Healthplex 2019 a stand-out success for NZ’s natural health products sector

There were hundreds of exhibitors from all over the world, yet large and small Natural Health Products NZ member companies were all able to shine at Healthplex 2019.

Natural Health Products NZ and ten member companies along with NZ Trade & Enterprise hosted a New Zealand pavilion at the huge business-to-business trade show, held in Shanghai from 20-24 June.

The event is organised by the China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Medicines and Health Products (CCMHPIE).  Thousands of distributors, buyers, ingredient buyers and cross-border e-commerce buyers attended the show and its many associated networking and industry events.

It is the second year we have exhibited there, but the first time that smaller member companies were given the more affordable opportunity to share a stand.

Leigh Kite, who represented two of the three companies sharing a stand, says it was a great idea that worked very well.

She says Kerry Warn (Natural Health Products NZ), the NZ Trade & Enterprise team and China Chamber of Commerce all did a fantastic job of looking after our member exhibitors.

“They took care of all the logistics. Their organisation was so seamless that all we had to do was to get ourselves there – it took away most of the usual stress and hassle associated with exhibiting at trade shows.”

Even though it was a business-to-business trade show, Leigh says all of the visitors are also consumers and this was evident in the personal interest shown in the brands she represented.

“Some people wanted to buy products from the stand, but we weren’t set up to sell directly so I suggested they come back on the final day and I’d give them some product. Sure enough, they returned at the end of the show. Given how many hundreds of stands there were, it was telling that they made the effort to return.”

Leigh says exhibiting at a show like Healthplex is a low-cost way to do a litmus test on the China market to see if the products resonate without having to resort to expensive market research.

Natural Health Products NZ General Manager Kerry Warn agrees, noting that it was clear that New Zealand’s clean, green, trustworthy image holds a very strong sway with Chinese consumers.

“I felt that New Zealand was given a much higher profile relative to our size than was the case for other countries represented. It really felt like key players at Healthplex went out of their way to help increase our prominence at events.”

The following Natural Health Products NZ members exhibited at this year’s Healthplex: Alaron, Anagenix, Beebio, Comvita and Enzo Nutraceuticals, Goodbye Products, Absolute Essential, Epiology, Pharma NZ and Sleepdrops.

Plans are already being made to return next year, with an even bigger NZ pavilion. Contact Kerry to find out more about joining Natural Health Products NZ at Healthplex 2020.