85,000 attendees, 3,521 exhibitors…last year’s Natural Products Expo West & Engredea was (once again) a record-setting year. Events filled the Anaheim Convention Center, with exhibits extending into the newly expanded North Halls. Education sessions and social events spilled out into the Marriott, Hilton, Grand Plaza and Arena Plaza. There was a lot to take in—and Natural Products Expo West 2019, March 5th-9th at the Anaheim Convention Center, promises to be just as massive (and just as rewarding!).
To help you navigate, we’re giving an overview of select industry events, education sessions and speakers that we feel are especially worth your while. And of course, we’d also love for you to make time to swing by our booth. We’ll be at booth 3825, passing out free WholeFoods reusable shopping bags with some free samples and literature.
Hall Hours
A change to note for those of you who have been attending this show for years: The dates for the exhibit halls have shifted this year: Wednesday through Friday in the North Halls and Thursday through Saturday in the Main Halls. Wednesday, March 6 ACC North Halls & Hilton: 12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Thursday, March 7 ACC North Halls & Hilton: 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. ACC Level 3 and Arena: 9:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. ACC Halls A-E: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Friday, March 8 ACC North Halls & Hilton: 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. ACC Level 3 and Arena: 9:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. ACC Halls A-E: 10:00 am - 6:00 pm Saturday, March 9 ACC Level 3, Arena, Arena Lobby: 9:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. ACC Halls A-E: 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.Education and Events
It’s hard (really hard!) to narrow things down when there are so many informative events going on, but we’ve called out some highlights here. More information about these events—and the entire Expo schedule—can be found at www.expowest.com. The Keynote is free to attend, as are exhibitor-hosted education sessions. Note that some events require additional fees or a Super Pass Upgrade—this is your ticket to attend Expo West Conference Sessions, plus gain access to a VIP lounge and more. (For pricing, see www.expowest.com or call (866) 458-4935.)Tuesday, March 5 The Natural Products Business School kicks things off with a day of education and networking tailored to emerging brands. This is not included with a Super Pass Upgrade; cost is $295 (Marriot Marquis Ballroom North, 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.)
Natural Products Hemp & CBD Summit (Super Pass) is sure to draw a crowd as speakers discuss the “cannabis revolution,” touching on everything from hemp oil to clothes and food. Among the speakers: Michael McGuffin, president of the AHPA. (Marriott Grand Ballroom F, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.)
Climate Day is an all-day event featuring roundtables, workshops and more to help companies find the best ways to take action. (Marriott Marquis Ballroom Central, 9:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.)
Wednesday, March 6 Early Morning Yoga to help you capture that sense of energized calm that will power you through the day. Sponsored by Lifeway. (Grand Plaza Stage, 7:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.)
State of Natural & Organic features Walter Robb, former CEO of Whole Foods Market. (Marriott Marquis Ballroom Central, 8:30 am - 10:00 am)
Cannabidiol: A Trillion Dollar Molecule? Hosted by Folium Biosciences, this seminar will explore the scientific and clinical history of Cannabidiol, as presented by Raj Gupta, chief scientific officer of Folium Biosciences. He’ll be doing some myth-busting, too. (Marriott Platinum Ballroom 1 & 2, 8:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.)
The Supplement Roundtable (Super Pass) explores the U.S. dietary supplement market, with a variety of experts sharing quantitative analysis and comprehensive industry tracking designed to help attendees gain key insights into the category. (Marriott Orange County Ballroom 1, 10:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.)
Fresh Ideas Organic Marketplace, sponsored by Perfect Snacks, offers a chance to network with leading organic producers and manufacturers. (Big White Tent at Anaheim Marriott, 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m).
Global Export Series is a 5-part seminar series for everyone from companies new to exporting to those looking to expand their knowledge. (ACC, Room 204C, 11:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.)
