Eco Life Scandinavia will feature its biggest ever selection of plant-based foods when the leading Nordic trade event returns to MalmöMässan, Sweden on 17-18 November 2021.
The vegan ‘food boom’ looks set to stay in Scandinavia, where more people are adding plant-based foods to their diet (in Sweden, 30% are consciously trying to reduce their meat consumption). Nordic trade buyers and retailers can take full advantage of this rising demand by exploring the dedicated Vegan Scandinavia area, which will feature over 40 innovative plant-based brands — from exciting new start-ups to long established big names.
Plant-based pioneers
For the first time vegan-meat trailblazer Beyond Meat will be at the show, showcasing its latest plant-based proteins on stand D51. Founded in 2009, the company launched its pea protein burgers to market, which gained immense popularity (and media attention) for looking, smelling, and tasting almost exactly like meat. Now they are stocked in supermarkets around the world, and recently the brand secured a three-year supply agreement with McDonald’s for the fast-food restaurant’s McPlant burger.
More products to see
The Vegan area will provide a showcase for a wide range of plant-based innovators. Stockeld Dreamery will be showcasing their plant-based cheese (made with fava bean and pea proteins); whilst Hooked Foods will be sampling their range of plant-based seafood, including vegan substitutes for tuna. Visitors can taste OMG Plant Based Food’s Oh! Mungood range – vegan burgers made from mung bean; Bärta will be exhibiting a range of plant-based proteins; and Topas will be showcasing their vegan brands, Wheaty and Veggyness. HUJ Foods will have a range of cashew cheeses, and for sweet treats and natural snacks, visitors can see and sample products from Getraw, OhPops! and The Belgian Chocolate Factory.
Kale Foods, Peas of Heaven (plant-based protein), Getraw (natural, vegan snacks), Tvedemose Økologi (mushrooms) Messob Foods (granola), Lupinta (tempeh), Mycorena (vegan protein), Wholey (organic smoothies, vegan shakes), Euro Company (vegan cheese), Eat My Brand, Grogro (organic baby food), Van Koolen (plant-based proteins), Joolies BV (organic dates), Berief Food (tofu, plant- based mills and yoghurts), Vegafit (plant-based meatballs and fish sticks), Aqua Gustus (water flavourings), and more, have also been confirmed.
Vegan seminars – sometimes with a provocative twist!
To learn more about what’s trending in the world of plant-based foods, and what’s to come, the show’s seminar programme will feature dedicated talks on this dynamic (and sometimes contentious) topic. In his talk titled ‘The Plant Effect’, Maximilian Lundin, country manager at Simple Feast, will explore the debate of ‘health’ and ‘sustainability’ surrounding organic vegan foods.
“The product development within the plant-based industry is heavily focused on extruding protein from plants and adding chemicals to mimic the texture and feel of meat, however this makes it almost impossible to put organic labels on these products”
“The product development within the plant-based industry is heavily focused on extruding protein from plants and adding chemicals to mimic the texture and feel of meat, however this makes it almost impossible to put organic labels on these products due to regulations. In this talk, I call for more focus on WFPB (whole-foods, plant based) organic product development for the consumer and food service market,” says Lundin.
Eco Life Scandinavia takes place in Malmö, Sweden, on the 17-18 November 2021
