Brands and Buyers Can't Afford to Miss Natural Products Expo East 2012

BOULDER, Colo., July 25, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Natural Products Expo East, produced by New Hope Natural Media a division of Penton Media Inc., the East Coast's largest horizontal trade event devoted to the latest in natural, organic and healthy living products, will be held at the Baltimore Convention Center in Baltimore, MD, September 19-22, 2012.   The show draws 22,000 industry professionals annually to a show floor of 1,500 exhibits with products encompassing the entire channel—natural, organic, functional, and specialty foods and beverages, supplements, beauty, household and pet.

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According to the 2012 Natural Foods Merchandiser Market Overview nationwide, sales of all natural and organic products jumped 10 percent to nearly $91 billion.

"Combining industry growth, and the strength of the Eastern seaboard's demand for healthier products, the cost of ignoring Expo East is becoming increasingly high for manufacturers and retailers alike.   I am excited both by the ever-increasing caliber of products showcased at the event, and this year specifically, we have an expansive New Products Pavilion," said Erica Stone, Show Director.  Sophie Greek Yogurt, Erba Vita, Hope Hummus, Back to the Roots, and La Esquina are among the 300 first time exhibitors debuting new products at Expo East. 

"Numerous trends and emerging opportunities will be represented by the brands exhibiting at Natural Products Expo East 2012. These include a growing number of naturally functional, allergen-free and vegan offerings on the food side, as well as more whole food-based and organic supplements and new natural personal care products targeted to kids, teens and men. We also expect to continue to see an uptick in the number of exhibitors promoting their sustainability, sourcing transparency and cause-based marketing," said Carlotta Mast, editor in chief of Natural Foods Merchandiser.

Event and education highlights include:

• Keynote address: Alice Waters, chef, author, and proprietor of Chez Panisse
• Annual Live Music Party: Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings
• Women in Naturals: hear from top women eco-entrepreneurs
• Expanded Product-to-Shelf Workshop offering accelerated learning and essential information to bring natural products to market

Co-located with Expo East, are All Things Organic-BioFach America and the Organic Summit defining this show as the epicenter of organic business in the United States.   The 6th annual Organic Summit, an open and in-depth discussion on breaking organic industry issues, will be held September 19, 2012 at the Royal Sonesta Harbor Court in Baltimore, MD. 

EDITOR'S NOTE: Secure your press credentials here.

To arrange a pre-show interview about Natural Products Expo East, or for more information on the Natural Foods Merchandiser 2012 Market Overview report please contact: [email protected]

About Natural Products Expo East

Attended by as many as 25,000 industry professionals and featuring thousands of exhibits, Natural Products Expo East, produced by New Hope Natural Media, a division of Penton Media Inc., is the largest natural, organic, and healthy products trade show on the East Coast. With the newest and best-selling products and branded ingredients available this show features the best in organic at All Things Organic-BioFach America, offers an extensive retailer training program and provides an advocacy platform through a strategic partnership with Natural Products Association East. Natural Products Expo East is ranked as one of the top 200 tradeshows in the US.

About Penton Media, Inc.

As a leading, independent, business-to-business media company, Penton knows business and how to create and disseminate the vital content that moves markets.  Penton is where professionals turn to gain the critical insight, expert analysis, and relevant connections needed to compete and succeed.  The Company is headquartered in New York City with approximately 1,100 employees across key locations throughout the world including New York; Cleveland; Chicago; Overland Park, Kansas; Boulder, Colorado; Fort Collins, Colorado; and Hong Kong.  Penton is a privately held company owned by MidOcean Partners and U.S. Equity Partners II, an investment fund sponsored by Wasserstein & Co., LP, and its co-investors. For additional information, visit www.penton.com.

Contact: Heather Smith
New Hope Natural Media
p. 303. 998. 9232
e. [email protected]

SOURCE Natural Products Expo East