Natural Products Expo East Heading to Boston in '08
BOULDER, Colo. -- Just two years after switching the show location back to Baltimore, New Hope Natural Media here said Natural Products Expo East will move to Boston, beginning with the 2008 show, set for Oct. 15–18, 2008.
According to show organizers, the decision to move was based on the city's closer, more convenient proximity to the retail buying audience of the Northeast, as well as the 35,000 hotel rooms that will allow more local independent retailers to be housed in closer proximity to the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center.
In addition, show organizers said the convention center will provide a "green" floor -- a contiguous show floor for exhibitors to conduct new business under the guise of an environmentally sound convention and exhibition center and authority.
"Moving Natural Products Expo East to Boston in 2008 is a natural fit, and, across the board, growth is sure to be mind-blowing," said a spokesman for New Hope Media. "We feel confident that our exhibitor and attendee clients will be thrilled with the new location and improved tradeshow experience."
In addition to announcing the impending move, New Hope is also introducing a phased-in process that will prohibit exhibiting food products at Natural Products Expo shows that contain any artificial ingredients, including all artificial sweeteners containing Aspartame, Acesulfame potassium, Saccharin, Sucralose, and Neotame. Exhibitors may have literature that describes products that contain these ingredients, but neither those products nor their packaging may be shown at Expo.
"This effort represents New Hope's attempt to respond to the many comments, suggestions and concerns from industry manufacturers, distributors, brokers and retailers," said a New Hope spokesman, in a statement. "It is important to the industry to preserve the unique marketplace that is the natural and organic industry, and to preserve the integrity and meaning of the term natural."
The ingredients standards initiative will evolve in phases with the continued input of industry experts including manufacturers and retailers, and will take effect at Natural Products Expo East 2008.
-- courtesy of Gourmet Retailer, Progressive Grocer’s sister publication
According to show organizers, the decision to move was based on the city's closer, more convenient proximity to the retail buying audience of the Northeast, as well as the 35,000 hotel rooms that will allow more local independent retailers to be housed in closer proximity to the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center.
In addition, show organizers said the convention center will provide a "green" floor -- a contiguous show floor for exhibitors to conduct new business under the guise of an environmentally sound convention and exhibition center and authority.
"Moving Natural Products Expo East to Boston in 2008 is a natural fit, and, across the board, growth is sure to be mind-blowing," said a spokesman for New Hope Media. "We feel confident that our exhibitor and attendee clients will be thrilled with the new location and improved tradeshow experience."
In addition to announcing the impending move, New Hope is also introducing a phased-in process that will prohibit exhibiting food products at Natural Products Expo shows that contain any artificial ingredients, including all artificial sweeteners containing Aspartame, Acesulfame potassium, Saccharin, Sucralose, and Neotame. Exhibitors may have literature that describes products that contain these ingredients, but neither those products nor their packaging may be shown at Expo.
"This effort represents New Hope's attempt to respond to the many comments, suggestions and concerns from industry manufacturers, distributors, brokers and retailers," said a New Hope spokesman, in a statement. "It is important to the industry to preserve the unique marketplace that is the natural and organic industry, and to preserve the integrity and meaning of the term natural."
The ingredients standards initiative will evolve in phases with the continued input of industry experts including manufacturers and retailers, and will take effect at Natural Products Expo East 2008.
-- courtesy of Gourmet Retailer, Progressive Grocer’s sister publication