Are You Expo Experienced? Insiders Share Tips for the Best Expo West
By Steven Hoffman
Natural Products Expo West, first launched in 1981 and held every year since, at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California, is the world’s largest natural and organic products trade show. Spread across five days, this year’s event, held March 12th to 16th, is expected to attract more than 65,000 trade visitors and over 3,000 exhibiting companies.
For business leaders, founders, entrepreneurs, retailers and others in the natural channel, attending Expo West is considered essential. However, as it can be costly, time consuming and a bit overwhelming, we asked industry insiders and colleagues their favorite tips to make the most of the show. Read on for some helpful hacks to maximize your Expo experience.
Karen Farrell, VP of Brand Services, PRESENCE
First, be sure to visit PRESENCE’s Hospitality Room at Expo West, Room 210A, at the Anaheim Convention Center. Trade members are welcome to visit during show hours for snacks, beverages, a place to meet or take a break, and to catch up with Presence Marketing team members.
On a self-care level, realize that all the restaurants and coffee shops are going to be crowded, for breakfast, in particular. Consider putting together a Whole Foods Market (or other) order with some basics for your hotel room to be delivered the night you get there. That way, you can get some nourishment and avoid long lines. Also, throw a healthy snack in your bag for nourishment during the day. This helps avoid ‘trade show stomach.’ I only sample things I haven’t tried before — samples are meant to be samples, not lunch! Also, make restaurant reservations well in advance of the show, preferably within walking distance, if possible. And if you can, consider making hotel reservations for next year’s (2025) event as soon as possible, as hotel space near the convention center fills up fast and is always in demand.
Leanne Thorsson, Director of Health and Natural Foods, Traditional Medicinals
Set appointments in advance; everyone’s time is tight at Expo West, so if you’re not on the calendar, you may not get the meeting. There’s always excitement and an extra level of engagement at the show. Plan in advance what you wish to accomplish — if it’s to visit booths, make a plan of what you want to see. We schedule meetings with account executives, regional managers, and major retail, distributor, and other key partners. This year, we are meeting with two new export partners for the first time; the event gives us an opportunity to meet with them in person and say hello. The show is a great way to get that human interaction, make the connections, talk about some of the larger items, and then set the stage for future conversations. Also, be sure to make unplanned time to walk the show and let some magic happen.
Stacy Gangestad, Director of Sales Management, Gimme Seaweed
Working as an exhibitor on the brand side, none of us in sales ever want to leave the booth, so that makes for long days. Taking a walk each day and getting some fresh air beforehand helps set the stage for the rest of the day. Wear comfortable shoes and get the extra padding under the carpet for your booth. We’ve learned over the years that a lot of initial conversations happen, but not a lot of business decisions are made at the show. It’s all about the follow up from there.
Also, consider after hours networking opportunities at Expo West: Go out to dinner with brokers and retail partners; attend events where there may be opportunities to connect with key buyers and other decision makers. Sometimes, you might run into a key contact just by going to the Hilton and Marriott lobbies, where many gather after each day of the show. We exhibit in Hall E — it’s a great location and the days go by fast because of all the positive energy and great vibes down there.
Jonathan Lawrence, VP of Center Store, Fresh Thyme Market
I’m a huge fan of Expo West. It’s very impressive, but can be very intimidating, not only to retailers and new buyers but also to brands (especially new brands). Tip number one is to capture the retailer’s attention. First thing you want to do is share the highlights around your brand strategy, specifically, why did you create this product and what makes it different from other products currently on shelf.
Have a positive and open-minded attitude. Be open to having conversations with people at all levels. When you’re talking about your brand, your product, talk to everyone that will listen, because everyone’s a consumer. Your product could be the next new product they tell people about. They might be able to give you great feedback, they might be able to make a great connection for you. Talk to the other brands when you’re at your booth. Some of those best connections are the people right next to you. The natural foods community is all connected.
Be efficient with your time. There are thousands of brands out there, so you don’t get a lot of time. Make sure you’re prepared. Have your elevator pitch ready, have maybe a sell sheet and product samples ready. Make sure you’re engaging. Don’t be sitting back behind your booth. Don’t be on your phone, looking down. Act like you want to be there, enjoy it, enjoy the fact that you’re in front of all these people at the biggest trade show.
I would focus on new retailers or new people that you don’t have current relationships with. And then keep conversations going. Not everything happens on the trade floor – great connections can be made in hallways, in passing on the show floor, off the show floor and at dinner. Utilize all the time that you have. While you’re there, you’ll have plenty of time to rest when you get home.
As a retailer, once we get home, we’re exhausted. But then Monday comes around and it’s back to work. Take a little time, but then make sure you’re following up. I would say a personalized note, don’t just send a canned email, that’s not very personal, it doesn’t show that you took the time to connect after. Send samples, I would say between a week to two weeks after. If it goes further than that, it might not be top of mind anymore. So, make sure you act fast.
Benji Fitts, Director of Growth Strategy, SPINS
So, you’re at your booth, spent a lot of money to get to Expo West, you’re meeting people, shaking hands, all that sort of fun stuff. And you’re going to need this little piece of paper, your sell sheet, to talk about your product.
There are just some simple things that you can do to make sure that your sell sheet looks good. First of all, it’s usually a piece of paper, 8½” by 11”, usually double-sided. You don’t have a lot of visual real estate so really, this has to be an amalgamation of the best things that you could possibly say about your product. Be brief, be succinct, and get the message across. Second, if you have the sell sheet in front of you, squint your eyes at it and if the biggest, most unique thing about your product, or whatever message you’re trying to convey, isn’t immediately apparent, then it needs to be fixed.
These shows are really all about discovery, finding out what’s new, what’s next. If this is what’s driving your product, is what is differentiated, innovative, what’s new and fresh about whatever you’re making, make sure that’s the primary message that a user is going to receive whenever they pick up one of these pieces of paper.
The storytelling element is really what drives a lot of the passion behind things. It’s a very passionate group of buyers, it’s a passionate industry, so lean into that a little bit, right? Make sure you’re highlighting sustainability and the key differences between you and the competition. It’s also smart to sometimes talk about your distribution partners or other people who you are already partnered with … and don’t forget to put your contact info and a call to action. Don’t just put a name and a phone number on there, but say, ‘Give me a call and let’s do business together.’
Allison Salvati, VP, Compass Natural; Former Marketing Lead for Bhakti Chai and noosa yoghurt
If you’re an exhibitor, you’ll want to collect contact information from as many people as you can who visit your booth. It’s up to you to collect that data; New Hope won’t share attendee or exhibitor contact lists. As such, it is recommended to purchase one or more seats on Expo West’s lead retrieval app. With it, you can scan badges using your smartphone camera, and at the end of the show, download contact info for every individual you and/or your team scanned. Also, consider cost-effective opportunities to amplify your brand at the show, including applying for a NEXTY Award for your new products, displaying in the New Products Showcase, and considering some of the more budget-minded sponsor opportunities for brands at Expo West, such as the Retailer’s Early Access Box. Check in to your Expo West Exhibitor Hub dashboard often so you don’t miss important deadlines, such as shipping to the show. Take advantage of Expo West social media tools, too, to promote your exhibit at the show.
Jim Slama, Managing Director, Naturally Chicago
Expo West is the big kahuna of trade shows in the natural products industry. Last year 65,000 attendees came to visit the booths of 3,000 vendors showing their wares. For brands, there is no better place to connect with retail buyers.
Michael Movitz, Co-Founder, Brandjectory; Managing Partner, The Movitz Group
My advice would be to attend as many social events as possible to network, network, network! I also suggest using a digital business card like Blinq or Flowpage. They’re easy to use, environmentally friendly and, in addition to contact information, can include links to your website, social media profiles and other online resources. Also, don’t forget to fully charge your devices and bring a portable phone charger – trade shows can be draining on your device’s battery, and having a backup charger can be a lifesaver.
