Visitors to the upcoming Vitafoods Asia Exhibition and Conference in Singapore, 11-12 September 2018, will discover a rich learning environment to discover all aspects of the development and application of nutraceuticals, through to product positioning, branding and marketing, inclusive of how to overcome regulatory challenges in various markets.
Health care spending in the Asia-Pacific region is anticipated to double by 2050, opening opportunities to market alternative remedies and fortified foods. Across Asia, and especially in China and India, increased disposable income, coupled with ageing populations, are impacting the prevalence of lifestyle-related diseases, along with blood pressure, diabetes, or cardiac diseases. Inadequate nutrition, due to busy lifestyles, and the high cost of healthcare are also factors. Joint health, gut health, bone health and weight management are expected to be future demand drivers.
Functional Foods
Asia Pacific is now the largest regional market for dietary supplements and vitamins. Malaysia and India for instance, are grappling with the impact of rapid urbanisation on the diet. Demand functional, hearty-healthy foods, for example, is rising.
Aside from products developed in Western societies, across the region, consumers are buying products that are enriched with locally-sourced compounds and functional ingredients like probiotics, fibre, calcium or vitamin E; herbs such as tongkat ali and ginseng; along with cultured milk drinks; probiotic yogurts; and cereals that are fortified with fibre; plus, Omega-3 fortified eggs.
Vitafoods Asia showcases key suppliers of such ingredients and raw materials that are used in functional foods. Alongside these suppliers, visitors to the exhibition can source contract manufacturers and private labellers, as well as finished goods manufacturers.
Functional Beverages
To tackle alertness and reduce calorie consumption, as well as hydrate with performance additives, athletes and gym enthusiasts in countries like China and India are driving demand for nutrition through functional beverages. Energy drinks, sports drinks & nutraceutical drinks are the fastest growing segment of the functional beverage market. Due to its efficient delivery of minerals or herbs, functional beverages are emerging to help reduce the risk of chronic disease and to keep blood sugar levels under control.
Drinks ingredients include vitamins, amino acids and omega-3 fatty acids. Amino acids are used to slow fatigue and vitamins are added to boost the metabolism and generate energy in functional beverages. Prebiotics and probiotics are also used to ensure proper functioning of the digestive system. Another ingredient, Omega-3, is forecast to grow in the functional beverages market as it controls inflammation. At Vitafoods Asia, there’s an Omega-3 Resource Centre where visitors can witness the latest innovations and product development initiatives around Omega-3.
Manufacturers in this market segment are developing innovative flavours to appeal to consumers with drinks that are safe, taste good and are affordable. Key functional beverage manufacturers are exhibiting at the Vitafoods Asia Exhibition.
Addressing Malnutrition
In countries like Japan and Thailand, where despite relatively healthy diets, there are mineral and vitamin deficiencies in the population. In Thailand, Calcium and Vitamin D are issues, and doctors are prescribing supplements. The Japanese lack calcium and iron, so there is a corresponding seeing rise in demand for probiotic yogurts and energy drinks.
At the Global Health Theatre at Vitafoods Asia, the impact of the modern lifestyle on nutrition and diseases, and how food fortification is addressing these issues, will be discussed by industry experts. Responsible nutrition, importance of fortification & fortified foods, impact on the glycaemic index, as well as the packaging of nutraceuticals into functional foods, will be discussed, among other topics.
Food fortification
As scientific research evolves around issues such as obesity and disease, as the impact of nutrition on pre-natal and maternal life stages, sports and aging evolves, the way we approach these issues is changing. You can stay abreast of the latest research by attending the Life Stages Theatre at Vitafoods Asia, where you will hear from researchers and functional food developers alike.
Processing food to protect bioactive ingredients
At the Vitafoods Asia exhibition, visitors will learn how processes such as microencapsulation, enzyme technology, and nanoencapsulation of ingredients are being used to produce functional foods. Of late, microencapsulation technology has been developed to replace cyclodextrin (CD) molecules to protect the bioactive elements in food processing through to the storage and delivery of functional foods.
