The Naturally Good Expo – claimed to be the southern hemisphere’s largest natural, organic and healthy products trade show – returned to the ICC Sydney this month for its 2019 edition.
Held between 2 and 3 June, the expo invited retailers, manufacturers and the like to explore more than 360 exhibitors across the beauty, personal care, health, home, living, food and beverage sectors.
Exhibitors included brands such as Manuka Doctor which shared its Manuka Doctor MGO 40+ Multifloral Manuka Honey; Melrose which showcased products like its Coconut Cashew Butter; and Enterosgel which displayed its tasteless anti-diarrhoeal gel.
The 2019 expo also featured an educational program with presentations from manufacturers, retailers and industry insiders.
‘Plant-based everything’
One of the keynote speakers, Bob Burke, Principal at US-based Natural Products Consulting shared his essential trends and predictions for the year ahead, along with his view on where the opportunities lie for Australian retailers and manufacturers.
“Everybody has all the knowledge in the world in their pocket. Consumers are much more tuned into things like social mission, values, transparency in supply chain issues around sustainability, and animal welfare… The biggest thing in food and beverage is plant-based everything,” he said.
Mr Burke also highlighted CBD oil, which he says is the “big, big ingredient in the industry”.
When it comes to personal care, Mr Burke explains that people are “very concerned with what they’re putting on their skin” and are opting for plant-based alternatives.
Alternatively, he says, people are also focusing on the beauty from within trend (consuming products and ingredients internally that are better for you).
“One of these big ingredients is collagen,” Mr Burke said. “You’re seeing this in powders and smoothies, and in a bunch of different formats.”