Kelly Miano, Brand Strategy, Innovation and Launch Leader
Follow up. All of those connections you made are great but all that is forgotten if you don’t follow up in the weeks/months following Expo. Be selective in your sampling — try not to go back and forth between savory and sweet, your stomach will thank you. Drink more water than you think you need. It will help with headaches and you won’t be so tempted to try every sample. It’s easy to get sensory overload; it’s OK to take a break when you need it. Expo can be stressful — we’re on little sleep, excited, nervous, under pressure to land a sale. Everyone is trying to pack in as much as possible into a few short days. Assume positive intent, be gracious and kind. This is our industry, we are what we make it.
This article is based on personal interviews with industry leaders; a seminar hosted on Feb. 7, 2024, by New Hope Network and Naturally Boulder entitled “Beyond the Booth: A Blueprint for Creating Unforgettable Tradeshow Experiences”; and a Feb. 15, 2024, webinar hosted by Naturally Chicago, “Master Your Retailer Sell Story for Expo West.” You can access the Naturally Chicago webinar recording here.
Steven Hoffman is Managing Director of Compass Natural, providing public relations, brand marketing, social media and strategic business development services to natural, organic, sustainable and hemp/CBD products businesses. Compass Natural serves in PR and programming for NoCo Hemp Expo and Southern Hemp Expo, and Hoffman serves as Editor of the weekly Let’s Talk Hemp Newsletter, published by We are for Better Alternatives. Contact steve@compassnaturalmarketing.com.
From Dry January to Sober October, Non-Alcoholic Beverage Trend Extends Throughout the Year
This article first appeared in Presence Marketing’s February 2024 newsletter.
By Steven Hoffman
From Dry January to Sober October, sales of adult-oriented, non-alcoholic beverages are taking off throughout the year, as Gen Z consumers, older health-minded individuals and others increasingly prioritize wellness and moderation in their drinking habits.
With New Year’s resolutions in mind, sales of non-alcoholic (NA) beverages consistently surge at the beginning of the year, when many adults take a break from drinking during what has become known as “Dry January.” However, according to Nielsen IQ, non-alcoholic drinks “are now a staple during all major drinking holidays, especially the 4th of July and year-end celebrations,” Fox Business News reported in September 2023.
As more Americans embrace alcohol-free options, sales of non-alcoholic beer, wine and spirits at off-premise locations such as grocery stores increased 31% to $510 million in the 12 months ended July 29, 2023, Nielsen IQ reported. While NA beer dominates the segment with 86% of the market share, followed by NA wine at 11%, alcohol-free spirits, which comprise only 3% of the category, saw sales grow by 94% over the previous year. Non-alcoholic adult beverage sales grew by double digits in terms of dollar amount spent, and five states —California, Colorado, Massachusetts, Michigan and Ohio — accounted for 30% of the total amount.
Retailers, manufacturers, restaurants, bars and others are capitalizing on this trend by offering more non-alcoholic options, including “mocktails” and mixers that can be enjoyed with or without alcohol. Products are proliferating, such as booze-free beer and wine, functional beverages made with adaptogens, nootropics and other botanical and nutritional ingredients, energy drinks and other adult-oriented drinks made to take the place of cocktails and spirits.
According to Beverage Daily, online seller Drizly reported that there were over 80% more non-alcoholic brands available on its platform in 2023 compared to the previous year. Today, consumers can opt for many innovative beverages beyond the timeworn choices of a few non-alcoholic beers, seltzer water, conventional soda or juice as the only alcohol-free options.
While still representing only 1% of the overall alcoholic beverage market, such robust growth in the popularity of NA beverages inspired the formation of a new trade association, dryly named the Adult Non-Alcoholic Beverage Association (ANBA), launched in 2021 and based in Washington, D.C. Together with New Hope Network, in September 2023 ANBA sponsored a pavilion at Natural Products Expo East devoted to brands specializing in NA adult beverages including sparkling wine, canned cocktails and IPAs.
Gen Z Drives Reduced Alcohol Consumption
America’s younger Gen Z demographic is leading the way in reducing alcohol consumption. The share of adults aged 18 to 34 who say they drink dropped 10%, from 72% in 2001-03 to 62% in 2021-23, according to a Gallup poll published in August 2023.
“Younger adults are drinking less alcohol — and it has been moving in that direction for two decades,” said Akhil Anand, M.D., of the Cleveland Clinic. There are a lot of theories as to why, including increased mental health awareness, healthier lifestyles, education and possibly increased cannabis use, though binge drinking is still a concern among younger adults, Anand noted. “When people give up drinking, even for a month, they often note that they feel better,” Dr. Anand said. “That’s not by coincidence.”
Yet, the majority of people who buy non-alcoholic beverages actually do drink, Marcos Salazar, CEO of the Adult Non-Alcoholic Beverage Association, shared with New Hope Network. According to Salazar, recent data revealed that 94% of non-alcoholic beverage consumers do drink alcohol. They purchase alcohol-free products because they embrace moderation, or they appreciate the products’ flavors or, when they entertain, some guests don’t drink, or all three, he said.
For Laura Taylor, founder of Mingle Mocktails, one of the fastest-growing brands in the NA sector, her challenge was how to feel included at social gatherings while choosing not to drink. Taylor quit drinking nearly 10 years ago after a battle with alcoholism, she shared with Forbes in November 2023. Experimenting with juices and mixers, Taylor in 2017 created a line of sparkling mocktails targeted toward women, available in ready-to-drink cans and bottles. “I wanted everyone to feel included and proud of their choice to give up alcohol instead of feeling like it was something to hide,” Taylor told Forbes. “Mingle Mocktails were created for anyone who chooses to give up alcohol for a night, a week or as a lifestyle choice but still wants to feel part of the party.”
“As consumers’ beverage preferences change, functional benefits and exceptional product quality are more important than ever,” said Alex French, co-founder and CEO at Bizzy Cold Brew. “At Bizzy, we’re strategically positioned to meet evolving beverage trends quickly while remaining true to our brand promise of caffeine strength.”
“We’re hearing it daily — ‘I quit drinking, and instead I reach for a Sati.’ It’s what we want to hear; we are a replacement for alcohol,” said David McLaughlin, founder of Sati Soda, maker of certified organic beverages containing functional ingredients such as ashwaganda and rhodiola, as well as a line of CBD-infused sparkling beverages. “We are seeing athletes, celebrities, musicians and other influencers opting for non-alcoholic alternatives. They’re saying, ‘I’m treating myself better and you don’t have to drink to be cool. Now I can drink something and feel good, and wake up feeling great.’ While functional beverages are still in their infancy (even though there are a lot of us in the space!), I don’t see this trend going back. Dry January is spilling into the rest of the year, is what’s happening,” McLaughlin observed.
Where to Merchandise NA Beverages?
For retailers, where to locate category-crossing NA beverages can present some challenges. Many merchandisers place NA beverages in the grocery section near sodas, waters and functional beverages, as well as in refrigerated cases, as opposed to the alcoholic beverages section, so shoppers who don’t drink alcohol will feel more comfortable. Grocers also worry that shoppers in the alcohol section might accidentally buy non-alcoholic products and be disappointed.
“There was some confusion about where we should place products in stores,” Beth Johnson told Douglas Brown at New Hope Network. Johnson is the senior category manager at PCC Community Markets in Seattle. As people were emerging from the pandemic, she decided to create a separate non-alcoholic set. “It’s working for us. At first, it was just one shelf, but now it’s like three,” she added.
For food service, restaurants, bars, hotels and event producers, “the profit potential of mocktails cannot be underestimated,” according to Shivani Vora, contributor to Forbes. “While the cost of ingredients for alcoholic cocktails can be high, mocktails are typically made with less expensive components, meaning higher profit margins for every mocktail sold. Only adding to that profit potential is the fact that patrons are generally willing to pay a similar price for mocktails as they would for alcoholic cocktails, making them a lucrative addition to menus. … By serving mocktails, bars and restaurants can expand their customer base and increase the likelihood of repeat business from a diverse range of patrons. This approach enhances customer loyalty and patronage among those who appreciate a venue that respects their choices.”
Steven Hoffman is Managing Director of Compass Natural, providing public relations, brand marketing, social media and strategic business development services to natural, organic, sustainable and hemp/CBD products businesses. Compass Natural serves in PR and programming for NoCo Hemp Expo and Southern Hemp Expo, and Hoffman serves as Editor of the weekly Let’s Talk Hemp Newsletter, published by We Are for Better Alternatives. Contact steve@compassnaturalmarketing.com.
