After three years in Boston, Natural Products Expo East is returning to the Baltimore Convention Center in Baltimore from Sept. 21 to 24.
At press time, the show was on track to have more than 1,000 exhibitors and nearly 1,500 booths, up from 955 exhibitors at the 2010 edition. More than 23,000 attendees are expected.
The move back to Baltimore has been well received by the industry: almost 300 first-timers plus a number of companies that have not been present at Expo East for the past two to three years will be back to showcase their products, explains Erica Stone, show director.
“We plan to stay here for at least the next four years,” Stone says. “There’s a real sense of community in Baltimore, and it is nice when everyone can stay within the Inner Harbor,” (the area near the convention center).
Expo East was previously held in Baltimore and Washington, but for the past three years the natural foods show was at the Boston Convention & Exposition Center. In Boston, there were not enough hotel rooms near the convention center, Stone explains. Plus, the city is perceived as being more expensive than Baltimore, which is more centrally located on the Eastern seaboard and is more accessible for many attendees and exhibitors.
Another contributing factor to the show’s growth, Stone points out, is the overall health of the natural products industry. In 2010, the natural products industry topped $81 billion, a 7 percent increase vs. 2009, according to the Natural Foods Merchandiser: Market Overview 2010.
Stone says there’s a “plethora of new products” being introduced at this year’s show. Buyers can find all the new products in the New Products Pavilion. At press time, 400 exhibitors had signed up to participate in the New Product Showcase. It is hard to estimate the exact number of new product launches, as companies may be introducing more than one new product, Stone notes
When comparing the retail buyers attending Natural Products Expo West and Natural Products Expo East, there’s “less than 10 percent cross over,” Stone says. The show attracts buyers from along the East Coast, “the prominent buyer region” for natural products. More than 40 percent of the natural products sold in the U.S. are sold in the East Coast, according to Natural Foods Merchandiser: Market Overview 2010.
“For people that are looking to reach these buyers and regions, it’s an important event,” Stone says.
Educational Seminars
In addition the tradeshow, Expo East offers educational seminars before and during the show.
It’s a great opportunity “to get yourself and staff educated on trends,” Stone says. Because of the limited class size, preregistration is recommended. Fees vary.
On Sept. 21, there’s a tour of area natural food retailers, The Common Market and Conscious Corner retail group’s Roots Market, Bark and Nest stores, with lunch at Sage Vegan Restaurant.
Also on Sept. 21, the Retailer Workshop provides intensive education and training about current topics. After attending the group keynote presentation, retailers can select from a several breakout sessions including: The Crossover Consumer: The Newly Conscious; Selling Convenience: Special Diets; The Crossover Consumer: The New Mom; and The Business of Supplements, to name a few. Lunch is included.
For suppliers, the Product-to-Shelf Workshop will go through the steps of launching a brand or private-label product in the natural foods industry.
On Sept. 23 at 8:30 a.m., author Daniel Pink delivers the keynote address on motivation techniques for retailers and their staff. His latest book is Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us.
Also collocated with Expo East on Sept. 21 is The Organic Summit, a leadership forum for in-depth discussion on breaking organic industry issues.
A complete list of events and educational seminars and their prices is available at www.expoeast.com/education.
