Baltimore Draws 25,000 Attendees to Natural Products Expo East
September 26, 2015
For its 30th show, New Hope Natural Media’s Natural Products Expo East show not only attracted 25,000 attendees to the Baltimore (Md.) Convention Center, but also 1,363 exhibiting companies, representing the natural, organic and healthy living marketplace.
The show, held Sept. 16-19, was collocated with Biofach America - All Things Organic, NPA East, and the Harvest Festival.
“Each year, our mission is to build the growth potential for the attendees and exhibitors of Expo East, though we never lose sight of the tandem goal to create a stronger community between our industry and Baltimore itself,” said Adam Andersen, managing director for Natural Products Expos.
He added, “This year, we launched a unique community concept, the first Farm-to-Market tour, which visited nearby farms and the retail stores they serve, all within a drive of the city center; the added experience of this connection far surpassed our expectations.”
The show also had the debut of more than 400 new brands that utilized Expo East as a launch pad into the marketplace.
Healthy food and beverage trends on the showfloor included: floral ingredients; upcycled food and packaging waste; “Pegan” products (a paleo and vegan mashup containing no dairy, grains or animal ingredients); enhanced waters, such as watermelon, alkaline, aloe, coconut, maple, probiotic-packed; and cashews as the new almonds.
“What excites me most about coming to Expo East is the opportunity to see new and upcoming companies,” said Rhonda Penecale, Bunn’s Natural Foods.
She added, “It's a great avenue to meet the people behind the brands, make new connections, and see old industry friends. I am reminded how truly fortunate we are to have so much abundance and variety in one location.”
Entrepreneurs had the opportunity to participate in the Natural Products Business School, a full day of learning and networking that provided in-depth solutions to common business challenges and accelerate growth potential.
The morning started with a keynote address from Josh Tetrick of Hampton Creek, who spoke about finding the ingredients that we used 100 years ago and how we can use food as the platform to have impact. “Good people will do good; just make it easy for them,” Josh Tetrick said.
The Natural Products Business School Pitch-Slam competition winner was Heavenly Organics, based in Fairfield, Iowa; for their sustainably harvested honey and support of local farmers.
The conference program was headlined by keynote speakers: Dylan Ratigan, a sustainability entrepreneur and former MSNBC host; Joel Salatin, a third generation farmer; and Michele Simon, a public health lawyer. The education sessions were broken into six themes: Natural in the Media, Ingredient Reform, “Future of” Series, Non-GMO Series, Trends & Growth Series, and Conscious Leadership.
Natural Products Expo West 2016 will return March 9-13 to the Anaheim Convention Center. Natural Products Expo East 2016 is scheduled to take place Sept. 21-24 next year at the Baltimore Convention Center.
Partner Voices
HERE, hosting responsible meetings and caring for our communities are top priorities. Through its 'Focused on What Matters: Embracing Humanity and Protecting the Planet' philosophy, MGM Resorts commits to creating a more sustainable future, while striving to make an impact in the lives of employees, guests, and the communities in which it operates.
Water Stewardship Efforts
MGM Resorts understands the importance of using water efficiently, especially in the desert destination of Las Vegas. Conserving water has always been part of the mission, but MGM Resorts has expanded its ambition into water stewardship.
In 2022, MGM Resorts President and CEO Bill Hornbuckle signed the CEO Water Mandate—a UN Global Compact initiative mobilizing business leaders to advance water stewardship. MGM Resorts International was the first gaming company to take this important step.
MGM Resorts replaced 200,000 square feet of real grass with drought-tolerant landscaping in Las Vegas.
MGM Resorts pledges to reduce water withdrawal intensity by 33% by 2025 and by 35% by 2030.
From 2007-2021, use of more than 5.6 billion gallons of water was avoided because of conservation efforts.
Caring for One Another
MGM Resorts’ Food Donations Program collects and preserves unserved food from conventions held at MGM Resorts properties, then safely donates to food insecure people in the community. Since the program’s launch in 2016, more than 3.7 million meals toward a 2025 goal of 5 million meals have been donated into the community. Donations include:
Unserved perishable prepared foods from events
Perishable unprepared food from MGM Resorts’ kitchens
Nonperishable food items from minibars and warehouses
The collaboration with Southern Nevada’s primary food bank, Three Square, has developed the infrastructure needed to safely collect, transport, and store food from MGM Resorts properties in Las Vegas, reducing food waste while serving the community.
Fostering Diversity and Inclusion
To MGM Resorts, a diverse and talented workforce is essential to success. By cultivating innovative strategies that consider multiple perspectives and viewpoints, the company creates an inclusive workplace culture that benefits its employees and community. MGM Resorts takes pride in being a welcoming home for veterans, individuals with disabilities, people from diverse backgrounds, LGBTQ+ community members, and more. This commitment to inclusion is reflected in the company's recruitment and hiring practices and its social responsibility initiatives. From the workplace to the community, MGM Resorts' commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion remains unwavering, and its efforts continue to create a more equitable and sustainable world for all.
MGM Resorts understands its responsibility to contribute to the social and economic progress of the communities in which it operates. HERE, we embrace humanity.
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