Is Cell Cultured Meat Safe for Humans and the Environment?
This article first appeared in Presence Marketing’s September 2023 newsletter.
By Steven Hoffman
Now that two California-based companies, Upside Foods and Good Meat, have received approval by the FDA and USDA to sell their lab-grown chicken products in restaurants before going full retail, the U.S. joins two other countries, Singapore and Israel, as the first to allow commercialization of cell cultured meat products.
What do natural channel industry members need to know about this new and controversial technology?
One thing seems certain: cell cultured meat, derived from and produced with biological materials sourced from animals, is not vegan. Few think it’s natural and many question whether it’s humane or safe for consumers to eat, at least in its present iteration. Despite being touted by such chefs as José Andrés, some experts question whether lab-grown chicken is even chicken. The ability to scale, along with potentially significant environmental impacts and production costs, are also top concerns for industry and consumers alike.
“We know that one company is using genetic engineering to create and immortalize chicken fibroblast and/or myoblast cell lines. They select for cells that they can bulk up in a suspension culture. However, growth factors used in the suspension culture may come from sera sourced from bovine, pig or other animal sources,” Michael Hansen, Ph.D., Senior Scientist with Consumer Reports, told Presence News.
“If you’re buying chicken, you need to know if it was made with bovine or pork materials. How will consumers and those that follow special diets know if it’s not labeled?” Hansen asked. “Restaurants do not have to label.”
Countering cruelty free claims made by marketers of cell cultured meat, Hansen added, “The notion that this is cruelty free? They’re using fetal bovine serum derived from slaughtered cattle. They are, in fact, using a lot of material from animals. Let me be straight up clear: they are not cruelty free.”
In addition, Hansen raised concerns about the nutritional quality of the meat produced using cell culture technology. “Nutritionally, normal cholesterol levels in ground chicken average 45.4 mg/dL. However, cholesterol levels were reported five to 10 times higher in lab-grown, cell cultured chicken products,” he pointed out.
Safety, too, is a major point of concern for Hansen, who has been sharing his scientific expertise with Consumer Reports for more than 20 years. “People haven’t eaten these kinds of things before. We don’t know the downside and there have been no adequate health or safety studies conducted, to date.”
Josh Tetrick, CEO of Eat Just and Cofounder of Good Meat, feels differently about the safety of his cell cultured chicken product.
“So how do we do it?” Tetrick explained in an April 2022 interview with The Venture podcast. “We start with a cell. And we can get that cell from an egg, from a fresh piece of meat, or from a biopsy of an animal, so we don’t need billions of farmed animals anymore. Then we identify nutrients to feed the cell, since we need our own version of feed. And it’s not that different. It’s amino acids, vitamins, and minerals—stuff that enables our cell to grow. And then we scale up and manufacture it in a stainless-steel vessel called a bioreactor that looks like something you’d see in a microbrewery.
“And that’s how we make meat. That’s the process we used to make meat that’s served in Singapore today. That’s the process that we’ll be using as we build out larger facilities in North America, Singapore, and elsewhere. It’s cleaner, so there is little to no risk of salmonella, E. coli, fecal contamination, or other zoonotic diseases. Ultimately, we think it will be more efficient. The goal is to get below the cost of conventionally produced chicken,” Tetrick told The Venture.
“Because as proud as I am about launching with a handful of restaurants, that’s not the point. The point is to get to a world where the vast majority of meat consumed doesn’t require the need to slaughter an animal, cut down a tree, use antibiotics, or accelerate zoonotic disease. We’ve got to get to that world. And we’re only going to get to that world when we figure out a way to manufacture at scale. And we’re only going to get to scale when we figure out how to engineer this unprecedented bioreactor. And that’s why we’re putting so much energy into figuring it out,” Tetrick added.
“Yes, but what’s in the feed stock for the nutrient medium in which such products are grown?” natural products industry veteran and retail specialist Errol Schweizer asked.
“Billions of dollars of speculative investment have flowed into this space. The volumes of cell cultured meat needed to turn a profit for investors will necessitate millions of pounds or gallons of nutrient mix annually,” Schweizer said. “Will the feed stock be derived from cheap, plentiful but chemical-laden by-products of GMO agriculture, particularly soy and corn?
“And what are the environmental and health impacts of these feedstock raw materials? The industry will need to figure out how to dispose of the biological waste as a result of this process, as well. And because a lot of companies don’t want regulatory scrutiny beyond what already exists in the food industry, it’s going to take a lot of public pressure to get stronger labeling and federal oversight measures in place,” Schweizer told Presence News.
Max Goldberg, Founder of Organic Insider, questions the environmental benefits of cell cultured meat. “This is a very risky, unproven and highly processed food technology, and research published in May from the University of California at Davis shows that cultivated meat could emit up to 25 times more carbon dioxide equivalents than conventional beef. Yet, is anyone the least bit surprised? This is the classic playbook from the GMO industry – sell the public and investors on a great story but fail to deliver on the promises. Furthermore, no one has any idea of the possible unintended side effects of consuming this novel food product,” he told Presence News.
At the end of the day, will consumers accept such products? According to an international research group led by Ashkan Pakseresht from Novia University of Applied Sciences in Finland, consumer studies indicated at least seven factors affecting consumer acceptance of culture meat products: public awareness, risk-benefit perception, ethical and environmental concerns, emotions, personal factors, product properties, and availability of meat alternatives.
“Like any new food, the ultimate success of cultured meat depends on consumer acceptance,” the researchers said. “Environmental and ethical concerns stimulate a desire to preserve the environment and encourage consumers to accept more sustainable food production systems. However, it was surprising to learn that ethical and environmental concerns prompted consumers to be willing to pay a premium price for purchasing meat substitute (e.g., plant-based substitutes), but not necessarily cultured meat. The results indicated that the environmental advantages alone do not seem to be a strong motivation to compensate for perceived risks (or disgust impulse) of this novel technology,” Pakseresht told Food Navigator.
How will these products be presented to the public? According to Food Republic, a major hurdle has been determining how to label lab-grown meat in a way that would be transparent for consumers. “After a long process that has included debate and public feedback, the USDA has ruled that the lab-grown chicken will be labeled “cell-cultivated,” the magazine reported in June 2023.
“The USDA’s approval of our label marks a major step forward towards our goal of creating a more humane and sustainable food system,” said Dr. Uma Valeti, CEO and Founder of Upside Foods, in a press release about the decision.
At the end of the day, will grocers, distributors and others dedicated to the healthy lifestyles market and the natural retail channel be willing to sell cell cultured meat? As Bill Weiland, Co-founder of Presence Marketing, puts it, “We prefer to sell plant-based meat, not meat made in a plant.”
Steven Hoffman is Managing Director of Compass Natural, providing public relations, brand marketing, social media, and strategic business development services to natural, organic, sustainable and hemp/CBD products businesses. Compass Natural serves in PR and programming for NoCo Hemp Expo and Southern Hemp Expo, and Hoffman serves as Editor of the weekly Let’s Talk Hemp Newsletter, published by We Are for Better Alternatives. Contact steve@compassnaturalmarketing.com.
AI Leads Tech Transformation in Natural Foods
This article first appeared in Presence Marketing’s August 2023 newsletter.
By Steven Hoffman
While 2023 may not be the year the singularity took place, with the launch of the first user-friendly artificial intelligence (AI) chat bot, ChatGPT, it could well go down in history as the Year of AI.*
From regenerative organic agriculture and nutrition research to product development, marketing, distribution and retail operations, business leaders in the natural channel are already finding multiple uses for this nascent yet transformative technology. A growing number of natural and organic products companies are taking the lead in employing AI automation, and such uses across the supply chain are growing as exponentially as the technology upon which it is based.
For the grocery industry, AI is projected to generate $113 billion in operational efficiency and new revenue by 2025. In a June 2023 study by data analytics firm Grocery Doppio, conducted in partnership with FMI – The Food Industry Association, and based on interviews with 152 grocery executives, implementation of artificial intelligence in supermarkets is expected to grow by 400% by the end of 2024. In addition AI “could eliminate 18% of store associate positions, 73% of store tasks and 53% of shopper queries,” reported Winsight Grocery Business.
