Natural Products Expo West 2014 : Part 3 (Finale)

For the days of the trade show, I busied myself with sampling (lord was there a LOT of eating) and collecting samples and collecting brochures, and talking and networking and soaking up the buzz, vitality and excitement of an ever growing industry.


Don't believe me? See pictures below (disclaimer: image heavy!!! And... This is a miniscule representation of the show):

Big Tree Farms

Me and the Amazing Grass Team.

Delicious stoneground nut butters

Eden Farms.

Pick n Mix

So Delicious - one of the most beautiful booths there imo. It was a 2-storey cafe.

I wasn't kidding!

Some ginseng tea... They were collecting feedback as it was a new product soon-to-be-launched. I think it needs more tweaking.

A hipster-looking booth. I loved this! Seven Sundays - all natural gourmet muesli

There were also multiple packaging solutions. This was rice paper packets. I thought they were beautiful.... But CO2 concerns?

Needless to say, I got lost a couple of times.... And gave up on my conferences as I really didn't have enough time.

There were MANY MANY amazing booths and products. But one of the BEST booths, in my opinion, was the "What The Starbucks?"/"Monsanto Latte" petition - encouraging Starbucks to stop using GMO milk in their coffees. It was a really cool initiative by GMOInside and they were giving out free t-shirts and stickers.

I got M & myself a tee each. And thank god too! They ran out in 1 hour!

Awesome stickers.

Awesome tee.

The tee created havoc whereever I went. Everyone wanted to read it. Everyone wanted one. Everyone signed the petition. And why wouldn't they? After all... This is what is hanging in Starbucks in USA:

Maybe it's time to galvanise them (e.g. Starbucks and other food chains) into action.

A perusal at the NEXT Engredea products revealed some pretty innovative products:

1) Chapul - The original cricket (yes, the bug) energy bars

L hated it and had to wash out the crunchiness of the bugs from her mouth soon after sampling a small cube... I got away lucky. Mine wasn't crunchy. Anyway, the value of cricket bars is that it is high in iron, protein and is sustainable.... Regardless, I'm not too sold on the flavour although the concept is interesting and bug-eating isn't so foreign to Asian me. We do eat bugs in Asia. In fact, dried cockroaches are a traditional chinese medicine remedy!

2) Algae Powder/Milk by Solazyme

It's so new and so revolutionary, I strongly suggest reading about it yourself:

• http://www.algaeindustrymagazine.com/solazyme-introduces-algae-milk/
• http://seekingalpha.com/article/2081023-why-solazyme-believes-algae-milk-is-the-next-big-thing
• http://www.shape.com/blogs/weight-loss-coach/will-algae-milk-be-next-big-dairy-alternative

3) 100th Monkey Mushrooms - Gourmet and Medicinal Mushroom Growing Kit

A shroom-lover's fantasy. Growing your own maitake, shiitake, oyster mushooms and reishi all in the comfort of your home and in a lovely, compact box! Go figure. This was pretty cool in my opinion. 

4) Conscious Food UK's Palmyra Jaggery

I suggest to click the link above to check out this wonderful sugar alternative. Conscious Food explains it best. But we're proud to say that we, at Anything But Salads, are using this all-natural Ayurvedic medicinal sweetener in the production of our CACAO 'raw' chocolate bars. I love what Conscious Food stands for and think this is a brilliant product. Finally, calcium + magnesium in a raw chocolate bar. Say "BYE" to magnesium depletion.

5) REVITIN - Oral therapeutic toothpaste. 

Revitin Oral Therapy Toothpaste with NuBath Bioactives is the gentle way to deeply clean, enhance and brighten your smile. Revitin contains a natural blend of key antioxidants, vitamins and minerals that stimulates your teeth and gums. This formula promotes fresh breath, helps heal tired and damaged gums, removes stains and reduces harmful plaque in minutes. Available as a 3.5 ounce dispenser.

(Small shout-out: Gerry, if you're reading this, L and I miss you! Definitely swinging by to NYC in Summer!)

There were tonnes of other cool products, but these were my top 5. Please feel free to share if you were there and think I've missed out a few others!

Anyway, if you're wondering about how my sample collection went... It went like so:

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Yep, I went home with 20kg worth of samples & brochures.

My ABS team, M and Gaia (the dog) had a ball of a time going through the samples. I thought we were going to be set for at least a month. How wrong I was. This barely lasted 2 weeks!

