Pasta Profits
Posted - November 1, 2008
Alb-Gold : Inspiring noodles
By John Coghlan – as printed in O.W.N. Fall 2008
How can you succeed with noodles? In 1977, each day, Alb-Gold produced about 110 pounds of Spatzle – traditional German noodles. Today the company produces, each day, a thousand times that much. A European leader in the tough high-quality noodle market, now it’s time for Alb-Gold to increase its market share also in the United States. In Amana, Iowa, where one hundred fifty years before inspired German-Protestant mystics built their communities, Alb-Gold is opening a plant in a joint venture with successful German beverage manufacturer Bionade. Alb-Gold will build the 50 million US dollar factory following the highest environmental standards. Connecting the Alb-Gold plant with the Bionade bottling plant, will be an information and nutrition center open to the public, a similar successful concept of Alb-Gold at its main plant in Germany.
Egg Crisis, Sunny-side Up
The story begins with Klaus Freidler’s father who had established a chicken farm in 1968. Freidler, Alb-Gold’s CEO, remembers the farm as it was forty years ago:“The egg market was in a big crisis. Prices went down and we had lots of problems selling our eggs for good money.” But one day when visiting a local fair, Freidler turned the egg crisis sunny-side up – into opportunity. An exhibitor was showing onlookers how to make good noodles with a noodle machine. What hit Freidler was how many eggs went into the dough. “That was the answer to our problems. We had tons of eggs, why not produce high quality egg-noodles? I bought the machine the same day.” Alb-Gold hatched.
Creativity and Ecology
Alb-Gold became “bio“. To be even more eco-friendly, Alb-Gold has also used advanced technology to decrease its environmental footprint and reduce the use of natural resources, including solar panels installed on the processing plant. Lost heat from pasta-dryers now heats administrative buildings. But Freidler was too creative to stick to traditional spinach and tomato Spatzle. Alb -Gold moved to making ginger, herbal and other exotic noodles The menu at Alb-Gold’s on-site restaurant “Sonne” (which means the sun, also the firm’s logo) and the cooking studio include lemon, chocolate and gingerbread Spatzle for desserts.
Freidler showed how Alb-Gold added eco-consciousness to the company’s ethos. Alb-Gold stipulates that its spelt farmers must put flower strips around their fields. “For most of our organic products, we use cardboard boxes. There is no extra plastic bag for the noodles,” says Friedler. “We think this is one of the best ways to pack the noodles and to avoid plastic in the landfills.” Then Alb-Gold further committed itself to quality and went organic. It started offering organic pasta in the early 1990s. Today 25% of the firm’s noodles are certified organic. The premium specialties, the ecological and organic and last but not lesast exotic tastes and forms have lead Alb-Gold to success.
Noodle-Beverage Fusion
Then, in 2004, at a mountainbike-event sponsored by Alb-Gold, Freidler showed his creativity yet again: he met Peter Kowalsky, managing director of the German well-known organic beverage company, Bionade. Both were committed to regional values, high food quality and sustainable development. From this and further opportunities to share values and visions came the idea of opening joint plants in Iowa.
Alb-Gold’s success also comes from connecting direct consumers with the roots of the food they taste.Each year, the plant hosts over 350,000 visitors. They see how the noodles are produced; try them at the restaurant; learn some recipes at the cooking studio; walk through the herb garden to learn about the local herbs used in Alb-Gold noodles; shop at the store that features many regional foods and hand-made products from local artesans; visit the stalls where companies offer food samples; and attend the many cultural and sports events the company supports each year – a host of activities to inspire.
Alb-Gold produces 15% of its noodles for export, most going to the United States and Canada. In 2010, when the new plant in Iowa opens, US sales will doubtlessly go up.
