Author: Deanna Tursellino

The fourth annual PBW attracted retail and food service buyers who met with exhibitors and sampled hundreds of new plant-based food brands.

NEW YORK, September 12, 2023 – Plant Based World Expo North America (PBW) returned to the Javits Center in New York on September 7 and 8, 2023. Attendees at the only 100% plant-based B2B industry event sampled delicious new plant-based products, heard from knowledgeable and inspiring speakers, and attended exclusive networking opportunities. There were 3,168 registrants, including a substantial increase in qualified retail and food service buyers walking the expo floor. 

“The positive energy and excitement was palpable from the minute the show floor opened,” said Ben Davis, Content Chair and Strategic Advisor, PBW. “We’ve gotten fantastic feedback from buyers, exhibitors, and sponsors. Overall, exhibitor satisfaction has increased, and more than 50% of exhibit space has already been reserved for the 2024 show, including country pavilions from Italy, Denmark, Brazil, Thailand, Spain, and more.”

Trends at the 2023 Plant Based World Expo included:

• Healthier plant-based snacks and prepared foods using sustainable ingredients like hemp, jackfruit, acai, algae, and seaweed. 
• Global culinary creativity and chef-crafted products from countries including Italy, Brazil, Denmark, Peru, France, the UK, Thailand, Australia, and Canada. Products included plant-based cheese with truffles from Italy, plant-based croissants from France, and organic certified and vegan Dutch stroopwafels.
• More collaborations and training opportunities between food service institutions, chefs, and product manufacturers.
• Exceptional mushroom-based meats, snacks, and jerky from MyForest Foods, Green Wolf Foods, Popadelics, and Myco Technology.
• Exciting new plant-based seafood products from companies such as BeLeaf, Jinka, and Mind Blown Seafood.

This year, exhibitors from more than 200 global companies in more than 250 booths showcased their plant-based products, handed out delicious samples, met buyers, and kept the show floor buzzing for two days. “The experience has been very positive, and we’ve met some wonderful buyers,” said exhibitor Janessa Steenberg, Founder of Panacheeza. “We landed a huge deal today and have already reserved our spot for next year. After being at Plant Based World, we can fulfill retail space and food service.”

Henrik Lund, CEO of Naturli` Foods echoed a similar sentiment: “The quality of the people we talked with this year has been exceptional. They are decision-makers and stakeholders, and I loved the Hosted Buyer Lounge, where PBW arranged meetings with the exhibitors and buyers. PBW is one of the best places to showcase plant-based products.”

Buyers at the show were also enthusiastic about their experiences, citing great connections and the chance to learn about new products to bring to their customers. Additionally, exhibitors and buyers raved about the one-to-one meeting opportunities set up by PBW via the Hosted Buyer Program and the Food Export International Buyers Mission, which all combined resulted in nearly 400 meetings between 40 key buyers and more than100 exhibitors over three full days.

“The Hosted Buyer program was fantastic, and I walked away with a good, solid list of brands to seriously consider,” said Fedele Stella, a buyer with Fairway Market. Chris Chagnon, Assistant Category Manager at Hannaford Supermarkets, said he also had an overwhelmingly positive experience and “was impressed with the innovation and variety of products on the Expo floor.” He also expressed enthusiasm for the Hosted Buyer Program, which “allowed for meaningful conversations in an informal setting.” Thomas Clark from Clark Distribution said PBW was more focused than other large natural product trade shows, allowing him to have more meaningful and valuable conversations.

Don’t forget to save the date for next year’s show, September 11-12, 2024. PBW also offers the only hosted buyer program that is free of charge and exclusive to exhibitors.  Learn more about exhibiting at the 2024 Plant Based World Expo here.

To learn more about Plant Based World Expo or to schedule an interview with PBW leadership, please contact Sacha Cohen, [email protected] or 202-251-9417.

To inquire about exhibiting at future shows, please contact Sam Morley at [email protected].

 

About Plant Based World Expo

Plant Based World Expo is North America’s only 100% plant-based event designed exclusively for food service and retail professionals, distributors, investors, and manufacturers. PBW combines a world-class conference with an exhibition showcasing thousands of innovative plant-based food products and brands from around the world, plus high-level networking and tasting opportunities. PBW is the official tradeshow of the Plant Based Foods Association. 

