Expo West organizers reverse course, postpone event amid coronavirus fears
Note: As a public service, BizWest is making all of its coverage of the COVID-19 virus free to read. Please consider subscribing to BizWest to support our efforts to keep you informed on Northern Colorado and the Boulder Valley’s top business news.
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA — Less than 24 hours before the start of Natural Product Expo West, the Boulder-based organizers of one of the natural and organic food industry’s largest trade shows have pulled the plug on the event amid concerns about the coronavirus.
The expo, organized by New Hope Network, was set to begin Tuesday in Anaheim, a city in California’s Orange County, where state health officials have declared a state of emergency over the potential spread of the deadly COVID-2019 virus. No date has been set for a rescheduled event.
SPONSORED CONTENT
Commercial Solar is a big investment, but not an overwhelming one
Solar offers a significant economic benefit for commercial property owners while also positively impacting the environment and offering a path to compliance for new municipal requirements like Energize Denver. A local, experienced solar installer will help you navigate the complexities of commercial solar to achieve financial success for your project.
“It is now clear, despite continued advice from local government and health authorities that the city of Anaheim remains open, that the majority of our community want the show, but they do not want it now,” according to a Monday evening announcement from New Hope.
The decision to postpone the tradeshow came amid a #CancelExpo social-media campaign led by natural-products companies, including firms in the Boulder Valley and Northern Colorado, that decided in recent days to skip Expo West over fears of the virus. Some attendees who bailed on Expo West demanded refunds of registration fees or credits toward fees at Expo East, set for later this year in Philadelphia.
More than 100 companies had informed New Hope of their cancellation plans, and those that did intend to attend faced the prospect of lower-than-anticipated crowds. Expo West, which has drawn more than 80,000 people in past years, was expected to see a 40 percent to 60 percent drop in attendance.
“To all of our friends attending Natural Products Expo West this week, it is with great sadness and much consideration that Rowdy Mermaid Kombucha is pulling back on its participation in 2020 due to concerns over the coronavirus,” a spokesman for the Boulder-based beverage firm told BizWest in an email Monday. “We have weighed the physical and mental safety of our team members while traveling and it simply did not make sense for our continued involvement. We will continue to support the show in our own way, and pass no judgment on those still planning to attend.”
As late as mid-afternoon Monday, New Hope leaders said publicly they were committed to holding the event. New Hope president Fred Linder did, however, tell BizWest Monday afternoon that the expo is a “fluid situation” and the group was considering refunds.
“It is our intention to work with all our exhibitors and attendees on future credits and support, with particular focus on the many entrepreneurs and small businesses that are the heartbeat of this community, for whom we are going to stand up a rebate fund of $5 million targeted at their specific needs,” according to New Hope’s postponement announcement.
“We will be working closely with all our customers and partners across the industry to identify a new date for the show later in the year, and providing the service and support to deliver the connections and experience everyone expects from Expo West and the New Hope Network,” Linder said in a statement.
