New Hope Natural Media Honors the Hottest Products in the Natural Products Industry at Natural Products Expo West

Each year the NPEW gets better and better. This year was a perfect example of the best of the best gathering together to support and promote healthy living, healthy planet and a health centered future. Several of my expo faves took their places on the Best of the West Press Awards podium. If you haven’t yet dipped into these brands, they are a must taste! Peak around the blog and you will find many reviews from these and other favorites of mine from this years health of plenty.

Enjoy this press release from this years Expo West.

The Best of West Press Awards, NEXT Accelerator Pitch Slam, NEXTY Editors’ Choice and Popular Vote Awards and Hall of Legends Awards Were Presented

Boulder, CO, April 15, 2015 – New Hope Natural Media honored the hottest products in the natural products industry at the 35th annual Natural Products Expo West, the world’s largest natural, organic and healthy products event, which took place March 4-8, 2015 at the Anaheim Convention Center in CA.

Adam Andersen, show director, Natural Products Expos said, “Each year thousands of natural product businesses showcase their hottest and newest natural, organic and healthy products at Expo West. These four awards programs highlight the professionals and products that are the best of the best. We congratulate them on these awards and wish them success as their businesses grow.”

Best of West Press Awards
The Best of West Press Awards are voted on by over 1000 members of the press and presented to the three most innovative products exhibiting at the event.

The Best of West Awards winners included:

Justin’s
Winner: Justin’s Mini Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups
Runner up: Noosa Yoghurt, LLC – Vanilla Yoghurt
Runner up: Brandstorm, Inc.’s Dark Chocolate Chia Seeds
NEXT Accelerator Pitch Slam Competition
Pitch Slam is a fun, fast-paced event that lets entrepreneurs pitch their natural product ideas to a panel of four leading natural products investors and branding experts as well as receive immediate feedback and expert suggestions for refining their product idea. Pitch Slam is part of New Hope Natural Media’s NEXT Accelerator, an online tool for the large population of entrepreneurial manufacturers in the natural products industry.
Loliware
Loliware was this year’s Pitch Slam winner. Inspired by a fascination for Jello-O, Chelsea Briganti and Leigh Ann Tucker founded Loliware biodegradable, edible cups. The colorful cups are made from a plant-based gelatin and come in a variety of flavors seasonally. Loliware is a delicious alternative to ‘disposable’ plastic cups. Loliware’s edible cups were recognized for sustainability and responsibility.
NEXT Accelerator Pitch Slam competition runner ups included: Yum butter – superfood peanut butter in squeeze packs; Community Seafood – traceable frozen seafood filets; and Bandar – Indian snacks like naan chips and squeezable chutney.

NEXTY Editors’ Choice Awards Winners
NEXTY nominations were given to 29 companies at Expo East 2014 that the NEXT Forecast researchers (which includes New Hope’s content team) see as the key leaders and influencers shaping the future of the natural products landscape.

At Expo West 2015 final winners were announced for both popular vote as well as the coveted Editor’s Choice NEXTYs.

The NEXTY Popular Vote winners include:
Natural, Organic and Functional Foods / Beverages: Banza
Supplements and Ingredients: New Earth Dynamics (specifically recognizing its Restore product)
Beauty and Natural Living: Buff Her House of Exfoliation
This year’s NEXTY Editors’ Choice awards winners include:
Natural, Organic and Functional Foods / Beverages: Radicle Greens
Supplements and Ingredients: Nordic Naturals (specifically recognizing its new Omega-3 Phospholipids product)
Beauty and Natural Living: #MPWR
Hall of Legends
The fourth annual Hall of Legends celebrates and honors the individuals who have made significant contributions to the natural products industry. This year’s honorees included:
Dr. Sam Rehnborg, Amway Nutrilite
Al Powers, Now Foods
Andy & Rachel Berliner, Amy’s Kitchen
Bob Moore, Bob’s Red Mill
Bob Scowcroft, Organic Farming Research Foundation
Dr. Janet Zand, Zand Herbals
Jeffrey Hollender, Seventh Generation
Rick Antonelli, Galaxy Foods & Go Veggie
Michael Mooney, SuperNutrition
Peter Roy
Margaret Isely, Vitamin Cottage
Horst Rechelbacher, Aveda & Intelligent Nutrients
Get to know each of the new inductees through slides and photos as well as interviews held at the ceremony.

Natural Products Expo East 2015 will return to the Baltimore Convention Center, September 16-19, 2015 in Baltimore, MD. Natural Products Expo West 2016 is scheduled to take place March 11-13, 2016 at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, CA.

Follow @NatProdExpo or #ExpoWest on Twitter for ongoing conversations or connect on our Facebook or LinkedIn groups to keep up on Natural Products Expo latest developments.

About New Hope Natural Media
New Hope Natural Media is the leading media resource and information provider for the natural, organic and healthy products industry, with print, in-person/event, and e-business products and services.