Free From Functional and Health Ingredients delivers record year
Free From Functional & Health Ingredients (FFF&HI) saw its biggest year yet when it welcomed more than 7,800 key buyers and decision makers from the free from food, drink and sustainable packaging industries, a rise of 52%.
The event attracted visitors from across the food production sector, including companies within the confectionery and snacks markets.
Visitors took advantage of the packed schedule of conference sessions from decision makers in the world of retail, ingredients, wholesale, distribution and foodservice, pioneering brands and products, plus multiple networking opportunities.
Five core areas of the free from market; free from, vegan, natural and organic, functional and health ingredients were represented across four conference stages with insights from key speakers.
The conference schedule revealed an 11.5% increase in sales of free from foods across Europe in the past year and the 133% growth of the UK free from market since FFF&HI began in 2013.
FFF&HI was the platform for new brands and product launches from those shaping the organic, vegan, functional foods and ingredients markets.
On the first day, FFF&HI unveiled the winner of its Product of the Year Awards – a celebration of free from food and drink products launched in the past year. Manufacturers and producers put their best innovations for contention to be crowned winner and runner up across three categories, Product of the Year, Best New Brand, Free From Plastics.
Product of the Year Award
Winner: Qwrkee Foods – Pea M’LK
Runner-up: Ambrosiae
Runner-up: Pizza Mi – gluten free pizza bases
Best New Brand
Winner: I am Bart’s – Vegan Nutrition Bites
Runner-up: Juustoportti – Organic and Gluten free Oat Drinks made from Finnish Premium Oats
Free From Plastics Packaging
Winner: EncajaBio – Packaging system and cellulose film which sustainably reduces the carbon footprint
The lifetime achievement award was given to Molino Nicoli, European gluten free cereal-based producers.
I Am Bart’s launched a range of organic snack bars made with vegetables, fruit and seeds without preservatives and added sugars. Commenting on winning Best New Brand, founder, Bart Veldkamp said: “We are delighted to have won an award, especially as it’s our first time exhibiting at a trade show. We’ve been impressed with this dynamic show and the high quality of the visitors. The team has worked very hard and we are very proud of this win. It’s great to be recognised as we’re in the company of such interesting brands showcasing fantastic products – I’m very proud to be surrounded by such great innovators.”
