March 10, 2009

2 Min Read
Natural Products Expo West Hot in Cool Economy

BOULDER, Colo. (March 9, 2009) — The 29th annual Natural Products Expo West/SupplyExpo (www.expowest.com), held March 5-8, 2009, at the Anaheim Convention Center in Calif., engaged more than 53,000 industry members in active business, up from last year’s record-breaking event. The event showcased the newest and most innovative products in natural, organic, and healthy living.

“Natural Products Expo West has been incredible. The show floor here certainly does not look like there’s a recession in this country,” said Stephen Brooks, Co-CEO, of Kopali Organics, a Miami, Florida-based company that buys from small organic farmers from around the world.

According to Nutrition Business Journal, consumer sales of nutrition products grew an estimated 9 percent in 2008 to more than $100 billion.

“Retail buyers need face-to-face meetings, particularly in a slower economy,” said Adam Andersen, show manager of Natural Products Expo West. “Buyers come to this show to seek out those new products that will fly off their shelves and offer a competitive advantage to their stores.”

Natural Products Expo West 2009 occupied 300,000 square feet and featured more than 1,900 exhibiting companies from 28 countries, with 484 new exhibitors. The show’s success proved that, despite a cool economy, innovation and retailer interest in natural products remains strong. Co-located events included Fresh Ideas Organic Marketplace, Healthy Baking Seminar, Nutracon, and SupplyExpo (www.supplyexpo.com), which featured the latest ingredients and manufacturing supplies.

"Products and technologies introduced at SupplyExpo allow manufacturers to get a head start in highly competitive and emerging markets around the world," said Len Monheit, supply portfolio director with New Hope Natural Media.

Last year’s Natural Products Expo West/SupplyExpo was honored by Tradeshow Week as one of the “Top 50 Fastest Growing Shows” and was awarded a prestigious Gold Standard Award by Trade Show Executive magazine as a “Leader in Green Initiatives.” This year’s sister trade show, Natural Products Expo East, will splash down in Boston, Sept. 23-26, 2009, celebrating its 24th anniversary.

New Hope Natural Media (www.newhope.com), a division of the Penton Media Inc., is the leading media resource and information provider for the natural, organic and healthy products industry, with print, in-person/event, and e-business products and services. Penton Media is the largest independent business-to-business media company in the U.S., serving more than 6 million business professionals every month. The company’s market-leading brands are focused on 30 industries and include 113 trade magazines, 145 Web sites, 150 industry trade shows and conferences, and more than 500 information data products. Headquartered in New York City, the privately held company is owned by MidOcean Partners and U.S. Equity Partners II, an investment fund sponsored by Wasserstein & Co. , LP, and its co-investors. For additional information on the company and its businesses, visit www.penton.com.

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