BOULDER, Colo., Sep 19, 2005 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- The East Coast's largest natural and organic products trade show, Natural Products Expo East/Organic Products Expo-BioFach America, produced by New Hope Natural Media on Sept. 15-18, provided a crystal ball into what America's shopping cart will look like in 2006. With new products unveiled across 170,000 square feet of exhibit space at the Washington DC Convention Center, more than 20,000 industry attendees were the first to see the hottest trends in natural and organic food, dietary supplements, personal care and new healthy lifestyle products.

In addition to buyers from the "super" natural grocery chains, Whole Foods Markets and Wild Oats Markets, other retail giants such as Costco, Target, Kroger, Albertson's, GNC, Trader Joe's and Bath & Bodyworks, as well as independent retail buyers, were in attendance. "This is one of the best shows we've been to in 10 years," said Ray Alli, CEO of Total Health Center, which operates six stores in the D.C./Maryland area. "We are seeing a lot of new companies."

Positive changes are planned for Natural Products Expo East 2006 that will further benefit the natural products industry:

NEW LOCATION: Baltimore, Maryland, will be home to Natural Products Expo East next year, a change that reflects retail buyer preferences and that will better serve all attendee needs. The show, set for October 4-7, 2006, will switch from a Thursday-Sunday format to a Wednesday-Saturday format.

NEW ALLIANCE: The National Nutritional Foods Association East (NNFA East) and New Hope Natural Media announced a new collaboration, co-marketing and co-advocacy agreement for Natural Products Expo East 2006, which will serve to increase attendance for East Coast-based independent retailers. The combined strengths of New Hope and NNFA East, with the continued alliance with BioFach America, will make the show even more dynamic and diverse.

"This year's Expo East demonstrates the impressive momentum of our industry," said Fredrik Linder, president of New Hope. "Moving to Baltimore and expanding our co-marketing partners are positive moves to keep the show fresh and responsive."

New Hope Natural Media is a division of Penton Media Inc. (PTON), a diversified business-to-business media company that provides high-quality content and integrated marketing solutions to more than a dozen industries including natural and organic products.