Notably, product formulation for the delivery of nutraceuticals is changing. For example, Indian consumers are driving change from traditional tablets, or chewable tablets, to capsules, particularly liquid-filled capsules, which are easier to swallow and are believed to work faster and better. At Vitafoods Asia, discover novel formulations that allow nutraceutical companies to incorporate liquids, pellets, tablets and powders in capsules.
Obtaining the right advice
Attending Vitafoods Asia is an essential opportunity to connect and learn from members across the entire nutraceutical supply chain spectrum, from leading manufacturers and distributors to buyers and quality suppliers. A dedicated area, the Industry Advice Zone, is available for visitors to meet with industry experts in one to one consultation sessions, for regulatory advice, market access information and strategies, and marketing and innovation profiling.
The Vitafoods Asia Conference is another chance to learn from academia, government and industry leaders. Structured to help participants maximise their learning in line with their career interests, dedicated conference tracks will guide participants towards talks on research and development, business and marketing strategies, and digestive health. Sessions also address challenges to do with market entry and regulation.
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About Vitafoods Asia
Vitafoods Asia is part of Informa Exhibitions’ Global Health & Nutrition Network (GHNN), which brings together a portfolio of events, digital media and publishing for marketers, manufacturers and formulators of nutrition and dietary supplements, healthy foods/beverages and personal care products. GHNN’s events include Vitafoods Europe, Vitafoods Asia, SupplySide West and SupplySide East.
Natural Products INSIDER is the global media brand covering healthy ingredients and finished applications. Vitafoods Insights offers online content and a series of topic-specific digital magazines that bring highlights of the Vitafoods events to a global audience. SupplySide West & Vitafoods Global Storefronts offers a new online environment where ingredient buyers and product developers can find and connect with the suppliers and solutions they need, all year long.
For more information, visit www.informaglobalhealth.com.
Informa’s Global Exhibitions Division organises transaction-oriented exhibitions and trade shows, which provide buyers and sellers across different industries and communities with a powerful platform to meet face-to-face, build relationships and conduct business. Informa has a portfolio of more than 150 exhibitions, serving a number of core verticals, including Health & Nutrition, Beauty, Property & Construction and Pop Culture.
Editorial Contact
Theodore Woon | t: +65 9155 3507 | e: theo@pinpointpr.sg
ANNEX – Supplemental Country Information
In India, the nutraceutical market alone is expected to grow at a CAGR of 21% and is estimated to increase to US$10 billion by 2022. Higher socio-economic and upper middle-class Indians are embracing nutraceuticals as alternatives to prescription drugs, believing that the functional health benefits of these supplements may prevent disease, and they are particularly keen on products that boost energy and improve physical endurance or mental alertness.
In Indonesia, fortified and functional food appeal to consumers, even though the country is still grappling with malnutrition in some population groups, as well as obesity in others, growingly among children. Generally, vitamin and dietary supplements are not deemed necessities yet, especially by the lower middle-income bracket. Yet, the research agency Euromonitor reported that middle-income earners, who are more health conscious, drove strong value growth for dietary supplements in 2017, particularly for products that contain natural/herbal and synthetic ingredients.
At 22% of global market share, Japan is a key market for nutraceuticals. In the general population, calcium and iron deficiencies are issues, particularly among females. Functional foods and dairy-based foods, such as probiotic yogurts are rapidly gaining popularity and functional beverages, such as energy drinks, are expected to increase to 20% of retail share in the near future. But Japan also has the greatest aging population in Asia and uses functional foods to address masticatory performance and nutrient requirements in the elderly.
Rapid urban development in Malaysia has dramatically impacted lifestyle, health and nutrition. Increased rates of obesity, hypertension, diabetes and coronary heart disease (CHD) is building demand for heart-healthy foods.
In Thailand, due to their low calcium intake, Thai’s generally have low bone mineral density levels and consequently, vitamin and mineral supplements are often prescribed by doctors. Lifestyle and environmental factors, particularly among Thai women, who avoid the sun, are creating a deficiency of Vitamin D in the population as well. Thus, supplements for bone and joints, diabetes, heart, digestive, skin and other conditions are gaining popularity among Thai consumers.
