| For the past 40 years, Natural Products Expo West has gathered the natural and organic products industry each March in Anaheim to capture and propel the incredible innovation, connections and inspiration that exist within the community.
The impact of not being able to gather in person in 2020 was felt immensely, and Informa Markets’ New Hope Network was hopeful that postponing Expo West 2021 to the end of May would result in convening this important community event this spring. Unfortunately, Expo West has been canceled and instead, the organization will be focusing on an enhanced Expo East event in September, which will serve as the platform for the community to connect in-person in 2021.
“While we are unable to meet in-person this May, all of us at New Hope are committed to continue serving and uniting this industry, connecting buyers and brands, and providing new environments for product discovery, networking and education,” said Expo West organizers in a statement. “As we look ahead to brighter days in 2021, we are excited to announce an enhanced Natural Products Expo East to serve both Expo East and West customers this fall in Philadelphia (Sept. 22-25), as well as the official launch of Natural Products Expo West Virtual Week (May 24-27). We will also be convening the industry for our year-round Spark Change virtual events and are exploring other ways we can meet our community’s changing needs through small, targeted in-person events and more.”
An Expanded Expo East in Philadelphia:
According to the organization, they are preparing for the next time the entire industry will gather in-person at Expo East in September. Philadelphia has much to offer the natural and organic products community, notably a beautiful convention center that can accommodate their expanded presence as show organizers bring “West to East” and migrate many of the events, brands and features they’ve historically hosted in Anaheim. Along with connecting buyers and sellers in more curated ways, Expo East will bring to life their standards-driven approach to CPG sourcing and strengthen the industry’s efforts to grow organic and regenerative agriculture, engage in climate action, and foster justice, equity, diversity and inclusion. In addition, Expo East will again be co-located with Biofach America, and organizers look forward to continuing their longstanding partnership with the Biofach team to further the support the worldwide organic movement.
Expo West Virtual Week:
Originally designed to complement the Anaheim experience with digital programming access, Expo West Virtual Week will now expand to feature virtual booths, a comprehensive sampling program, networking opportunities, curated retailer/buyer programs and conference programming focused on product innovations and trends. If you are a buyer of natural and organic products, Expo West Virtual Week is being designed to better meet your needs, whether you’re an independent natural retailer, a large chain prioritizing natural or a buyer wanting to break into this increasingly important CPG segment.
Next steps for Expo West exhibitors:
For Expo West partners who were scheduled to exhibit or sponsor at Expo West 2021, the organization hopes they will join the Expo East+ event this Fall, and the New Hope sales account managers will work with retailers individually to determine next steps. In the coming days, exhibitors will also receive a meeting invite to schedule time with account managers to review Expo West 2022 exhibit space options, address questions or concerns and receive more information on Expo West Virtual Week and our Expo East 2021 expansion plans. In the meantime, please follow this LINK if you need to connect with your account manager immediately. Our FAQ page also provides additional information.
“Above all, we want to express our sincerest appreciation for your support and understanding as we adapt our 2021 offerings to continue to meet your specific business needs,” said show organizers. “We are here to serve you and strengthen the value and positive impact our community can create together, and we look forward to seeing you at Expo East Philadelphia in September and at Expo West Virtual Week in May. Stay safe and be well.” |
