Back for its 45th iteration, the New Hope Network’s Natural Products Expo West gathered the natural products industry for another year of connection and community. This mammoth event brought together 80,000+ founders, retailers, investors, and community groups shaping the future of natural, organic, and purpose-driven consumer products.

For Naturally Network, Expo West is also one of the most powerful moments of the year for our national community to gather in person. This year, we wanted to let our community do the talking – we focused on amplifying gatherings already happening across our network, supporting chapter-led activations and partner events that brought our community together across the week.

As our Executive Director, Katrina Tolentino, reflected after the show:

“[These] photos from Expo West can’t capture the sheer velocity of what’s happening within the Naturally Network ecosystem right now. Seeing our chapters collaborate to create intimate community moments amidst the chaos of a giant show offered reprieve and meaningful conversations for our members and partners. I’m incredibly proud of the Naturally staff across the country.”

Photo by Jake Ahles, Morel Creative

We were thrilled to be part of a week full of conversations, collaborations, and connections across founders, operators, retailers, and partners from across the country.

Launching the Inaugural CPG Innovation Summit

This year marked the debut of the CPG Innovation Summit, a new gathering introduced by New Hope Network, held the day before show floors opened, to explore the future of innovation in natural and organic CPG.

Naturally Network partnered with New Hope Network to help bring the summit to life, leading a featured panel and co-hosting the CPG Innovation Summit Luncheon—an interactive networking event designed to foster deeper conversations among founders and industry leaders away from the trade show floor.

The luncheon featured rotating table discussions where attendees engaged directly with experts across the ecosystem, discussing topics ranging from product innovation to scaling mission-driven brands.

Participating partners included: Be The Change HR, Beyond Brands, Cambium Analytica, Kate LaBrosse Consulting, KeHE, McCormick Flavor, NIQ, Orchid Holistic Search, Social Nature, SPINS, UNFI, and Whole Brain Consulting.

Later in the afternoon, Katrina Tolentino joined industry leaders for the panel: “Innovators at the Helm: How Natural & Organic CPG Leaders Are Shaping the Future.”

Alongside Jennifer Brush, Product Innovation & Brand at Yerba Madre and Abigail Coleman, Co-Founder + Chief Operating Officer at Blue Zones Kitchen, the conversation explored how founders are navigating growth, acquisitions, and evolving consumer expectations while staying grounded in mission-driven business.

One idea resonated throughout the discussion: building purpose-driven companies requires audacity... The audacity to prove that moving intentionally for purpose is the ultimate long-term strategy.

Preparing Brands for Retail Success

To help brands make the most of Expo West, Naturally Network hosted the Retail Success Series, thanks to the generous partnership with NIQ. The program included three virtual pre-show sessions designed to help founders prepare for buyer meetings, understand retail expectations, and approach the show floor with a clearer strategy.

Participating speakers included:

Jenna Fitch - Sr. Director of Community & Conference Content at New Hope Network
Kelly Landrieu - Global Coordinator / Director of Local & Emerging Brands at Whole Foods Market
Patrick Dougherty - Sr. Director, Medium & Emerging Brands at NIQ
Colleen McGinnis - Sr. Director, Fresh Emerging Acquisition & Partnerships at NIQ
Brittiany East - Director of Grocery, Dairy, Frozen at The Fresh Market
Gage Mitchell - Founder & Creative Director of Modern Species
Asa McKee - Founder of Off-Piste Collaborative & a judge in the 2026 NEXTY Awards
Kathleen Casanova - Founding Executive Director of Project Potluck
Kate LaBrosse - Naturally Network Board Chair President & Founder of Kate LaBrosse Consulting
Hannah Robbins - Member of The Angel Group
Ben Bacon - Founder of Lentiful

The series culminated in an in-person breakfast gathering at Expo West, where founders connected with experts and peers before heading onto the show floor.

Ten brands were selected for additional mentorship, including one-on-one sessions with NIQ experts and small-group feedback with Whole Foods Market foragers.

