Organic Food Iberia (OFI) returned to IFEMA MADRID on 7-8 June, receiving visits from 4,825 international buyers and industry professionals.
Greeting them were 350 exhibitors representing 29 countries, each one introducing Iberian goods from Spain and Portugal, along with international pavilions showcasing finished products and fresh produce from Belgium, Italy, Greece, Poland, Argentina, Paraguay and guest country Ecuador.
Regional pavilions included Andalusia, Castilla La Mancha, Valencia, Murcia, Madrid, La Rioja, Navarra, Extremadura, Catalonia, and Ecovalia – the premier sponsor of the show, which had a group participation of 12 companies from all over Spain.
Described by visitors as ‘the benchmark professional event for the organic sector internationally’, OFI and its sister show Eco Living Iberia (ELI) became a two-day hub for fresh organic food and drink, sustainable cosmetics and eco household products.
We’ve witnessed a great atmosphere during both days
Co-organizer Diversified Communications says the success of this key annual industry gathering was further driven by an ‘ambitious’ International Hosted Buyer & Hosted VIP programme, sponsored by ICEX, which led to 390 individual pre-arranged meetings with Spanish companies in the dedicated B2B lounge, plus a further 400 meetings pre-arranged by the matchmaking platform LIVE Connect, making a total of 790 meetings before the show commenced. The comprehensive programme enabled international buyers and exhibitors to ‘explore new business opportunities, establish strategic contacts and discover the latest innovations in the sustainable sector’.
A sub-event, Organic Fresh Iberia (sponsored by the Greek pavilion) showcased fresh produce, while the Olive Oil Tasting Gallery (sponsored by Mercacei) operated under the same format as the Organic Wine Iberia Wine Tasting Gallery – a popular feature now in its fourth year, where visitors could sample 50 wines for free.
A free-to-attend seminar programme was curated as a ‘meeting point for the exchange of ideas, research and trends within the growing sector’, while many of those trends were celebrated at the Eco & Organic Awards Iberia – the winners of which were determined by which Innovation Zone exhibitors received the most votes from visiting buyers and industry experts.
Winners included:
- Best Organic Free From or Vegan Product – GALLETAS CÁÑAMO Y DÁTIL
- Best Organic Drink Product – TROTTINETTE – DRINK DRINK
- Best Organic Wine, Beer or Spirit – VINO RESURRECCIÓN – BODEGA PALOMILLO
- Best Organic Fresh Food Product – ALICORNIA O ESPÁRRAGO DE MAR – MARSH FOODS
- Best Organic Dairy Product – PROBIÓTICA. LECHE FERMENTADA ECO. QUSERÍA ARTESANAL ASPACE RONCESVALLES
- Best Organic Finished Food Product – CALDO DE HUESOS SANTAPACIENCIA
- Best Organic Livestock Production – MIEL EN CREMA – MIEL DE LEÓN S.L
- Best Eco Packaging – Organic Food – MONODOSIS GOURMET: ORGANIC COUPAGE – SEÑORIOS DE RELLEU
- Best Eco Packaging – Eco Living – WETKARE MULTI-SURFACE – WETKARE
- Best Beauty Product – CREMA REPARADORA +CICA EAU THERMALE JONZAC – BIOCOP
- Best Personal Care Product – CANNAGYN CREMA ÍNTIMA BIO 30ML WEBOTANIX – WEBOTANIX
- Best Nutritional Supplement Product – CALMIA DÍA 60 CAPS. WEBOTANIX – WEBOTANIX
- Judges’ Choice Award – CHUFINAS – CHUFAS BOU
A new addition to the awards programme were the Eco & Organic Retail Awards, designed to recognize the companies and personalities committed to strengthening Spain and Portugal’s organic retail offer.
The following stores were awarded:
- Linverd (Best BIO Specialized Store)
- Herbolario Navarro (Best BIO Supermarket)
- Naturitas (Best BIO Online Store)
- CAECV (Best Marketing Campaign for the Promotion of Organic Products)
- Veritas Mandri (Best Initiative to Improve the Shopping Experience)
- Pol Picazos (Sector BIO Personality of the Year)
90% of the exhibitors are planning to return next year
Alex Suau, event manager, spoke to NPN as the show closed its doors: “We’ve witnessed a great atmosphere during both days with proactive exhibitors showing their best organic products to almost 5,000 visitors from 80 countries. It’s testament to the need and relevance of OFI & ELI from companies, partners, institutions and associations from all over the world. What differentiates OFI is that it focuses on business meetings. The feedback has been great – 90% of the exhibitors are planning to return next year.”
OFI and ELI received support from key sponsor Ecovalia, along with Alimentos de España, INTERECO, ICEX, Agrobio Portugal, Portugal Foods, ACES, AER, CIAO-IICA, CAAE, ASOBIO, CAERM, CAECV, CAEM, Biocop, Biogran, Proexport, FIAB, Fedacova and FiBL.
Both shows return to IFEMA MADRID on 5-6 June 2024.
