Healthy Products Are Brisk Business at Record-Setting Natural Products Expo East 2006

Business Wire, Oct 9, 2006

Trade Show Enjoys 22% Increase in Buyer Category

BALTIMORE -- Natural Products Expo East 2006, held October 4-7 at the Baltimore Convention Center, was a testament to the surging popularity of the natural and organic healthy products industry with record attendance and exhibition growth. Produced by New Hope Natural Media, a division of Penton Media, Natural Products Expo East provided an insider's view of the products consumers will be purchasing in 2007 and beyond.

With more than 1,700 exhibits, over 23,000 industry attendees were the first to see the latest trends in natural and organic food, dietary supplements, personal care and new healthy lifestyle categories. This year's show celebrated the independent retailer with programs designed specifically to fit their unique needs.

"It was a buying-conducive show. Having all the new products at Natural Products Expo East made it easy to expand my product offerings," said independent retailer Adrienne Mastrobattista of The Organic Warehouse.

After more than 20 years as the East Coast's largest natural and organic products trade show, Natural Product Expo East remains an incubator of new products, providing a glimpse at the consumer trends of tomorrow. Winners of the 4th annual New Products Showcase Awards were: Kingslake & Crane Premium Blend Orchard Mix (Food), Kee-ka, Inc's Wearable Garments (Packaging), Pangea Organics Japanese Matcha Tea with Acia & Goji Berry (Personal Care), Nutiva Hempshake Amazon Acai (Supplement/Herbs), Don't Bug Me Patch (Innovation) and Maggie's Organics Baby Bodysuit Set (Green/Environmentally-friendly).

"Natural Products Expo East was really the catalyst for the national roll-out of our product, and the response has just been amazing," said Jessica Rolph, co-founder of Happy Baby. "We've had the chance to connect with buyers and brokers and talk face-to-face with so many individual stores."

"The record-breaking success of this show illustrates the continuing interest in natural, organic and healthy products," said Alan Peterson, Senior Vice President of New Hope Natural Media's Trade Show Group "We're pleased to provide an east coast venue for the industry to gather as a community."

New Hope Natural Media is a division of Penton Media Inc. (OTCBB: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.