HayMax, the organic drug-free allergen barrier balm for hay fever, dust and pet allergy sufferers, has just won its second Global 100 Award. The brand now has over 60 awards to its name.
Max Wiseberg, Managing Director of HayMax, commented: “I can’t quite believe that my business, that I created nearly 20 years ago, has been recognised in these Global 100 Awards. I am very chuffed!”
The Global 100 Awards celebrate excellence in business, spotlighting the year’s top 100 firms and individuals shaping the global professional landscape.
Leading the way for almost two decades, HayMax has now won over 60 awards, including for 2023 a Soil Association BOOM Award, British Made Award, Enterprise Award, BizzieBaby Award, Global 100 Award and Corporate America Today Annual Award.
In addition, the brand has recently started making a positive contribution to reduce climate change. HayMax has switched to using sugar cane to make their pots (using up CO2 instead of producing it), have reduced the amount of material used in the pots by just over 54 per cent, and have switched from plastic labels to paper ones. HayMax pots are now recyclable with your roadside collection.
HayMax is available from wholesalers including Hunts Foods, Jumla, CLF, Hampdens and Sundrelle. The HayMax range is supported by national PR and advertising campaigns. POS materials, including giant display boxes, CDUs, leaflets, posters and shelf barkers, are available from many wholesalers or direct on 01525 406600 or https://haymax.biz/trade-information/
Natural & Organic Products Expo (NOPEX) has announced this year’s seminar programme for when it returns to ExCeL London on 14-15 April. With over 50 industry experts confirmed, including senior professionals from Waitrose, Holland & Barrett, Planet Organic, Marks & Spencer, Abel & Cole, ScoreApp, Soil Association, and IFOAM Organics, the show organisers have stated that it is their “best ever” speaker line-up.
All talks at the show are free to attend and will cover topics like Net Zero, inclusivity, sustainable retail, organic farming, vegan shopping, global product trends, and more – offering buyers and industry professionals an insight into the fast-moving trends within natural, organic and sustainable food and health.
Unmissable headliners
Retail expert, broadcaster and author Mary Portas will headline the show, as well as Planet Organic’s founder Renée Elliott. Co-founder of ScoreApp and best-selling author, Daniel Priestley has also been confirmed.
Sponsored by Viridian Nutrition, Daniel Priestley will advise how indie retailers can use their skills and experience to create a loyal and committed following in a community. By spotlighting issues that mean something to a target audience, this talk will help attendees become a key person of influence (14 April, 1pm).
Big name retailers
Leading retailers like Holland & Barrett and Waitrose will also take to the stage. Titled ‘How to Keep a 150-Year-Old Business Alive,’ Rachel Chatterton, Head of Food and Beverage Development at Holland & Barrett, will explore the challenges on the UK high street and will share insights into how H&B approach food development, the criteria for working with new suppliers and where they plan to take their food range in the future (15 April, 2:15pm).
Oliver Chadwyck-Healey, Branded Innovation Manager at Waitrose & Partners will give a brief insight into the way buyers and the Branded Innovation team at Waitrose work – in his session titled ‘What makes Waitrose, Waitrose’. He’ll talk about the retailer’s targets and motivations that they work to, as well as the pressures and constraints (15 April, 11:15am).
Attendees should also attend a session with Mike Barry, Former Director of Sustainable Business at Marks & Spencer. Mike Barry will delve into what it looks like to build a sustainable food system for the future. He’ll also look at trends that bigger businesses are already adopting and what else can be done to see change at the rate that we need it (14 April, 2:30pm).
Panels on timely topics
As well as keynotes, attendees can look forward to engaging with some of the industry’s most influential names and discussing cutting-edge topics in a range of panel sessions. With Net Zero targets to think about, Lee Holdstock (Soil Association Certification); Charles Redfern (Organico Realfoods); Ed Ayton (Abel & Cole), and Matthew Unerman (Compassion in World Farming) will be on an important panel titled Net Zero and Beyond (14 April, 4pm).
European organic advocates, IFOAM will host a panel on the organic market. Hear from organic experts Soil Association Certification the highlights of the 2024 Organic Market Report and join leading voices from the organic movement in Europe to hear how they are supporting the organic sector and the industry wide vision making organic accessible and affordable for all (15 April, 3pm).
Joanna Wierzbicka, Deputy Director of IFOAM Organics Europe: “IFOAM Organics Europe is pleased to cooperate with Natural and Organic Products Expo. Our partnership combines knowledge and passion to promote the growth of the organic sector in the UK, and beyond. I am looking forward to the session, where we will be delving into European market data and engaging in discussion on challenges and opportunities of the organic industry growth in the UK. IFOAM Organics Europe proudly joins the event, committed to strengthening our organic community.”
Lastly, visitors can join an exciting panel titled ‘Breaking Barriers: Empowering Black Founders in Retail’ to hear the challenges and opportunities that three business leaders have faced and their top tips for success (15 April, 4pm).
For more information and to view the full schedule, visit www.naturalproducts.co.uk/seminars-main-stage.
The UK’s organic beauty and wellbeing market experienced an eight per cent decline in sales last year, the Soil Association’s 2024 Organic Beauty and Wellbeing Market Report reveals. This was the first year that the market experienced a decline in sales following 12 consecutive years of growth.
Over 60 per cent of Soil Association Organic certified beauty and wellness brands agree that the cost of living crisis continues to be the number one factor impeding the growth of potential businesses. Other factors that have contributed to the downturn of the market include the war in Ukraine, hangover from the pandemic and the effects of Brexit. The report also notes that a challenging regulatory environment and a lack of regulation has added to these challenges.
The report states that the certified organic market is currently facing a challenging economic climate and disruption to supply chains, which the certified organic beauty and wellbeing market has not been immune. One quarter of Soil Association Organic certified beauty and wellness brands cite the impact of greenwashing for negatively effecting their businesses, while another quarter have been affected by import and export issues – the effects of Brexit are estimated to have wiped £850m from the UK beauty industry’s export market.
However, within the sector some categories have seen strong performance in 2023, with Mother and Baby Care growing by an impressive 65 per cent. This is a strong category for organic where it is over-indexed in baby food, with two thirds of baby food products in the UK being certified organic. Another area that experienced a boost in sales was Health and Personal Care products, which grew by six per cent. This includes oral care, deodorants, feminine hygiene, medical devices and supplements, which reflects a wider market trend that has seen consumers prioritise products with a healthcare focus.
While 2023 was undoubtedly a tough year for many certified organic beauty and wellbeing brands, 2024 looks more positive with 90 per cent of Soil Association certified brands anticipating growth in the year ahead.
You can download the full report for free HERE.
Organic & Natural Business magazine