At the end of my time at Natural Products Expo West 2014, these are my few take away points:-

1. It is a GREAT trade show to visit. You will experience lots, learn lots, taste lots (take my word on that. My belly if happy) and experience lots. If you want to meet the founders of your favourite brands, this is the place to do it.
2. The natural products and health foods industry is an exciting place to be in as a health foodpreneur myself. The energy and stories are so inspiring! 
3. I'll only exhibit there if I have enough money to spare - my experience is that booths that are small and not well decorated get the least traffic. If you're going to pay that much for a booth, you might as well attempt to monetize it by collecting contacts. And visibility amid the thousands of booths is CRUCIAL.
4. Have a plan before day 1 of the expo. You'll thank yourself for doing it in advance. Do NOT attend unprepared. You will be overwhelmed.
5. Be prepared with an empty suitcase. You will leave with a luggage-worth's samples and brochures.
6. Be open. Do not expect anything. Just enjoy.

Will I visit it again next year? 

HELL YEAH!

I'd want to see what's new, what's trending, catch up with friends and to EAT. Haha! I'm never one to turn down free food. #shameless!

And so ends my picto-diary of my time at Natural Products Expo West 2014 and also, my first international trade show.

It was amazing. I learnt so much, met so many inspiring and beautiful people. I'm so glad I got to experience it.

I highly recommend it.

P.S. If you're wanting to sign up to exhibit at Expo West 2015, applications are open: click HERE.

Were you at Expo West 2014 too? Or did you attend previous years'? What was your experience like? I'd love to hear from you. =)

Natural Products Expo West 2014 : Part 2

The arrival of my soul sister, L.

It's hard to describe how amazing the universe can be or how beautiful the world of connections really is. What started as a cheeky Facebook conversation led to us agreeing to meet during Expo West and after some hotel cancellations and rebookings, L and I ended up rooming together for half of my trip.

For those of you who know me, you'll know that I lead a pretty solitary life and that I tend to keep company with males (not intentionally) by virtue of the fact that I am quite masculine in thinking and am the atypical girl.

After a quick meet and greet along the corridor with her luggage, we ended up pouring into the motel room and seconds later, feasting on raw snacks and raw chocolates.

I wasn't kidding!

Coffee and some sunshine later, we both knew we're gonna get along superbly.

Click.

Fast forward 2 days and now we're standing in the throng of happy, excited health foodies.

Couldn't miss it even if you tried. Couldn't forget where you're at either.

Everyone's grabbing a free ThinkThin bar from their bright pink tents as well as the 1st of many extra-large shopping bags.

Eye-catching. This ended being L and my meeting point. Hahah!

Oh and yes, that is my Instagram. Feel free to follow me (@anythingbutsalads) for the latest updates on Anything But Salads and the adventures in our kitchen.

Salted Caramel & Peanut Butter Lean Protein Bar from ThinkThin - a.k.a my breakfast for the days of the Expo

Me & the ThinkThin Bar - it was delicious and filling (high protein bar!) but not altogether THAT healthy.... Unfortunately

Technically, it isn't quite 'shopping' since nothing is paid for except that one entry ticket (approx. US$60 for me, as a retailer - cheaper if you were an early bird). No one is allowed to sell products. Give-aways though, are the norm.

A health and natural product freebie market? I remember thinking the universe is kind and the world is f*ing perfect.

Ok, maybe I exaggerate. But I was truly astounded by the magnitude of this trade show (FYI, my very first international trade show too). There were more brands that I could count - and a perusal of the expo brochure revealed tiny ant-like letters listing the numerous brand names.

If there was one thing I learnt, getting the best out of this expo involved strategic planning. Ideally, it'll be good to have some companions or partners - we can split up: one attends talks, some visit different sections etc etc. You want

Breadth and Depth.

Example of a conference. NOTE: Special entry fee is required to attend these.

Seeing as this was my virgin experience, I was unprepared upon arriving at Anaheim. I knew there was nothing I could do to change that, but there was something I could do to change the future. I scanned the online exhibitors' list and opted for depth. I noted brands I was interested in, checked out their website and wrote down their booth number. I went on the Expo West website, looked at the available activities, downloaded the mobile app and opted to attend the Organic Farming Research Foundation Luncheon. It was advertised as a luncheon of industry pioneers and newcomers. Since I didn't know the industry or the market in USA, I figured it'd be as good a place to start as any.

Food, glorious food. Credits to Dennis Weaver.

I wasn't wrong. I met a lovely couple - Mr & Mrs V - who were extremely gracious in their welcome and their warmth made me feel like family almost instantly. Such warmth is rarely present in Asia.

In my opinion, Mr and Mrs V are the best people I've had the pleasure of meeting on this trip.

As we got to the buffet spread (all organic of course), I had the great pleasure of meeting Dennis Weaver - an online blogger. He took a picture of me and got chatting about where I was from, what I did and why I do what I do. He was such a lovely man. For the blogpost, click here. =)

After lunch, Mr V took me around the trade show grounds - introducing me to some really cool entrepreneurs - people I never thought I'd have the honour of meeting. In a short 30mins, I met Brad and his team from Brad's Kale Chips, the exciting and enthusiastic team of Essential Living Foods, Teatulia and so on and so forth. I even met a man who called himself the Medicine Man! Fancy that! I loved it. Such colourful personalities all under one tent.

Said tent. The tip of a HUGE iceberg. This was NOTHING.

The night took an even more interesting turn - cocktail parties and meeting the leaders of USA's natural product industry. I learnt LOTS. I remember standing in the room, suddenly aware of the legacy of greatness I had the privilege of experiencing (albeit from a 3rd party's perspective), speaking to and learning from my seniors and successful businesses. Post-cocktail party, I remember arriving at my motel at 2am, knees shaking, hands shaking, the adrenaline pouring out of my system, catching my breath. I couldn't believe who I had met and how much I learnt - all in ONE day! I remember giving thanks - to Mr & Mrs V, to Spirit, to my history (for making me the person I am today) and to all who have touched my life in one way or another. I remember calling M (who was stuck in China at the time) and telling him all about it. I remember shaking. I remember stuttering. But somehow, through my chattering teeth, he got what happened and all he said was,


"Go for it babe. Be yourself and rock it!"


And so I did.

Natural Products ExpoWest 2014 (Part 1)

It's Monday, 10 March 2014, 11:29am Pacific.

I'm sitting in Starbucks in the Marriott Hotel, chewing on some Raw Coconut Granola from The Squeeze, popping some organic chlorella tablets, right next to Spilaurina - my old new friend and new soul sister.

As most of you already know, I have been in Anaheim, USA since 28 February 2014 working. ExpoWest 2014 is my first foray into the large, noisy, exciting world of international natural products. 11 days have passed since, and the one word that comes to mind is:

WOW.

Since I'm writing this article in retrospect, I shall have to break this is a few parts - you'd want all the juicy details anyway, and I'd want to share with you all I have experienced and learnt. Communication is a 2-way street - and sharing is caring. Isn't that what they always say? =)

Although I had my plane tickets booked in advance, I hadn't sorted out my accommodation until 3 days before departing. A short scramble onto Booking.com and I find myself acquainted with Motel 6 Anaheim Maingate.

Being a fuss-free, the-world-is-my-home kinda traveller, my expectation for accommodations are really low (a bed and a roof, really does suffice). So stepping into Motel 6 Anaheim Maingate was a very very good surprise. I know all of you must think "UGH" when you hear the word "motel", but I must insist that the entire establishment was clean, well decorated and extremely comfortable.

Not too shabby!

Unpacking ensued and if you must know what my bag was filled with, it was food. 

Yep. Why wouldn't I bring some of my own products? They're amazing superfoods!

As mentioned in my previous post, starting-up isn't a glamorous thing. Very few of us, in the initial start-up phase will live well, comfortable or exorbitantly. On the contrary, we're extremely watchful of cashflow - so every penny/cent we can save, we will save. And you know what? We don't care - if anything, I relish in the opportunity to live simply - because every experience, even food, becomes that much more precious. You become grateful for the little things in life.

I spent the first few days in Anaheim getting acquainted with the neighbourhood and working through the ExpoWest exhibitor list, engaging and familiarizing myself with the exhibitors, and mapping out a strategy for who I would like to meet, what I would like to see, and what I would like to know. 

The first thing that blew my mind was the number of exhibitors at the expo. The list is MASSIVE and the variety is astounding. 

The second thing that struck me was the simplicity of getting work done here in USA. It was so easy to pick up the phone, call interested parties and get information. Information and support are so readily accessible here that I remember sitting in my chair, staring at my phone and wondering how I could export such simplicity and support back to Hong Kong.

The third thing that struck me as I was making my way to a national supermarket chain, on Day 1 in Anaheim, to hunt for some food (no, I had no money to bus to Wholefoods in Huntington) was the number of fast food chains there were in a place that was right opposite Disneyland. It shocked me and saddened me all at the same time - fast food and non-foods were the options for the children and the parents. It makes me wonder why no effort was put into increasing the accessibility of natural, wholesome, healthy foods to the children who visit Disneyland. What kind of values and habits are we, those in the food industry, instilling in the youths of tomorrow? 

Go Mickey.

Coming from a background in psychology, and applying a behavioural conditioning perspective, this worries me. Consider this: 

Children and their families are basking in positivity visiting or just coming from their visit to Disneyland. They see Mickey mouse and Disney characters all outside. They walk to the main street and are hungry but happy. They walk into a fast food chain (because that's all that is available) and then they eat together in shared joy and happiness. There is laughter. Fond memories are created in the children and they remember happily their visit to Disneyland. This could potentially become a subconscious program where they associate happiness with fast food, or a happy outing with fast food. I'm not saying it definitely will be so, but chances are possible. These children grow up continuing to eat fast food because it makes them happy (fond memories)  and also because fast food (as we all know) is addictive. The cycle continues. It gets harder to break out of. This continues into adulthood. 

Where is the time for change?

Perhaps some might be lucky to meet a mentor or get introduced to a person who educates them about the disbenefits of eating non-foods. It might be education in school. It might be a sudden desire to break the cycle because they begin to realise how weak they have become or how their wellness has been compromised. In the worst case scenario, it takes a meeting with eating disorders and little guidance to set them back on the right path. In my career as a psychologist, I have seen a myriad of outcomes and heard countless stories of pain. And it reminds me, that sometimes, all people need are just options. A way out. Sometimes, inspite of greater intentions, they don't know where to look, who to go to for advice and how to do better, because there just simply isn't any guidance.

So again, I find myself filing a mental note to myself that this was something I hope to avoid in Asia. It's an opportunity to make a difference and no matter how hard the struggle, I would love to do it and believe that many others share the similar desire. We just need to pull together.

I finally get into said nation-wide supermarket chain store and am blown away by the scale of the superstore. It has everything - from clothes, sports equipment, furniture to food. What blew me away next, is how unfortunate that the fresh produce section was a meager 1/5 of the produce section and possible 1/50 of the whole store.

Entering said superstore

The fresh produce section. Yep, this was all there was. Let's not even talk about organic. 

Thinking that there might be salvation in the form of raw nuts somewhere, I decided to continue exploring. 

It didn't get better.

Aisles and aisles of severely processed foods crammed with additives.

Sugary sauces

More sugar; just bigger bottles.

More & more sugar!

And... Vegetable oils. *sighs* Premature death would ensue if I consumed all these products.

The landscape of the average consumer's food options. Yep! It's not very promising is it?

That galvanised me into action. I didn't want to take action too late in Hong Kong. I didn't want this to be our landscape in Asia. I just didn't want people to be deprived of knowledge and options. I know that my strengths are my legal, psychological and business background. However, the only 'weakness' I have as a health foods entrepreneur is that I do not have an officially certified nutritional background. A training in psychology has taught me how to hunt, read and analyse scientific data, and a training in law has taught me the value in chasing references and resources and plowing the mine field of data efficiently.

Now, all I need is an official education in nutrition. So I began taking an online course:

Screenshot of one of my classes.

Although I finished it, I can't say I did well on it. In many cases, I disagreed with the material taught - that animal fats are bad for you, food additives as we see them on labels is acceptable as they are not harmful to health, and that calories are a good indicator of the nutrient density of the foods. 

Well, now I have a nutritional education. 

Yaay me.

But I sucked at it as it varied distinctively from all scientific data research I have read. Did it help? Sure, I can speak the lingua franca of nutritionists, but will I apply it to my lifestyle and advice to people? 

Probably not. 

There were some interesting tidbits, but I'll stick with the scientific data I've read and peoples' experiences about foods, diets, lifestyles and what my body tells me.

I believe Mother Nature knows what she's doing, and since we are her children, anything chemically formulated and unnatural cannot be part of our genetic code.That's my belief. Please feel free to disagree.

As I near the end of my solitude in Anaheim, and as we approach the beginning of ExpoWest, I find myself asking myself, what my purpose was for ABS. What does ABS want to achieve? What can ABS do? We've already set the wheels in motion for societal change. But now, I want  to do more and I believe WE can do more.

As I ready myself to tackle the string of emails I see sitting in my inbox, I shall leave you with this thought:

"Your present circumstances don't determine where you can go; they merely determine where you can start." 

- Nido Qubein