About JD Events

Plant Based World Expo is produced by JD Events, dedicated to creating targeted and innovative industry-leading events that deliver results. The company brings together highly qualified buying audiences, education-rich content, and high-level networking opportunities — all geared toward increasing collaboration in the markets it serves.

Renowned speakers, engaging conference sessions, an expanded International Pavilion, cooking demos, emerging brands, networking, and more await Plant Based World Expo attendees

NEW YORK, August 22, 2023 – The global plant-based sector is expected to reach $77.8 billion by 2025 and will continue growing through 2030, potentially to more than $100 billion. There’s no better place to learn about ground-breaking products, ingredient innovation, and trends in the maturing plant-based industry than Plant Based World Expo, September 7-8, 2023, at the Javits Center in New York.

Attendees will hear from experts across the food industry, discover plant-based innovations, learn about the latest products and trends, and much more. This year there will be more than 200 exhibitors and sponsors, 40 conference sessions, and more than 4,000 people are expected to attend. With so much to see, hear and taste, how can attendees make the most of their time at the must-attend B2B conference?

Here’s a list of the top 10 not-to-miss experiences:

1. 1. Get inspired by opening keynote speaker Matt Mueller who will share strategies for learning how to innovate faster with purposeful growth.
   2. Don’t miss Friday’s keynote Plant-Based Foods in 2023: Lessons in Resilience and Collaboration with Liron Nimrodi, Zero Egg; Pete Speranza, Wicked Foods; Erin Ransom, Tofurky; Minh Tsai, Hodo Foods; Rachel Dreskin, Plant Based Foods Association and moderated by Nil Zacharias, Plantega and Eat For The Planet.
   3. Visit the BIMPOC Pavilion – created in partnership with the Plant Based Foods Association – which highlights four BIMPOC founder companies including I Eat My Greens and Fun Sesames.
   4. Stop by the Buyer Education Theater to learn what’s essential to buyers from food service and retail—featuring speakers from Hive Brands, Bon Appétit Management Company, Target, and more.
   5. Explore the global influence of plant-based foods from countries including Italy, Brazil, Denmark, Peru, France, the UK, Thailand, Australia, Canada at the expanded International Pavilion.
   6. Hear from industry leaders and pioneers shaping the plant-based sector’s future at the Executive Summit. Topics include everything from Growing a Successful Food Service Business to Merchandising Best Practices to Next Generation Protein.
   7. Check out plant-based cooking demos in the Culinary Theater, where you’ll learn to make dishes like Jerk Steak Tacos and Italian Stuffed Zucchini.
   8. Enjoy samples of ground-breaking plant-based products and ingredients.
   9. Find out about the latest consumer surveys and trends.
   10. Meet plant-based industry trailblazers, disruptors, and experts.

“At Plant Based World, our mission is to help inspire and support sustainable growth within the global food system. This year we will continue to do that with a stellar line-up of speakers, informative programming, and an Expo floor that will showcase the enormous variety of products available to today’s discerning consumers,” said Benjamin Davis, Content Chair and Strategic Advisor, Plant Based World Expo.

The Plant Based World Expo Conference Program has been carefully curated to help retailers, food service operators, and other industry professionals advance their businesses in the plant-based sector. All sessions are programmed with guidance from the world-class PBW Advisory Council and Buyers Council.

To learn more about Plant Based World Expo or to schedule an interview with PBW leadership, please contact Sacha Cohen, [email protected] or 202-251-9417.

 

About Plant Based World

Plant Based World Expo is produced by JD Events, dedicated to the creation of targeted and innovative industry-leading events that deliver results. The company brings together highly qualified buying audiences, education-rich content and high-level networking opportunities — all geared toward increasing collaboration in the markets it serves.

 

About JD Events

Plant Based World Expo is produced by JD Events, dedicated to creating targeted and innovative industry-leading events that deliver results. The company brings together highly qualified buying audiences, education-rich content, and high-level networking opportunities — all geared toward increasing collaboration in the markets it serves.

Keynote panelists will discuss how their businesses have adapted over time and the future opportunities in a maturing industry. Plus, the latest programming and exhibitor highlights.

