Recap: Naturally Network at Expo West

Written By Ariele Jerome

The Naturally Network community had its biggest showing ever at this year’s Natural Products Expo West. From the brands and Partners on the expo floor to our high-energy Kick-Off party, a graduation showcase with our Minority-Owned Fellows, our emerging brands and partners took stages, won awards, and made the right connections. Read on for a recap of the week, see event photos, and learn how you can get involved with the fast-growing Naturally Network Community.

Expo West Kick-Off Party

Presented by SPINS in partnership with New Hope Network, Moss Adams​, Avery​, BeyondBrands​, Greenberg Glusker​, and Wellvest Capital, this year’s Expo West Kick-Off Party brought together 1,200 attendees with hundreds more on the waitlist.

On March 13th we had the privilege of hosting 1200+ of our closest friends at the Hilton Anaheim for the second year. The event featured a showcase of 28 emerging backpack brands, drinks, appetizers, music from DJ John Castillo from FoodOps, and of course our incredible community. 

"I'm so proud of the strong partnership SPINS has cultivated with Naturally Network, a collaboration rooted in our shared commitment to championing brands across the nation. We like to say that SPINS speaks the language of CPG intelligence—and the members of Naturally Network are the future of CPG,” said Michael Erwin, VP, of Communications at SPINS. “Our sponsorship of Naturally Network's Expo West party isn't just about supporting an event; it's about reaffirming our joint dedication to fostering connections, both old and new. As with all Naturally events, we eagerly anticipate the opportunity to reunite with familiar faces and forge new friendships, all while celebrating the spirit of innovation and community that defines our industry."

Our second annual Kick-Off Party experience was built around what our members need most, the time and space to network, build the right connections, and celebrate with one another.  This event showcases one of the unique aspects of the Naturally community - new CPG Founders, industry veterans, experts, service providers, retailers, investors, and distributors all in the same room connecting and re-connecting with one another. We are grateful to our partners, members, and supporters for joining us!

“Showcasing at Naturally Network’s Kick-Off Party provided important learning as a brand new backpack brand experiencing Expo West for the first timeI learned a lot about capturing people's attention and pitching our brand. It was great to get our company and products in front of this many people and connect with potential investors." - 2024 Showcasing brand

A highlight of the evening was the photo booth, check out the photos below:

Want to see all the photos? Check them out here.

"Staying connected to the community is crucial for us, and the Kick Off Party served as an opportunity for just that. These gatherings keep us in tune with the industry's pulse, and the party offered us the ability to forge new connections and enhance our brand visibility. We're very excited for our continued growth with Naturally Network" - Shannon Reddy, Industry Marketing Manager, Moss Adams

Tabletop Showcase with the Minority-Owned Fellows

The 2023-2024 Naturally Network’s Minority-Owned Fellowship program kicked off in October and brought together resources, tools, and community, facilitating access to opportunities and success. The program culminated at Expo West for a two-day tabletop graduation showcase to facilitate the cohort’s ability to connect to the industry. This two-day event was a unique opportunity for the Fellows to engage with industry experts, gain valuable insights for their products and brand, and build essential distribution and retailer connections for success.

“We were able to connect with high-value potential retailers and distributors thanks to the fellowship and saw the trends in food/bev, and connected with fellow founders.” - 2023/2024 Fellow

The tabletop showcase is a key part of the Minority-Owned Fellowship, which provides industry access and support to early-stage, highly innovative brands founded by underrepresented entrepreneurs. This year’s tabletop showcase was powered by NIQ and New Hope Network.

“The Fellowship was instrumental in helping us to strengthen our industry connections and knowledge and also to connect with other similar-sized, like-minded emerging brands.” - Fellow

In addition to meeting and networking with industry experts, Minority-Owned Fellow brands Dreamland Koffucha and Todo Verde were recognized by Food and Beverage Insider in their recap of the top 20 products uncovered at Expo West!

Emerging Brand Retail Access Program

This year, Naturally Network teamed up with Whole Foods Market to create more access to retail for innovative emerging brands at Natural Products Expo West, in partnership with NIQ and New Hope Network.

