The first-ever EVO NXT Business Festival, which débuted at the Palacio de Ferias y Congresos de Málaga (FYCMA) on 10 and 11 March, was a runaway success, welcoming an international business audience, famous-name companies and first movers in the NGP (next-generation product) sector who convened in 20 °C (70 °F) of sunshine to connect, engage and share information and ideas on innovations, current topics of interest and all the latest gizmos. The exciting mix of keynote talks, panel discussions and master-classes plus a wide-ranging entertainment programme created great enthusiasm among the professionals taking part – and the next business festival is now eagerly awaited.

Dortmund, 14 March 2023 – It was something people in the NGP sector had been looking forward to for months: an NGP-specific event covering all relevant topics and trends, yet packaged into a festival that exceeds the boundaries of a conventional trade show. At its maiden event in Málaga, Spain, EVO NXT really stole the show. Key industry figures, big-name companies and first movers in the NGP sector convened at the Palacio de Ferias y Congresos de Málaga to engage and share thoughts on innovations and the latest technology across four thematic zones, and to listen to top international speakers talking about current developments within the NGP industry.

Four zones for deep dives into the world of NGPs

Whether it was the E-ZONE for e-cigarettes and liquids, the HEAT ZONE for heat-not-burn products, the GREEN ZONE for hemp products or the LIKE X ZONE for products such as pouches and other alternative products, there was a multitude of things to experience.

Industry giants such as Neafs from the UK and Swedish company Sting Free Snus were in attendance in the HEAT ZONE and the LIKE X-ZONE. The GREEN ZONE featured businesses such as Euphoria Trade from Amsterdam, and KIWI (Vapour International) from Croatia had set up stall in the E-ZONE. These and many other exhibitors ensured that the trade audience which had travelled to Málaga for the weekend had the opportunity to try out innovations and discover interesting technological advancements.

Top international speakers on multiple stages

True to the slogan 'Leading the change', the main focus was the top-class programme on the event stages and in master-classes. Top international speakers such as Dr Derek Yach one of the leading experts in global public health and with years of experience working for the WHO, and Ciprian Boboi, founder and board member of the Independent European Vape Alliance (IEVA), provided information on emerging innovations and regulations within the EU.

The finishing touch to the very first EVO NXT Business Festival was a first-rate entertainment programme. 'Networking to the next level' was once again the order of the day at the get-together evening at Club Náutico on Candado Beach on the first evening of the festival.

Delegates' response to the first-ever EVO NXT

“The favourable response from the industry shows that our business festival was perceived as exactly the modern platform we'd planned it to be. The EVO NXT Business Festival will take these ideas on board and, following the inaugural event, will continue to evolve the model in the years ahead,” said Angelika Bauer, Head of Trade Shows at Messe Dortmund, summing up the spirit of optimism within the industry and looking back on the début festival.

EVO NXT 2023 – what the industry had to say

Vapour International d.o.o. (KIWI), Mattia Sparacino, CEO

“We're pleased to have taken part in the EVO NXT event to showcase our latest generation of electronic cigarettes. As a leader in the development of smoke-free solutions, we are committed to promoting the health of our customers through better and safer alternatives. We would like to thank the EVO NXT organisers for giving us the opportunity to present our innovative products to those attending the event. We're excited to have received many new B2B partnership enquiries and hope to collaborate with them to promote increasingly effective and cleaner solutions to help smokers quit and improve their well-being. Thank you to all the participants for making the event a great success.”

NEAFS Europe S.L., Julian Clarke, Head of UK Market and Managing Director

“In a word: brilliant! The stage programme included an excellent line-up of speakers from, and for, the industry. We were also able to make valuable business contacts. The EVO NXT approach makes it the first event anywhere in the world to showcase the NGP sector so skilfully. An absolutely unique selling point!”

Independent European Vape Alliance (IEVA), Ciprian Boboi, founder and board member

“EVO NXT showed how important international collaboration is in the vaping business. Here in Málaga, we had very important organizations from the EU, UK and the United States exchanging views on upcoming developments in global e-cigarette regulation. EVO NXT was a very good, well organised forum for doing this in.”

Liquideo, Stéphane Nérot, International Sales Manager

“EVO NXT attracted a really high-quality professional audience. Not only was the festival an important bridge into the future, we've also managed to make important contacts for moving forward. Also, the organisers had a great team on site – likeable and easy to approach.”

FLONQ, Igor Yagubkin, Sales Director, Europe & UK

“That was one great show. The quality of visitors was superb, and EVO's modern, hybrid approach also turned out to be a real winner. It's great to see international experts encountering exhibitors, products and innovations – and entertainment into the bargain. It's this versatility coupled with the family atmosphere and wonderful location that sets EVO NXT apart.”

Den Norske Snusfabrikken AS, Øyvind Simonsen, General Manager

“For us at Den Norske Snusfabrikken, we're exhibiting for the first time ever. So it's our début too – and it went really well. The quality of EVO delegates is very high. Also, the business festival format is spot-on. It's modern, it delineates strongly vis-à-vis the conventional tobacco industry, as well as creating a link between the vaping and pouch segments. What we're seeing here is not just a new generation of visitors, but also a forum for opening up new export opportunities.”

Next Tröber Europe, Dominik Sperling, Managing Director of Healthygarden GmbH

“EVO NXT gave us numerous opportunities for in-depth discussions. The location was fantastic, and the family atmosphere absolutely authentic. With this format, the industry is showing that it doesn't indulge in old-fashioned thinking, but is looking to the future. The business festival exudes the right spirit for exploring the innovations going on in the industry.”

FESTIVAL AT A GLANCE

EVO NXT – THE INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS FESTIVAL FOR NEXT-GENERATION PRODUCTS

EVO NXT is an exceptional new event concept that goes well beyond conventional trade show offerings – exclusively for the NGP industry! An innovative business festival and with a unique mix of information and entertainment, EVO NXT offers everyone the perfect platform for joining forces and driving change in the industry. In its four zones, EVO NXT not only provides a comprehensive overview of all the latest trends and innovations in the world of NGPs, it also offers exhibitors and visitors all the benefits of modern live communications, with industry experts and big-name speakers providing key inspiration to this young industry in the form of gripping keynote talks, summits, workshops and panel discussions. Selected businesses also present a wealth of innovations and offerings across various stage settings, and a diverse mix of music acts offers an ideal atmosphere for networking while transforming the whole event into a superb festival experience.