NEW YORK, July 26, 2023 –  Plant Based World Expo, September 7-8, 2023 at the Javits Center in New York is pleased to announce the Day 2 Keynote: “Plant-Based Foods in 2023: Lessons in Resilience and Collaboration.” This must-attend session will be moderated by Nil Zacharias, Founder of Eat For The Planet and features panelists Liron Nimrodi from ZeroEgg, Pete Speranza from Wicked Foods, and Minh Tsai from Hodo Foods.

During the keynote, attendees will discover the remarkable journey of the plant-based food industry and gain valuable insights from a panel of industry leaders representing various plant-based food categories and stages of growth. Join us for an engaging conversation as these experts share their diverse perspectives on how their businesses have adapted over time, shedding light on prospects for the maturing plant-based food space. This keynote session will leave you equipped with the knowledge and inspiration to navigate the dynamic landscape of plant-based food in 2023 and beyond.

“Since 2019, we’ve been at the forefront of the plant-based food movement and our conference programming reflects the evolution and maturation of the industry,” said Ben Davis, Content Chair​ and Strategic Advisor at Plant Based World Expo. “We’re bringing together some of the most innovative and brightest minds in the plant-based industry to share their expertise and offer real-world case studies and best practices designed to help attendees successfully develop, source and distribute plant-based products, and gain insights they won’t find anywhere else.”

This year’s Plant Based World Expo Conference Program has been carefully curated to help retailers, foodservice operators and other industry professionals advance their businesses in the plant-based sector. Two distinct Conference tracks make it easy to find topics related to specific businesses:

• Executive Summit: New this year, the Executive Summit is designed for industry professionals to learn from industry leaders and pioneers who are shaping the future of the plant-based sector, including a world-class lineup of speakers from companies including Before the Butcher, Green Boy Group, Whole Foods Market, and Purple Carrot. Highlighted sessions include:
  • The Next Generation of Plant-Based Proteins
  • Pioneer – Launch – Scale: Growing a Successful Food Service Business
  • Retailer Collaborations – Merchandising Best Practices to Optimize Category Sales
• Buyer Education Theater: Open to all attendees, this is an opportunity to learn about what’s important to key buyers from foodservice and retail. Features speakers from the Food Marketing Institute, Sodexo, JBH Advisory Group, Target, and more. Topics include:
  • Meat Mushrooms, Your New Center of the Plate Protein
  • The Next Generation: Decoding Gen Z’s Palate and Crafting Authentic Connection
  • Power of Plant-Based Food and Beverages 2023.

In addition to the two PBW Conference tracks, Plant Based World Expo features the following must-attend educational opportunities from the expo floor:

• The Culinary Theater is where attendees can get a taste for how to use many of the products on the show floor. Watch professional chefs mix it up and show how to make a variety of cuisines from around the world.
• Learning Garden Theater is a must attend for anyone looking to gain a deeper understanding of industry trends and innovations.

The 2023 Plant Based World Expo Conference Program was created in partnership with the Plant Based Foods Association and Eat For the Planet. All sessions are programmed with guidance from the world-class PBW Advisory Council and Buyers Council.

Plant Based World Expo (PBW) is North America’s only 100% plant-based event designed exclusively for foodservice and retail professionals, distributors, investors, and manufacturers. PBW combines a world-class conference with an exhibition showcasing thousands of innovative plant-based food products and brands from around the world, plus high-level networking and tasting opportunities. More than 200 exhibitors and more than 4,000 people are expected to attend this year.

To learn more about Plant Based World Expo or to schedule an interview with PBW leadership, please contact Sacha Cohen, [email protected] or 202-251-9417.

 

About Plant Based World

Plant Based World Expo is produced by JD Events, dedicated to the creation of targeted and innovative industry-leading events that deliver results. The company brings together highly qualified buying audiences, education-rich content and high-level networking opportunities — all geared toward increasing collaboration in the markets it serves.

 

About PBFA

The Plant Based Foods Association is the only trade association in the U.S. representing over 350 of the nation’s leading plant-based food companies. PBFA’s mission is to champion, strengthen, and elevate our members and the plant-based food industry. PBFA empowers the industry by advocating for government policies that allow fair competition while expanding market opportunities for retail, distribution, and foodservice to support the continued growth of the plant-based foods industry.