But success aside, Freidler wants Alb-Gold to avoid the big mass supermarkets, where price, not quality or health, comes first. The company will continue to sell through the gourmet channels, to natural health stores, specialty food shops and will also provide its line to the food service segment. To meet distributors who share their views Alb-Gold will exhibit along with Bionade at fairs like Expo West, All Things Organic and the Fancy Food Expo in NY. This fall they will also be present at Biofach America, parallel event to Expo East in Boston. A good showing for a remarkable year and company: Alb-Gold is celebrating its fortieth year – contact them and earn a 40th anniversary-discount.
Fast and Organic?
Posted - November 1, 2008
Trends: organic, fast, fresh food
By Adriana Michael - as printed in O.W.N. Fall 2008
Recently, the available selection of organic products has grown explosively. US domestic sales of organic food and beverages are estimated to reach $23.6 billion in 2008, up from roughly $20 billion in 2007 and just $1 billion in 1990, according to the Organic Trade Association.
Yet eating only organic food can still be challenging enough while at home. Vacations, business trips or simple errands make it almost impossible – even many dedicated organics consumers have buckled and eaten a fast-food hamburger.
Happily, more restaurant franchises are opening that specifically target customers who want nutritious, organic food at speeds similar to those of the fastest greasy junk providers.
Take O’Naturals, a chain co-founded by Gary Hirshberg, chairman and CEO of US Stonyfield Farm. His firm entered organic fast food early, when it opened its first location in 2001. Its eateries aim to offer delicious, healthy organic food fast, while serving as a visible and supportive local community member. This chain now has six outlets.
Pizza Fusion, based in Florida, began to offer organic pizzas in 2006. It franchised last year and has seven stores. According to Entrepreneur Magazine, it has sold 65 franchises and is planning to have 100 outlets open and 300 franchises sold by 2010.
US-based EVOS, meanwhile, has five locations, with two more to open soon. The chain grew out of the desire to produce health-conscious fast food. The firm uses an air-baking method for fries and other foods that greasy spoons typically deep-fry. This keeps fat content up to 70% less than in typical fast food.
Canada has also seen the beginnings of organic fast food. Ozone Organics opened its first location in London, Ontario in 2007. Co-owners Scott Kay, Walt Spivak, and Ron Delanghe were tired of the “tofu and bean sprouts” stereotype of organics. They believed providing fast food favorites such as burgers, hot-dogs and french-fries would increase the market for organics as a choice when eating out. In Spain, eaters can choose FastGood, a successful chain that has introduced gourmet ingredients to traditional fast-food menus.
Consumers in Hamburg, Germany may go to Nat, the first in a planned restaurant chain. It features burger patties of organic beef and lamb and many other dishes. The menu changes quarterly, allowing Nat to emphasize seasonal regional ingredients. All ingredients are certified organic and management buys Fair Trade where possible.
In Berlin, Germany’s “green city,” residents enjoy eating at Gorilla. Instead of better burgers, its owners opted for an all-vegetarian, 100% organic fast-food operation. Starting as a tiny snack bar in 2006, the firm now has five locations and a catering service.
“We cater to health-conscious business people who have little time and want to enjoy a balanced meal in a nice restaurant atmosphere,” says founder Matthias Rischau.
In spite of the success of the Slow Food movement, healthy fast food is definitely a growing trend in the organic market. Even in Colombia, where organics are barely starting to take off domestically, a new organic and natural restaurant has opened in Bogota. Located near several office buildings and set inside a magnificent house designed in Zen style, SUNA offers foods from native natural and organic ingredients to busy businesspeople.
Putting together the logistics – finding a supply chain to include mainstream, organic and natural product distributors, local and direct suppliers who offer a consistent supply, and the many other aspects needed for a good restaurant business plan – is a challenge. The menu has to include some feature dishes all year round, while adding regional and seasonal ingredients for greater sustainability. The paperwork to preserve traceability from farm to table is tremendous, for restaurants that want to be organic certified.
