Natural Products Expo West, the largest natural, organic and healthy products event in the United States, takes place every March at the Anaheim Convention Center in California. Produced by New Hope Network, the show brings together innovative products that emphasize sustainability, lifestyle, nutrition and health, transparency and convenience. Record numbers of attendees converge upon the annual event, which has exhibits in every nook and cranny of the convention center and in the Hilton Hotel next door.
Read on to find out what to expect at Expo West, and stay tuned for coverage from Gluten-Free Living on top product picks, educational events, product launches and more!
What is Expo West?
Expo West is THE event to discover the product trends that will rule 2109 and the newest products designed to keep you healthy, fit and on your game are on display and waiting to be sampled.
The 38th annual event experienced another record‐setting year hosting more than 85,000 attendees in 2018 ensuring that more than 90,000 people will be making their way West. Last year, the industry-only show brought together 3,521 exhibiting companies, including more than 600 first‐time exhibitors. That’s a lot of ground to cover in four days, but I have been tackling this challenge for 10 years and it is so much fun, grueling fun.
The other component of the event is the education program filled with lectures delivered by industry greats covering everything from issues facing the natural products industry, consumer purchasing habits, climate change tools, product trends and innovation, farming and agriculture and so much more.
The event also offers opportunities to socialize after a long day on the show floor with daily yoga and morning meditation, concerts at the arena plaza, happy hours and networking events. It is one big natural products party full of education, too many product samples and a ton of walking. But the experience is like none other and I wouldn’t miss it for anything.
Who Attends?
Everyone from the media to bloggers to ingredient suppliers and retailers attend the event looking for new products, connecting with company owners and discovering brand spanking new companies looking to shape the future of healthy products. These young companies attend the event hoping to create product buzz and consumer demand that leads to much-needed distribution deals and product placement in stores.
Exhibitors are trying to keep up with ever-changing consumer demand by showcasing new flavors, introducing updated packaging and educating consumers.
Why Attend?
Two words — trend spotting. The event is a picture of what to expect from the natural products industry in 2019 and an insight into what products will grace store shelves, be highlighted in magazines and on blogs. And the trends for 2019 are sure to include hemp-derived CBD-infused products, cauliflower, mushrooms and a continued move away from unnecessary additives and fillers.
