WASHINGTON--The 18th annual Natural Products Expo
East was held here Oct. 3 to 6, offering industry members a field of 1,573
exhibits from 21 countries. According to the show organizer, New Hope Natural
Media, total attendance was 19,842, a 17-percent rebound from the 2001
convention held a month after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, and a 3-percent
increase from the 2000 event in Baltimore.
"The strong turnout underscored the growth experienced by
the natural products industry in the past year," said Fred Linder,
president of New Hope, a division of Penton Media Inc. (www.penton.com).
"National awareness of the importance of healthy living and preventive
medicine has increased, in part because baby boomers are reaching retirement
age--and media attention has fueled sales in many areas."
For the first time at Expo East, New Hope color-coded the carpet
in various pavilions, including a new Natural Living category. Traffic was
particularly strong in the Organic Pavilion, as retailers and manufacturers
prepared for the implementation of the National Organic Program on Oct. 21. The
event also included an educational conference with approximately 45 seminars and
workshops.
Next year's Expo East is set for Sept. 4 to 7 to be held in the
new Washington Convention Center. Information on this year's show and details on
the 2003 event are available on the New Hope Web site (www.expoeast.com).
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