In spite of the higher prices organic foods imply, there is definitely a growing consumer segment to support fresh organic food served fast. With the many benefits of natural, organic, regional and local food catching on all over, soon there won’t be any reason to have to accept food you know isn’t good for you.
Chocolate for a Good Cause
Posted - November 1, 2008
Pacari Chocolate Goes Beyond Sweet Actions
By Lucia Lorente - as printed in O.W.N. Fall 2008
In Ecuador, some rural areas do not have access to electricity. Communities use a huge number of battery-operated flashlights, consuming 10-12 batteries per month at a total expense of around 5-8 USD – a high portion out of an income that is often less than 2 USD per day!
Further, batteries are toxic products that contain harmful metals and substances. The used batteries are not properly discharged. They fill fields all over, and children are found playing with the colourful used “toys,” even putting them into their mouths!
Aware of this situation, Pacari Chocolate, the first organic and fair trade chocolate developed in Ecuador from bean to final product, and its parent company Ecuadorian Organics have started a new program. The community-minded firm imports solar-powered flashlights to help farmers get around 5-6 hours of light. The batteries required last around three years, saving tremendous expense and waste.
The solar energy flashlights offer a temporary but smart solution, until the government brings electricity to those families, that also implies loss of more natural resources, as more forests are cleared to give space to new roads and antenas. “Solar energy is still one of the few free clean commodities available to all”, says Ecuadorian Organics co-founder Santiago Peralta. “We also aim to help limit the use of other fuels for lamps and candles that can cause domestic fires”.
Ecuadorian Organics has also launched the Organic Agriculture Educational Project, providing technical support in organic farming as well as used computers collected from overseas clients and donors who ship them to rural schools in Ecuador. A pilot project has served 1,000 children and the next phase plans to include other schools.
Danish Lead 2009
Posted - November 1, 2008
Denmark Country of the Year at BioFach 2009
By Adriana Michael - as printed in O.W.N. Fall 2008
Next year in February, Biofach, the most international and influential fair for organic trade celebrates its 20th anniversary. Denmark has been selected “Country of the Year” to greet and share its amazing success story in the organic sector with over 46,000 visitors and around 2,900 exhibitors.
This is no surprise for those in the know. Denmark has a strong history of environmentalism. The country is a pioneer and trailblazer in wind power.
Today Danes spend an average of 80 Euros a year per person on organic food, making this small country of over 5 million people, the leader in the European Union (EU). Sales of Danish organic products grew by 33% in 2007. A 6.5% of all food sold in the country comes from organic sources. The capital city of Copenhagen enjoys a 12%, while the Danish government scores even higher than the citizens, with 45% of food requirements in schools, hospitals and other official areas coming from organic production.
“We have chosen Denmark because it has one of the world’s leading organic markets,” said in a release Udo Funke, managing director of BioFach in Nuernberg. Biofach management is convinced Denmark will continue to play an important role on the organic market in the future. “Denmark is a strong export-partner with internationally recognised organic products.”
How did Danemark reach this benchmark?
Denmark was the first country in the world to introduce a state-controlled organic certification, represented by a red Ø-mark, says Paul Holmbeck, managing director of Organic Denmark, a national umbrella organization that coordinates all private and public efforts for the proper development of the organic sector in the country. “Our national organic mark is trusted by Danish consumers and enjoys a 94% recognition rate”, says Holmbeck. “People in Denmark believe in our government institutions”. If someone tries to break the rules, the process goes very public and this openeness creates consumer trust.
Holmbeck also believes that the merging of all consumer, farmer and trade organic associations in 2002 under the umbrella – Organic Danemark – was a real turning point in the country’s organic movement.
The merger of eight main different organic associations was a process that started back in 1998, when the first step was to move offices of all entities to the same building. Holmbeck has been involved with the organization since the beginning and has seen first hand the process of internal restructuring and organization that has made Organic Danemark the powerhouse it is today.
