Future of free-from at Free From Functional & Health Ingredients

The 28-29 May sees the seventh edition of Free From Functional & Health Ingredients (FFF&HI) Expo return to Barcelona.

What was once a niche sector, today ‘free-from’ encompasses an ever-growing range of dietary requirements such as vegan, organic and natural, and functional products and ingredients. Innova Market Insights reports a 16% CAGR in food and beverage launches with a free-from claim in recent years (global, 2013-2017). These products accounted for 24% of food and beverage launches reported in 2017.

Throughout the two days, visitors to FFF&HI will be immersed in the latest trends, analysis, suppliers and products, by taking advantage of pioneering international brands and a packed conference schedule, as well as the show’s popular Innovation Tours, International Matchmaking programme and networking opportunities.

The show covers five defined categories:

1. Free-from: the UK free-from market has grown by 133% from 2013-2018
2. Vegan: meat substitutes grew by 451% in the European market in the four years to February 2018
3. Natural/organic: expected to reach $323 billion globally by 2024
4. Functional: global estimated revenue of $69.73 billion in 2018
5. Ingredients: aligning retail and food technology to develop new free-from and functional products

FFF&HI will host over 350 producers and manufacturers, from longstanding industry leaders to innovative start-ups. They include ABCD Nutrition, Plamil Foods, Glebe Farm Foods, Doves Farm, Natural Balance Foods, Møllerup Brands, Helsinki Mills, Botanic & Fruits and Foods for Tomorrow.

Visitors to this year’s exhibition, at Gran Via Fira de Barcelona, can plan their schedule around four dedicated conference programmes, bringing together the world’s most eminent food and drink professionals. Topics will cover free-from, vegan, health ingredients and the lactose- and dairy-free with key speakers from Mintel, HRA Global, Euromonitor International, and ProVeg International.

Ronald Holman, exhibition director, commented: “Consumers are more knowledgeable than ever before about an increasingly broad range of diets and the health benefits associated with free from and functional foods and alternative ingredients. By providing a platform for the global free-from market, we aim to make it easy for buyers to identify and source product innovations, meet new suppliers and gain insights into new free-from solutions and key trends shaping the industry.”

Pre-registration is now open including a social network function, that encourages visitors to connect with their peers through social media. For more information and to receive the latest updates, visit www.freefromfoodexpo.com.