WASHINGTON, D.C., (August 9, 2006) — The annual convention and trade show of the Natural Products Association (formerly the National Nutritional Foods Association) held July 14-16 at the Sands Expo and Convention Center and The Venetian Resort Hotel in Las Vegas, Nev., paid tribute to the association’s longevity and announced a new direction for the future while continuing to attract sizable attendance.

Excitement about the name change and pride in the association’s history of fostering and protecting the natural products industry was evident among the 7,200-plus exhibitors, retailers, media and others, who attended the event.

“Our show this year celebrated two major milestones in the association’s history,” said David Seckman, the Natural Products Association’s executive director and CEO. “First we celebrated our 70th anniversary and took a look back at what has made our association great. And, second, we looked to our future by announcing a name change to the Natural Products Association and a renewed commitment to serve all segments of the natural products industry.”

The association was honored to host Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) as the show’s Saturday morning Keynote speaker. In front of a packed auditorium, the long-time champion of the natural products industry emphasized the need for active participation in the legislative process to maintain access to dietary supplements.

Association Adopts New Name

In conjunction with the celebration of its 70th anniversary, the association, which up until the show was called the National Nutritional Foods Association (NNFA), announced at a press conference on Saturday, July 15, that it had changed its name to the Natural Products Association. The new name, which was overwhelmingly approved by a recent vote of the association's membership, more accurately describes the organization's diverse membership base and positions the association to keep pace with the dynamic natural products marketplace. To reinforce its leadership position in representing the broad spectrum of natural products, the association has launched a comprehensive re-branding effort that will be rolled out over the next several months.

Short Becomes Natural Products Association’s First President-Elect

At Sunday’s Annual Business Meeting and Breakfast, David Taylor of Nature's Harvest Market & Deli in Tampa, Fla., announced the elections results for his successor: Debra Short, owner of House of Health in Shawnee, Okla. Short, who had served on the national board for several terms, will assume the presidency at the association’s 2007 annual trade show. At that time, Taylor will begin a one-year term as past president.

Outstanding Achievements Honored
Just before the senator’s keynote address, the association held a ceremony to honor this year’s recipients of the Burton Kallman Scientific Award, the Rachel Carson Environmental Award, and the President’s Award. They were Alfred Sommer, Ph.D., Carl Barnes, and Frank Murray, respectively.

Other award recipients at NNFA 2006 included Luc Chaltin, D.I., Hom., N.D., Robert Ivker, D.O., and David Perlmutter, M.D., who each received the Clinician Award. Winners of the Crusader Awards were Goldie Caughlan of PCC Natural Markets, Bill Knudsen of Natural Vitality, Inc., Suzanne Shelton of The Shelton Group, and Rosemarie West of The Honey Shop, Inc. For the Socially Responsible Retailer Awards, the following member stores were honored: First Alternative Natural Foods Co-op of Corvallis, Ore., The Natural Grocery of El Cerrito, Calif., and Superior Nutritionals, Inc., of St. Petersburg, Fla.

Recognizing the best booths on the show floor, the association presented awards to the following exhibitors:

·         Best Theme: Enzymatic Therapy

·         Best Multiple Booth: Renew Life

·         Best Single Booth: Harmony Cone Ear Candles

·         Best Island Booth: Wakanaga of America

·         Best Display of Product: Vege Chips No Hidden Nasties

Also announced were the winners of the 12th Annual People's Choice Awards. For Baked Goods, Tree of Life won for their Tree of Life Classic Golden Crackers. Wellements won in two categories: their Cranberry Crunch Bora Bora Organic Snack Bar took the award for Snack Foods, while their Almond Sunflower Bora Bora Organic Snack Bar won in the Energy Bar category. For Beverages, Nature's Pearl, LLC, took the award for their Muscadine Grape Juice. In the Gluten Free Baked Goods category, Kinnitoos Chocolate Sandwich Creme Cookies from Kinnikinnick Foods, Inc. won. And the final award went to Synax, NA from VitaLink in the Confections category.

In addition to these honors, awards were also given to outstanding posters from the Scientific Poster Session. First place went to M. Chan, J. Hildreth, A. McCutcheaon, and P. Brown for their research on Andean purple corn. Second place went to K. Blum, B. Meshkin, M. Martinez-Pons, J. Schoolfield, G. Kaats, E. Braverman, D. Comings, J. Foster, and D. Pullin for their poster on chromium picolinate. And third place went to M. Ichikawa, J. Yoshida, N. Ide, t. Sasaoka, H. Yamaguchi, and K. Ono on their garlic research.

New Board Members Sworn In

Also at the business meeting, election results for the national board of directors were announced. New and re-elected to the Retail Council are Andy Fox of Natur-Tyme in Syracuse, N.Y., Howard Pollack of Rainbow Acres in Los Angeles, Randy Reinartz of Wayne and Mary’s Nutrition Center in Sioux Falls, S.D., and Pat Sardell of Country Vitamins in Corvallis, Ore. Incoming Supply Council members are Gary Hume of Nutraceutical Corporation in Park City, Utah, and Michael Schwartz of Michael’s Naturopathic Program in San Antonio, Texas.

The Natural Products Association’s 2007 show will be held July 20-22, 2007 at the Sands Expo and Convention Center and The Venetian Resort Hotel. For information about exhibiting, contact the Natural Products Association at (800) 966-6632, ext. 237 or e-mail conventions@NaturalProductsAssoc.org. Look for upcoming information on next year’s show at www.NaturalProductsAssoc.org.

About The Natural Products Association

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

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