Herb Walk Tour, with the American Herbal Products Association (AHPA), takes attendees on a guided stroll through the Fullerton Arboretum, a 26-acre botanical garden on the campus of California State University with a faculty of renowned herbalists. The cost is $75, and it is not included with Super Pass upgrade. Meet at the Hilton Outside Bus Loading Zone,1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m._
Natural Products Expo West Pitch-Slam Finals & Party is being dubbed as a “networking nirvana” of investors, successful brands and service providers. And after the pitch, there’s a celebration to recognize industry innovators. Marriott Grand Ballroom F, 4:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.League of Angels is an opportunity to join Vitamin Angels as they celebrate 25 years of service to women and children around the word. Tickets must be purchased in advance—contact events@vitaminangels.org for details. (Disney California Adventure Park, 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.)Thursday, March 7 Early Morning Yoga sponsored by Honest Tea. (Grand Plaza Stage, 7:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.)
Community Breakfast lets you connect with associates and fuel up—and it’s free for all attendees and exhibitors. (Big White Tent at Anaheim Marriott, 7:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.)
NPA Meet & Greet Breakfast. NPA members are encouraged to bring a non-member guest to learn about the benefits of membership. (Anaheim Convention Center, Room 206A, 8:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.)
Growing the Plant-Based Market (Super Pass) features insights from Michele Simon JD, MPH, executive director of the Plant Based Foods Association, and more. (Marriott Grand Ballroom G, 9:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.)
Why Keto As You Know It Is Dead with Dave Asprey, Bulletproof Founder & CEO, and Special Guest Super Bowl MVP Nick Foles, may just give you some tips and tricks to make cruising Expo a breeze. (Marriott Platinum Ballroom 5, 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.)
Thursday Keynote with Erin Brockovich, president, Brockovich Research & Consulting. Brockovich has dedicated her life to helping those who have suffered due to environmental contamination, bad medical devices and pharmaceuticals. (Marriott, Marquis Ballroom Central, 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.)
Gut Health 3.0: Clinical Insights into the Development of Dysbiosis & Integrative Strategies, features Gaetano A. Morello, BSc, N.D., author of Cleanse: Ultimate Inside-Out Approach, Whole Body Cleansing. This event is presented by Natural Factors. (Marriott Platinum Ballroom 1 & 2, 2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.)
Hall of Legends honors the trailblazers who have made significant contributions to the industry—plus, the NEXTY Gold winners will be revealed. (Anaheim Marriott, 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.)
Friday, March 8 Early Morning Yoga sponsored by Stash Tea. (Grand Plaza Stage, 7:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.)
Friday Keynote with Ryan Devlin, co-founder, This Bar Saves Lives. After meeting kids who were suffering from severe malnutrition while on a humanitarian trip to Liberia, Devlin was inspired by how simple, life-saving nutrition could return the kids to health, and soon This Bar Saves Lives was born with a mission to sell delicious products and help save lives. (Marriott Marquis Ballroom Central, 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.)
Fueling Sales in an Omnichannel World (Super Pass) explores changing consumer purchasing habits and opportunities for retailers to encourage healthy purchases in stores and online. (Marriott Grand Ballroom F, 10:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.)
Selling CBD: Legal & Practical Advice for Retailers is a panel discussion, presented by Barlean’s, aimed at helping retailers navigate the CBD landscape. (Marriott Platinum Ballroom 3 & 4, 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.)
Featured Speaker: U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, ranking member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, and co-author of the 2018 Farm Bill, will offer her insights into the the future of food in the United States. (Marriott Marquis Ballroom Central, 12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.)
Brain Health Research, Vitamin E Tocotrienols and Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil will educate attendees on the latest science on tocotrienol and brain health supplements, with functional medicine expert Bryce Wylde and Dr. Thomas Bowman of Jarrow Formulas. (Marriott Platinum Ballroom 3 & 4, 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.)Celebrate with WholeFoods Magazine! Join us in Booth 3825 at 4pm for a champagne toast in honor of our 35th anniversary!Legal and Regulatory State of the Natural Products Industry, presented by Venable, is a seminar to help attendees stay in-the-know on the latest legal issues. (Marriott Platinum Ballroom 1 & 2, 3:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.)
Diversity in Naturals Networking Event aims to bring the community together to recognize and celebrate individual differences. (Hilton Sunset Deck, 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm)
Saturday, March 9 The Edge You Need: Power Yoga sponsored by Vega to help you get revved for the day ahead. (Grand Plaza Stage, 7:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.)
