With sales of hemp food and cosmetics expanding all over the world, legacy hemp firms are facing up to the challenges in the fast-paced sectors and experiencing rapid growth. Leading global hemp veterans will share their analysis of the current state of the markets during HempToday’s Hemp Food, Health & Beauty Summit May 25-26, 2018 in Poland.
Daniel Kruse, Hempro Int. GmbH & Co., Germany, and Hana Gabrielova, CEO at Hempoint, Czech Republic, will share insights into current market trends and reflect on their journey through the industry over the past two decades during the event set for HempToday Center.
Innovative applicants get 15-minute slots
Attendance is limited to 25 delegates, with applications now being accepted. Submissions reflecting innovative hemp initiatives or products can earn participants a 15-minute presentation and feedback from the leading practitioners in attendance.
With demand for hemp seeds in Europe currently double what growers on the continent can supply, the value chain continues to be inefficient, requiring imports from Canada and China to meet the needs of the food, health & beauty sectors on the continent. That gap signals enticing investment opportunities in an industry that has already developed a basic regional infrastructure and is rich with entrepreneurs developing the plant into a wide range of innovative products.
Up close with leading international players
Founder of Hempro Int. GmbH, Kruse has been in the hemp industry since 1995. The company is a Dusseldorf-based producer and wholesaler of hemp foods, bulk raw materials for food, cosmetics, textiles and accessories. Kruse is also a senior advisor to entrepreneurs, startups, investors and other industry stakeholders through HempConsult GmbH, an independent consultancy.
Gabrielova is founder and CEO at Hempoint, Czech Republic, a vertically integrated organic hemp farmer, food innovator and consultant. She works directly with local farmers and contractors in creating a constantly evolving line of hemp food products from farm to shelf. She is accredited by the Czech Ministry of Agriculture as an adviser in organic farming with a specialization in hemp.
They join Hemp Foods Australia CEO Paul Benhaim, earlier named as a featured speaker for the event. Also a 20+ year veteran of the hemp industry, his firm is the southern hemisphere’s biggest hemp food player.
Entrepreneurs & their hemp stories
The food, health & beauty sectors also represent sweet spots for small, entrepreneurial firms as the cost of entry need not be great, and the process of development can be simple. Innovative, unique, artisan-crafted products are finding markets both locally and internationally.
In that vein, Dutch entrepreneur Esther Molenwijk, founder of Dutch Harvest hemp tea, also will address the gathering. She launched her firm in 2015 following a successful crowdfunding campaign and with help from Dutch hemp grower Dun Agro. Molenwijk also is founder of the Hemp Collective, a foundation aimed at inspiring and educating the Dutch public about the possibilities of hemp.
Cosmetics, skincare products soar globally
With broader consumer awareness of hemp-based cosmetics and skin applications, sales are on the rise and hemp-based personal care products are expected to grow in volume in many parts of the world. Wholesalers and private label companies are engaging in global trade as such products show up more and more in the mainstream around the world.The personal care product sector is approaching $200 million in the USA alone, with both finished products and raw goods being imported mainly from Canada.
The event is the second in a cycle of international mini-summits at HempToday’s Poland-based center this year.
