When you are bringing in the “largest gathering of food manufacturers and retailers in the country,” there is going to be a lot of ideas and information swirling around.
The Natural Products Expo West show, which takes place March 12-16 in Anaheim, Calif., will create enough material through sessions and special events to keep attendee appetites full.
“I had a call with one of our speakers [last month] and he was saying how much he looked forward to Expo West,” said Jenna Fitch, senior director, community and conference content for New Hope Network. “He said, ‘You literally bring together everyone from the food system, from supply and farmers all the way through to our retail community and consumers.’ Just the thought leadership that emerges from this event, whether it’s product trends, what’s emerging, what consumers are demanding, what manufacturers are making, or just re-imagining what the food system could be completely, I think you see it happen at Expo West.”
The event was back to being live last year after it was bottled up during the COVID-19 pandemic. This year, 67,000 attendees are expected, with 3,300 companies exhibiting.
“Last year was a blast,” said Fitch. “It was really nice coming back from some of just the craziness that COVID created for all of us.”
Show highlights include:
Climate Day
March 12, 8 a.m.-7 p.m. (PT)
The idea to hold a Climate Day happened about eight years ago when people were asking for some kind of forum where climate change could be addressed. This year it consists of nine commitment areas: agriculture, energy efficiency, food waste, forests, packaging, policy, renewable energy, short lived climate pollutants, and transportation. Leah Stokes, an associate professor at University of California at Santa Barbara and the author of “Short Circuiting Policy,” will be talking about electrifying the industry and what it might look like from a power grid perspective for those working in food systems.
Dr. Lyla June Johnston will be another keynote during Climate Day. Known as Lyla June, she’s an Indigenous scholar who has looked at how Indigenous perspectives show up in the food system and how those in the industry can reimagine values as they are doing business and to produce more regeneratively grown foods.
Closing the day will be Eric LeVine, the co-founder of Count Us In, which is a radical collaboration of business, government, culture, sport, and civil society actors seeking to inspire people to take practical action by 2030 to address climate change. LeVine will be looking at social and cultural movements and how the industry can shift how people perceive climate change and social issues.
“Climate Day became this opportunity to really position this conversation on a main stage at the show to help people dig into each of these commitment areas and the conversations happening,” said Fitch.
Retail insights tracks
March 13, 8:30 a.m.-10 a.m. (PT)
Attendees will hear from the main keynote covering the state of natural and organic and local Southern California retailers and ecommerce retailers about what is happening in their stores, standards they are facing, and what they are seeking this year from brands and suppliers.
Jason Buechel, CEO at Whole Foods Market, will be one of several speakers on hand.
Nielsen IQ also will do a “Future of Retail” session during the retail insights track.
Fresh Ideas Organic Marketplace
March 13, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. (PT)
The Marketplace is an outdoor event where one can gain access to Natural Products Expo West retailers and manufacturers.
Chef Sean Sherman
March 14, 9 a.m.-10 a.m. (PT)
Sherman is a member of the Oglala Lakota tribe and is focused on the revitalization and evolution of Indigenous foods systems throughout North America. He is the author of the cookbook “The Sioux Chef’s Indigenous Kitchen”, the founder of Minnesota’s first full service Indigenous restaurant, Owamni, and was named one of Time’s 100 Most Influential People of 2023.
The 2024 NEXTY Awards Ceremony
March 14, 6 p.m.-7 p.m. (PT)
Awards highlighting CPG’s next-gen innovators. A prom-inspired celebration of the future of CPG. Buyers are encouraged to ask their favorite brand to dance or offer up a fanciful corsage or boutonniere. (Throwback dresses and suits encouraged)
This year, 67,000 attendees are expected to attend the Natural Products Expo West show, with 3,300 companies exhibiting.
The best of the rest
The show’s pavilions also will feature some new flavors.
Working with Marcos Salazar, head of the Adult Non-Alcoholic Beverage Association, Natural Products Expo Show West will have an entire pavilion dedicated to non-alcoholic offerings.
Fitch hopes the new attraction will indicate trends and highlight products within the non-alcoholic sector.
The show will also have a Startup CPG Pavilion, a first for Expo West. Startup CPG caters to the brands that have one to five employees and are in the early stage in terms of distribution.
Technology is at the center of any trade show these days, and at the Natural Products Expo Show West there will be outlets dedicated to artificial intelligence. During the state of supplement session on Wednesday, three experts will be interviewed on AI to talk about how it is showing up in product formulation. On Thursday, Ethan Soloviev, CIO of HowGood, which powers sustainability metrics, will be part of another AI specific panel.
“We’ll hear from five to seven different leaders within the natural products industry, from field to retail to consumer, about how AI is impacting or benefiting their business all the way through the value chain of the food and beverage industry,” said Fitch.
Expo West will also hold a state of the plant-based industry session on Friday, March 15, and there will additionally be an A2 organic milk session. Fitch said retailers have questions about the product and the session should provide some answers.
Organic and regenerative is another topic gaining traction lately and Expo West will have sessions which will help clear up any retailer confusion.