When I was in California recently to attend Expo West, I made a stop at Erewhon Natural Foods Market in Los Angeles. I first discovered Erewhon last year and it is the most amazing organic market.
As I explain in this video, a few things make it stand apart from the rest — the elixir bar and the massive selection of raw food products.
If you are ever in Los Angeles, make sure you stop by Erewhon. This organic market is truly one of a kind.
One of my favorite things to do each year at Natural Products Expo West is to pick out the best trade show booths. While the majority of people’s time and attention is focused on showcasing new products, it cannot be overlooked that a good number of brands invest a tremendous amount of energy and resources into building their trade show booths.
As such, I like to recognize those companies that go the extra mile and present something special.
What I look for most are originality, interactive experiences, and impact. Two of this year’s winners brought a very educational and scientific approach to their booths, and the other one took home the prize for sheer dedication to a cause.
Here are my Best Trade Show Booths at Expo West 2019.
GENERAL MILLS
On the first day of the show when I was interviewing Carla Vernon, President of the Natural and Organic Operating Unit for General Mills, she said, “Make sure you see our booth. I think you’re going to like it.”
Given that General Mills won my award for Best Trade Show Booth of Expo West 2018, Carla knew that I was on the lookout for creative and unique presentations.
(Co-Founders Jarrett McGovern and Grant Gyesky accepting their award at BevNET Live. Photo courtesy of Nathan Brescia/BevNET)
In all honesty, I am not a huge coffee drinker. So, when it comes to the up-and-coming trends in the coffee world, I am definitely not ahead of the curve.
Yet, when I was at BevNET Live recently and watched RISE Brewing Co. win the 13th Annual Beverage Showdown, it was clear that I was missing something. And I knew that I had to take a closer look.
After I did, I thought to myself that this could very well be the next big organic beverage success story to come out of New York City.
Everyone knows that Whole Foods is the absolute king of the organic food industry. While it does receive a good amount of criticism and is by no means perfect, I am a fan of the company.
And it is not just me who appreciates Whole Foods. When you go to Natural Products Expo West or Natural Products Expo East, the two most important trade shows in the organic industry, one of the first things that small organic food companies tell you is how many Whole Foods’ stores they are in.
Quite simply, it is a benchmark of their progress and establishes immediate credibility.
Yet, one aspect of Whole Foods that gets completely overlooked is the fantastic work it does with its Whole Planet Foundation.
One of my favorite things that to do after Natural Products Expo East and Natural Products Expo West is to give awards for the best trade show booths.
Some companies put a tremendous amount of time and effort into their booths, and this is something that I believe should be acknowledged.
Here were my three favorite trade show booths from Natural Products Expo East 2014.
THE HONEST COMPANY
It didn’t take long for me to come to the conclusion that The Honest Company’s trade show booth was the most impressive one that I have ever seen. Yes, ever.
Even though the company has serious resources at its disposal – it raised $70 million from investors last month – the reality is that money doesn’t guarantee good taste or good design.
Yet several days after returning back to NYC and just as I was about to write a post about this organic milk, I received an email from The Cornucopia Institute, a watchdog for the organic industry.
The Cornucopia Institute has condemned the USDA for allowing products containing unapproved synthetic additives (DHA Omega-3, as one of them) to be labeled “organic” for an indefinite grace period.
Furthermore, The Cornucopia Institute has filed legal complaints against infant formula manufacturers and Dean Foods, manufacturer of Horizon dairy products, for adding unapproved additives: Martek Biosciences Corporation’s omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids (DHA/ARA), derived chemically from fermented algae and fungus, to foods with the organic label.
While the main attraction of Natural Products Expo West and Natural Products Expo East are the newest and best products, one aspect of the show that goes overlooked are the trade show booths themselves.
Some companies put a tremendous amount of time, money, and thought into their booths, and I like to acknowledge those organizations who place real importance on making theirs stand out. To me, it speaks volumes.
When selecting my best trade show booth winners, I look for four main qualities: creativity, design, originality, and execution.
There were a lot of very good trade show booths from Natural Products Expo West 2016, but these two stood out from the rest.
BITSY’S BRAINFOOD
I might as well re-name this award the Bitsy’s Brainfood Trade Show Booth Award since they have won so many times already.