Several participating brands were also highlighted and interviewed by Gage Mitchell of Brands for a Better World, helping amplify the stories of founders building purpose-driven companies. (More on this soon!)

Coffee & Community Across the Expo

Some of the most valuable connections during Expo West happen before the show floor even opens.
Naturally Network helped bring visibility to morning Coffee Mingles hosted by Moss Adams, where founders and industry professionals gathered for coffee, light breakfast bites, and informal conversation before the start of the day.
The gatherings created a relaxed environment for brands, service providers, and ecosystem partners to connect ahead of the busy Expo schedule.
These informal moments often led to some of the most meaningful conversations of the week.

Aligning the Network: Naturally Leadership Summit

Expo West also served as the setting for the Naturally Leadership Summit, a closed gathering bringing board members, chapter staff, and national leadership together for the first time.

More than 100 chapter leaders and partners came together to explore Naturally Network’s evolving strategy and help shape the organization’s future direction. Despite packed Expo schedules and calendars “triple-stacked” with meetings, the focus in the room was clear: strengthening the network so that chapters can collaborate more deeply and support founders together.

As Katrina reflected:

“The energy in the room was focused on one thing—building an interdependent system where no chapter stands alone. We aren’t just navigating the future of CPG; we’re helping shape it.”

The summit marked an important milestone for the organization as it continues building a stronger national infrastructure for conscious CPG entrepreneurs.

Chapter Events: Where the Network Came Together

One of the most energizing aspects of Expo West this year was seeing Naturally chapters lead gatherings that brought their communities together. These events showcased the strength of Naturally’s regional networks and created opportunities for founders and industry professionals from across the country to connect beyond their local ecosystems.

East Meets Expo West

Hosted by Naturally New York and Naturally New England, East Meets Expo West kicked off the week with a vibrant terrace gathering ahead of the show floor opening.

Ali Elliott, Community Manager of Naturally New England, shared:

“East Meets Expo West had an incredible turnout and the energy on the terrace was fantastic. The space created a perfect environment for founders, operators, investors, and partners to connect, reconnect, and kick off Expo West together. There was constant networking and engagement throughout the evening — exactly what the Naturally community is all about.”

Midwest & Mountain Mingle

Later in the week, chapters from Naturally Colorado, Minnesota, Chicago, and Wisconsin hosted the Midwest & Mountain Mingle, bringing together founders and professionals from across several regions.

Jim Slama, Executive Director of Naturally Chicago, reflected:

“It was incredible to co-host 500 plus people on a gorgeous afternoon at EXPO West. Our Naturally Chicago community was excited to connect with each other, plus leaders from other chapters in the network.”

Taylor DeWitt, Community Engagement Manager at Naturally Colorado, added:

“The Midwest and Mountain Mingle was a fantastic event that brought together Naturally members and CPG founders from Wisconsin, Minnesota, Chicago, and Colorado. The energy on the Katella Terrace was palpable and it was incredible to see so many professionals from across the midwest and mountain region networking, connecting, sharing resources, and building relationships. This industry has no borders and it was evident how valuable it is to connect with professionals in other regions of the country.”

Additional Chapter Gatherings

Other chapters also created opportunities for connection throughout the week, including the Texas Sip & Snack hosted by Naturally Austin and the Naturally Seattle Coffee Break on the Expo show floor. Together, these gatherings highlighted the power of a national network built from strong local communities.

The Power of Community

Across Expo West week, one theme kept emerging: community is the engine behind this industry.

From conversations with founders and partners to celebrations of new product launches and ecosystem gatherings across the show, the energy came from people choosing connection—even during one of the busiest weeks in CPG.

As Katrina reflected at the end of the week:

“[Physical] energy may be low after Expo, but my spirits are at an all-time high. We are building one of the most trusted, human-centered organizations in CPG. To every founder, partner, and board member who showed up: thank you for being the bold humans building a better industry.”

Naturally Network at Expo West 2026