Urges members to vote “yes” on change in upcoming election

WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 15, 2006) – The Board of Directors of the National Nutritional Foods Association (NNFA), Supply and Retail Councils, Past Presidents Council and all seven NNFA regions recommend that members vote “yes” in the upcoming election to change the association’s name to the Natural Products Association. Voting on the name change to Natural Products Association, which would be the fifth name for the organization since its founding in 1936, begins this month.

“We believe it is time for NNFA to fully embrace its unique differences and take advantage of the leadership opportunity to be the ‘big tent’ – bringing together and strengthening the entire natural products industry,” said David Taylor, president of NNFA. “Our new mission and vision statements, along with a potential name change, are critical tools to make this happen.”

In April, the NNFA Board of Directors recommended that the association change its name to the Natural Products Association in order to reflect the breadth of members NNFA now represents. The board, which has urged NNFA members to vote to accept the name change, based its decision on the following key factors:

Clearly reflects who the association currently represents and hopes to represent in the future.
Underscores the association’s unique position as the overarching trade association for all segments of the natural products industry.
While not changing membership criteria, allows the association to broaden its outreach to grow and strengthen the association and the industry.
Enables the association to engage and attract new members through a strategic re-branding campaign that will strengthen advocacy efforts for all those the association represents.
“The recommendation to change our name was part of a year-long task that involved input from a diverse group of retailers and suppliers,” said Taylor. “During that process, we looked at not only who we represent, but also asked ourselves what makes NNFA unique and what position we want to hold in the marketplace, our business community, and society. NNFA truly is unique in that we embrace all segments of the natural products industry. It’s time our name reflects this fact.”

Results of the name change vote, as well as elections to the board of directors, will be announced during the association’s annual convention and trade show, July 14 – 16, in Las Vegas, Nev. Should the name change be accepted, the association will engage in a comprehensive re-branding campaign that will emphasize its leadership and representation of all components of the natural products marketplace.

For more information on the name change, visit NNFA’s Web site at www.nnfa.org/natural.

The National Nutritional Foods Association (www.nnfa.org) is the nation’s largest and oldest non-profit organization dedicated to the natural products industry.  NNFA represents more than 9,600 retailers, manufacturers, and distributors of natural products, including foods, dietary supplements, and health/beauty aids.

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