Boulder, CO—The plans are off for the Natural Products Association (NPA)’s MarketPlace Tradeshow and Conference in 2013.

Colorado-based New Hope Natural Media, which has partially owned the NPA national tradeshow since 2008, says suspending the event this year will create “new opportunities more strategically aligned with today’s market needs.” The NPA and New Hope say they will partner to develop new programs and new initiatives for NPA members.

In an official press statement, John Shaw, NPA’s executive director and CEO, stated, “While it is unfortunate the show won’t go on, we understand the business reasons behind it. NPA has always sought to connect retailers and suppliers in the marketplace. We are committed to this goal and our work with New Hope to achieve it. NPA looks forward to new developments within this relationship in 2013 and beyond.”

New Hope is a division of Penton Media, Inc., one of the largest media companies in the country; it is owned by MidOcean Partners and U.S. Equity Partners II, an investment fund sponsored by Wasserstein & Co., LP.

 

Published in WholeFoods Magazine Online, 12/17/12