AI adoption will deliver $113 billion in operational efficiency and new revenue opportunities for the grocery industry by 2025. Source: The Times They Are A-Changing: Impact of AI in Grocery. Source: Grocery Doppio
According to Grocery Doppio’s findings, inventory management savings could account for more than half of the estimated $113 billion in value. AI also will help grocers save billions in merchandising costs through advancements in product assortment and pricing optimization. Other savings include marketing, store operation costs, and IT technology.
While AI is not necessarily a new area for the grocery industry, grocers are focusing more on the “responsible, ethical use” of artificial intelligence,” said Mark Baum of FMI in a July 13th, 2023, Grocery Dive report. One quarter of retailers and more than a third of suppliers are using artificial intelligence (AI) to track product preferences and spending to anticipate consumer wants and needs, according to FMI’s 74th annual survey, The Food Retailing Industry Speaks 2023. “Every CEO needs to at least think like a CIO, if not act like a CIO, going forward. We’d like to say these days if you’re not technology enabled, you’re competitively disadvantaged,” Baum said.
Yet, a major concern among grocery and other workers is that AI could automate or partially automate up to 300 million jobs over the next decade, according to a study by Goldman Sachs. The industries most impacted by AI-driven automation will be “office and administrative support” and “legal.” However, according to Goldman Sach’s findings, “Once AI is implemented, workers will be more productive leading to an overall increase in output. This could lead to a 7% increase in annual GDP, equivalent to an astounding $7 trillion.”
Read on to learn how some early adopters in the natural and organic products industry are making innovative use of AI technology.
Research and Product Development
Dietary supplement companies have been utilizing AI to speed up the research of nutritional compounds. Companies like Brightseed employ machine learning to develop bio-active phytonutrient compounds to support gut health. Supplement maker Nuritas, recipient of Nutrition Business Journal’s 2023 Science and Innovation Award, employs artificial intelligence to identify “novel health-benefitting ingredients” and “the best plant-sourced, cell-signaling peptides,” said Nuritas founder Nora Khaldi.
In a July 2023 podcast, The Natural List, Aadit Patel, VP of Product Engineering at NotCo, a plant-based food technology company, shared how it uses AI and “the right balance of technology and humanity” to bring novel plant-based meat and dairy alternatives to market.
In related news, researchers at Northeastern University have developed an AI algorithm, FoodProX, that can predict the level of processing in food products and if a food has been “ultra-processed.” Such information is important for researchers in examining the health impacts of processed foods, Neuroscience News reported in June 2023.
Marketing
In an in-depth interview in Strategy Magazine, Arjan Stephens, President of leading organic food manufacturer Nature’s Path, shared that AI helps the company deal with inflation and competition by creating more targeted messaging in a quicker timeframe.
“The aim is to educate consumers on our commitment to fueling healthy communities as well as the inherent value of supporting and investing in a triple bottom line business like ours. A.I. has been a huge part of driving efficiencies in getting more strategic content to market more quickly. It not only enables us to swiftly create and distribute content, but to also respond more efficiently to consumer feedback and shopping behavior changes. This will continue to be critical to competing in a market that is oversaturated in greenwashing and misinformation,” Stephens said.
Distribution
Distributors, in particular, are looking to AI – and even AI-powered robots – to optimize supply chain and transportation logistics. Leading natural foods distributor UNFI in June 2023 announced a partnership with Finnish firm RELEX Solutions. Driven by AI and machine learning, RELEX will work with UNFI to consolidate and replace multiple UNFI buying systems into “one enhanced process, combining a more robust analysis of demand with a more granular approach to procurement,” UNFI said in a statement.
UNFI’s new AI platform is expected to become operational over the next 12 to 18 months. “As part of UNFI’s multi-faceted transformation agenda, we’re continuing to implement cutting-edge technology to improve the customer and supplier experience, while increasing operating efficiency,” said Erin Horvath, Chief Operating Officer at UNFI. In March 2023, UNFI announced that it would utilize robots powered by artificial intelligence and software automation and new scanning technology at its distribution center in Centralia, Washington.
Grocery wholesale cooperative Associated Food Stores (AFS) also plans to deploy robotics and AI-powered automation technology at is distribution center in Farr West, Utah, according to a May 9th, 2023, report in Winsight Grocery Business. Working with technology company Symbotic, AFS’s end-to-end automation system will include robotic case-pick capabilities “to enhance a range of retail-facing experiences,” including supply, expanded assortment and product delivery to stores.
Seeking to disrupt the traditional natural products distribution sector, Pod Foods claims it offers the first truly “infinite” warehouse for food procurement in the industry while providing retailers with data-driven, relevant access. The engine is powered by the company’s “Pod Bytes” data platform, which synthesizes data from its B2B marketplace, economic indicators, and other grocery-adjacent and third-party sources, the company said. The built-for-grocery models provide retailers with personalized, AI-enabled insights across all areas of discovery, including product placement, procurement, inventory optimization and market opportunity. The result is access to an endless yet personalized assortment of products, targeted to each retailer based on consumer purchasing behavior, desired retail margins, local trends, and more, the company says. Pod Foods in April 2023 appointed former VP executive and CPG veteran Michael Schall as President.
Retail
At The Fresh Market, which operates 160 stores in 22 states, longtime marketing partner Firework is implementing a patent-pending artificial intelligence platform to enhance The Fresh Market’s video content for consumers. The technology will allow shoppers to ask questions and receive sophisticated, real-time answers in The Fresh Market’s in-video chat feature. Viewers will be able to ask such questions as, “What is the recipe for the salad being made in this video?” and the AI chatbot will list the ingredients.
“The new AI engine makes use of a large language model (LLM), can understand and respond in a wide range of languages, and can be customized to reflect each brand’s unique voice,” The Fresh Market said in a statement. The new technology will be available on The Fresh Market’s website and its shoppable video live commerce retail media network. “Our customers are looking to engage with our brand in real time, both online and in store. With Firework’s generative AI technology, we can be certain that customers will receive prompt, friendly and personalized support whenever they choose to engage with our video commerce content,” said Kevin Miller, CMO at The Fresh Market.
Shoppers at Sprouts Farmers Market can now use an AI-based shopping assistant called Quin. The phone-based app from New York-based developer Verneek can answer spoken or typed questions about items sold in the stores and provide information about recipes, keto-friendly options, nutritional value and more. “As technology continues to evolve, Sprouts is always exploring new and innovative ways to improve our customer experience while providing joy in healthy living,” Sprouts said in a statement. Nasrin Mostafazadeh, Cofounder of Quin, said in ArcaMarx Magazine in April 2023 that the timing was right to launch Quin in grocery stores. However, he noted, Quin is not intended to replace grocery workers but to supplement them, giving them more time to focus on their job responsibilities, such as stocking shelves, doing inventory or checking out customers.
On THRIVE Market’s blog, the online retailer helps customers evaluate the best AI recipe generators. “There are now lots of websites that use AI machine learning to populate recipes based on ingredients, dietary restrictions, and even cooking skill level,” wrote THRIVE blogger Amy Roberts. “Some create a recipe based on ingredients you have on hand, while others churn out a recipe based on a query, like ‘Make a gluten-free chicken parmesan.’” Roberts reviewed ChatGPT for a vegan cheesecake recipe, Let’s Foodie for a red cabbage slaw, and PlantJammer for lasagna. “Did it work?” Roberts asked. “Surprisingly yes! The cheesecakes were a hit!” Though, Roberts admits she continues to refer to Pinterest for her own recipe ideas.
Using an organic food store as an example, AI platform Business Name Generator cites the following case study: “Consider the case of a budding entrepreneur, John, who planned to start an organic food store. He wanted a name that conveyed freshness, health, and sustainability. After struggling with brainstorming sessions, he turned to an online business name generator. He entered keywords such as ‘organic,’ ‘fresh,’ ‘healthy’ and ‘green.’ In seconds, the tool provided him with a list of potential names like ‘Freshly Organic,’ ‘Green Harvest,’ “Healthful Bounty’ and ‘SustainaBite.’ John was able to choose a unique and meaningful name for his store.”
