Las Vegas, NV—The Natural Products Association (NPA) hosted its NPA MarketPlace tradeshow June 14–16 in Las Vegas, NV. The retailer education portion of the tradeshow offered several interesting and informative sessions, many of which entertained a packed crowd. The following are highlights from sessions attended by WholeFoods Magazine.

In a talk about nutricosmetics, Paula Simpson, expert in anti-aging, formulator of nutraceuticals/skincare lines, spoke about the physiology of skin aging, noting several natural ingredients that can support healthier skin, hair and nails. She said cosmeceuticals will take off in the next five years in the United States.

Kelly Hartford (left) of Jimbo's...Naturally receives the WholeFoods Retailer of the Year award from Publisher Heather Wainer (right).

In a session called, “No-Tox Botox: Natural Anti-Aging Ingredients Explained,” Linda Miles, L. Ac., D.O.M., vice president of derma e, talked about the relationship between collagen/elastin health and wrinkles. She says topical ingredients like pomegranate, vitamin C, CoQ10, ALA, rosehip oil, DMAE, peptides and hyaluronic acid can help. In the same session, Chris Fields of NutriCosmetics noted that products to address hyperpigmentation and inflammation are the hottest areas of growth in the facial care category.

Frank Jaksch, founder and CSO of Chromadex, spoke about “Green Chemistry.” He said many people don’t realize the “natural” compounds found in natural supplements are actually nature-identical, natural ingredients that are synthetically made. If done properly, synthetic processes often offer viable and sometimes superior ingredients, he says.

FDA's Dan Fabricant, Ph.D., speaks about regulatory issues

FDA’s Dan Fabricant, Ph.D., says inspectors are seeing more non-compliance than compliance with respect to GMPs. If companies aren’t meeting minimum compliance standards, shoppers cannot trust their products. Violations range from no master batch records to no identity/purity testing records. In 250, the agency plans to visit 250 facilities. On the same panel was Tom Sokoloff of Paradise Health and Nutrition. He says retailers are “the gatekeepers of the industry.” Therefore, they should slow down and know what they’re buying. “Make sure you have guidelines in place to ensure you are the gatekeepers for your stores,” he suggests.

Keynote speaker Mimi Guarneri, M.D., cardiologist and author of The Heart Speaks, stated, “We have an ill to the pill mentality. You have an ill; I’ll give you a pill.” Because of that, we’re never getting to the root of the problem. So, she says healthcare needs to get to a functional medicine approach, which includes supplements and diet.

Keynote speaker Mimi Guarneri, M.D.,

Cheryl Myers of EuroPharma spoke of the many benefits of curcumin, which include antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-viral/-bacterial/-fungal.

Frank Pallone, NJ congressman, told a packed room that advocacy is extremely important. “In the way you were effective at passing DSHEA...that has to continue. You need to constantly be active.” Go to tradeshows, talk to congressmen, let your concerns be known, he stated.

In a session about private labeling, Jane Drinkwalter of Vitamer Labs gave retailers suggestions for how to vet suppliers and how to market items in stores. For instance, place products at eye level. “You’re the only one who’s going to sell your brand. Make sure it’s in a great place,” she said.

Jeffrey Burke, N.D.

Jeffrey Burke, N.D., spoke about the importance of omega-3 supplements, which he equated to that of a multivitamin. He said omegas are now an “objection-less category.” From capsules to emulsions, there are lots of choices. “You’re missing the boat as a retailer if you don’t carry every single avenue of every single omega.” Make sure they’re all from a responsible, quality company. Also, a good-quality diet is key.

Also at NPA MarketPlace, the Natural Products Foundation announced the winners (Lauren Au of Tufts University, Taylor Kaufmann of Bastyr University, and Vanessa Mardones of Memorial University).

At the NPA's Annual Business Meeting, new officers were sworn in (left), President Jeff Wright addresses the association (center) and the annual NPA awards were distributed. Picture (right) is Michael T. Murray, N.D., accepting the President's Award.

Product Highlights: The NPA MarketPlace tradeshow offered booths from about 170 exhibitors, many of which came ready to show off their newest items.

* CoTZ Skincare, West Norriton, PA, now offers CoTz Pure, a sunscreen with a “balanced mineral complex” that protects skin from harmful UVA/UVB rays.

* A line of microgreen microsalads are available from Organic America, Piru, CA.

* Elemental Essentialz, McKinney, TX, offers natural cleaners in glass, wine-line bottles in varieties such as glass & granite, soft scrubbing and all-purpose cleaners.

* Dreambrands, Phoenix, AX, has a new sleep formula to add to its line.

* Brad’s Raw Foods offers several types of leafy kale chips in varieties like Natural Nacho.

* Several goji berry-inspired juice blends and shots are available from Gogee, including goji berries with sea buckthorn, with acai, and with soursop.

* Annas-Choice, San Ramon, CA, offers a line of breakfast items that include all-natural whole-grain pancakes and toppings (creamy nut butters and praline pecan sprinkles).

* Green coffee bean extract is the newest supplement available from Healthy Origins.

* GreenKarma has a new line called Baby Mantra, which includes natural bath and body products for babies and moms.

* RTEM LLC distributes the Air’s Clean line of natural air fresheners. The jars contain a creamy blend of antibacterial/fungal essential oils that disperse through the air.

* New from Blossom Fine Foods is a vegan chocolate cake, which joins the firm’s line of gluten-free desserts.

* GoodBelly has two new flavors of probiotic juice drinks: pink grapefruit and tropical orange.

* The DO Naturals line has been launched by Dolphin Organics. The line (in just berry scent) is intended for teens, tweens and young adults.

* SoapBox makes organic bar soaps with a noble mission: for each bar sold, one bar is donated to someone in need, anywhere in the world.

* Dynamic Health offers two new liquid supplements: raspberry ketones and organic nopal.

* Probiotix makes Active D’Lites ice cream bars and chocolate bars with a probiotic blend.

* Premium Gold Flax launched a Flax & Whole Grain All-Purpose Gluten-Free Flour.

Published in WholeFoods Magazine, online 6/18/12