“Vitafoods Asia 2024” A Major Force Driving Thailand
to the Top of the Nutraceutical Industry in Asia
Vitafoods Asia 2024, Asia’s leading event for nutraceutical and health products, was successfully held in September by Informa Markets to be a major driving force in propelling Thailand’s nutraceutical industry to reach its full potential, positioning the country as the leading hub for nutraceutical in Asia and on the global stage.
The surge in global health awareness, particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic, coupled with Thailand’s increasing aging population, has resulted in a remarkable growth in the nutraceutical market. This upward trend is expected to continue as the sector expands its product lines to meet diverse health needs, from wellness to beauty-enhancing vitamins.
“Thailand holds an advantage in medical and health technology and the abundance of raw materials, particularly in natural extracts, as well as the robust education and research sectors, which drive commercial development. This contributes to the advancement of Thailand’s nutraceutical and health industries, creating an economic value of 190 billion baht in 2022, with projections to increase to 230 billion baht by 2026. Meanwhile, the growth of the nutraceutical market in Thailand, alongside the Asian market’s expansion of 10.26%, is valued at USD 110 billion and is expected to rise to USD 180 billion by 2029,” said Ms. Rungphech Chitanuwat, Regional Portfolio Director – ASEAN, Informa Markets.
Vitafoods Asia 2024 serves as a vital gateway to explore the dynamic world of nutraceuticals. This year, the event welcomed over 544 exhibitors from 38 countries, showcasing cutting-edge health products, innovative technologies, and extensive production capabilities. The exhibition attracted a record attendance of 12,976 visitors, a 34% increase from the previous year.
The exhibition venue: Queen Sirikit National Convention Center’s Hall 1-3 were filled with stunning and diverse exhibitors from leading companies, both Thailand and international, each showcasing their full potential. These companies brought a wide range of innovations, new technologies, and nutraceutical products to captivate attendees. Over the course of the three-day event, the venue was bustling with visitors, including key industry influencers, business owners, and individuals looking for investment opportunities or aiming to build their own nutraceutical brands. All were eager to explore and experience the latest trends and innovations.
Kazuki Takita, Head of Sales and Marketing for Kaneka Ubiquinol™ Asia Pacific, invited Thai people to age healthily together. He explained that Kaneka Ubiquinol™ is recognized for promoting health and longevity because it plays a crucial role in energy production for the mitochondria, the energy center of cells throughout the body. As we age, the production of ubiquinol decreases, making it important to supplement ubiquinol to maintain good health, especially among the elderly. The company plans to collaborate with key opinion leaders (KOLs) to expand access to ubiquinol products in Thailand.
Moreover, Vitafoods Asia 2024 embraced the mega-trend of sustainability with the “Sustainability Booth Design Awards” featuring inspiring businesses committed to environmentally responsible health practices. The winners of the awards are ALGALIF, BIORGINAL ASIA, BOTANIC HEALTHCARE, FISMER LECITHIN, GIWAN, GRAINON, MORINAGA NUTRITIONAL FOODS, NAHRIN AG, NEXUS WISE, PB LEINER, PIO PHARM and SOLABIA BIO ACTOR.
Vitafoods Asia 2024 also featured an array of engaging seminars and activities across various zones, including:
- Main Stage: In-depth seminars on research and market trends in Asia, with standout topics such as Food Labelling in SEA to Promote Health among the Elderly.
- NutraFocus: A popular zone for the latest scientific advancements in the nutraceutical industry, covering topics like herbal product registration. presented by specialists from the Food and Drug Administration.
- New Ingredients & New Products Zone: A showcase of the latest nutraceutical innovations from around the globe.
- Tasting Bar: A hit zone where visitors can sample products before they started to discuss business with the sellers. Some of the products include protein supplements for the elderly and energy-boosting herbal drinks, receiving rave reviews for their taste and drinkability.
- Life Elements: Nutritional consultations based on ancient Ayurvedic principles, focusing on balancing the body’s four elements to achieve good health.
- Innovative Health Hub: The showcase of nutritional technology and solutions that will shake up the health industry.
- Sustainability Square: A unique workshops featuring local crafts emphasizing on sustainable practices, such as fan painting workshop by Bang Kachao community.
- A to C: Academic to Commercial Zone: Academic research and finished products by leading universities were presented to win commercial opportunities. One of the highlights is the cricket oil by Mahidol University which received significant attention from visitors
- Nutritional Consultancy: A special zone where exhibitions could seek expert advice on the right diet suitable for individual health goals and well-being. Visitors had the chance to measure their body fat, muscles and bones, using a special machine that provides more precise results than a regular weight scale. Based on individual’s result, experts at the booth would provide analytics and recommendations on exercise and diet.
The event concluded with the Vitafoods Asia Nutraceutical Awards Showcase, a dedicated space for showcasing products from finalists in the innovation competition, all crafted from local ingredients under the theme “Local Ingredients to Global Nutraceuticals.” Participants had the honor of receiving certificates of excellence, recognizing their potential to advance their products and extracts for commercialization. This year’s awards were divided into two categories: SMEs and students.
In the SME category, the winner is hydrolyzed protein from rice berry by RICE-PEP, while the first runner-up is innovative jelly gummy synbiotics from ZEREE A, the second runner-up is functional dietary fiber from cassava pulp plus rosella extract by OLIGO FIBER PLUS and honorable mention is long-chain probiotics from ISOMALTELITE.
In the student category, the winner is fermented fish sauce with mushrooms and kombu by MUSHRA. The first runner-up award goes to fermented rice with mulberry leaves by MAK-KA-MON, while the second runner-up is ginger cider infused with bitter melon extract by MODICA and honorable mentions include roselle jelly plus probiotics by NUTRARY ROSELLE JELLY and jelly drinks by PRIVARY.
For those who missed this year’s event, mark your calendars for “Vitafoods Asia 2025,” scheduled for September 17-19, 2025, Hall 5-8, LG Floor at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center. Stay tuned for show updates at www.vitafoodsasia.com.
