SAO PAULO, June 15 /PRNewswire/ --

- The world's most important event for the health ingredients industry arrives in Brazil

The leaders in the health ingredients industry have arrived in Brazil today for the Health ingredients South America (HiSA) Summit. Over the next two days, industry players will take full advantage of this opportunity to network, promote their products and services and most importantly, explore the opportunities in this dynamic emerging market.

The major players are heading south

Danone, DSM, BASF, Danisco, Doehler are among the international ingredients suppliers who will be exhibiting at the summit. The products on offer promise to improve almost every imaginable health issue from cardio-vascular health, to immune system functioning, from diabetes to joint health.

The growing demand for better-for-you (BFY) foods in South America has lead major multinationals to invest in new-product development, reformulation, and marketing strategies to enhance and promote the health benefits of their products. Retail sales of health and functional foods have doubled in the region since 2002 and this trend is expected to continue. Fuelled by manufacturing investment and an increasingly affluent consumer base, Euromonitor is forecasting further growth of 32% by 2012.

A changing market with growing potential

The involvement of the industry leaders is evolving the landscape of the health ingredients market, creating opportunities for companies involved in technology development, logistics, distribution and marketing. HiSA is the ideal forum to bring them all together.

The HiSA summit was developed to serve this high potential market and is the latest addition to the successful Food ingredients (Fi) series of food ingredients events around the world. The overwhelming interest in HiSA surpassed even the organizers expectations and they are confident this year's launch will establish the show as the premiere food ingredients event in South America. An expected 1200 professionals, decision makers and key players in the Brazilian and South American food industry will come together in the next two days.

About the organiser

United Business Media is headquartered in London, UK. The office in the Netherlands is the organiser of the world-leading Health ingredients, Food ingredients, CPhi, ICSE and Informex series of food and pharmaceutical ingredients trade shows. The Dutch office also publishes International Food Ingredients Magazine and organises related conference activities. For more information, visit www.ingredientsnetwork.com.

Health ingredients South America is taking place from 15-16 June 2009 at the Novatel Centre Norte in Sao Paulo, Brazil. For more information please call Valerie Snow on +31-346-559-460, send an email to valerie.snow@ubm.com or visit www.ingredientsnetwork.com.

Valerie Snow, Marketing Manager, Emerging Markets of UBM International Media, +31-(0)-346-559-460, fax, +31-(0)-346-573-811, Valerie.Snow@ubm.com