EUROPEAN TRADE EVENT ON FREE FROM FUNCTIONAL AND INGREDIENTS

EVENT REPORT 2018

WWW.FREEFROMFOODEXPO.COMWWW.FREEFROMFOODINGREDIENTS.COM

PARALLEL WITH:

16 - 17 MAY 2018 STOCKHOLMNORTH EDITION

IntroductionThe 6th edition of Free From Functional Food Expo was held from Wednesday 16th until Thursday the 17th of May in Kistamässan, Stockholm, Sweden.

The most important figures regarding Free From Functional Food Expo 2018 are included in this Event Report.After the 6th edition, we are able to present figures compared to the 5th edition and also a realistic prediction for the 7th edition in 2019.

Market ResearchThe results of the Event Report were retrieved from questionnaires and conducted amongst the visitors and exhibitors of this years edition. Furthermore, interviews were done with founding members, top pre-selected speakers at the conference and well - known marketing analysts and consultants. The analysis was executed with the support of N200, an independent market research- and registration center, specialized in exhibitions and events.

Exhibitor ProfileIn total, 306 exhibitors participated at the Free From Functional Food Expo 2018. The exhibitors are free-from food manufacturers, organic food manufacturers, vegan food manufacturers, brand owners and/or private label, wholesalers, distributors, traders and other free-from solution providers like Ingredient manufacturers who are active in the European free-from and functional food markets from the following free from functional categories:

Gluten free Lactose free Dairy Free ProbioticsFunctional Soy free Dietary Beverages Protein SnacksVegan free from Organic food Certified/Non-Certified Palm Oil Free Yeast free Food Supplements Protein Supplements Wheat freeSugar free Sport Bars Isotonic Instant Beverages Egg freeFat free Sports Nutrition Nutritional Supplements No sugarGM free Nutrition’s And many more No additivesVitamins Omega 3 Less Sugar

The exhibitors are looking for a trading, knowledge and a networking platform where they can do focused business with potential buyers and specifiers from small and large Retail, Manufacturers, Food Service, Bio-, Health and Convenient Stores.

The exhibition is supported by ABCD Nutrition who also sponsored the Lactose Free Conference Theater and the Free From Food Theater. The Free From Functional Food Expo partnered up with

the Lactose Free Adilac no Lign, Food From Finland, Food Ingredients 1st and several European National Coeliac Societies represented by the Association of European Coeliac Societies (AOECS). The AOECS informed trade visitors and mobilized their national free from business networks.

During the exhibition a successful matchmaking program was organised. An increasing important partner at the event is the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN), supported by the EU Commission. Enterprise Europe Network facilitated more than 250 one-on-one meetings by their Matchmaking program which is online available at the official show website 3 months prior to the opening of the trade fair. These meetings were realised in the Matchmaking Area or at individual exhibitor booths. Matchmaking meetings are free of charge.

Visitors ProfileIn total, 4143 visitors from 49 different countries attended the Free From Functional Food Expo 2018!

The exhibition attracts a high quality target group. Visitors are buyers, specifiers from large and smaller retail, manufacturers, food service, bio-, health, convenient stores and other free-from distribution channels. The visitors are looking for free from, organic, vegan, functional food products and solutions.Entrance to Free From Food Functional Expo 2018 was possible by Pre-registration at the official websites freefromfoodexpo.com, freefromfoodingredients.com, functionalfoodexpo.com and through distribution of several printed and digital invitation tickets by the organizer and the exhibitors. Visitors could also make use of on-site registration at the venue.

PART 1 - INTRODUCTION

FREE FROM FUNCTIONAL FOOD - EVENT REPORT 2018 FREE FROM FUNCTIONAL FOOD - EVENT REPORT 2018

Number of Visitors:Wednesday 16th of May 2181Thursday 17th of May 1962

Total number of visitors 4143*

*The number of visitors has not been counted on the basis of the number of visits, but on the number of individual persons. E.g. if one person entered the exhibition twice (on the same day, or another day), this will only count as one visitor.

Countries of OriginPeople of 49 different countries attended the event.

