Frequently Asked Questions
Below are Frequently Asked Questions specific to our Standards program and the Natural Products Expo Application Review Process.
For more details about Expo Exhibitor Registration, please consult the Exhibitor Resources available on our Expo sites:
Standards Background
The Standards are developed by our New Hope Network Standards Team in collaboration with a wide assortment of natural products industry experts. We constantly monitor trends and engage expert resources to evolve these Standards as technologies develop and/or new data and insights emerge. Occasionally, we seek the assistance of a select group of industry experts and consultants who will more formally collaborate with us to keep our Standards and Guidelines current within this rapidly changing environment.
No. In addition to our Ingredient Standards, we also have Exhibitor and Advertiser Standards that cover topics that include health benefit claims, nutrient content claims, and third party certification logos/claims. For more information, see our Resources.
All Natural Products Expo exhibitor and advertising* contracts include a clause requiring compliance with the New Hope Standards as a condition for exhibiting/advertising with us. See Exhibit Space Contract Additional Terms and Conditions under the Expo Exhibitor Resources pages for more details. You may also refer to Our Process which briefly describes the types of Standards reviews.
*Advertising includes print/digital ads as well as any online and event sponsored content/marketing programs.
Exhibitor Application Process
You will need to complete an application:
- If you company has never exhibited at a Natural Products Expo Event before.
- If your company is a previous exhibitor, but you have not exhibited within the last 12 months.
- If your company/brand/product was previously exhibited by a brand manager, agency, or distributor and you now want to exhibit independently.
For more information, see the Our Process page or you can start the application process here.
NOTE: Our process for returning (current) exhibitors has changed. Just as we do for new exhibitors, we now require that all returning exhibitors complete a product review prior to every event. You will need to submit a Standards form and upload your products into our new Product Portal (Pinto, powered by SPINS).
Applications can be submitted at any time and are good for up to one year (365 days) from the date of application. There is no application deadline per se but remember you cannot register as an exhibitor until you have successfully completed the application and review process. As the event date approaches, there is an increased chance of receiving slower response times from all services that assist you in exhibiting at Natural Products Expos, from the Standards team that processes your application to our vendor services for booth setup. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible before an event to avoid these types of delays or disruptions in the services we provide.
No. Your application will cover any Expo event (Natural Products Expo East, including Harvest Festival; and Natural Products Expo West, including the Fresh Ideas Organic Marketplace; your application will be active for one year from the date it was submitted. After the one year a new application will be required unless you become an active exhibitor during that year.
You will need to upload product information including packaging/labels, marketing materials, and any third-party certification documentation. If your products contain hemp cannabinoids, you will also need to provide certificates of analysis for the formula extract and the finished products.
Businesses wishing to exhibit finished products at Natural Products Expo must submit product labeling through New Hope’s product portal. This portal is powered by SPINS and its Pinto product intelligence technology. By partnering with SPINS, New Hope helps brands better present products at our physical and virtual exhibitions. New Hope has partnered with Pinto, a product database and analytics platform for CPG products to verify all uploaded product data. On the Pinto platform, you will upload product-specific information for the Standards team to review. Step-by-step instructions for this process, including a video tutorial will be sent via email during the application process.
Our New Hope Network Success team is available to answer questions and assist with uploading products to proceed timely with this application. Please review the Product Portal Partner Agreement and the Pinto Manger Terms of Use. When you give New Hope permission to view, upload, or edit within Pinto on your behalf we can work with you to make this process fast and easy. You do not have to submit these forms. At the end of the exhibitor application is a request for your consent to these terms from our product portal partner. If you do not grant access to New Hope, please be aware you will be fully responsible for uploading your products to the product portal. Delays in uploading will affect our ability to process your application in a timely manner. Please contact [email protected] for additional questions.
Paying the fee does not guarantee a booth at Natural Products Expo (NPE). Your application must be approved before you can proceed with the registration process and reserve a booth (or to be added to a waitlist).
Yes. If you are a current exhibitor, we now require that all returning exhibitors complete a review prior to every event, just as we do for new exhibitors. You will need to submit a Standards form and upload your products into our new Product Portal (Pinto, powered by SPINS). Please reach out to [email protected] to request a direct link to the Standards Form.
Please contact [email protected].
Standards Review Process
If your product information is found to be non-compliant, our Standards Team will provide you an explanation of the issue and some suggestions/resources to help guide you in resolving the issue. Your account will be placed on a Standards HOLD (see below for more information). If you are applying as a new exhibitor, you may not reserve a booth until your product information is determined to be compliant and your exhibitor application is approved.
In our efforts to bring greater transparency and integrity to Natural Products Expos we have expanded our Standards Program to do more before the show. We now require all returning exhibitors to provide product labeling for review prior to each event. The Standards Team will continue to visit each exhibit in person at every Natural Products Expo to collect and/or review product packaging, and marketing materials for compliance with the Exhibitor Standards.
If the New Hope Standards team has reviewed your product information and found any non-compliance issues, your account will be placed on a Standards HOLD (see next question). You may be required to revise the product information you intend to present at the next in-person Expo event. We may remove/revise the product information that appears in a virtual booth.
A Standards HOLD is a flag on your account that directs our Sales and Accounting teams to stop the contract and billing process until you can resolve outstanding non-compliance issues with our Standards Department.
The Standards Department sends out review messages regarding non-compliance issues as soon as possible after Expo West and Expo East in-person events. Your account with us will remain on HOLD and you will not be able to arrange for a booth move, book a future event, or add sponsorship/marketing support until any outstanding non-compliance issues have been resolved.
