Natural Products Expo West Scores Record Attendance, Exhibitors
March 10, 2013
The natural and organic products industry continues to boom, as evidenced by Penton Media’s record-breaking show, Natural Products Expo West, held March 7-10 at the Anaheim Convention Center.
More than 63,000 attendees were able to check out the latest natural and organic products ranging from veggie burgers to lip balm being offered by 2,428 exhibitors spread out on a 393,000 net square foot showfloor.
Last year’s show drew approximately 60,000 attendees and 2,000 exhibitors.
“You truly had to be present at this year’s event to experience the energy felt on the show floor and throughout Anaheim,” said Adam Andersen, show director for Natural Products Expo West.
He added of the newly opened Grand Plaza at the Anaheim CC, “The Grand Plaza at the convention center became the natural products community’s living room for four days and is where we celebrated the industry’s continued success.”
The show was collocated with Engredea and Nutracon, an event for the ingredient and supply chain.
Big news at this year’s show was natural and organic products supermarket chain, Whole Foods Market, commitment to full genetically-modified organism (GMO) transparency by 2018.
“This compelling news is an important next step for the industry, possible legislation and ultimately consumers,” said Fred Linder, president of New Hope Natural Media.
Entrepreneurs also had the ability to show off what they had to offer with the new NEXT Natural Products Industry Accelerator program.
“The NEXT Accelerator provides the information, tools, community and connections needed to cultivate the next generation of natural products entrepreneurs,” Andersen added.
There were several overall trends that continued to grow at this year’s show, including gluten- and allergen-free products, sprouted foods, healthy snacks, non-dairy alternatives, vegan and paleo offerings and healthier, cleaner kids’ products.
“The natural and organic market is at the center of many of the most important and positive changes happening in food, nutrition and wellness,” said Carlotta Mast, senior director of Content and Insights for New Hope Natural Media and editor-in-chief, Natural Foods Merchandiser, newhope360.com.
She added, “We face significant lifestyle-related health problems, including obesity, diabetes, heart disease and mood disorders, and many of the solutions to these problems were on display at Natural Products Expo West.”
Natural Products Expo West is produced through Penton’s New Hope Natural Media division.
Partner Voices
Overview:
The award-winning Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) goes the extra mile to make every day extraordinary by offering customer service excellence and industry-leading partnerships. From their dedicated in-house Rigging team to their robust Exhibitor Services, The Center of Hospitality brings your imagination to life by helping you host unforgettable meetings and events. With more than 2 million square feet of exhibit space, world-class services and a dream destination, we are committed to making even the most ambitious conventions a reality.
In October 2023, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners voted to approve allocating Tourist Development Tax funding for the $560 million Phase 5A completion of the OCCC. The Convention Way Grand Concourse project will include enhancements to the North-South Building, featuring an additional 60,000 square feet of meeting space, an 80,000- square-foot ballroom and new entry to the North-South Building along Convention Way.
“We are thrilled to begin work on completing our North-South Building which will allow us to meet the growing needs of our clients,” said OCCC Executive Director Mark Tester. “As an economic driver for the community, this project will provide the Center with connectivity and meeting space to host more events and continue to infuse the local economy with new money and expanding business opportunities.”
Amenities:
The Center of Hospitality goes above and beyond by offering world-class customer service and industry-leading partnerships. From the largest convention center Wi-Fi network to custom LAN/WAN design, the Center takes pride in enhancing exhibitor and customer experience.
The OCCC is the exclusive provider of electricity (24-hour power at no additional cost), aerial rigging and lighting, water, natural gas and propane, compressed air, and cable TV services. Convenience
The Center is at the epicenter of the destination, with an abundance of hotels, restaurants, and attractions within walking distance. Pedestrian bridges connect both buildings to more than 5,200 rooms and is within a 15-minute drive from the Orlando International Airport. The convenience of the location goes hand-in-hand with top notch service to help meet an event’s every need.
Gold Key Members
The OCCC’s Gold Key Members represent the best of the best when it comes to exceptional service and exclusive benefits for clients, exhibitors and guests. The Center’s Gold Key memberships with Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld Orlando and Walt Disney World greatly enhance meeting planner and attendee experiences offering world-renowned venues, immersive experiences and creative resources for their events.
OCCC Events:
This fiscal year, the OCCC is projected to host 168 events, 1.7 million attendees, and $2.9 billion in economic impact.
The Center’s top five events during their 2022-2023 fiscal year included:
AAU Jr. National Volleyball Championships 2023
200,000 Attendees
$257 Million in Economic Impact
MEGACON 2023
160,000 Attendees
$205 Million in Economic Impact
Open Championship Series 2023
69,500 Attendees
$89 Million in Economic Impact
Sunshine Classic 2023
42,000 Attendees
$54 Million in Economic Impact
Premiere Orlando 2023
42,000 Attendees
$108 Million in Economic Impact
Add new comment