AlgeriaArgentinaAustraliaAustriaBelgiumBrazilCanadaChileChinaCuraçaoCyprusCzech RepublicDenmarkEstoniaFinlandFranceGermanyGreeceHungaryIcelandIndiaIrelandIsraelItalyJapan

KoreaLebanonLithuaniaMacedoniaMaltaMoroccoNorwayPolandPortugalRomaniaRussian FederationSloveniaSouth AfricaSpainSurinameSwedenSwitzerlandThailandThe NetherlandsTurkeyUkraineUnited Arab EmiratesUnited KingdomUnited States

PART 2 - VISITOR ANALYSIS

FREE FROM FUNCTIONAL FOOD - EVENT REPORT 2018 FREE FROM FUNCTIONAL FOOD - EVENT REPORT 2018

59 % I have found new suppliers33 % I am considering purchasing items/orders4 % I’ve placed orders at the exhibition4 % Other

66 % Sole responsibility31 % Joint responsibility3 % Advisory influence

Overall, how well did you meet your company’s objectives at the expo?

70 % To keep up to date with new products34 % To look for specific product information65 % To meet potential business partners60 % To look for innovation

36 % Purchasing Manager28 % Category Manager5 % Brand Manager12 % Buyer Private Label6 % Product technologist13 % Other

24 % Extremely important70 % Somewhat important6 % Not very important

4 % Import - Export / Trade6 % Supermarket / Hypermarket40 % Food Manufacturer48 % Food Store / Retailer2 % Other

How important is it to your business to visit the Free From / Functional Food?

What is your company’s main activity?

Did your visit influence you to make any purchasing decisions or enabled you to find a new supplier you would have otherwise not found?

What kind of purchasing role do you have in your company?

What is your job function?

What are the main objectives for attending this show?

VISITOR ANALYSIS

40%

100%

34%Almost completely

46%Completely

20%Partially

100%

FREE FROM FUNCTIONAL FOOD - EVENT REPORT 2018 FREE FROM FUNCTIONAL FOOD - EVENT REPORT 2018

58 % Gluten Free55 % Ingredients53 % Vegan51 % Organic / Bio40 % Dairy Free38 % Lactose Free35 % Sugar Free32 % Proteins20 % Supplements18 % Soy Free17 % Private Label15 % Egg Free13 % Nutrients11 % Vitamins5 % Others

What are the free from categories of your interest?44 % Snacks40 % Ingredients34 % Dry Food30 % Bread28 % Functional26 % Confectionary26 % Beverages25 % Cereal24 % Dairy22 % Ready Meals21 % Frozen21 % Pasta20 % Flour20 % Fresh19 % Fine Food18 % Gourmet17 % Seasonings16 % Baby food15 % Chilled14 % Canned12 % Meat9 % Laboratory 6 % Kosher4 % Other i.e.

What are the products of your interest?

Please rate the show on the following aspects: Quality of exhibitors

23 % Excellent65 % Good10 % Neutral3 % Average1% Poor

How do you experience the look/quality of the show and its exhibitors?

30%High quality

64%Good

6%Moderate

100%

FREE FROM FUNCTIONALFOOD EXPO

FREE FROM FUNCTIONAL FOOD - EVENT REPORT 2018 FREE FROM FUNCTIONAL FOOD - EVENT REPORT 2018

EXHIBITOR ANALYSISIn case you did not make sales during the event, do you expect to make sale...

What was your experience with the Matchmaking program?

How do you experience the look/quality of the show and its exhibitors?

Were there enough visitors attending the exhibition?

How do you rate the quality of the visitors?

What was/were your primary reason(s) for exhibiting at the show?

Have you made new business contacts at the show?

Rebookings made during the exhibition:

100 % Yes0 % No

100 % Yes0 % No

4 % Excellent25 % Good16 % Average2 % Poor53 % I did not take part in the Matchmaking program

14 % High quality81 % Good5 % Moderate0 % Poor0 % Comments:

7 % Yes, I am very satisfied43 % Yes, I am satisfied44 % Yes, there were just enough visitors5 % No, there were not enough visitors1 % No, there were far too few visitors

25 % Very good70 % Good5 % Moderate0 % Poor

25 % Introducing new products or services95 % Meeting new prospective customers28 % Meeting existing customers20 % Finding agents/representatives0 % Making direct sales0 % Other, namely:

15%Contract

35%Pre- booking

34%Positive

16%Not yet

100%

FREE FROM FUNCTIONAL FOOD 2018STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN