Expo West had another extraordinary year. It seems to be bigger each year and more difficult to walk the entire show!
It is now the world's largest natural, organic and healthy products event with over 3,000 exhibitors and 77,000 visitors. Of the exhibitors, 600 were first-timers. As a consequence, the level of innovation is always impressive. As many European say, the US sector is a couple of years ahead of northern Europe and, hence future trends are visible.
The show opened with two smaller halls in the Hilton Hotel (across from the Convention Center, where the main exhibition is held). Many smaller companies exhibited with lots of innovation displayed.
With roughly 800 exhibitors, the dietary supplement and functional food halls of Expo West seem to be growing each year (packaged goods and ingredients). It has become roughly 25% of the show.
The show is bigger than its German equivalent, Biofach. In 2016, Biofach had just under 2,600 exhibitors and 48,000 visitors.