“We had the same objectives and worked on the procedures to make sure all needs of all entities were addressed and covered,” says Holmbeck. Having one voice, one umbrella has empowered the movement and its members even further. “Communication with government officials and the media and reaching end consumers has been much effective”, adds Nanna Hyldegaard Hansen, public relations manager for Organic Danemark.
One of the main accomplishments of the Danish organic sector i since its pioneering years has been the cooperation of farmers and processors with the major supermarket chains, a task that Organic Danemark has developed even further.
“We created a tailor-made marketing strategy with each chain,” says Holmbeck. “They are competitors and know we work with all of them, but we make sure to offer each chain added value for our relationship with them.”
Another contributing aspect to the strong development of the organic sector has been the product differentiation, thanks to strong cooperation between organic producers, research institutions and Universities and the amazing support received from the government. “Danemark enjoys an environment that rewards innovation and a commitment to product development and to find more sustainable ways to obtain consumer goods”, says Holmbeck.
Given Denmark’s high levels of organic food consumption, it’s a sure bet that their strategy has paid off. Holmbeck also says that Organic Danemark is using the same approach to increase export activity with supermarket chains outside the country. During Biofach 2009 in Germany, visitors and exhibitors will enjoy a series of seminars and presentations to showcase Danemark’s success story and the different aspects of the programs currently in place , besides the release of results from research showing more evidence of the strong relationship between health issues and organic farming.
Examining Biofuels
Posted - November 1, 2008
Behind the Curtain of the Biofuel World
O.W.N. News Network - as printed in O.W.N. Fall 2008
For years now, governments and investors have treated biofuels as “eierlegende Wollmilchsau” – from the German, a product that tries to be everything to everybody yet ends up satisfying nobody. Biofuels aim to mitigate climate change, serve as a renewable and sustainable energy source, to create employment, therefore reducing poverty and enhance economic growth.
The paper “Biofuel boom or doom? Opportunities and Constraints for Biofuels in Developing Countries” by Manfred Zeller and Martin Grass from the University of Hohenheim, describes current biofuel production trends and analyses political arguments for supporting these fuels in developed and developing countries.
Current demand for biofuels is mainly policy, not market, driven. Governments have introduced diverse support policies, including mandatory quotas, various standards, tax exemptions and even import policies to protect and support domestic industry from low-cost competition from developing countries.
These regulations can be seen as justified in the short run but in the long term, such policies may risk creating a sector that depends on subsidies. The true driving factor for the first and second generation biofuels rise or fall in the near future, though, will be the cost of fossil energy sources.
Newer studies show that when it comes to reducing climate change, biofuels are a costly and not always sustainable strategy.To avoid one ton of CO2-equivalent due to the production of ethanol in the U.S. costs 100 times more than the maximum price paid for one ton CO2-equivalent at the Chicago Climate Exchange
Ethanol production is a CO2-intensive process by its nature, so that off-setting emissions made in the course of production is prohibitively expensive. What’s more, few studies include the effects of the land use change required to grow biofuels. The green picture of biofuels can quickly turn into a greyer one.
This paper’s authors show that even with the astonishing growth in biodiesel and bioethanol production recently, only minor parts of the world’s current fossil energy can be replaced by biofuels. Further, increased demand for cereals, oilseeds and sugars as biofuel ingredients is having a large impact on global agricultural trade. Though hardly the only factor behind increasing food prices, biofuels have recently become a welcome punching bag in this arena.
It can be argued that biofuels have beneficial employment and income effects for rural labourers in developing countries. However, large factories currently produce the major share of biofuels, in both developed and developing countries.While large-scale processing may be necessary to be cost-efficient, growing biomass ingredients could benefit poor smallholders more, if appropriate institutional arrangements were in place, such as contract farming and cooperatives.
