INFRA Blogs

Madeleine Ware, Marketing & Communications Specialist

Our INFRA team had the privilege of attending New Hope Network’s first-ever Newtopia Now, a re-imagined tradeshow experience that prioritizes deeper connections, product innovation, and purposeful discovery. Featuring four distinct “neighborhoods” - Thrive, Represent, Regenerate, and Glow - Newtopia Now offers buyers a curated way to explore the latest in the conscious products industry.

I sat down with VP of Member Success, Danelle Rydel, and Director of Member Programs, Angela Bozo, to hear more about this innovative new show. How did Newtopia Now differ from its previous iteration, Expo East? What were the hottest trends on the show floor? What did INFRA Members have to say? Read on to find out!

Q: How was the Newtopia Now experience different from Expo East? Were there any changes that you think made the show-going experience better?

Angela: You could tell that there was a more curated vendor selection because the show floor was smaller. There was a lot more intentionality behind the four neighborhoods, with activations, stoop talks, and lots of opportunities to connect. They also designed the show floor so that there were areas where you could very intentionally meet, have a coffee, and hang out.

Danelle: There were a lot of emerging brands. Not just emerging brands but also startup brands that were very new to the market.

Q: What were some emerging trends you noticed on the show floor?

Angela: I saw a lot of supplements that were meant to be taken in conjunction with pharmaceutical trends like GLP-1 for example. Instead of being promoted as a natural alternative, they were being marketed as an addition. I think that a trend we’re seeing is the natural industry trying to become adjacent to mainstream pharmaceutical trends.

Danelle: I think that the functional beverage trend is still really big, and brands like Recess and Good Idea attracted a lot of attention. I saw lots of craft vegan items with clean ingredients that were truly vegetable-based. We also saw products geared towards women, including supplements that addressed common aging concerns like menopause.

Q: What did you think of the “neighborhood” model?

Angela: I thought it was clever and good for navigation and focus. If you had multiple buyers that were focused on different areas, it was easy for them to navigate. On so many levels, it’s difficult to innovate the trade show. There were a couple of different ways that they tried to subvert the traditional tradeshow, and I think that the neighborhoods were an effective one.

Q: What insights stuck with you from the “Empowering Women in CPG” panel?

Angela: I felt like it was an opportunity for us to be really honest. There’s never been a great way for women to balance having kids and having a career, so I was so appreciative of the other working moms on the panel and in the audience. There’s something about having conversations with other women in the industry that’s so meaningful.

Q: Did you see many INFRA Members at the show? What were INFRA Members saying about the show?

Danelle: Our members were very engaged, and they seemed to enjoy it, especially for the first year. Angela and I got to sit on the judge panel of the Startup CPG and Earth Fare Pitch Slam Event, and we had a great time co-judging with Simon Cutts from SPINS, and a few other industry peers.

See you Next Year, Newtopia Now!

All in all, Newtopia Now delivered on its promise to innovate the conscious products tradeshow. Our INFRA team had a great time lending their expertise on panels, making meaningful connections on the show floor, and chatting with INFRA Members. We look forward to seeing how New Hope Network expands on this success next year! And be sure to stay tuned for INFRA's 2025 event schedule for more opportunities to connect.