 

Media Contact
Sacha Cohen
202.251.9417
[email protected]

Ground-breaking 100% plant-based trade event for the food industry features the biggest names in plant-based food and an opening keynote with best-selling author and innovation consultant Matt Mueller

NEW YORK, June 27, 2023 –  Plant-based food and beverages have entered a new era of resilient growth and innovation. Healthier, tastier, low-carb, soy-free and other options are contributing to a projection that the market will reach $77.8 billion by 2025. The place to experience the next era of plant-based is the upcoming Plant Based World Expo (PBW), North America’s pioneering plant-based trade show and conference. Designed exclusively for foodservice and retail professionals, distributors, investors, and manufacturers, PBW returns to New York September 7-8, 2023 at the Javits Center.

“The plant-based industry has grown at lightning speed since we launched the first Plant Based World in 2019. Each year, we’ve grown and evolved to meet the demand and to showcase the next wave of innovative and accessible products. PBW continues to be the must-attend industry event where buyers learn about the latest plant-based foods and beverages and where the next era of plant-based begins,” said Benjamin Davis, Content Chair and Strategic Advisor, Plant Based World Expo.

The opening keynote, Creating Purposeful Growth with Mindful Innovation, features best-selling author and innovation consultant Matt Mueller who will share strategies for learning how to innovate faster with purposeful growth. You’ll go as far back as 4,000 B.C. to learn from early day innovations and deploy a level of awareness that will uncover the secret formula to business success, stripping innovation to its foundation. With this newfound clarity you will learn how to identify real consumer problems, supercharge your creativity, and collaborate like a pro.

Several exciting new features will debut this year including:

• Buyer Education Theater: Open to all attendees, this is an opportunity to learn about what’s important to key buyers from food service and retail. Features speakers from the Food Marketing Institute, Sodexo, JBH Advisory Group, Target, and more.
• Executive Summit: A two-day event during PBW designed for industry professionals to learn from industry leaders and pioneers who are shaping the future of the plant-based sector, including a world-class lineup of speakers from Dao Foods, Infinite Foods, American College of Lifestyle Medicine, Elohi Strategic Advisors, Before the Butcher, Whole Foods Market and many more. Topics include everything from the Path to Profitability to the Next Generation of Plant-Based Protein, offering a well-rounded educational program that all corners of the industry can find vital, related content for their business.

With more than 40 sessions and a buzzing expo floor filled with the most exciting and cutting edge brands, attendees will have the opportunity to:

• Learn about the latest consumer trends, data, and research on plant-based foods.
• See, taste, and experience new product innovations and solutions.
• Become experts on plant-based food and help shape a healthier, more sustainable food system.
• Network with and learn from their peers.

Plant Based World Expo combines a world-class conference with an exhibition showcasing thousands of innovative plant-based food products and brands from around the world including Italy, Denmark, Brazil, Thailand, France and Peru, plus high-level networking and tasting opportunities. More than 4,000 people are expected to attend this year.

Plant Based World Expo offers separate passes for the expo floor and conference program, as well as an All Access Pass for guests looking for a more well-rounded experience. Qualified buyers can receive a free Expo Only pass upon registering, and registering through July 16 offers an Early Bird discount to all. For more information and to register, visit www.plantbasedworldexpo.com.

PBW is the official trade show for the Plant Based Foods Association (PBFA), the pioneering trade association for plant-based food companies.

 

About Plant Based World

Plant Based World Expo is produced by JD Events, dedicated to the creation of targeted and innovative industry-leading events that deliver results. The company brings together highly qualified buying audiences, education-rich content and high-level networking opportunities — all geared toward increasing collaboration in the markets it serves.

 

About PBFA

The Plant Based Foods Association is the only trade association in the U.S. representing over 350 of the nation’s leading plant-based food companies. PBFA’s mission is to champion, strengthen, and elevate our members and the plant-based food industry. PBFA empowers the industry by advocating for government policies that allow fair competition while expanding market opportunities for retail, distribution, and foodservice to support the continued growth of the plant-based foods industry.

 

Media Contact
Sacha Cohen
202.251.9417
[email protected]