Hi Europe\ Event - N°65 promotion of by-products/the use industries, whose questions are as of biotechnologies are some of the many ideas and pathways for future pathways explored by the ingredient research and development. sectors which are continuously evol- The fact that Informa - the group ving while also questioning their prac- already owns the brands Vitafoods tices. and Supply Side - has acquired UBM, organizer of the Food Ingredients and Questions regarding HiE Health Ingredients global events, will This year, questions are being asked not simplify exhibitors’ choices in the even before the next Health Ingre- near future. dients Europe (HiE) has opened its Then, the location itself, Frankfort, gates: what could be the future of which has been chosen by UBM this exhibition whose fi rst edition of several times over the course of 2000 had been an incredible success, time. Getting back to this city for the but which seems to be staggering for umpteenth time doesn’t seem to have some time? convinced a high number of exhibi- Nearly 530 exhibitors will be introdu- tors. Last year, FiE was also held cing their brochures and documen- there, just like in 2016. If considering tation and provide their best their that these events target our diet, answers to expected visitors. Consi- which remains quite varied in Europe dering the importance of the agri- despite globalization, not holding the food industry and the number of chal- event in several European capitals no lenges it is facing, the low number of longer makes sense. exhibitors is a matter of concern. All Finally, the omnipresence of Chinese the more since if looking at the list of exhibitors is increasingly visible. This exhibitors, there is one striking thing: year, they account for more than one 113 the major historical players will not be in three exhibitors. During the last edi- attending the event. Such as, for ins- tions, it was sometimes extremely dif- tance, DSM and DuPont, which have fi cult to fi nd differentiating aspects dropped out. Just like Chr Hansen between the companies present and Roquette. Neither Symrise will be - most exhibitors showcased only there although it is a German fl avour catalogues of “molecules”, without producer active in the health ingre- being able to fi nd their added value dients sector via Diana. The same compared to each other. goes for IFF, which has taken over Frutarom. As for Givaudan, it will be So is HiE a source present via Naturex, whose integra- of added value? tion is ongoing. This year, more than sixty new exhi- The reasons for this “disinvestment” bitors are waiting to be discovered. of some of the key players in this Many of them - Actif’s Magazine sector? First of all, competition from will present them - will be there to Vitafoods Europe, which attracts provide a breath of fresh air to the twice as many exhibitors and visi- health ingredients sector. Finally, if we tors every month of May in Geneva. exclude the Chinese exhibitors, it is Positioned in the global nutraceutical clear that Europe is a real commercial sector, this event has a major asset: development and innovation cluster. it is situated at the crossroads of Among the European countries, two the food, pharmaceutical and nutra- stand out clearly. Germany, which ceutical industries, whose lines are will be represented this year by over blurring. Not in terms of regulatory sixty exhibitors. And France, with over requirements, but rather in terms of fi fty companies that have decided to concepts and investments. Exhibi- cross the Rhine again. The expert ting at Vitafoods means being able tour is a great way to discover them to meet decision makers from various in advance. ■ News on Functional & Health Ingredients \ N°65 \ October - November - December 2018 \ ■