Agriculture
For regenerative and organic farmers, AI technologies including machine learning and data analytics are being used to develop sophisticated monitoring systems that can provide farmers with real-time information about factors that affect soil health, including nutrient deficiencies and moisture levels. Combined with the use of sensors, drones and satellite imagery, AI algorithms are being used to analyze massive amounts of data to determine the optimal amount of water needed for each crop, reducing water waste, and ensuring that plants receive necessary nutrients for healthy growth. This not only conserves water resources but also helps to prevent soil degradation caused by overwatering, reported Marcin Frackiewicz in TS2 in May 2023.
At the University of California Davis, the AI Institute for Next Generation Food Systems (AIFS), funded in part by USDA, was launched in 2020 with a mission of meeting growing demand in the food supply by increasing efficiencies using AI and “bioinformatics” spanning the entire system from seed to shelf. Bringing more than 40 researchers together, AIFS says it aims to “bring artificial intelligence technology to the entire food system from crop breeding and farming to food production and nutrition. The institute will combine the development of the latest breakthroughs in artificial intelligence with preparing the food and agriculture industries to rapidly adopt them and ready the workforce.”
In addition, leading technology companies including IBM, Microsoft, Intel and others are focusing on developing artificial intelligence for use in agriculture and food production. Microsoft’s Project FarmVibes seeks to foster sustainable agriculture by collecting and analyzing data in from drones, sensors and other equipment to help farmers make real-time decisions about their crops. Intel and the National Science Foundation in 2022 invested $220 million in a number of AI ventures, including research in AI-Driven Innovation in Agriculture and Food Systems. Focusing on regenerative agriculture, IBM in 2022 launched IBM Regenerative Agriculture, which uses AI, data analytics, cloud technology and predictive insights to interpret agricultural and weather data and help farmers make decisions about crops.
“The food chain is a complex ecosystem that touches our everyday lives, and this is where AI has an advantage – by navigating the complex web of information, from farming to food distribution,” said Bryton Shang, CEO of Aquabyte in Forbes in July 2023. “It can help ensure higher-quality decision-making every step of the way.”
* Written and researched by a real human, with 40+ years’ experience in natural and organic foods and sustainable agriculture.
Steven Hoffman is Managing Director of Compass Natural, providing public relations, brand marketing, social media, and strategic business development services to natural, organic, sustainable and hemp/CBD products businesses. Compass Natural serves in PR and programming for NoCo Hemp Expo and Southern Hemp Expo, and Hoffman serves as Editor of the weekly Let’s Talk Hemp Newsletter, published by We are for Better Alternatives. Contact steve@compassnaturalmarketing.com.
Naturally Network Mid-Year Update: Natural Products Outpacing Growth of the Overall Marketplace
This article first appeared in Presence Marketing’s July 2023 newsletter.
By Steven Hoffman
There are “some key areas where natural continues to be really important and shoppers are continuing to engage despite inflation where they're saying, ‘Natural's important to me and I will continue to spend a little bit of extra money despite price.’” – Jessica Maniscalco, SPINS
Addressing the ongoing theme of inflation, Jessica Maniscalco, Senior Retail Insights Manager of market intelligence firm SPINS, said, “While the impact is still present in natural and specialty accounts, it’s being felt at a lesser rate than in conventional channels.”
Speaking at a recently held mid-year industry trends update webinar hosted by Naturally Network, Maniscalco shared that the drug, convenience and natural channels have seen lower price increases, “which lowers the growth rate compared to the conventional channel,” where price increases have been higher.
Source: SPINS
According to multi-year data tracking by SPINS, Maniscalco said that over time, “overall dollars have continued to grow across all positioning groups while units have been negatively impacted, especially with conventional products, which holds the lion’s share of sales.” Thus, while inflation is impacting overall unit growth everywhere, conventional products are being the most impacted.
“We all know what was going on with eggs most recently and how high the prices have gotten in terms of base price over the past year. So things like eggs, cereal, and bars were among the highest to increase their price. But what you'll notice that during this same time period is that natural and organic products within these same categories have held their prices at a much lower rate than the overall total category during the same time,” Maniscalco said.
Top Natural Categories Show Resilience
Maniscalco noted the top fastest growing categories for natural products, including infant formulas, creamers, salsa and dips, jerky and meat snacks, refrigerated entrees and a few others, are experiencing “exponential growth” versus overall category performance. She also pointed out that there are “…some key areas where natural continues to be really important and shoppers are continuing to engage despite inflation where they're saying, ‘Natural's important to me and I will continue to spend a little bit of extra money despite price.’”
In analyzing the composition of conventional, specialty wellness and natural products sales in brick & mortar retail over the past year, Maniscalco reported that specialty wellness products comprised about 15% of overall product sales. “But when it comes to dollar sales growth, it's lagging while contributing to only 10% of that overall bump. So, this is saying that specialty wellness sales are going up or the dollars are going up, but the price is holding at a lower rate than the conventional and natural products in these channels, so contributing less to the overall growth.”
Maniscalco also reported that, outside of grocery, pet care products and alcoholic beverages also continue to experience significant growth in the natural channel, and advised retailers to be aware of such attributes as “organic,” whose prices have held steadier over time compared to their conventional counterparts.
Source: SPINS
The Rise of the Values Oriented Shopper
In addition, Maniscalco shared data regarding the impact of the values-oriented shopper. “Value oriented has to do with people that are associating certain values or keeping those top of mind when they they're shopping at a store and engaging with products. And almost 50% of shoppers are considered value oriented and they shop differently. Almost 90% of them shop at least once a week, which is 1.2 times a more than the average shopper. So, they're a very valuable customer. When asked what was most important to them when they are going about their everyday shopping or look for new products, is they were really prioritizing ‘good for the planet’ attributes very highly” Maniscalco said.
With such a focus on sustainability, “shoppers are looking more and more now at not only what's good for you health-wise, but how the impact can really go further and whether it's good for the planet, good for animals, etc.,” she noted.
“The other thing that value oriented shoppers are looking for more and more now is functionality, and functional ingredients have been on the rise for several years now. But, it's great to see that it's no longer limited to just the vitamin section or beverages or bars, but really across all aisles we're seeing some type of integration with availability, and shoppers are really looking to get more bang for their buck now,” Maniscalco added. “We know that adaptogens in the form of mushrooms have been seeing huge gains in acceptance, especially since COVID, and they are being integrated in many ways across the store.”
The values oriented shopper “is a very valuable customer. When asked what was most important to them when they are going about their everyday shopping or to look for new products is they were really prioritizing good-for-the-planet attributes very highly. The key takeaway here is how important this shopper is,” Maniscalco emphasized.
SPINS will be releasing a full report later this summer.
Source: SPINS
Steven Hoffman is Managing Director of Compass Natural, providing public relations, brand marketing, social media and strategic business development services to natural, organic, sustainable and hemp/CBD products businesses. Compass Natural serves in PR and programming for NoCo Hemp Expo and Southern Hemp Expo, and Hoffman serves as Editor of the weekly Let’s Talk Hemp Newsletter, published by We Are for Better Alternatives. Contact steve@compassnaturalmarketing.com.
Natural & Organic Industry Set to Surpass $300 Billion in Sales in 2023, Despite Slower Growth, Inflation
This article first appeared in Presence Marketing’s May 2023 newsletter.
By Steven Hoffman
The U.S. natural and organic products industry is on pace to surpass $300 billion in total industry sales in 2023, despite slower growth and inflation, according to early estimates by Nutrition Business Journal.
Presenting the data at Natural Products Expo West in March, New Hope Network SVP and Market Leader Carlotta Mast said, “This would represent a doubling of industry sales over the last decade. That’s huge. We are a sizeable, impactful, meaningful industry. We’re not a fad anymore. We’re not this niche industry.”
Photo: Unsplash
U.S. consumer sales of natural and organic products reached $278 billion in 2022, with growth slowing from 7% in 2021 to 5.4% in 2022, according to preliminary research by Nutrition Business Journal, based on data provided by market research firm SPINS. This follows an unprecedented spike of 10% growth in 2020, as a result of the pandemic. Sales growth is expected to recover somewhat going forward, according to Mast, and is projected to reach 6% in 2024 and 2025.
