products from the UK, the USA, Italy and Germany, as well as the Netherlands, Belgium, Australia and Israel, will all be on display under the one roof in Gran Via at Fira Barcelona.
As well as international trading and networking opportunities, the exhibition will feature a cast of expert speakers in the Conference Centre.
They'll include Hamish Renton, who runs a successful boutique marketing business specialising in dairy, free-from, foodservice, retail and FMCG. His talk, entitled 'The Perfect Storm', will focus on the global free-from market over the next 12 months.
Speaking about the category, Renton said, "The free-from category is growing all over the world, with most countries seeing positive growth last year. In terms of the future of free-from, new EU labelling laws, which came into action in December 2014, are likely to be a growth driver."
Other speakers include Mintel's David Jago, who'll discuss trends and opportunities in the growing market of gluten-free foods; Arjan Stephens, from breakfast-cereal specialist Nature's Path, talking about the successes, learnings and values of an independent, family-run company; Sarah Sleet, from Coeliac UK, on gluten-free certification; and Bruno Almeida, from the Portuguese Diabetes Association, discussing the healthy and sugar-free market in Portugal.
Meanwhile, the stage has been set and dozens of exhibitors – from manufacturers and suppliers to producers and experts specialising in all areas of free-from – are waiting for curtain-up in June. They include:
Kentaur (Switzerland) – Stand D01
Gilro (Israel) – Stand G15
Big Oz (UK) – Stand B11
Oskri (USA) – Stand F17
Noglut (Belgium) – Stand H19
Sietz Glutenfrei – Stand D07
Slendier (Australia) – Stand TBD
Ronald Holman, exhibition director (pictured), said, "We are very much looking forward to the doors opening on our third-edition Free From Food/Ingredients show, and welcoming visitors from around the globe. They can expect a packed schedule of speakers, focusing on issues relevant to the category – and a fantastic array of free-from products just waiting to be discovered.
"Excitement is starting to gather, and we can't wait to build on the success of our previous two events, and show that the free-from category is important and deserves its very own dedicated exhibition."
Free From Food/Ingredients 2015 takes place on 4 and 5 June at Hall 1, Gran Via, Fira Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain. The exhibition opens each day at 10am and closes at 5pm.
