Natural Products Expo West Shatters Attendance Record

The 35th annual Natural Products Expo West, the world’s largest natural, organic and healthy products event, grew 7.2 percent this year, bringing together more than 71,000 industry members, more than 2,700 exhibiting companies and 634 first-time exhibitors. 

Co-located with Natural Products Expo West was Engredea, the event to source new ingredients, packaging, technologies, equipment and services for cutting-edge products, and the Fresh Ideas Organic Marketplace, an outdoor event that combines a traditional farmers’ market feel with the business-building power of a trade show.

Because of demand, event space was expanded to encompass the entire Anaheim Convention Center campus. In addition to traditional exhibit halls, new exhibitors showcased new products at the Hilton Hotel Anaheim, which also offered an extra day of exhibits. 

NEXT Forecast estimates the natural and organic products industry is expected to grow to $252 billion by 2019.

This year, the conference program was extended to four days. The program offered a full docket of education topics as well as keynote presentations from Mark Bittman, food journalist at The New York Times, regular guest on the “Today Show” and author of “How to Cook Everything” series and “VB6: Eat Vegan Before 6:00”; and Dr. David Perlmutter, MD, FACN, ABIHM, board-certified neurologist, fellow of the American College of Nutrition and New York Times best-selling author of “Grain Brain.” 

New Hope’s team of editors and analysts identified the five macro trends influencing the marketplace. They include:

Transparency advancements: Consumers are increasingly demanding to know what is in their food, and brands are responding by using technology and other innovations to provide greater transparency and traceability for their products.

Ancient Wisdom Gets Wiser: Brands continue to innovate by producing simple, delicious products that take minimal processing to new levels and contain short lists of nutrient-dense ingredients.

Paleo 2.0: Paleo-positioned products were even more prevalent. The newest Paleo offerings are popping up in every product category, from English muffins to chocolate.

Packaging Innovated: From edible cups to packages featuring famous cookbook authors, the packaging innovations made advancements in sustainability, consumer education and shelf stability.

Protein Invasion: Responding to consumers’ insatiable hunger for protein, natural and organic brands are packing new offerings with protein in every conceivable form.

Many companies were recognized with awards at Natural Products Expo West.

The official Natural Products Expo West Best of West: Press Award went to Justin’s Mini Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups. Runners-up were Noosa Yoghurt Vanilla Yoghurt and Brandstorm Inc. Dark Chocolate Covered Chia Seeds.

The winner of the NEXT Accelerator Natural Products Business School Pitch Slam was Loliware.