Natural Products Expo East Grows After Return to Baltimore

September 26, 2011

New Hope Natural Media’s Natural Products Expo East saw significant growth with a move back to its long-time home this year at the Baltimore Convention Center.

The 2011 show, held Sept. 21-24, drew more than 20,000 attendees to a 150,000 net square foot showfloor with 1,500 exhibits, compared with a similar number of attendees, but a smaller 137,000 net sq. ft. showfloor with 1,300 exhibits at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center last year.

Attendees to the recent Baltimore show represented 80 countries and Natural Products Expo East was collocated with All Things Organic-BioFach America, the Organic Summit and Healthy Baking.

"Bringing Expo East back to Baltimore received overwhelmingly positive feedback,” said Show Director Erica Stone.

She added, “Our community is strengthened, and the show drew buyers from Wegmans to Whole Foods and Starbucks, each with a focus of getting business done on the trade showfloor."

Exhibitors also were pleased with the show. "We met with many mission based brands, after listening to their stories and hearing about their ethical and credible products, we wrote orders,” said Michael Kanter, owner of Cambridge Naturals.

He added, “When our employees are able to tell a company’s story, we make a better connection with the customers in our store.”

New brands from some of the 355 first-time exhibitors on the showfloor included Snackle Mouth granola clusters, Zendulgence hemp gelato and Nawgan functional beverages.

Legacy brands, such as New Chapter, Late July, White Wave, Stonyfield and Kiss My Face, also were well represented on the showfloor.

The winners of the New Product Showcase Awards as voted on by attendees were as follows:

Best Packaging: Tiny Fruits by Little Duck Organics

Most Innovative: Vampire Killer - Brad's Raw Leafy Kale by Brad’s Raw Foods

Best New Green/Environmentally-friendly: Snack Time by ChicoBag'

Best New Food: Hibiscus Lemon LunaPops by LunaPops

Best New Health & Beauty: Fair Trade Ethiopian Coffee Scrub by Planet Botanicals

Best New Supplements/Herbs: Vega Sport Performance Protein Vega Sport Electrolyte Hydrator by Sequel Naturals

Best of Press: Daily Dose of Dark by NibMor Chocolate, and Tea Enhancers by Catalyst Gourmet

Natural Products Expo East was ranked No. 172 on the 2010 TSNN Top 250 Trade Show list and will be held again Sept. 19-22 in Baltimore.

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