SupplySide West & Food ingredients North America Bring Together the Food & Beverage and Nutrition Industry to Re-Connect and Fuel Growth

SupplySide West and Food ingredients North America (FiNA) hosted a safe and successful event October 25-28 at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, the largest in-person gathering of health & nutrition professionals since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. The show brought together over 700 exhibitors and 11,000 registered attendees for a chance to re-connect and see the top ingredients and technologies driving trends in dietary supplements and food & beverage.

The highly anticipated trade event, produced by Informa Markets, showcased innovations across fast-growing categories from sports nutrition to natural & organic to functional foods. Buyers and suppliers from throughout the industry convened to learn about the science and strategy around the development of finished products driving the global business economy. Now in its 24^th occurrence, SupplySide West & Food ingredients North America demonstrated its significance as a place to spot trends, meet decision-makers and move businesses forward.

"Biova is very excited to be participating in the SupplySide West show this week. While we have all become more adept at communicating through virtual meetings, there is no substitute for in-person communication. SupplySide West is the most important industry event of our year, and we are happy to see Informa taking the steps necessary to allow the show to go on while keeping everyone as safe as possible," said Amanda Jepson, Sr. Director, Marketing & International Sales, Biova, LLC.

Despite travel restrictions limiting this year's international attendance, the industry's rapid expansion brought thousands of new faces to the show with more than 40% of registered attendees there for the first time. The sold-out First-Time Visitor Reception offered an intimate setting for new participants to meet with key industry players, show supporters and members of the SupplySide team.

SupplySide Network 365 brought exciting advances and created new ways for industry members at the event and remote to connect and engage with show content. In-person attendees and exhibitors were able to use the platform, which functioned as the official show app, to search all relevant content and see who was on-site with them. Designed to serve as a virtual industry hub, SupplySide Network 365 also provided opportunities for industry members who were unable to attend in-person to watch four livestreamed education sessions and network virtually with attendees.

"Returning to the show this year, even while missing so many of our international community members, was a milestone for in-person events. The energy was palpable and I'm confident we will see a soar in innovation as a result of these brilliant minds and determined visionaries coming together," said Danica Cullins, Senior Vice President, SupplySide at Informa Markets. "For the hundreds of first-time exhibitors and new brands in attendance, this event will certainly be a catalytic moment to look back on ? a time when opportunities accelerated rapidly. Knowing we can deliver that kind of outcome is one of the most exciting aspects for the SupplySide team."

SupplySide is proud to provide a venue that welcomes an increasingly diverse and inclusive community. Events within the SupplySide West experience served to open doors, raise funds and elevate awareness to bring about change in the industry. This year the show partnered with the Naturally Proud Network to host an LGBTQ+ reception. Additionally, the Williams-Franklin Foundation + Organic & Natural Health Association HBCU Scholarship Fundraiser brought the industry together to support HBCU students interested in careers in natural health and healthcare. The SupplySide Live livestream included discussions on diversity and inclusion within the SupplySide community and why it matters for all.

"I believe it is now more important than ever for the GBLTQ+ community have a place to network, meet and raise funds for various community outreach groups that support those in need," said Randal Kreienbrink, co-founder of the Naturally Proud Network. "The industry and Informa have been very supportive and proactive with our group. The Naturally Proud Network provides a safe space to share our accomplishments, hopes and dreams. At each gathering our voices and concerns are heard with growing membership and followers, and we want all to know that everyone is respected and valued."

Education programming included the keynote presentation "Brand the Moment ? establish a culture where everyone matters" featuring a conversation with Executive Coach & Author Simon T. Bailey about achieving greater success through culture. The show presented several valuable workshops on critical topics including plant-based going mainstream, esports, supply chains, contract manufacturing, the path forward for hemp/CBD, immune health, the microbiome and natural sweeteners. There were also ample opportunities for deep dives during a series of Breakfast & Lunch Briefs.

"We are thrilled to be able to host a safe and engaging event that allowed industry members to see each other again after a long hiatus," said Marisa Finnegan, Event Director, SupplySide at Informa Markets. "Guided by Informa AllSecure, our team put health and safety at the top of our list of priorities in order to make this happen. The city of Las Vegas and the Mandalay Bay Convention Center were invaluable partners in this effort and we know our attendees appreciated being back here to enjoy all that the city has to offer." During a normal year, the meeting and convention industry represents $11.4 billion in economic impact to the area.

For more information about SupplySide visit supplysideshow.com and follow the latest updates on the official YouTube channel, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

About SupplySide:

SupplySide is all about the exploration, discovery, innovation and marketing strategy around the development of finished consumer goods that drive the global business economy. SupplySide East 2022 will be held April 12-13 at the Meadowlands Exposition Center in Secaucus, NJ. Visit supplysideeast.com to be notified when registration opens. SupplySide West 2022 will take place October 31-November 3 at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.

SupplySide Network 365 (SSN365) empowers people and companies in the health and nutrition industry to Discover, Connect, Meet, Learn and Source. The SSN365 platform enables members of the Health & Nutrition community to interact in 1:1 video calls, source ingredients & services based on intelligent matchmaking, and participate in industry content & insightful virtual events.

About Informa Markets

Informa Markets creates platforms for industries and specialist markets to trade, innovate and grow. We provide marketplace participants around the globe with opportunities to engage, experience and do business through face-to-face exhibitions, targeted digital services and actionable data solutions. We connect buyers and sellers across more than a dozen global verticals, including Pharmaceuticals, Food, Medical Technology and Infrastructure. As the world's leading market-making company, we bring a diverse range of specialist markets to life, unlocking opportunities and helping them to thrive 365 days of the year. For more information, please visit www.informamarkets.com.

About Fi Global

Food ingredients Global was launched in Utrecht, The Netherlands, in 1986. Its portfolio of live events, extensive data, digital solutions and high-level conferences is now established throughout the world and provides regional and global platforms for all stakeholders in the food ingredients industry. Over 500,000 people have attended our shows over the years, with billions of Euros worth of business created as a result. With more than 30 years of excellence, the events, digital solutions and supporting products deliver a proven route to market, with a truly global audience. Since 2018, Food ingredients Global has been part of the Informa Markets portfolio. For more information, please visit: www.figlobal.com.