To deal with our future food and energy needs a multidimensional strategy is certainly required. Beside the use of agricultural residues, the use of marginal land, research and development of the second generation of biofuels, the increase of agricultural production in general as well as strong efforts on energy savings and the development of other renewable energy sources like solar, hydrothermal, wind etc. have to be undertaken and guided by appropriate policies focusing on long-run sustainability of our food, agriculture and energy systems.
The University of Hohenheim is the leading agricultural university in Germany with various graduate programs e.g. organic farming, rural development and agricultural economics. The original paper will be published in the “Quarterly Journal of International Agriculture”, Volume 47 (2008) Nr. 3 or Nr. 4, DLG Verlag.
Amish and Organic
Posted - November 1, 2008
Amish Naturals: Sharing the grain
By Adrian Larose - as printed in O.W.N. Fall 2008
Many would agree most people do not connect with nature these days. We’re separated by walls of technology, away from nature’s rhythm. Yet, you needn’t visit the rainforest to get back in touch. The North American Amish have lived this way since the 18th century.
To say the Amish live in harmony with nature is an understatement. Eschewing modern conveniences like electricity and motor vehicles, the peaceful farming communities are strong in many places across the United States, as well as some parts of Canada.
The Amish’s traditionally organic, hardworking and quality-focused nature leads them to do differently than most. Amish furniture enjoys a quality reputation, and most recently has this extended to another area: food.
This reputation is due mostly to firms such as Amish Naturals. The company brings all-natural and organic products to market while supporting traditional Amish communities.
Amish Naturals began with pasta. Later additions include granola bars, a wheat-derived fibre supplement and microwave popcorn. Some products are organic; others are all-natural; all are kosher. The firm retails through 3,600 US based stores, with Canada and Europe in the works.
Its pasta facility in Holmes County, Ohio is largely operated by Amish. All staff believe firmly in Amish farming traditions.
“Almost 80% of the company’s workforce is Amish or Mennonite, a related denomination with many of the same core values,” says COO and Executive Vice-President Troy Treangen. The company recipes are similar to long-used Amish ones. “We’ve just taken that same process, same ingredients, and made it on a mass scale that they still operate. If you walk in our facility, you’ll see Old Order Amish guys and gals,” says Treangen.
The Amish lifestyle extends to helping others, no matter their faith. When a Holmes County Amish community helped non-Amish neighbour David Skinner recover from severe flood damage, he in turn decided to help them. Feeling there might be a market for the all-natural food the Amish enjoy, he created Amish Naturals and now works as its CEO.
“The Amish take a lot of pride in their work, whether it’s farming, making quilts, or furniture,” says Treangen. “They have the values that bring good quality food to the table. That’s what we’re really about, the wholesomeness.”
Those values have resulted in the firm’s wheat-derived fibre additive, for which Amish Naturals has filed a US patent. “It doesn’t alter taste at all,” says Treangen. “The additive is already in Amish Naturals’ high-fibre products. Other manufacturers could easily replace some flour with this additive.”
Not everything has been smooth sailing. Many Amish prefer to withdraw from the world. This can cause problems with organic certification.
“The Amish are organic farmers by definition,” says Treangen. “Organic is the old, natural farming method. Yet the Amish cultural desire to stay disconnected from the broader world, for independence, security and religious unity, can hamper organic certification.”
It is difficult for some to accept a direct relationship with authorities. Others have nonetheless taken the plunge and are fully certified, including the firm’s egg supplier.
Perhaps combining new and old is the real story. “What we’re doing is taking an ethnic brand, an ethnic culture, an ethnic product, and bringing it to national exposure,” Treangen said. “You do have to apply certain levels of technology to do that.”
The Amish, meanwhile, grow quality crops under organic methods and contribute labour to a company that brings their culture and food to a wider audience.
“We want to be the largest Amish employer in Holmes County,” Treangen said. With 40 employees after only 18 months, Amish Naturals seems to be well on its way.
