New Hope expands Beacon Discovery in time for Expo East

Informa Markets' New Hope Network is launching an improved version of its product discovery platform, Beacon Discovery, so natural products buyers and brands can more efficiently connect at Natural Products Expo East 2023 and beyond.

Beacon Discovery, introduced to the industry at Natural Products Expo West in March, will now include enhanced product discovery as well as navigation tools for the show floor. Expo East begins Sept. 20 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia. Beginning this month, retailers will have the first opportunity to use the tool to browse brands and products as they prepare for a productive event.

Created with SPINS, a leading wellness-focused data company, and HowGood, the world's largest food sustainability database, this data-driven tool enables buyers to easily navigate a massive and fast-growing marketplace to make the Natural Products Expo events more productive. Throughout the year, Beacon Discovery offers brands and buyers custom discovery profiles that will increase transparency and sustainability insights across the industry.

The benefits of Beacon Discovery

After brands upload product information and images—along with along with information about their company's mission—into Beacon Discovery, buyers can choosing an ingredient template that most closely aligns with their store standards to filter out products that include ingredients they don't allow. They can also filter their search by geography, certifications and other features, then connect with the brands for more information and product samples.

To measure products' sustainability, HowGood assesses each one on eight key metrics: greenhouse gas emissions, biodiversity, processing, blue water usage, labor risk, land use, soil health and animal welfare. The results provide a snapshot of the environmental and social impact of each product, which brands have the option of sharing with potential buyers.

"We're excited that Beacon Discovery will increase transparency across the industry, help brands be discovered, and bring sustainability and other environmental, social and governance considerations into the buying process. The platform extends the rigorous standards we apply to our expos in ways that retail buyers and brands can benefit from throughout the year," says Carlotta Mast, senior vice president and market leader at Informa Markets' New Hope Network.

Beacon Discovery partner HowGood exists to provide comprehensive sustainability information to decision-makers throughout the industry, says CEO Alexander Gillett. "Partnering with New Hope provides an unprecedented way to achieve this goal through enabling brands to be recognized for their sustainability efforts, and retailers to seek out the most sustainable brands to improve their own footprints. The launch of this new tool for shifting our industry toward more sustainable practices is a win for everyone—especially the planet."

Through data provided by SPINS, Beacon Discovery lets retailers go deeper than the information on a product's label, as well as optimize their assortment of products and deliver on shopper preferences. Brands can attract buyers based on hard data around standards, ingredients, mission and sales metrics.

"For more than two decades, SPINS has powered discovery for retailers and brands. Now by partnering SPINS Product Intelligence with New Hope Network's Beacon Discovery platform, we are connecting the dots between the 'why' and the 'what' values-oriented consumers are purchasing. We're excited to be able to provide retailers the depth of knowledge about these new and innovative products that will allow them to source the right assortment to win share with their customers," says Julie Lockner, SVP Product at SPINS.

For emerging natural products brands, the ability to be discovered by the right retail partner means greater success and faster speed to shelf. By partnering with New Hope Network's MarketReady Insights program, brands can receive in-depth consulting to bring their labeling into compliance with federal regulations and highlight the care they've taken with a MarketReady Verified seal.

"Finding products for our store can be somewhat challenging when you come to events like Natural Products Expo," said Chris Felder, owner of Grubb's Grocery. "Beacon Discovery is an awesome tool because, with thousands of exhibitors, it can be a challenge to know what products are available to us in West Tennessee. One of the best solutions for my store would be Beacon Discovery's ability to show me products I don't carry, that I should carry."

Exhibitors are invited to begin uploading their product information prior to the event. The platform will be available for buyers to begin using in July, where they can discover products and connect with brands. Beacon Discovery will be available for discovery and connection year-round.

Brands and retailers can find more information and sign up for Beacon Discovery online. Industry members can learn more about what New Hope Network is doing to help define and safeguard the natural products industry by visiting its Standards program.

Natural Products Expo East begins Sept. 20 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia. In addition to education sessions and the trade show, New Hope debuts its Innovation Experience this year. Learn more about Expo East's agenda, exhibitors, retail buyers and registration.