Sep 28, 2009

Natural Products Expo East showcases tomorrow’s healthy trends

Boulder, CO — More than 21,000 industry members, including retailers, pioneers and entrepreneurs, as well as journalists, explored more than 1,500 booths to find the leading natural products of tomorrow at Natural Products Expo East/Organic Products Expo-BioFach America (ExpoEast.com), held Sept. 23-26, 2009, at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center.

“The importance of face-to-face meetings was validated by unparalleled exhibitor access to northeast market retailers, with an average of 12 buyers for each exhibiting company,” said Erica Stone, show manager for Natural Products Expo East.

Natural Products Expo East hosted the 7th Annual New Products Showcase Awards and commended the following winners for new natural, organic and healthy products: Rescue Balm by Nelsons (Health & Beauty category), Mango Orange Pineapple Kefir by Redwood Hill Farm & Creamery Inc. (Food), Yummi Bears Organics by Hero Nutritionals (Supplement/Herbs), VerTerra Dinnerware/4 Square by VerTerra Ltd. (Green/Environmentally Friendly), Organic B.R.A.T. by B.R.A.T. Diet LLC (Most Innovative), Organic Honey by Honey Bunny Inc. (Best Packaging) and Pumpkin Pie Soda by Maine Root Handcrafted Beverages (New England’s Best).

Natural Products Expo East launched the 25% Club to support a drive for increased buying activity. This program rewarded exhibitors who offered discounts of 25 percent or more on orders placed at the show. Rewards included $250 toward entertaining clients, vouchers for show labor, and increased promotional exposure.

“This was really an incredible show because the buyers were of such high caliber,” said Hugo Saavedra, president and founder of Hugo Naturals, an all-natural body care line.

Editors and experts from New Hope Natural Media, publisher of Natural Foods Merchandiser, Delicious Living, Functional Ingredients and Nutrition Business Journal,scoured the 300,000 square feet of show floor and identified the following top trends:

• Hot new ingredients include coconut oil, lavender, maqui, agave nectar and ancient ingredients such as salba grain.
• Superfood producers continue on their quest for even higher levels of antioxidants, omegas and other functional benefits; probiotics are being featured in drinks, powders, yogurts, cereals and bars.
• Gluten-free products were found outside of the baked goods aisle; low-calorie and low-sugar products are strong, especially in beverages.
• Dairy-free and nut allergy avoidance are hot topics, as is transparency of sourcing and a commitment to social and eco-responsibility across many product categories.
• Value products are being introduced in response to tightened budgets; packaging trends include mini-sizing, portion control and squeeze-packs or pouches, especially for kids.

Next year’s event will be held at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, Oct. 13-16, 2010.

New Hope Natural Media (www.newhope.com), a division of 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. 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.