Natural & Organic Products Europe (ExCel, London) will return on 3-4 April 2022, organiser Diversified Communications announced today.
The “extremely tough decision” not to stage the 2021 edition, originally scheduled for April of this year, means that the UK natural products industry will go a full two years without its national showcase event.
Natural Products News reported the announcement on its website today, after the show’s event director Carol Dunning had written to exhibitors and visitors to explain the decision.
Dunning told NPN that industry feedback, including discussions with a number of key exhibitors and trade groups, had signalled clearly that “the only responsible course of action for everyone involved is to sadly postpone Natural & Organic Products Europe until 2022”.
“…the only responsible course of action for everyone involved is to sadly postpone Natural & Organic Products Europe until 2022”
Carol Dunning
She added: “The overwhelming majority – 98% – of exhibitors completing the survey impressed how important Natural & Organic Products Europe is to the industry it serves, but it was felt by many it would be premature to run the show this year to ensure visitor confidence as well as health and safety of everyone. It was also felt our industry needs to focus on recovery and time needs to be allowed for all businesses/retailers to get back on their feet. It was equally felt that the show needs to get back into its annual April cycle, with many expressing the feeling that an autumn event would disrupt that.
“We certainly did not think we would find ourselves in this position again in 2021 but your input and support in arriving at this decision … has been invaluable and we thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts with us.”
Diversified says it will build on NPE’s industry engagement programme – which currently includes Weekly Top 10 product emails, the Supplier Connect directory and Natural Products Meets initiative – and develop additional ways to help connect the industry.