Australian Organic Skincare
Posted - November 1, 2008
Jasmin Skincare: Facing the challenge of organic beauty
By Adriana Michael - as printed in O.W.N. Fall 2008
Imagine a laboratory at the top of a mountain, surrounded by virgin forests, and supplied directly with medicinal herbs, extracts, and essential oils from its own organic biodynamic farm. Such a mountain is called Mt. Tamborine in the beautiful Gold Coast hinterland of Australia, where Jasmin Skincare has developed its 100% organic certified line of skincare and cosmetics.
Founded in 2002 by Lihua Song and Gordon Chalmers, the driving force behind Jasmin Skincare has been the desire to offer people a natural and alternative range in an industry dominated by multi-nationals peddling synthetics. The company’s entire operation is vertically integrated, ensuring complete control of production, from farming of the active ingredients all the way to the end product delivered to the consumer.
Conventional wisdom in the beauty industry claims that the inclusion of a few ingredients are as far as organic cosmetics can go. They point to the sometimes poor performance of natural shampoos and deodorants as an indicator that truly natural beauty products will never sell as well as their synthetic counterparts. Fortunately, dynamic firms like Jasmin Skincare are proving those naysayers wrong.
It took this company three long years of research and development, and an investment of around eight million US dollars but, in the end, Jasmin Skincare launched its own organic line. A claim not easy to make, as water is the main ingredient in most cosmetics and water can not be certified as organic.
With Jasmine Skincare, Song and Chalmers replaced the traditional water phase with ingredients such as shea butter, aloe vera gel and beneficial plant extract.” If we use water in any product it is in the form of certified organic rosewater and limited below 10% of the total formulation”, says Chalmers. The only exception to this are the five floral hydrosol mist sprays (rose, jasmin, neroli, chamomile and lavender). The lipsticks are only produced under the category of “cosmetics”, which as such contain no water.
With the boom of the green movement, it’s all too common to see cosmetics touted as all-natural when they’re anything but natural. Some brands may even have some organic certified ingredients. However, a careful look at the labels may reveal that the formula hides the usual cocktail of toxic chemicals.
Preservatives, in particular, are often not natural, may be petroleum derived, such as parabens, known to be harmful.
Finding organic solutions that would offer the same performance as traditional cosmetics has not been easy, but Song and Chalmers are dedicated enough to their ideals to practice what they preach. The company has paid great attention to emulsification issues, preservation and efficacy of the final product. One of their best finds has been a natural citrus based preservative by UK firm Citrox Ltd. “Using proprietary ingredients such as (those from) Citrox with a range of essential oils and extracts that have known anti-microbial functions allows us to increase shelf life to near comparable levels with our ‘chemical swill’ brethren.”, says Chalmers. Testing these mixes with various blends of our own, we are getting results that far outperform even the traditional parabens”.
Many cosmetics and skincare preparations have a pH problem, not with the formulation Jasmin got from Citrox. “A secondary benefit from using the Citrox natural formula is that it pulls the pH level down to levels that match normal skin, thus making the products easier to work with”, adds Chalmers. The results have been far better than Song and Chalmers expected. “We are launching our new Migaloo mid-priced certified organic range, with Citrox as the base preservative.”
Jasmin has proved it is possible to develop 100% natural cosmetics with organic certified ingredients that perform well. The line of over 100 products is selling at selected spas and salons in Australia , China, Hong Kong and other Asian countries. Jasmin follows the Soil Association standards and has Australian OFC certification. According to Chalmers Jasmin is among the first, certified organic companies to ever pass the strict Chinese Ministry of Hygiene and CIQ import certification.
Over the past three years Song and Chalmers have developed a “show and tell” farm and manufacturing facility. Last year they hosted over 7,000 visitors. “We have given everyone a ‘first hand’ experience of both fresh organic produce and understanding how it is possible to manufacture skincare and cosmetics in an environmentally friendly way”, says Chalmers.
But the project does not end there. This year the firm undertook USDA certification and, once finalised, it plans to certify for the new EU organic standards.