The bulk of the growth in 2022 was driven by natural, organic and functional food and beverage sales, led by carbonated drinks, dairy alternatives, “better-for-you” sweeteners, baby products and canned and dried soups. These categories outperformed the overall natural and organic products industry, Mast noted. In functional foods and beverages, sports and energy drinks, soft drinks, frozen desserts and snack chips that include functional ingredients such as mushrooms, adaptogens, electrolytes, prebiotics and healthy fats helped drive sales in the category.
Hitting a milestone in 2022, as well, were sales of organic food and beverage products, with sales estimated at more than $50 billion. According to Mast, this figure represents a doubling in organic food and beverage sales since 2014. Product categories that performed strongly in the organic sector last year included organic baby formula, candy, dips, soft drinks and yogurt, according to New Hope and SPINS data.
However, after seeing record growth in 2020, most impacted by inflationary pressures was the dietary supplements category, which rose only 1.7% in 2022 to $60.9 billion in sales, based on the data presented at Expo West and reported on by Food Navigator-USA.
Kathryn Peters, Chief of Staff at SPINS, shared with attendees at Expo West that natural and organic foods are continuing to expand into the mainstream, with sales of natural products in conventional grocery and convenience outpacing growth in traditional natural food stores. Growth in sales of natural products in 2022 increased 9.2% in convenience, followed by a 7.4% increase in “conventional multi-outlet,” and a 4.1% increase in regional grocery, compared to 2.5% growth in the natural channel, based on SPINS data and reported by Food Navigator-USA.
While shoppers continue to look for deals and best prices across multiple channels including supermarkets, mass retailers, club stores and online to help reduce the impact of higher food prices, according to The Hartman Group and FMI — The Food Industry Association, 32% of shoppers concerned about rising food prices reported buying fewer items as a strategy to save money in February 2023. That’s down from 41% of shoppers who reported buying fewer items to save on food costs in October 2022.
“Our national survey reveals persistent consumer concern about food and beverage prices, as the weekly spend for groceries increased in late 2022 and early in 2023,” Leslie G. Sarasin, president and CEO of FMI, said in a statement. “To address higher prices, shoppers are visiting more stores and seeking deals to stretch their dollars but are now less likely to cut back on the number of items purchased compared to six months or a year ago. This is an opportunity for our industry to continue connecting with shoppers on food-inflation-mitigating solutions.”
According to FMI and The Hartman Group’s findings, food price concerns cut across shopper demographics, however, “Boomers are more worried about rising food prices than any other group, with 80% showing concern in February 2023 versus 69% in October 2022. Millennials polled close behind with 76% saying they are concerned, 5% more than one year ago. Such concerns about food costs coincide with an increase in spending in this inflationary environment. In February, on average, consumers spent $164 per week on groceries, up from $148 in both October and February of 2022,” FMI said.
Natural and organic food shoppers, in particular, may be less sensitive to price than traditional shoppers, but they still want quality, taste, nutrition, value … and sustainability. Younger consumers are driving demand toward brands that reduce waste and minimize carbon footprint and environmental impact. “The values-oriented shopper is a really important and valuable shopper,” Peters of SPINS noted, and according to Nutrition Business Journal, organic products are one of the last places consumers say they are willing to trade down to fight food inflation.
In a Chicago Tribune feature article published on April 3, 2023, Tonya Lofgren, Marketing Manager of Ciranda, a leading organic ingredient supplier based in Hudson, WI, said, “What’s cool about the natural and organic shopper is that if they value that, they’ll prioritize it over other ways to adjust spending because they realize how important it is.” Ciranda CEO Doug Audette added, “We are seeing consumers rationalizing their spending decisions. Overall, that has tempered the growth in organic. But we see no letting up in the long-term growth of organic, sustainable and fair-trade ingredients.”
In a March 2023 organic market report, USDA reported that, after a surge in pantry stocking pushed sales to record heights in 2020, organic food sales declined for the first time in decades in 2021 on an inflation-adjusted basis. However, “more than 15 million new customers entered the organic and natural foods market between early March and mid-April 2020,” USDA said. Time will tell if these consumers stick with organic.
According to USDA’s market report, organic consumers are diverse in terms of race, ethnicity, education, and income, though millennials purchase organic food at larger rates than other generations. Households with children are also more likely to purchase organic food than households without children, USDA noted.
Yet, challenging new and dedicated organic consumers alike is the fact that organic foods are seeing some of the steepest price hikes amid stubbornly high food inflation. Prices for organic fruit and vegetables rose 13.1% over the past year, compared with just under 10% for conventional produce, according to a February 2023 analysis of USDA retail pricing data by Lending Tree.
Among all the food groups included in Lending Tree’s analysis, organic chicken prices increased the most, at 19.5%. “That's more than three times the price jump for conventionally raised chicken, which rose 5.9% over the last year, the report shows. For households already struggling with the nation's worst bout of inflation in 40 years, such spikes could force many consumers to opt for nonorganic options instead,” CBS News reported.
Sales data for 2022 show organic fruits and vegetables growing in revenue but declining in sale volume, according to the Organic Produce Network. However, that’s a common theme across the food industry as consumers pay more for less in the face of heavy inflation, the Chicago Tribune noted.
According to the Tribune, a quarter of consumers surveyed by Nutrition Business Journal over the past year said they’re unlikely to stop buying organic produce, packaged food and meat to save money on groceries. Fewer than half of respondents said they are likely to cut those products out.
Steven Hoffman is Managing Director of Compass Natural, providing public relations, brand marketing, social media, and strategic business development services to natural, organic, sustainable and hemp/CBD products businesses. Compass Natural serves in PR and programming for NoCo Hemp Expo and Southern Hemp Expo, and Hoffman serves as Editor of the weekly Let’s Talk Hemp Newsletter, published by We Are for Better Alternatives. Contact steve@compassnaturalmarketing.com.
WAFBA Announces a Pause for 2023 Southern Hemp Expo in Nashville
SHE became dominated by Delta-8 and other intoxicating hemp-derived cannabinoids popular in areas where adult-use cannabis is not legal.
LOVELAND, Colo. (April 18, 2023) -- WAFBA -- We Are For Better Alternatives, the umbrella organization that hosts and produces NoCo Hemp Expo, Southern Hemp Expo, Hawaii Hemp Conference, Winter Hemp Summit and other hemp-centric conferences, trade shows and events -- is going to pause the 2023 Southern Hemp Expo. The Southern Hemp Expo, aka SHE, launched in 2018 in Nashville as the sister show to NoCo Hemp Expo, the most comprehensive hemp exposition and trade show on the planet.
SHE was a highly successful event in both 2018 and 2019 but was canceled in 2020 due to the Covid pandemic. SHE moved to Raleigh, North Carolina, in 2021 and back to Nashville in 2022. Both shows struggled to regain the momentum that the hemp industry had prior to the pandemic and both shows ended up being dominated by the rise in the intoxicating hemp-derived cannabinoid category, including Delta-8, HHC and other derivatives that have come to be popular with the consumer market in areas of the United States where adult-use cannabis is not yet legal.
Hemp for Health and Wellness
Both NoCo Hemp Expo and Southern Hemp Expo were founded on the decades-long mission and mantra that hemp is for health and wellness for humans and animals and an environmental benefactor for the planet in being able to produce eco-friendly, carbon-neutral to carbon-negative materials for a variety of industrial applications. These include commercial and residential construction products, textiles, automotive components, paper and packaging, bioplastics and biocomposites, animal bedding, biochar and more.
Another long-standing mantra for the hemp industry has been “hemp does not get you high,” which was the case until the domestic oversupply of CBD biomass increased significantly in 2019 and 2020. Additionally, the FDA continued to skirt its regulatory responsibilities given to the agency by Congress in the 2018 Farm Bill to regulate the burgeoning and popular CBD market. The lack of regulatory oversight kept major retailers and major consumer brands on the sidelines as well as investment money out of the industry. This in turn was a factor in the increased oversupply and the eventual development of the synthesized, hemp-derived cannabinoid market that is proliferating today. This market has opened up a variety of concerns, from consumer safety issues to state product bans as well as state legislation approving of these products, and other various regulatory murkiness around the country. To put it simply, it's a mess and extremely complicated to navigate in this new category of the hemp industry. To be clear, WAFBA, Southern Hemp Expo and its management are not in favor of "banning" or making "illegal" this new category of hemp-derived products. This category of products needs federal regulation, which we hope will occur in the upcoming 2023 Farm Bill.
