Sainsbury’s to host its first ever ‘Innovation Pitch’ session, while Holland & Barrett returns for fourth year
Natural & Organic Products Europe is doubling-down on innovation this year, confirming that two of the UK’s biggest retailers – Holland & Barrett (back for the fourth year) and Sainsbury’s (new for 2019) – will each host live ‘innovation pitching’ sessions at the London ExCeL show on Monday 8 April.
It’s a win-win for everyone involved. Visiting trade buyers and members of the press get an entertaining preview of what’s new and launching onto the market. While the 12 participating natural and organic brands (see the newly-announced shortlists below) get the exciting opportunity to introduce their latest NPD to senior buying teams and, potentially, earn themselves a listing.
To succeed, all they have to do now is wow the judges with a killer innovation pitch in 5 minutes or less. They’ll also have to win over an audience full of visiting buyers and retailers in the process, as their votes may help swing the decision.
Natural & Organic Products Europe’s event director Carol Dunning, comments: “We’re delighted to be working closely with Holland & Barrett at the show once again. It was standing room only in the Natural Products Talks Theatre last year – and our visitors got to see some amazing presentations of the latest new products.
“Thanks to the long-running success and huge popularity of the H&B innovation pitch, we’re thrilled to welcome Sainsbury’s to the show’s line-up for the first time. These two titans of retail play a vital role in bringing the best new brands to consumers and they’ll find plenty of fantastic new natural and organic innovations for their customers at the show this year.”
First up is Sainsbury’s new ‘Beauty and Wellbeing Innovation Pitch’, which will kick off the show’s second day in the Natural Beauty Talks Theatre (10.30am on 8 April). Head of beauty, Rebecca Wicks will lead the judging panel for Sainsbury’s, alongside Milena Lazarevska (future brands origination and investment), wellness buyer James Kerr, and senior beauty buyer Siobhan McTernan.
“Our customers are increasingly asking us for natural brands in Beauty and Wellness, and we are really excited to participate in the pitch [at Natural & Organic Products Europe] to find the best new natural brands out there,” says Rebecca Wicks from Sainsbury’s.
The shortlisted companies (and products) – as chosen by Sainsbury’s – include:
• Naturally Tribal Skincare: ancient remedies for today’s families
• Pharmavita: aronia X – aronia antioxidant goodness
• Presidio Brands: Every Man Jack
• SkinGenius Skincare: get rid of acne and spots naturally
• SNOOOZE – Natural Sleep Drink (by Ringtons)
• UpCircle: pioneering regenerative skincare
Back for its fourth year, Holland & Barrett’s Pitch to the Buyer session is a popular and fun finale to an action-packed two days of business. Head to the show’s Natural Talks Theatre from 3pm, to see H&B’s group trading director Hilary Leam, Lisa Sinclair – head of category for vitamins & supplements, Ian Chant – head of food, Jo Cooke – head of beauty, and Jess Keeble – senior category manager for sports – make their top picks.
Shortlisted companies (and products) – as chosen by Holland & Barrett’s buyers – include:
• Just Wholefoods: Organic Sunflower Mince
• Luxury Home Spa Company: Shobu, a bath bomb for the shower
• Jack & Chill: jackfruit-based products (by Nikasu Foods)
• Organic Sports Nutrition: Nootropics range, Organic Boost & Organic Calm
• Pharmavita: EatEnjoy for the gluten or dairy intolerant consumer
• Scence: all-natural skincare in fully compostable packaging
“Natural & Organic Products Europe has always been one of our most important shows,” says Holland & Barrett’s Lisa Sinclair, who will be returning for her third term as an ‘innovation pitch’ judge (she’s also been visiting the event for years). “It’s our chance to meet some of the best innovators in the industry, and to really understand the research behind each ingredient.”
Of course, with 700 exhibiting companies at Natural & Organic Products Europe 2019, there’ll be ‘innovators’ galore down every aisle (see the Exhibitor List here). That’s great news for the 10,000+ attendees who are expected to visit, including (show regulars like): Amazon, Boots, Aldi, Lidl, M&S, Waitrose, Ocado, Tesco, Morrisons, Debenhams, House of Fraser, Superdrug, Nisa, TK Maxx, John Lewis, Whole Foods Market, Infinity Foods, Planet Organic, NBTY Europe, CLF Distribution, The Health Store, Suma, Revital, Costco Wholesale, BigGreenSmile, Health Stores Wholesale, Booths, Abel & Cole, As Nature Intended, Feelunique, Lloyds Pharmacy, John Bell & Croyden, Day Lewis Group, Asda Pharmacy, Victoria Health, Fenwick, Lovelula, Neals Yard Remedies, Bodykind, Sodexo, Brakes, Gateretail, Eurostar, The Grocery, Whitbread, Oxfam, Life Europe, REWE, Allergikost, Sunkost Kjede, Monoprix, Bio c’ Bon, Rawrganic, and Dagsmeja.
Free trade registration
Natural & Organic Products Europe returns to London ExCeL on 7-8 April (Sunday and Monday).
For more information, and to register for a free trade ticket, please visit www.naturalproducts.co.uk and quote priority code NPEPR (direct link: https://eventdata.uk/Visitor/NOPE2019.aspx?TrackingCode=NPEPR).
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Media enquiries & press pass requests to:
Please apply for press accreditation here: https://eventdata.uk/Press/NOPE2019.aspx
Emma-Louise Jones, Head of PR
t: +44 (0)1273 645134
e: [email protected]
Website: www.divcom.co.uk
Twitter: www.twitter.com/DiversifiedUK
Vicky Holman, Group Marketing Manager
t: +44 (0)1273 645117
e: [email protected]
Website: www.naturalproducts.co.uk
Twitter: www.twitter.com/NatProductsShow
Exhibitor enquiries to:
Carol Dunning, Event Director
t: +44 (0)1273 645126
e: [email protected]
Notes:
NPE19 show logo: www.naturalproducts.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/NPE19-Horizontal-logo.jpg
H&B at NPE18: www.naturalproducts.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/NPE18_Seminars-106-edit.jpg
Diversified Communications UK (Diversified UK) is a fast-growing trade event organiser and publisher based in Brighton, Peterborough, Nailsworth and London. Diversified UK’s natural and organic portfolio includes Natural & Organic Products Europe; Natural and Organic Awards; Natural Products News; NaturalProductsGlobal.com; Nordic Organic Food Fair in Malmö, Sweden; Eco Living Scandinavia in Malmö, Sweden; Eco Living Iberia in Madrid, Spain (new for 2019); and Organic Food Iberia in Madrid, Spain (new for 2019). For more information, visit: www.divcom.co.uk.
Diversified UK is part of Diversified Communications, a leading international media company with a portfolio of face-to-face exhibitions and conferences, online communities and digital and print publications. As producers of these market-leading products Diversified Communications connects, educates and strengthens business communities in over 15 industries including: food and beverage, healthcare, natural and organic, business management and technology. Established in 1949 and headquartered in Portland, Maine, USA with divisions and offices around the world, Diversified Communications remains a privately held, third generation, family-owned business. For more information, visit: www.divcom.com.