The next stage is to move totally to wind and solar power generation, pay attention to a new concept of Jasmin’s themed stores and to focus on Europe, North America and the Middle East. A busy agenda ahead for an energetic duo and a lab sitting on top of a dream mountain.
Organics Advance in China
Posted - November 1, 2008
China’s New Sophisticates
By Adrian Larose - as printed in O.W.N. Fall 2008
Demand for certified organic products is growing in China, with three organics trade fairs taking place annually, an associated year-round exhibition centre in Beijing and an increase in both interest in and research on domestic organics consumption.
Of course, China’s organic trade channels remain limited, compared to well-developed Western markets. Yet, according to the World of Organic Agriculture 2007, China ranked third in area of organic land under cultivation, after only Australia and Argentina. This area farmed organically in China has been growing at astonishing rates – 20 to 30% per year, according to the final report from the BioFach China fair.
Amongst Chinese consumers in Beijing, meanwhile, more than 65% currently buy some organic foods, according to Ipsos Marketing research commissioned by the environmental NGO Greenpeace. Over 80% of survey respondents indicated they planned to buy organic foods at some point in the future. A major reason listed for choosing organic was concerns about health and safety.
A new 500 square-metre exhibition centre in Beijing is aimed both at those consumers, and at the organic businesspeople who are quickly increasing in number throughout China. The Organic Life Experience Center is organized by the same team as the Organic China Expo (OCEX), with the national Chinese government’s financial support. It offers year-round display and purchase of organic goods that are sold in the country.
Among the many brands now on display there are Green dot dot, the Beidahuang Group, Bolongbao organic wine, Lowcarbs organic, COFCO, Hona Organic, Qingpuyuan Vegetables, Beijing Well Full Food, Joyful Organic and products from as far as Mexico and Colombia as well as from German natural cosmetics firm Weleda.
“The Organic Life Experience Center in Beijing aims to provide a platform to build new business contacts for enterprises, promote an ecological lifestyle to consumers and stimulate the development of China’s organic food industry,” says Gao Chayao, of OCEX . “It holds lectures on health and organic food and cooking methods to promote awareness of organic agriculture.”
Besides providing year-round display spaces for the organic products, the Center also offers trade facilitation services, including market data analysis, and an experience center that holds these public events and product tastings. “The experience center allows visitors to taste delicious foods made of organic ingredients and healthy and nutritious diet alternatives,” says Gao. There is also a shop where goods on display can be purchased. All goods in the centre are certified organic.
The OCEX fair itself takes place in Beijing, this year from Nov. 27-29, 2008. Yet OCEX is not alone. The Organic & Natural Products fair in Shanghai has been established for a couple of years and big business has truly “come to town” with BioFach China now being held annually in Shanghai
This addition to the global BioFach fair network is heading for its third edition May 29-31, 2008. Compared to the two Chinese fairs, BioFach has had special success in attracting foreign firms that are eager to start harnessing the potential to export to China’s enormous population – as well, of course, attracting the expected qualified Chinese firms, eager to develop their own foreign export connections.
At BioFach China 2008, 242 exhibitors presented to more than 9,000 trade visitors, the latter a growth of almost 25% over the 2007 premiere edition. Amongst exhibitors, the international category had the strongest growth. The 2007 premiere had almost no foreign exhibitors, but 24 foreign firms graced the halls in 2008. This number will no doubt grow over coming years as confidence in the Chinese market’s potential and systems increases.
Other fairs that dot the region include Natural Products Expo Asia, held in Hong Kong, by the same organizer as major US fairs Natural Products Expo East and West; and Asia Organic & Lohas Expo, in Taiwan.
For visitors and locals alike, the organic lifestyle is steadily becoming an easier one to follow within China. The China Environment and Sustainable Development Reference and Research Centre has produced organic shopping guides listing stores for several Chinese cities in recent years, while Greenpeace just released The 2008 Beijing Organic Guide. It lists more than 60 shops, some of which are franchises, as well as restaurants and even farms.