Focus on Flagship Event
With the above-mentioned confusion, complexity and the state of intoxicating hemp-derived cannabinoids, WAFBA has made the decision to focus its trade show and event energy on its flagship event, NoCo Hemp Expo, and to do everything we can to build this event as the international hub and gathering spot of hemp-based heath, wellness, nutrition, environmental, and socially impactful opportunities that can benefit humanity and the planet.
For additional information and to keep abreast of future activities and events, we encourage the industry and interested parties to subscribe to our newsletter and visit our media platform at www.letstalkhemp.com.
Contact
Morris Beegle, WAFBA, info@nocohempexpo.com
Steven Hoffman, Compass Natural, steve@compassnaturalmarketing.com, tel 303.807.1042
Experience Hemp: 9th Annual NoCo Hemp Expo Offers 'Full Spectrum' of Educational Tracks, Networking Events
Experience Hemp: 9th Annual NoCo Hemp Expo Offers a ‘Full Spectrum’ of Educational Tracks, Expo Hall and Networking Events
December 9, 2022
For everyone with an interest in the business of hemp — from agriculturalists to investors, from entrepreneurs to product innovators, from retailers to researchers, and from advocates to the “hemp- and cannabis-curious” — the 9th Annual NoCo Hemp Expo offers a “full spectrum” of conference tracks to benefit you and your business. A networking lunch is included with each full-day conference track.
What: 9th Annual NoCo Hemp Expo
When: March 29-31, 2023
Where: The Broadmoor Resort, Colorado Springs, CO
Info: https://www.nocohempexpo.com/
Register for Noco9 early bird tickets: https://www.nocohempexpo.com/ticket-sales/
Loveland, CO (December 8, 2022) – The 9th Annual NoCo Hemp Expo will take place on March 29-31, 2023, at one of Colorado’s most legendary and historic resorts, The Broadmoor. Now is the time to reserve space to showcase your brand and products at this highly anticipated event – and certainly to mark your calendar to attend.
With roots dating back to the late 1800s and located at the foot of the Rocky Mountains, The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs features a world-class setting, 315,000 square feet of new, state-of-the-art meeting and convention space, a lake, walking paths, a 36-hole golf course, a spa, restaurants, and premium lodging at a special rate for NoCo Hemp Expo attendees. Recently remodeled, the Broadmoor is committed to sustainability and has been awarded a Forbes Five-Star resort rating every year since 1960.
This year, NoCo9’s educational program will highlight investment and finance, science, technology, innovation, industry and consumer trends, regulatory and legislative news, BIPOC and diversity in hemp, advances in research, best practices in sustainable agriculture, and more. Covering all aspects of hemp over three days of programming, NoCo9’s comprehensive educational program is divided into the following tracks:
Advocacy & Policy
Hemp businesses are required to operate in a highly regulated, rapidly evolving environment. As a result, it’s critical to pay attention to legislation and what’s going on in regulatory agencies including the USDA, FDA and DEA, as well as various state-by-state regulations. By staying abreast of current legislation before Congress affecting hemp, CBD and cannabis, the hemp industry has a unique opportunity to create the regulatory environment it seeks, but not without advocacy, vigilance … and knowledge. This track will feature policymakers, regulators, legal specialists, and legislative advocates involved in advancing the market for hemp from inside the Beltway and in states across the country. Learn how what happens in Washington, D.C., affects your business, and how you can stay involved to affect outcomes that favor business growth and ultimately create greater access to hemp-derived products.
Business & Investment
NoCo Hemp Expo’s Business & Investment Track will bring together top business leaders and investors from around the world in the exciting convergence of industrial hemp, cannabis, natural products, technology & innovation, infrastructure, diversity & inclusion, capital markets, banking & financial services, ESG, and more. Learn from the stories of entrepreneurs, experts, and leaders from publicly traded companies. Garner data and information from market and economic analysts about what trends are on the horizon and, from investors, learn what's drawing their interest, where they're placing capital in the hemp and cannabis markets, and where they see future opportunities and risks. Gain valuable insights about what lies ahead for the business of hemp in the U.S., North America and throughout the world, and interact with key business influencers and investors in the market.
Agriculture & Academia
Hemp is entering its fifth year as a legal crop in the U.S. after more than 80 years of prohibition. The industry has experienced growing pains, but it also has seen significant advances in hemp agriculture and production techniques, as well as a renaissance in hemp and cannabis research. NoCo Hemp Expo’s Agriculture & Academia Track draws skilled farmers, researchers, educators, and specialists in genetics and plant breeding, soil health, sustainable and regenerative agriculture, pest control, harvest and post-harvest handling and storage, testing and compliance, and innovations in value-added processing and product development. Exploring the latest science, research, methodology, agricultural economics, domestic and international trade, and what’s happening in universities across the country, this full-day event also will focus on programs farmers can take advantage of, e.g., carbon credits, banking services, crop insurance, farm, harvest and processing equipment, and more.
Experience Hemp Expo Hall – The World of Hemp Under One Roof
In addition to the educational program, NoCo9 will feature the Experience Hemp Expo Hall in The Broadmoor’s new, state-of-the-art exhibition facilities. Featuring a world of hemp and business opportunities in 100,000 square feet, NoCo9 attendees can sample wares, learn about products and businesses, hold meetings and visit with more than 350 exhibitors. The Experience Hemp Expo Hall also will feature specialized zones, including:
Solution Circle – Visit this special educational zone on the trade show floor for quick solo presentations from experts and specialists innovating with hemp solutions across all industries, from automotive to zero-waste.
NoCo Demo Zone – Experience hands-on demonstrations and workshops featuring traditional and new applications of hemp, from the making of hemp textiles to using hemp in artisan craft production, as well as in building and construction.
Schedule at a Glance
- Advocacy & Policy Conference, Wednesday, March 29
- Welcome Party, Wednesday, March 29
- Business & Investment Conference, Thursday, March 30
- 2nd Annual NoCo Hemp Pitch, Thursday, March 30
- Agriculture & Academia Conference, Friday, March 31
- Experience Hemp Expo Hall: Thursday and Friday, March 30-31
- NoCo Hemp Expo After Party, Friday, March 31
Register Here for NoCo9 – $499 early bird Platinum tickets are still available. Visit https://www.nocohempexpo.com/ticket-sales/
First Citizens Bank, EarthX, Patagonia Lead Distinguished Group of Sponsors
NoCo Hemp Expo is also pleased to recognize our Sponsors, including First Citizens Bank, which returns as Presenting Sponsor after a successful experience at this past summer’s 4th Annual Southern Hemp Expo, held in August in Nashville, Tenn.
“Having a leading, agriculture-focused financial institution such as First Citizens Bank, with its 100-plus-year history of serving farmers and ag-related businesses, step up and serve as Presenting Sponsor of this year’s NoCo Hemp Expo is a huge statement, providing vital credibility and legitimization for the industry at a time when it’s needed most,” said Morris Beegle, NoCo9 Hemp Expo organizer and president and founder of We Are for Better Alternatives (WAFBA).
“We’re also thrilled to welcome EarthX as our Environmental NGO partner and Patagonia as Sustainable Apparel Sponsor. We are very excited about these categories to bring focus to areas where hemp can make a difference in sustainability and improving the environment,” Beegle said.
NoCo9 also will feature networking events, as well as the much anticipated 2nd Annual WAFBA Awards of Excellence, recognizing top leaders, innovators, educators, policymakers, and advocates in the hemp community.
For more information on sponsorship and exhibiting, please visit https://www.nocohempexpo.com/sponsors-and-exhibitors-request/
About NoCo Hemp Expo
For nearly a decade, NoCo Hemp Expo — the world’s most comprehensive industrial hemp exposition and conference — has brought together international business and government leaders, academia, nonprofits, media, and the public to collaborate on important initiatives, opportunities, and solutions for the future of a crop and an industry that can have a significant positive impact on human, animal, and planetary health.
