It’s hard to believe, but Expo West is right around the corner. The Anaheim Convention Center will be filled with close to 60K attendees, including retailers like Target, Sprouts and Kroger. They all are looking for the hottest innovations in natural and organic foods and beverages; clean beauty and home products; and supplements and ingredients. It will be a week full of connections that empower the future of the natural and organic products industry.
The projected growth outlook in 2024 for consumer sales within the estimated $317 billion dollar natural and organics market is 5.1%, according to Nutrition Business Journal‘s 2023 State of Natural Report. With industry heavyweights such as Stonyfield, Chobani, LaCroix, Eden Foods, Natural Factors and Gaia Herbs already slated to exhibit alongside up-and-coming brands like BOND, TK and BrainJuice, the excitement surrounding the latest products on display at Expo West 2025 is palpable.
For brands who have never been to the nation’s largest natural foods trade show, Expo West can be overwhelming. Even show veterans can do things to enhance their experience.
- Do your homework: Invest some time online looking over the exhibitor list, education programme, networking events, and overall schedule in advance.
- Build out a schedule: Look at the exhibitors online. Determine what and who you want to see – key retailers, competitors, etc.. Reach out to key people you want to see to schedule meetings. Your schedule is likely to evolve as the show approaches, so be flexible.
- Take advantage of the full calendar of events: From educational sessions to networking events to parties, these activities are invaluable opportunities to network with the community. You never know who you’ll meet.
- Be totally present in your booth: whoever is working the booth should be energized, hydrated and ready to interact! A lot of companies slim down and are tired that last day but, I’ve heard countless stories that the exhibitor met their largest retail partner or broker or key person on that last hour of Expo.
- Use Expo West for team bonding… up to a point: We all know how scattered we’ve been over the past two years, often working from home (We’re all sick of Zoom and Google Meet).. So it’s a great chance to reconnect and to have a little fun with your co-workers. But remember you are there to meet others in the industry. tTry not to just stay with your team. Branch out!
- Prioritize your goals: There are many things you want to accomplish but make – brands you want to seek out, networking events you want to attend, educational sessions you want to go to. You have limited time so determine those things that are most important.
- Go to education sessions/key notes/other events: In addition for networking and mingling with the community. You never know who you’ll meet.
- Take Pictures: There is so much to see and you won’t be able to remember everything. You’ll want to look back on all those photos when you return.
- Prepare your sell story; SPINS recommends you Build a tight 30-second sales pitch about your brand and what makes it unique.
- Take Notes: Notice when companies are doing something well and take notes.
- Water bottle: Keep yourself hydrated. The lines can be long to buy bottled water and most trade shows have refill stations.
- Comfortable shoes – You’ll be doing a lot of walking and the hard floors can be tough on your feet.
- Hand sanitizer and a face mask – All trade shows are packed with people and you’ll want to protect yourself as much as possible from Covid and any other viruses. Sanitize your hands regularly.
- Extra batteries and portable chargers – This may sound like a no brainer, but we all have been guilty of forgetting these when we need them most. Trade show days are long and you don’t want your phone to go dead at a key moment. You will be coordinating meetings and taking photos throughout the event.
- Follow up when you get home: Immediately after the event, gather your business cards and contact information and reach out to every contact, thanking them for their time and providing them whatever they requested and adding them to your database for further opt-in messaging and promotion. These are gold – the main reason you’re attending Expo West.
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