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Informa Markets’ New Hope Network hosted the last Natural Products Expo East in Philadelphia from Sept. 20-23. The 2023 event was the last expo after almost 40 years and featured more than 1,000 exhibitors and about 16,000 registered attendees, the trade show organizers said.
At the event, New Hope announced the closure of Expo East and the introduction of a new event, Newtopia Now, which will debut in August 2024 in Savannah, GA.
“The only thing constant is change and, after talking with many of our buyers and brands, we’ve learned that the time is right for changing how we serve the industry by launching a new event in 2024 that will provide brands of all sizes, especially early-stage brands, with new opportunities to share their stories and products,” said Carlotta Mast, SVP and market leader of Informa Markets.
The Expo East trade show floor featured new pavilions and interactive content, networking areas and a large keynote stage. The experience provided a learning environment where buyers, brands and investors could learn about ingredients, innovations, sustainability solutions and new business models.
Events featured numerous keynotes covering a range of topics, such as growth trends, challenges for the CPG industry, the balance between technology and humanity by life coach and entrepreneur Jay Shetty and a symposium featuring mycologist and author Paul Stamets.
New Hope made it a mission to feature and partner with BIPOC founders and executives to showcase innovation from minority-led brands, the company said.
According to New Hope, the event production team developed creative ways to have a planet-forward show with a particular focus on waste diversion, carbon and energy offsets, procuring materials and travel. The newest efforts involve avoiding single-use plastics, reusable cups and official show bags made from 100 percent recycled plastic bottles.
On the last day of the show, organizers held a farewell celebration and concert featuring performers such as Brett Dennen and Wyclef Jean.
“For every show we strive to find new ways to produce events that represent our values around prosperity and health for all,” said Lacey Gautier, the VP for events at Natural Products Expo. “Each year we get closer to that goal as a show and an industry am I am so proud of our efforts to support people and planet.”
Keynote Speaker Jay Shetty
Various companies offered their opinions on the future of Expo East and their expectations for Newtopia Now.
Pamela Nixon, sales and marketing director for Washington-based Ayush Herbs, said that Expo East was not the experience she hoped, but anticipates Newtopia Now will offer a “fresh, forward-thinking approach.”
“I found Expo East to be much more subdued and about half the size of Expo West,” Nixon said. “The first day was good, and the crowd was manageable. However, the second day was disappointing and the third was dismal.”
Dawn Mastrogiacomo, senior business development manager for Premier Packaging Corporation (West Henrietta, NY), said the incremental costs and new location of Newtopia Now will not align with the marketing goals of the company for 2024.
“This was our first time attending and exhibiting at the [Expo East] show,” Mastrogiacomo said. “There were a wide variety of exhibitors at the show, and it was well-attended, however, I do not believe the attendees were the audience we were targeting to stop at our booth.”
Informa Markets’ New Hope Network hosted the last Natural Products Expo East in Philadelphia from Sept. 20-23. The 2023 event was the last expo after almost 40 years and featured more than 1,000 exhibitors and about 16,000 registered attendees, the trade show organizers said.
At the event, New Hope announced the closure of Expo East and the introduction of a new event, Newtopia Now, which will debut in August 2024 in Savannah, GA.
“The only thing constant is change and, after talking with many of our buyers and brands, we’ve learned that the time is right for changing how we serve the industry by launching a new event in 2024 that will provide brands of all sizes, especially early-stage brands, with new opportunities to share their stories and products,” said Carlotta Mast, SVP and market leader of Informa Markets.
The Expo East trade show floor featured new pavilions and interactive content, networking areas and a large keynote stage. The experience provided a learning environment where buyers, brands and investors could learn about ingredients, innovations, sustainability solutions and new business models.
Events featured numerous keynotes covering a range of topics, such as growth trends, challenges for the CPG industry, the balance between technology and humanity by life coach and entrepreneur Jay Shetty and a symposium featuring mycologist and author Paul Stamets.
New Hope made it a mission to feature and partner with BIPOC founders and executives to showcase innovation from minority-led brands, the company said.
According to New Hope, the event production team developed creative ways to have a planet-forward show with a particular focus on waste diversion, carbon and energy offsets, procuring materials and travel. The newest efforts involve avoiding single-use plastics, reusable cups and official show bags made from 100 percent recycled plastic bottles.
On the last day of the show, organizers held a farewell celebration and concert featuring performers such as Brett Dennen and Wyclef Jean.
“For every show we strive to find new ways to produce events that represent our values around prosperity and health for all,” said Lacey Gautier, the VP for events at Natural Products Expo. “Each year we get closer to that goal as a show and an industry am I am so proud of our efforts to support people and planet.”
Various companies offered their opinions on the future of Expo East and their expectations for Newtopia Now.
Pamela Nixon, sales and marketing director for Washington-based Ayush Herbs, said that Expo East was not the experience she hoped, but anticipates Newtopia Now will offer a “fresh, forward-thinking approach.”
“I found Expo East to be much more subdued and about half the size of Expo West,” Nixon said. “The first day was good, and the crowd was manageable. However, the second day was disappointing and the third was dismal.”
Dawn Mastrogiacomo, senior business development manager for Premier Packaging Corporation (West Henrietta, NY), said the incremental costs and new location of Newtopia Now will not align with the marketing goals of the company for 2024.
“This was our first time attending and exhibiting at the [Expo East] show,” Mastrogiacomo said. “There were a wide variety of exhibitors at the show, and it was well-attended, however, I do not believe the attendees were the audience we were targeting to stop at our booth.”
