Every spring promises at least three things: daylight savings, chocolate eggs, and Expo West.
Natural Products Expo West remains the most significant meeting of the natural products industry every year. It’s where industry professionals can get together and share their challenges, experiences, and solutions. Expo West also presents a wealth of opportunities to transform your business. Whether you’re looking for novel products, investment opportunities, or new supply chain partners, Expo West promises something for everyone.
This year’s event, set for March 7-11 at the Anaheim Convention Center, expects to host more than 3,000 exhibitors and attract more than 67,000 attendees. As always, the event hosts thousands of new product introductions.
What to expect in 2023
As part of the run-up to the event, Informa Markets, the company behind the curtain, reveals five trends to watch for in the coming year. And this year, sustainability reigns supreme.
“It’s always tempting to zero in on the year’s hottest innovations or the latest go-to ingredients, but it’s important to recognize that these trends are reflections and manifestations of the much broader cultural forces that are truly driving today’s natural products industry,” Jessica Rubino, Vice President, Content at Informa Markets’ New Hope Network explained in a press release. “These big-picture trends exist on a continuum, and Natural Products Expo West offers a front-row seat to observe their evolution.”
- Examining the intersection of health systems. With a renewed focus on the gut biome, brands are looking more closely at how foods and dietary supplements can support a healthy microbiome that can – in turn – support better physical and mental health.
- Renewing climate commitments. Many brands are introducing climate solutions, including carbon accounting and carbon-neutral or -negative obligations. These proposals earn consumer trust and help stabilize brands’ energy costs.
- Embracing “radical” transparency. Driven by a passion for sustainability, consumers insist on what Informa calls “radical” transparency. They want to know the who, what, where, when, why, and how of the products they buy. And they expect brands to deliver.
- Pursuing sustainability. Most brands have started following consumer zeal for sustainability as if they were some sort of tree-hugging pied piper, incorporating it into their mission statements. As a result, brands are increasingly addressing hot-button topics such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and social justice. A critical part of that means weaving storytelling into their marketing messaging.
- Supplementing subscriptions. The rollercoaster ride of meal kits appears to be on the upswing again – but with a supplement twist. Informa’s seeing the rise of personalized nutrition subscriptions that offer pre-sorted supplements tailored to the consumer’s needs and goals and a model that encourages sticking to that regimen.
And, if you happen to be in Anaheim this week, please take a minute to stop by and meet the TraceGains crew at Booth #538, Hall A.
