*Article updated May 22, 9:43 am ET, with dates and location for the 2026 SOHO Healthfest.
Last month, SENPA held its 6th annual SOHO Healthfest event from April 11-13. Sponsored by Arthur Andrew Medical, Bluebonnet Nutrition, Enzymedica, NeoCell, and Terry Naturally, the show assembled independent natural products retailers, guests, and members of the natural products industry for three days to network and engage in stimulating education sessions and learn about the latest product offerings.
“Independent retailers are the small but mighty foundation holding up the entire natural products industry,” shared Dan Curtin, Executive Vice President of Arthur Andrew Medical. "They’re the ones talking to real people, understanding their health challenges, and offering solutions that genuinely help. That kind of frontline connection is irreplaceable, and that’s why SENPA shows like SOHO Healthfest and SOHO Expo are invaluable. They bring together the true heart of our industry. As a manufacturer, the return we see from these events far exceeds that of the massive expos."
This year's conference featured a State of Industry networking event moderated by Ryan Sensenbrenner, SENPA Co-Chair of Emerging Leaders in Natural Council. Leadership from Alliance for Natural Health—Robert Verkerk and Jonathon Emord and Alan Lewis, Government Affairs at Natural Grocers, joined Sensenbrenner to discuss updates within the industry and engage with guests in open forum discussion regarding constant economic uncertainty, unpredictable consumer behavior, and competitive landscape challenges faced by independent retailers.
“We are thrilled with the incredible success of this year’s Healthfest show” said Jeff Shackelford President of SENPA and Vice President of Purchasing, The Healthy Edge Group. “The energy, innovation, and collaboration on display were truly inspiring, and we’re proud to have brought together such a dynamic community of professionals, exhibitors, and thought leaders. The positive feedback and high level of engagement underscore the vital role Healthfest plays in advancing our industry and promoting wellness initiatives nationwide.”
SOHO events have earned a well respected reputation among peers for a commitment to independents and the industry. Proceeds are reinvested into the industry, and the strong focus on educating independent retailers and their staff makes these events a draw.
“We have found attending the SOHO Healthfest show to be paramount to our success, allowing us to grow 25% year over year for the past three years,” shared Lance Lira of Nature’s Presence. “We bring our management team to the show as it allows them a look at the business side of things but also is a great opportunity for them to engage with our vendors and learn about new products co
ming to market. We have seen a tremendous return on our investment from SENPA.”
Looking ahead, the 2026 SOHO Healthfest will be held from April 17-19, 2026, at the Hilton Dallas/Rockwell Lakefront – Rockwell, TX.
Announcing SOHO Northeast
During the event, SENPA, producers of SOHO Expo and SOHO Healthfest also announced a new upcoming tradeshow: SOHO Northeast. Taking place from October 4-5, 2025, the event will be held at DoubleTree Newark Airport in Newark, NJ.
“This expansion reflects our commitment to growing access, education, and opportunity across the health and wellness space. We can’t wait to welcome even more attendees, partners, and innovators to join us as we continue to elevate this important work, strengthening the voice of the independent retailer and the brands that support them,” commented Shackelford.
For more on the upcoming events, please visit www.senpa.org
