Over 19,000 attendees from over 162 countries convened at Vitafoods Europe 2024 to discover the latest innovations, gain valuable insights and make new connections with businesses across the supply chain. This year also saw the event celebrate its final edition in Geneva – its home of 26 years – before its much anticipated relocation to Barcelona in 2025.
Speaking on the success of the 2024 event, Julien Bonvallet, Group Brand Director at Informa Markets, says, “It has been the greatest pleasure to welcome everyone back to connect, learn and inspire in Geneva for the final time before Vitafoods Europe moves to Barcelona in 2025. The show floor was buzzing with anticipation for what’s next, but there was also a huge sense of celebration for how much the industry has achieved since the very first Vitafoods Europe all those years ago. We’re delighted that our last event in Geneva has been our biggest and best yet.”
A celebration of industry achievements
As a result of the growing role of innovative technologies in powering the nutraceutical industry, Vitafoods Europe 2024 saw the debut of a new Technology & Equipment Area, doubling the floor space dedicated to showcasing the most exciting services and equipment solutions. There were even more opportunities to inspire NPD at this year’s event with the introduction of a newly expanded Finished Products Area. Plus, much-loved favourites made a welcomed return to Geneva, including the Future of Nutrition Summit which took place the day before doors opened at the Palexpo, and the Vitafoods Europe Conference, where industry leading experts shared a wealth of insights at a range of well-attended sessions. Vitafoods Europe 2024 also saw Flavolife, Edonia, Reso Health and BioKuris crowned as category winners of this year’s Startup Innovation Challenge.
Uniting the industry
Vitafoods Europe solidified its position as the go-to event for the whole nutrition industry. This year it offered even more opportunities to inspire new product development with an expanded Finished Products Area. The 20% year-on-year growth of this area reflects the expanding opportunities for collaboration across the supply chain. The dedicated space brought suppliers and manufacturers from across the globe together with leading brands, retailers and distributors to showcase the latest innovative product concepts and market-ready products.
“Over half of visitors come to Vitafoods Europe to see new finished products,” says Bonvallet. “The expanded Finished Products Area reinforces Vitafoods Europe’s role in bringing the entire nutraceutical community together – retailers are our fourth biggest visiting group, and 80% come to get direct access to finished products. As consumers take their health into their own hands through nutritional solutions, there are even more opportunities for the industry to work together to develop products that meet their needs – which is why representing the whole supply chain is critical.”
Insights to inspire
With over 44 hours of expert-led content available across the three days of Vitafoods Europe 2024, visitors had the opportunity to discover key insights into the biggest trends, challenges and opportunities facing the industry today. Highlights included talks from Yakult, Curiosity Research and TruDiagnostic Inc. at the returning Vitafoods Europe Conference, as well as sessions led by Huel, Kline & Company and Nutrition Business Journal at the renowned Vitafoods Insights Theatre. Exclusive insights were also on offer at the Future of Nutrition Summit, where speakers from TNO, Nuritas and more offered a snapshot of the nutrition industry in 5+ years’ time.
Fond farewells and new beginnings
Reflecting on the event’s last edition in Geneva before its relocation, Bonvallet adds, “Palexpo has provided the perfect home for Vitafoods Europe to grow and thrive over the years, helping us bring our community together and drive the industry forward. And as the industry evolves, so do we. The relocation to Barcelona will allow us to grow in line with market potential – reinforcing how much the nutraceutical sector has prospered over the past 26 years. Whether this was your first Vitafoods Europe, or the latest in a long line, we look forward to seeing you in Barcelona for our next chapter.”