Health and organics hot at this year’s Expo West
As the Natural Products Expo West opens its doors to an expected record number of participants, healthy and organic goods are to take center stage at the countrys largest trade show, held in Anaheim, California. The event, taking place from March 13 to 16, welcomes a broad field of trade professionals and experts with a focus on the complete value chain of this expanding industry.
While food and beverages (anything from raw ingredients to frozen meals) continue to dominate the stands, the show also features personal care and sustainable living goods, as well as speakers from multiple disciplines, indicating the scope of buzz surrounding publics ever-growing interest in healthy and sustainable produce. And as the R-word resurfaces across the US, the event also highlights the positive prospects for the broader sector. For example, the natural products sales in the US have jumped a healthy 9.7% across all retail channels in 2006.
The trend clearly reflects consumers increased awareness and concern for natural goods and equitable production methods. What was once considered a fad is becoming part of pop culture, because behind the good numbers and the rosy scenarios lies a genuine shift in the way people relate to products and to companies that produce them. Its become a question of lifestyle now.
A case in point is the Expo West. Staying true to Californias involvement with green issues, the event supports various renewable energy projects during the show. Hollywood has always been so mainstream.