Nordic Organic Food Fair 2024 – The 21 Participating Companies Highlight the Innovation and Quality of Greek Products

The Nordic Organic Food Fair & Natural Beauty & Health Show, the only trade fair in Scandinavia for organic and natural products, opened its doors on October 9-10, 2024, at the Kistamässan Exhibition Center in Stockholm. Gathering over 500 exhibitors and thousands of visitors—high-profile buyers and other industry professionals—the fair served as a vibrant platform for showcasing innovative products and innovations in organic and natural foods, beauty and wellness, eco-friendly living, and natural health.

Emerging trends, along with groundbreaking ideas and innovations regarding food and non-alcoholic beverages, permeated the exhibition space, contributing to shaping the way the Scandinavian market operates. These trends highlight a new landscape for consumers seeking health benefits, sustainable features, and advanced technology in the fields of nutrition, health, and beauty.

With notable innovations and specialized presentations and seminars, the Nordic Organic Food Fair & Natural Beauty & Health Show offered a unique opportunity for exhibitors and visitors to discover current trends and new products.

Among the exhibition visitors were representatives of major buyers from Coop Sverige, Coop AG, Herbolario Navarro, Life Europe AB, NOZ, Sunclass Airlines, Axfood, Brand Organic, Fontana, ICA, and others.

This year’s exhibition was held for the first time in Stockholm, the capital of Sweden and the economic and commercial center of Scandinavia. The move of the exhibition from Malmö to Stockholm is a strategic decision as it ensures greater access to international markets with easier transportation, attracting more exhibitors and visitors. Additionally, the improved infrastructure and the higher profile of the city enhanced the exhibition’s visibility, while the more specialized audience it attracted, opened new commercial opportunities for collaborations.

The Greek Participation

The Greek participation in the event consisted of 21 companies in the food and non-alcoholic beverages sector. The national pavilion, with its distinctive and uniform design and the characteristic brand “GREECE,” stood out in the area, especially as it was located in a central position—opposite the main entrance of the exhibition environment—attracting many visitors. The 21 participating companies that had the opportunity to showcase their products to the trade audience of the exhibition were supported by Enterprise Greece and the Regions of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, Thessaly, and Crete, as well as the Chamber of Larissa.

To promote and market the products of the participating Greek companies, RECO Exports created a printed catalog that included useful information about the company and its products (brand name, logo, a brief description of the company and its products, contact details, and a QR code linking to the company’s website). These printed materials were distributed to the public during the two days of the exhibition to expand the recognition of Greek businesses even after the event.

At the same time, the Greek participants had the opportunity to learn about various events and seminars taking place during the exhibition through the printed catalog given to exhibitors and visitors.

The Greek participation was visited on behalf of the Embassy of Greece in Stockholm by Ambassador Ms. Aikaterini Foundoulaki and Economic and Trade Counselor, Ms. Pelagia Sousiopoulou, who discussed with the participating entrepreneurs the development opportunities in the Swedish market, challenges, and the market’s operational methods.

Innovations of Greek Companies

Sweden is a country particularly sensitive to environmental and sustainability issues, prioritizing products that promote wellness, ecological production, and innovation. In this light, the Nordic Organic Food Fair and Natural Beauty and Health Show organized the “Innovation Awards” competition to showcase new and innovative products in the fields of nutrition, natural beauty, and health and wellness. The exhibition audience had the opportunity to vote for their favorite product, and subsequently, the products in each category were evaluated by judges—experts in each sector. From the Greek participation, the company Petrou Nuts took part with its “Stylato Instant Nut Drink” in the “Best New Specialty Drink” category, where it managed to reach the public’s final selections.

Additionally, as part of the exhibition, selected exhibiting companies had the opportunity to present their innovative products to Mycare, a company that is the leading wholesaler in Sweden for natural beauty and food products. Among the few selected was the Greek company Palse PC, which had the chance to give a live presentation on the main stage, addressing the company and its representatives, as well as the attendees.

The Participants

The national participation comprised a total of 21 companies from the food and non-alcoholic beverages sector. Below is the alphabetical list:

• Apos EVOO
• Apianthos Organic Honey
• AROSIS
• AND ICE
• Culterra Olive Oil
• Evercrete
• Faris, Adam & Eve, Goumas Brand
• GREEK IMPERATOR
• KOMOTINI MILLS
• MEDITERRANEAN OLIVE HOUSE SA
• Melisseon
• MINOAN BEE
• OLYSSOS, Cretan Prince, Lando
• PALSE
• PETROU NUTS
• POLYDENDROS IKE
• PREMIUM CRETE
• THE GRECIALS
• TWO OLIVES
• ZARIPHICO
• EU F&V CONSUMPTION (AC Neapolis-Agrinio)

Conclusions

This year’s Nordic Organic Food Fair & Natural Beauty & Health Show confirmed the ongoing development and importance of the Scandinavian market for organic, natural, and innovative products. The move of the exhibition to Stockholm allowed for greater participation from exhibitors and visitors, creating new commercial opportunities and collaborations.

The preference of the Swedish market for products with strong environmental and sustainable characteristics enhances the demand for innovative foods, a need that Greece can more than satisfy in terms of quality and quantity. The new trends, such as natural and organic foods and products, highlight consumers’ expectations for health and sustainability, making Sweden an exceptionally dynamic market for businesses investing in these areas.

Furthermore, the strategic presentation of Greek companies and the active support from Enterprise Greece, the Regions, and the Chamber of Larissa enhanced the visibility of Greek products and highlighted Greece’s competitiveness in the sector.

Greece’s Position

Greece’s position in Sweden and, more generally, in Scandinavia, regarding organic, natural, and traditional products, is limited but continuously evolving. While Greek products, such as olive oil, honey, and traditional foods, are known and recognized for their quality, the promotion of the brand “GREECE” in the Scandinavian market has room for improvement.

Greece offers a wide variety of organic and natural products that combine quality with sustainability. Olive oil, herbs, honey, and products from the Greek land have been internationally recognized for their unique taste and nutritional value. In the Scandinavian market, where consumers emphasize sustainability and health benefits, Greek products can stand out due to their tradition and authenticity. The use of natural production methods and commitment to quality are the key characteristics that make Greek products attractive to Swedish consumers seeking natural and sustainable alternatives.

However, compared to other countries such as Italy and Spain, Greece’s promotion as a source destination for organic and natural products in Scandinavia is more limited. It is particularly important to strengthen Greece’s presence in a market with increased interest and demand for natural and organic products, such as that of Sweden, and this can be achieved through ongoing presence and visibility at prestigious exhibitions and through targeted outreach actions. Therefore, it is evident that support from Greek authorities and regions for enhancing the recognition of Greek products is essential.