September 22, 2009

6 Min Read
Where Can You Find NBJ at the 2009 Natural Products Expo East?

The 2009 Natural Products Expo East starts tomorrow, September 23, in Boston, and Nutrition Business Journal is hosting two educational events at this year’s show.

The NBJ Summit Extension: Internet Sales & Marketing

8 a.m.-10 a.m., Thursday, September 24, in room 254A

Every nutrition industry company knows it must harness the Internet to position, promote and, in many cases, sell its products, but not many companies know how to turn this idea into reality and effectively use the Web to maximize revenues and profits. In fact, best practices in Web marketing and e-commerce for dietary supplement, natural & organic and other nutrition-related companies are only now just emerging. NBJ will explore these best practices during the 2009 NBJ Summit Extension: Internet Marketing & Sales seminar, which will be held from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Eastern time on Thursday, September 24, in room 254A of the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center.

As the name implies, this seminar will serve as an extension of the content presented during the 2009 NBJ Summit, which featured a panel titled Successfully Navigating the New Online Media World. Feedback on this session from the more than 300 CEOs and other nutrition industry executives in attendance at the 2009 NBJ Summit was so positive that NBJ decided to offer a similar session for those who could not attend the Summit.

Five nutrition industry and Internet marketing and sales leaders will present during the NBJ Summit Extension: Paul Hanamm, founder of Bright Green Marketing; Roy Bingham, head of e-commerce at RenewLife Formulas; Devin Ryerson, founder and CEO of PurePrescriptions.com; Patrick Rea, NBJ publisher and editorial director; and Tom Aarts, NBJ co-founder and editorial advisory board chairman. Among the questions they will answer are:

• How can the Web be used to complement and strengthen your existing sales and marketing programs?

• What resources are required to grow your online sales?

• Should you outsource online sales and marketing or build these capabilities in-house?

• How do you protect and grow your brand equity online?

• Where should you direct your investment in the social media space?

• What are the rules of engagement with online consumers?

• When is the best time to invest in online sales and marketing?

• What resources exist that can help you get up to speed?

• How can you best track your online sales and marketing investments, and what ROI should you expect?

Session attendees will also receive a review of their company’s online marketing and sales strategies and tactics. Cost of the session is $295 per attendee. Space is filling up, so register today.

If your nutrition industry company is not already, now is the time to get serious about Internet marketing and sales. According to NBJ estimates, the Internet was once again the fastest-growing sales channel within the U.S. nutrition industry in 2008. Total U.S. nutrition industry sales via the Web grew 22% to $1.4 billion last year, adding approximately $250 million in new sales.

Gluten and Other Allergies 101: Everything You Need to Know

10:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m., Friday, September 25, in room 252A

NBJ Editor Carlotta Mast will moderate an education panel focused on one of the fastest-growing product categories in the U.S. nutrition industry: gluten- and allergy-free foods and beverages. The session—which will be held from 10:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. on Friday, September 25, in room 252A of the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center—will cover every aspect of the gluten- and allergy-free foods spectrum: from finished product manufacturer to distributor to retailer to consumer.

Experts presenting during the session and available to answer questions are:

MaryJo Marks, UNFI'S natural and organic category specialist: MaryJo Marks brings 28 years of retail experience to her seminars. Before joining UNFI, MaryJo’s career included a variety of positions in both natural & specialty product stores. She has worked in both large and small stores and has been involved in store management, new store openings, purchasing, merchandising, staff education and training and many other aspects of retailing.

Ronnie Alicea, RD: Ronni Alicea is a Registered Dietitian specializing in food allergies, food intolerances and celiac disease. She has a private practice, consults for gluten-free/allergen free food companies and provides clinical services to health care facilities. She writes and speaks nationally on managing specialty diets and how to prepare foods properly. Most recent articles in professional and consumer media address residential care facilities and gluten-free diets.

Scott Mandell, president and founder of Enjoy Life Foods: As the founder of Enjoy Life, Scott Mandell has become one of the most experienced entrepreneurs in the allergy-friendly / gluten-free food industry. By creating innovative and functional ways to serve food-sensitive consumers, Mr. Mandell has become a thought-leader in the allergy-friendly and gluten-free markets. He is a fixture on allergy-friendly and gluten-free expert panels, and as a keynote speaker has been able to take an informational / educational perspective, while introducing the Enjoy Life™ brand to consumers and the industry. Mr. Mandell serves on the following outside boards: the Gluten Free Certification Organization, the American Celiac Disease Alliance, and Tula Foods Inc.

Susan Welsh, grocery buyer and category manager for Sprouts Farmers Market: Susan Welsh has been in the food industry for most of her life. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from Arizona State University with a degree in Agribusiness and a minor in Organic Food Manufacturing. Her experiences after college included owning a small natural foods market in Cave Creek, Arizona, working at Whole Foods Market in Tempe, Arizona as a Grocery Team Leader and then working as a sales rep for The Hain Celestial Group, covering the Arizona and Utah markets. Currently, Susan is the Grocery Buyer and Category Manager for Sprouts Farmers Market. She has been in her position for four years and sincerely enjoys the fast pace and growth that Sprouts has been experiencing for the last two years. Susan is married and has a 20 year old son who goes to school at UCDavis in Northern California.

What else can you expect to find at the 2009 Natural Products Expo East? More than 1,000 exhibiting companies occupying 1,500 booths and a plethora of educational and networking events. NBJ hopes to see you at the 2009 Natural Products Expo East.

Related NBJ articles:

E-marketing: A Recession Essential for Every Company

E-commerce Is Now a Must for Nutrition Firms

Gluten-Free Foods Continue Reign as Fastest-Growing U.S. Grocery Category

Subscribe and receive the latest updates on trends, data, events and more.
Join 57,000+ members of the natural products community.

You May Also Like