The Whole Foods Market Local and Emerging Brands team met with accepted, emerging, innovative, mission-driven brands for 15-minute, one-on-one meetings. The meetings were beneficial to both Whole Foods Market and the brands. We received a strong response to our call for applications, with a diverse pool of talented candidates. This underscores the robust health of our better-for-you-CPG community:

  • ~400 applicants

  • 85% are first-time CPG founders

  • 44% of applicants are attending Expo West as a non-exhibiting backpack brand

  • All brands receiving a meeting are building a relationship with a Whole Foods Forager for the first time

Collaborating with the Naturally Network team on the Retail Access Program at Expo West resulted in an incredible experience for the Local and Emerging Brands Team. Not only did Naturally Network help us reach a wide audience of potential suppliers, but they built an ecosystem of support through educational and community building opportunities with interested brands both before and during Expo West. Through their partnership with NielsenIQ, selected brands were offered meeting prep support, which helped us host over 65 informative and impactful meetings. - Kelly Landrieu, Global Coordinator / Director, Local and Emerging Brands, Whole Foods Market

In addition to the individual meetings, we hosted an exclusive Retail Readiness Breakfast for all who applied. This well-attended event was specifically designed for emerging better-for-you CPG founders. It provided an opportunity for founders to network and gain insights from industry leaders, as well as access valuable, category-specific data over breakfast.

“I appreciate that you invited our recently launched brand. Most smaller businesses don’t have the opportunity to meet people who understand the value of products. It was an amazing opportunity for us during Expo.” - Emerging Brand at Retail Access Breakfast

Plastic Action Meet-Up

Naturally Network joined forces with their latest partner, rePurpose Global, to host an impactful Plastic Action Meetup titled "The CPG Industry is Tackling the Plastic Crisis!" This event served as a platform for attendees to engage in discussions and initiatives aimed at addressing the pressing issue of plastic waste. What set this meetup apart was its unique offering: attendees had the chance to qualify for a scholarship to Repurpose Global's Plastic Reality Project. This initiative not only fostered dialogue but also provided tangible opportunities for individuals to make a meaningful difference in combating plastic pollution. The partnership between Naturally Network and Repurpose Global highlights a shared commitment to driving positive change and creating a more sustainable future.

“This was undoubtedly the most powerful session I attended this year. The insights shared by rePurpose Global and other panelists on tackling the global plastic waste crisis were not only eye-opening but truly inspiring. As a CPG brand, it made me reassess my role and responsibilities in combating this pressing issue. This event equipped me with actionable steps and a renewed sense of purpose. Kudos to rePurpose Global for leading the charge towards a sustainable future.”
- Plastic Action Meet-Up Attendee

Naturally Network’s First-Time Exhibitor Highlight

In true Naturally-Network spirit, we collaborated with New Hope Network to offer discounted booth space for the five brands exhibiting for the first time. Congratulations to the brands below!


Access to Market
Establishing and providing access to the market for emerging brands is one of our key pillars. New brands bring fresh ideas and diversity to the marketplace, challenging established norms and meeting evolving consumer needs. Expo West is a major touchpoint where we connect emerging brands, retailers and industry heavy-hitters to build community, increase the opportunity for success and help create meaningful impact within the CPG industry. 

“As a first-time attendee who only walked the show, it was a terrific experience. We came back with 3 national retailer meetings under our belt, new potential investors, and new Founder/peer contacts. I was able to walk the show, do research, and learn new and upcoming trends. It was really a wonderful experience for me personally and the business.” - Accepted Retail Access Brand

2024 Natural Products Expo West Pitch Slam

At the 2024 Natural Products Expo West Pitch Slam, 15 impressive founders showcased their company stories in a bid for the grand prize. Katrina Tolentino, Executive Director of Naturally Network, judged the exciting event, hearing the pitches, narrowing down the finalists, and helping to select the winner. After 15 pitches, and a final lightning Q&A round with five founders, Philosopher Foods was declared the runner-up, while Painterland Sisters clinched the victory. Additionally, Kekoa Foods won the Audience Choice Award. The grand prize includes a free booth at Natural Products Expo West 2025 and more than $30,000 in New Hope Network services.

Can’t get enough Expo? 

Check out these recaps from Partners and Supporters:

9 Trends to Watch from Expo West by SPINS

Post-Conference Insights, Innovations, and Key Takeaways from Moss Adams

What’s next?

As we wind down from Expo West, we are gearing up for Newtopia Now! Naturally Network is looking for 24 member brands to showcase at Newtopia Now as part of Naturally Network's Tabletop Pavilion! 

Brands selected to participate in Naturally Network's Tabletop Pavilion will receive a 25% off discount (originally $3,500), a furniture package, a press release, ability to place product in the Newtopia Market, and participate in the show's retail matchmaking service to maximize retail discovery. Selected brands will also receive coaching and best practice education, show prep logistics onboarding, and access to data to maximize your time at Newtopia Now.

All first OR second-time exhibitors are eligible to apply! Applications are open here​, apply no later than April 12.

Ariele Jerome
Next

Naturally Network’s 2024 Natural Products Industry Update