Exactly who will be visiting these suppliers is becoming clearer. A visitors’ survey conducted by OCEX found that they are generally middle-aged, well-educated and live in a family setting. Only one third of those surveyed correctly identified China’s organic seal, and many named high prices as one major reason against buying organic.
Some of this goes with Greenpeace’s survey findings. “On one hand, a survey commissioned by Greenpeace China in January 2008 shows that nearly 80% of Beijing consumers are willing to buy organic food,” says Wu Haiyan, with Greenpeace China. “On the other hand, Greenpeace is concerned over the effect of chemical-intensive and GMO-intensive agriculture has on the environment and human health.” More than 90% of the Greenpeace survey respondents listed safety and health as reasons to buy organic, something they have in common with health-conscious shoppers in more developed organic markets worldwide.
It’s encouraging, if not surprising, to see the organic market begin to develop in China for the same reasons as it has in so many other countries. Perhaps in domestic organics, as in many other things, the Chinese will quickly catch us all up!
Eastern Meeting Places
Posted - November 1, 2008
Middle East Fairs Join Efforts
By O.W.N. News Network - as printed in O.W.N. Fall 2008
The Middle East Natural & Organic Products Expo & Conferences and Arab Naturals Expo & Conferences have merged to offer a stronger platform for the promotion of organic products in the region. The 6th Middle East Natural & Organic Products Expo (MENOPE) will be celebrated at the Dubai World Trade Centre, November 16th – 18th, 2008.
Though still a new market, organics in the Middle East already show promise. Business opportunities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are being driven by GDP growth, retail expansion and a move towards Western lifestyle. A show release notes that over 3,000 outlets mainly in Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Oman display natural and organic products including alternative remedies. Diabetes and obesity are major health concerns in the UAE. Increased awareness about food and related health and safety issues, high levels of disposable income and rising numbers of expatriates accustomed to quality and safe products are additional factors to increase healthier product alternatives in the Gulf region, which spends $9 billion on food annually, 90% imported. With a market of 1.6 billion Muslim people, potential for halal certified foods is also huge. Projections state that by 2025, 30% of the world’s population will be Muslim. Already, 12% of the world’s food market is Halal.
Around 200 exhibitors from over 30 countries will exhibit at MENOPE 2008 in an area of 8,000 sqm. Firms from the region include Al Yasra Food Co., Al Foah Company, Mala Jham, Tasneem Middle East and Nadec – Saudi Arabia’s National Agricultural Development Company, which is expanding exports of organic certified olive oil, dates and vegetables, in bulk and in customised packaging. The show will host a French pavilion and groups from Korea and the Philippines. The display includes juices from Emil Jacoby of Germany, probiotics by Farmaderbe from Italy, teas & breakfast drinks by swiss firm Domaco and supplements by Purity Life, Canada’s top supplier of natural health products. A good blend of food and remedies, West and East for the growing market, it may be worth the visit.
Sial Montreal 2009
Posted - November 1, 2008
Organic Village at Sial Montreal 2009
By O.W.N. News Network - as printed in O.W.N. Fall 2008
Show organizers will introduce the “Organic Village” in the upcoming edition of Sial Montreal April 1-3, 2009, after a survey conducted during the 2008 event clearly indicated that over 50 percent of the visitors were looking for organic products. More and more exhibitors at this now annual event include organic products in their lines, but next year visitors will be able to identify those firms with organic certified goods on display much easier.
The Organic Village will be a platform for small or first time exhibitors to be on the spotlight and take advantage of the growing number of retail chains, restaurants and wholesalers looking for new organic foods. A Bakery Village and a Start Up Village are two other new features Sial Montreal will launch at the Palais des Congrès de Montréal next Spring. Sial Montreal has also become an annual event attended by firms from both Canada and the United States.