The 9th Annual NoCo Hemp Expo is produced by We Are For Better Alternatives (WAFBA), a leading organization dedicated to the advancement and advocacy of hemp farming, processing, production, innovation, education, and legalization. WAFBA also is the publisher of Let's Talk Hemp, the industry's leading news source. Learn more about the hemp and cannabis industry, and subscribe to the latest news at www.letstalkhemp.com.
Contact
Morris Beegle, WAFBA, info@nocohempexpo.com
Steven Hoffman, Compass Natural, steve@compassnaturalmarketing.com, tel 303.807.1042
North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper Lifts COVID Restrictions in Time for Southern Hemp Expo at Raleigh Convention Center, Sept. 2-4, 2021
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper Lifts COVID Restrictions in Time for Southern Hemp Expo at Raleigh Convention Center, Sept. 2-4, 2021
Governor’s executive order lifts COVID restrictions for masks and capacity limits at public gatherings
What: Southern Hemp Expo (SHE3) in Raleigh, NC, will return to “normalcy” after a new executive order by Gov. Roy Cooper who has lifted restrictions for COVID-19. (information listed below)
When: September 2-4, 2021
Where: Raleigh Convention Center, 500 S Salisbury St., Raleigh, NC 27601
More information: Click HERE
Denver, CO (May 20, 2021) -- Networking, supply chain expansions and new hemp business connections will return full-force at the Southern Hemp Expo in Raleigh, NC, after a new executive order from Gov. Roy Cooper lifted COVID restrictions throughout the state last week.
The governor’s Executive Order 215 significantly lessens restrictions going forward into North Carolina. Effective immediately, all requirements for mask-wearing, social distancing, and wellness screenings have been removed and are no longer mandatory for events at the Raleigh Convention Center (RCC), except when more than 5,000 people are gathered in one space, said Hayley Burkhardt, Events Manager for the RCC. Even that last restriction for 5,000 attendees in one space may soon be lifted well in time for the Southern Hemp Expo on Sept. 2-4, Burkhardt said.
Open for Business, with Cleanliness and Sanitation Assured
“Covid-19 took us on a wild ride,” Burkhardt said, but the convention center was looking forward to the return of face-to-face events. The RCC will still undergo thorough cleaning and sanitation procedures, Burkhardt emphasized.
Case counts in North Carolina have dropped, and 51% of the state's residents over the age of 18 have received at least one vaccination, the governor’s office said. “North Carolinians have made great progress in getting vaccinated, and every day, more North Carolinians are protected from this deadly disease,” Gov. Cooper said in a statement Friday.
The World of Hemp, in One Location
The Southern Hemp Expo 2021 will bring a robust trade show featuring 250 exhibitors, three full days of expo hall and education including the Let’s Talk Hemp Business Conference and Farm Symposium.
Southern Hemp Expo attendees will include farmers, genetics companies, soil amendment suppliers, equipment manufacturers, hemp foods producers, pet product formulators, extraction experts, processors, lab companies, industry organizations, brands, distributors, retail and wholesale buyers, marketers, ancillary service providers and more.
Raleigh offers a unique setting for networking, business meetings and an all-in-one location designed to meet with existing and new clients. SHE3 will feature a welcome reception, gala, concert, and multiple networking parties to celebrate the reuniting of the hemp world. Check out the many features of Raleigh, NC here: https://www.visitraleigh.com/
More than 100 speakers and special keynote guests will provide the latest in green technology initiatives, natural fiber textile developments, building & construction materials, bioplastics, superfoods, cannabinoid applications and educational tracks for general consumers.
In March, the Let’s Talk Hemp Conferences welcomed thousands of guests and hundreds of exhibitors in Denver, Colorado at the National Western Complex for the 7th annual NoCo Hemp Expo as the first in-person expo after several virtual conferences held in 2020-2021.
“It’s time to get the hemp industry back on track and focused on the future so we finish 2021 on a high note, and move into 2022 with a clear understanding of the obstacles and opportunities that lie ahead of us,” said Morris Beegle, president and co-founder of We Are for Better Alternatives (WAFBA).
Exhibit at SHE3 and Save with Early Bird Discounts
For businesses interested in exhibiting at the 3rd Annual Southern Hemp Expo, opportunities to reserve a booth and secure sponsorship are now available. Early bird discounts have been extended through May 31, 2021. Visit and apply today: https://www.southernhempexpo.com/exhibitor-info/
About WAFBA and Colorado Hemp Company
We Are For Better Alternatives (WAFBA) is committed to researching and developing better alternatives so that hemp can once again thrive, prosper, and help individuals and communities throughout America and around the globe. The Colorado Hemp Company, producer of Southern Hemp Expo and NoCo Hemp Expo, is a leading organization for the advancement and advocacy of hemp farming, processing, production, innovation, education, and legalization in the USA. The entire team is committed to researching and developing alternatives so that hemp can once again thrive and help individuals and communities throughout America and around the globe.
Contact
Steven Hoffman, Compass Natural, 303.807.1042, steve@compassnaturalmarketing.com
Morris Beegle, President of WAFBA, 970.541.0448, morris@morrisbeegle.com
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Hemp Happenings This Summer
Originally Appeared in Presence Marketing News, August 2019
By Steven Hoffman
Compass Natural is pleased to organize the following hemp leadership events.
Colorado Governor Jared Polis to Give Keynote Speech at AHPA Hemp-CBD Supplement Congress, August 16, Denver
Colorado Governor Jared Polis will present the keynote speech during the American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) Hemp-CBD Congress on Friday, August 16, 2019, in Denver. The address by Gov. Polis helps set the national stage for the vitality of the hemp industry and the positive economic impact the commodity will have for farmers and for dietary supplement companies nationwide, says AHPA. Currently, the industry is navigating a rapidly evolving legal, regulatory and financial landscape on how to manufacture and market dietary supplement products with hemp or hemp-derived ingredients including cannabidiol (CBD).
“We’re proud that Governor Polis will present AHPA’s keynote presentation. His participation is integral to the future of hemp and we look forward to continuing to be a voice of the herbal products industry and share his groundbreaking message to our 500+ leading members,” said Michael McGuffin, President of AHPA. “This collaboration with Governor Polis solidifies his plans to make good on the promise he made in January to position and help shape the future of industrial hemp.” The two-day congress includes speakers from USDA and FDA, plus legal and regulatory experts, farmers and producers, manufacturers, retailers and hemp and dietary supplement association leaders. Presence Marketing’s VP of Innovation and Brand Development, Tracy Miedema, will speak at the event, and Presence Marketing / Dynamic Presence will also be a featured Sponsor Partner of the AHPA Hemp-CBD Summit. Visit http://www.ahpa.org.
Photo: Office of Colorado Governor Jared Polis
Second Annual Southern Hemp Expo Returns to Tennessee, Unites Rapidly Growing Hemp Industry
More than 5,000 farmers, entrepreneurs, investors, manufacturers, retailers, and consumers will gather at this year’s 2nd Annual Southern Hemp Expo, a program-rich conference, exhibition and trade show structured specifically for the rapidly growing industrial, nutritional, and therapeutic hemp industries, held at Williamson County AG Expo Park in Franklin, TN, Sept. 6-7, 2019.
Participants at the 2019 Southern Hemp Expo will learn about the exploding hemp market, which is expected to surge to more than $26 billion in sales by 2025. This year’s Southern Hemp Expo will include a business and investment conference; hemp farm symposium; industry day with a business-to-business expo hall; general public day with an expo hall for consumers; workshops and demonstrations; and networking and entertainment. Attendees will receive up-to-date information about federal and state legislation and regulations, current trends in CBD and hemp supplements; the latest developments in processing, technology and innovation; certification, compliance and lab testing; and breeding, genetics, seeds and clones, and more. Exhibit space and sponsorship opportunities for the Southern Hemp Expo are available online at www.southernhempexpo.com. Southern Hemp Expo is produced by the Colorado Hemp Company—which has been producing the NoCo Hemp Expo, the world’s largest hemp industry gathering, in Colorado since 2014.