Due to Covid-19, this year’s Vitafoods was transformed into the Vitafoods Virtual Expo, featuring a wide and diverse range of webinars. As announced in the August newsletter, DuSart Pharma attended as many webinars as possible, and a summary of these is now available here on our website.
Although we were not physically present this year and the event took place entirely online, the webinars were inspiring and provided a good insight into what is currently happening in our market during the coronavirus crisis. The three key themes were: immunity, consumer research and healthy ageing.
Immunity
Immunity was a major topic at the Vitafoods Virtual Expo, where, naturally, much of the discussion centred on the new Covid-19 virus. The virus still has the whole world in its grip and, naturally, this is also having an impact on our market. It was noted that the virus has made the world more aware once again of the importance of a healthier and more mindful lifestyle. Many suppliers are responding to this by exploring which ingredients can play a role in promoting that healthy lifestyle. From vitamins and minerals to high-quality extracts; everything was covered in the various webinars. To promote health, strategies for managing stress were also discussed. Stress can play a major role as a result of the Covid-19 crisis and can have a negative impact on the immune system.
Consumer
research: Many webinars revealed that a great deal of consumer research has been carried out over the past year. This shows that, despite all the hardships, COVID-19 has also sparked a health-conscious trend. The following findings emerged from the various consumer surveys:
• Demand for healthy and sustainable products is on the rise. This includes products free from additives such as preservatives, synthetic additives and sugar.
• There is a growing demand for new products that focus on joint health, boosting energy and concentration, and supporting the immune system.
• The demand for clearer labelling is increasing: claims must be clear and there must be transparency regarding what products contain. Claims such as ‘plant-based’, ‘vegan’, ‘gluten-free’, ‘lactose-free’ and ‘sugar-free’ are becoming increasingly important.
• Dosage forms and flavour are also recurring themes. A distinction is also made between different age groups:
o Older people often opt for tablets and capsules, with capsules being the most preferred.
o Younger people are more likely to choose convenient, ready-to-use forms such as snacks, shakes and drinks that taste good.
• Another difference between the various age groups is how they are influenced. The younger generation is often influenced by social media influencers, whilst the older generation is more likely to be guided by medical specialists.
Healthy ageing
Another major theme at the Vitafoods Virtual Expo was the growing number of older people worldwide. Due to this increase, there is a significant need for products designed for older people that contribute to healthy ageing. Consequently, the market is now responding more strongly to products that target brain function, mobility, cardiovascular conditions and eyesight. The increased stress caused by COVID-19, due to work and/or social isolation, was also highlighted as an important theme.
Many webinars highlighted the growth of this demographic and, as a result, the rising demand for products. Demand for products aimed at older people is rising sharply in both physical and mental health areas. In terms of physical health, this relates to appearance, skin health, metabolism and the joints. In terms of mental health, it concerns products that help to promote mental wellbeing, as well as brain function and mood, and those designed to combat insomnia.
A successful Vitafoods!
Different times call for new opportunities. The Vitafoods Virtual Expo has succeeded in transforming a major trade fair into a digital platform where, over the course of a few days, a wealth of international knowledge was exchanged on everything currently happening in the market. It was
a great experience, but we naturally hope that next time we’ll be able to meet in person again at the trade fair. We’re already looking forward to it!
