Fun at Natural Products Expo West 2016 [Photo gallery]
March 15, 2016
The 36th annual Natural Products Expo West was the biggest ever, with 77,000 attendees, more than 3,000 exhibiting companies and tons of excitement.
Gary Hirshberg, chairman of Stonyfield Farm and Just Label It!, kicked off Natural Products Business School on Wednesday.
At the Interactive Solutions Lunch, entrepreneurs and experts discussed the challenges of being a small natural products business.
Education sessions continued throughout Thursday, Friday and Saturday with tracks including Cultivating Organic sponsored by Clif Bar and The Changing Supplements Market.
Meanwhile, out in the California sunshine, food trucks and exhibitors lined the area behind the Grand Plaza stage.
For the first time, Expo West hosted four days of early morning yoga, sponsored by Honest Tea, Bhakti Chai, Kashi and Evolve.
Author and customer strategist Martha Rogers set the tone for Expo when she delivered the Thursday keynote on consumer trust.
The Fresh Ideas Organic Marketplace, an outdoor event that combines the lively appeal of a traditional farmers’ market with the business-building power of an industry trade show, was bustling on Thursday afternoon.
Steve Yamada, chairman and CEO of Maypro, and Paul Buckel, vice president of sales for Brio Ice Cream, accept their NutrAwards.
Three companies were selected to participate in the annual Pitch-Slam Competition Thursday night: Once Upon a Farm, Veggie Fries and Bare Bones Broth.
The judges selected Veggie Fries to win the prize package that includes a free booth at Expo East.
The plaza was alive after-hours with the sounds of funk, big band and soul music.
In his Friday morning keynote, Former White House chef Samual Kass gave us the scoop on what it was like cooking for the first family.
The show floor this year featured 3,000+ exhibiting companies...
...and no shortage of creativity.
A dozen natural industry pioneers were named to the Hall of Legends in a ceremony Friday night.
Erik Weihenmayer, the only blind person to summit Mount Everest, awed and inspired everyone in the room with his Saturday morning keynote.
Congrats, Gaia, you won two NEXTY Awards! New Hope Network editors delivered the awards to 19 winners on Saturday.
Suja won top honors in the Best of West Press Awards, along with Vega and Justin's.
Reserveage Nutrition hosted its annual Women in Naturals event Saturday at the Hilton.
Others spent Saturday evening rocking with Michael Franti at the Just Label It! fundraiser.
Thanks for a great show. We'll see you next year, Anaheim!
Thanks for a great show. We'll see you next year, Anaheim!
Fun at Natural Products Expo West 2016 [Photo gallery]
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