Sunsetting of Natural Products Expo East Paves the Way for Newtopia in 2024
September 21, 2023
After serving as a cornerstone event for the natural and organic consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry for nearly four decades, Natural Products Expo East has opened its doors for the final time, with a new event preparing to take its place in 2024. Sister show Natural Products Expo West will continue to take place annually at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, Calif.
Currently taking place Sept. 20-23 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, Natural Products Expo East has played a vital role in the natural and organic CPG sector since its establishment in 1985. The annual show has been hosted in various East Coast cities, including Washington, DC, Boston, Baltimore and its current location in Philadelphia.
Serving as a platform for product discovery for retailers, the trade show has helped catapult emerging brands into the national spotlight and fostered collaborations between buyers and brands that have empowered consumers to make more natural, nutritious, and sustainable choices across various product categories, according to Informa Markets’ New Hope Network officials.
Carlotta Mast, senior vice president and market leader at Informa Markets’ New Hope Network, expressed deep gratitude for Expo East’s legacy and its service to the organic and natural products industry.
“We are enormously proud of the legacy of Expo East and are grateful that it has served as a valuable destination for the organic and natural products industry for many years,” Mast said. “We thank our exhibitors, buyers, attendees and partners for their many years of support and look forward to continuing to work together as champions of regeneration and prosperity across the natural and organic CPG community.”
Coming Soon: Netwopia Now
The closure of Natural Products Expo East signifies an exciting new chapter and transformation for the natural and organic products industry: the launch of a new event format that prioritizes tailored and purposeful buyer-to-brand interactions, according to New Hope Network officials.
Dubbed Newtopia Now, the show is specifically designed to offer more meaningful participation opportunities for brands, regardless of their stage of development. The event will feature curated matchmaking within a diverse community of buyers, brands and partners; expanded avenues for new and emerging brands to participate; imaginative new product discovery opportunities; and the chance for industry leaders to collaborate in shaping the future of the CPG industry.
“The needs of the industry are changing, and the experience we provide our community must adapt to meet those needs,” Mast said. “It’s with a spirit of innovation that we announce the next era of the New Hope Network journey: Newtopia Now, which invites passionate co-creators from across the industry to join us in building a more responsible, prosperous and regenerative world.”
She added, “Through personalized matchmaking, imaginative content and curated product discovery, Newtopia Now provides a platform for brands, retailers and champions of conscious CPG to cultivate growth for good.”
Newtopia Now will debut Aug. 6-8 at the newly expanded Savannah Convention Center in Savannah, Ga. Natural Products Expo West is set to take place March 12-16 at the Anaheim Convention Center.
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Partner Voices
MGM Resorts is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse culture, not just among employees and guests but also within its supply chain. The company prioritizes procuring goods and services from businesses owned by minorities, women, veterans, people with disabilities, LGBTQ individuals and those facing economic disadvantages. This commitment is integral to MGM Resorts' global procurement strategy.
Through its voluntary supplier diversity program, MGM Resorts actively identifies and connects certified diverse-owned suppliers to opportunities within its supply chain. The company is on track to spend at least 15% of its biddable procurement with diverse-owned businesses by 2025, demonstrating that supplier diversity is not only a social responsibility but also a strategic business imperative.
Supplier diversity isn’t just the right thing to do – it’s good for business. A diverse supply chain allows access to a broader range of perspectives and experience, helping to drive innovation, entrepreneurship and resilience, while strengthening communities. At MGM Resorts, engaging diverse suppliers ensures best-in-class experiences for guests and clients. Supplier diversity ensures a more resilient supply chain while supporting economic development in the communities in which it operates.
The impact of MGM Resorts' supplier diversity initiatives is significant. In 2023, these efforts supported over 3,500 jobs across more than 30 states, contributed over $214 million in income for diverse-owned businesses and generated more than $62 million in tax revenue. The story extends beyond the numbers – it reflects the tangible benefits brought to small and diverse-owned businesses, fostering economic empowerment in their communities.
MGM Resorts also supports the development and business skills of diverse-owned businesses through investment, mentorship and education. Through the MGM Resorts Supplier Diversity Mentorship Program, the company identifies, mentors and develops diverse-owned businesses to fill its future pipeline, while providing businesses with tools and resources to empower and uplift. Since 2017, the program has successfully graduated 105 diverse-owned businesses and is on track to achieve its goal of 150 graduates by 2025.
MGM Resorts’ commitment to supplier diversity not only enhances its business operations but also plays a crucial role in uplifting communities and fostering economic development. This approach reinforces the idea that diversity is a powerful driver of innovation and resilience, benefiting both the company and the wider community.
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