NEW YORK, NY – This past weekend, the Javits Center was the place to be for anyone and everyone interested in learning about the growth of the plant-based foods market, which is transforming the way people eat. Trade show management company JD Events announced that 3,737 attendees participated in the launch of the Plant Based World Conference & Expo. The event was supported by founding partners Plant Based Foods Association, Eat for the Planet, The Plantrician Project, and Follow Your Heart.
“We had attendees who traveled from all 50 states and countries throughout the world to be a part of this first-of-its-kind event. A healthcare conference, a business conference, an expo open to the general public all rolled into one epic gathering of humans with the common belief that what we eat, how we feel and the world we share are all integrally connected,” said Ben Davis, Content & Communications Director, Plant Based World Conference & Expo. “We received positive feedback from exhibitors on the quality of the attendees they met and from attendees on the content in three education tracks and the general keynote presentations. We thank our exhibitors, sponsors, speakers, attendees, media partners, supporting organizations and partners who helped to make this launch event a huge success.”
The expo hall was packed with professionals and consumers who tasted and sourced plant-based products from 125 exhibitors and sponsors. Delicious plant-based foods were offered, including a chef-created, plant-based seafood from Good Catch; new real cheese and butter made purely from plants from Miyoko’s; artisan plant meat from No Evil; creamy faba butter and decadent cookies from Fora Foods; 100% plant-based tomato sauce from Otamot; the original coconut ice cream from NadaMoo!; and so much more.
In addition to the exhibit hall, there were three keynote presentations, three education programs and several feature areas. Nil Zacharias, Founder of Eat for the Planet moderated the Friday and Saturday opening keynotes:
- An informative and insightful keynote presentation with leaders from the Plant Based Foods Association, Kroger Merchandising Consulting at 84.51 and Restaurant Associates. These leaders discussed the double digit growth of the industry, catering to the one third of Americans who now identify as “flexitarian’s”, aiming to reduce their meat and dairy consumption, causing the industry to reach into the mainstream.
- A conversation with Seth Goldman, Executive Chair of Beyond Meat on turning a mission driven business into a mainstream revolution. Seth who is also co-founder of Honest Tea, shared his journey, and discussed what’s next for Beyond Meat, his thoughts on the growing plant-based food industry and innovative new food trends he expects to emerge in the decades ahead.
The Eat for the Future Business Forum, produced in partnership with Eat for the Planet, featured speakers including executives from StrayDog Capital, Bareburger, Wicked Kitchen/Tesco, The Good Food Institute, and Hain Celestial to name a few. The Forum was designed for retail, food service, product manufacturers, plant-based food companies and food industry professionals to learn about the growth in consumer demand for plant-based foods.
The Food Solutions for Human Health Summit presented by The Plantrician Project, offered a stellar line-up of leading doctors, dietitians, and nutritionists who talked about the biochemical, physiologic, and disease specific effect of a whole food plant-based diet. Speakers included Dr. Joel Fuhrman; T. Colin Campbell, PhD; Dr. Michael Greger, NutritionFacts.org, and more.
At the close of the event, NFL Linebacker Derrick Morgan and his wife Chef Charity Morgan presented a dynamic discussion on their transition to a plant-based lifestyle and the benefits Derrick and his Tennessee Titan teammates experienced. Other speakers who shared their stories with the general public during Community Day included Eric Adams, Brooklyn Borough President; Keith Tucker of Hip Hop is Green; vegan Olympians and bodybuilders such as Dostie Bausch and Nimai Delgado, and physicians such as Dr. Garth Davis and Dr. Robert Osfeld of Montefiore Health System.
The Siddhi Speaker Series offered standing room only crowds’ information from presenters who offered the latest details on a wide range of topics about marketing for vegan business success, health benefits for optimal human performance, and breakthroughs in plant-based nutrition.
The Culinary Demo Theater featured live cooking demonstrations that showcased unique plant-based ingredients and inspired home cooks and professional chefs with ideas for new menu items. Vedge co-owner Richard Landau prepared pan seared, peppercorn crusted tofu with ragu of spring vegetables and Vegan Pastry Chef Fran Costigan prepared ganache glazed chocolate cake with vanilla bean pastry cream and spring berries. Local NYC plant-based establishments such as Blossom Du Jour and Candle Cafe participated as well. Attendees also sampled delicious dishes made with seaweed, plant-based butter, seafood, and much more.
The 2020 Plant Based World Conference & Expo will be held June 5-6, 2020 back at the Javits Center in New York City. For information on exhibiting contact Michelle Bonina, Sales & Business Development Director at 203-416-1924 or Michelle@theplantbasedworld.com. For information about Plant Based World Conference & Expo, visit http://www.plantbasedworldexpo.com/.
Plant Based World 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. Visit www.jdevents.com for more information.
