For me, the 2010 convention season started with an energetic Natural Products Expo West (NPEW). Trekking along with 56,000 attendees, to view offerings of over 1,800 exhibitors, was worth the effort.
Besides being an “ideation session” on a grand scale, the show’s success is partly due to its focus on consumer interests in natural and health. A Freedonia Group’s March 2010 report, “Food & Beverage Additives,” notes U.S. demand for food and beverage additives is forecast to expand 3.5% annually to $8.5 billion in 2014. The greatest annual growth was predicted for the category “nutraceuticals” at 6.3%.