The largest hospitality industry and international food exhibition in Kansai “Hotel Restaurant Show & FOODEX JAPAN in Kansai 2024,” , was held in Osaka From September 18 to 20, 2024.
Our organization, VegeProject Japan, set up the “VegeProject Zone” to introduce vegan and plant-based products within this exhibition. On the first day, we also hosted a seminar and panel discussion on vegan and plant-based topics.
In the “VegeProject Zone,” businesses with vegan products, including those that have obtained our vegan certification, gathered and showcased a variety of vegan products.
【Products exhibited at the VegeProject Zone】
- Meltable, almond-flavored vegan cheese (Rokko Butter Co., Ltd.)
- Vegan white sauce and meat sauce (Sanei Foods Co., Ltd.)
- Alternative foods mimicking chicken, beef, shrimp, and squid (Nisshin Shoji Co., Ltd.)
- Rice and barley syrup, which can also substitute honey (Kyoto Grain System Co., Ltd.)
- Traditional Sendai Fu and sweets made with Sendai Fu (Yamagataya Shoten Co., Ltd.)
- Authentic Taiwanese cuisine in retort pouches (Kiryu Advanced Tech Co., Ltd.)
- Vegan & gluten-free Japanese sweets such as dorayaki and nerikiri (Enny Co., Ltd.)
- Vegan & gluten-free snacks upcycled from okara (Lepain Co., Ltd.)
- Handmade supplements made from natural ingredients, which can also be enjoyed as confectionery (Chikusha Co., Ltd.)
VegeProject also held a booth at the area introducing vegan-certified products and the support we provide to manufacturers, restaurants, hotels, and other businesses for their vegetarian and vegan initiatives.
On September 18, the first day of the exhibition, our representative Haruko Kawano gave a lecture, followed by a panel discussion with seven companies exhibiting in the “VegeProject Zone.”
In the lecture, we introduced basic knowledge about vegetarians, vegans, and plant-based diets, vegan and plant-based market trends, and advise for businesses entering the market.
Next, representatives from companies participating in the “VegeProject Zone” who are actually involved in vegan and plant-based businesses gave presentations in two panel discussions. In these talks, they introduced their products, their motivations, the background behind developing vegan products, tips for product development, and insights into market expansion. They also spoke about their expectations for the vegetarian and vegan market and shared their outlooks for future market developments, offering a positive view of the industry’s future.
Given the timing and location, with Kansai preparing for the World Expo, a large number of representatives from restaurants, hotels, and manufacturers attended the exhibition, showing a high level of interest in vegan and plant-based products, as well as vegetarian and vegan initiatives.
Our organization will continue to support more businesses in gaining interest and engaging in the vegetarian and vegan market.
We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the exhibition office that organized the VegeProject Zone, the businesses that participated in the zone, and all the visitors to the booths and seminars.
