Urban Expositions / Clarion Events Announce New “Health Food Expo” to Take Place in Los Angeles and Orlando in 2018, and New York in 2019

TRUMBULL, CT, January 30, 2018 -- Urban Expositions/Clarion Events is pleased to unveil HEALTHY FOOD EXPO, a new family of tradeshows and conferences serving the healthy food component of the restaurant and foodservice marketplace.

2018 dates are set for August 18-21 in Los Angeles and September 6-8 in Orlando - to run alongside established events, the Western Foodservice & Hospitality Expo and Coffee Fest (at the Los Angeles Convention Center) and the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Show (at the Orange County Convention Center). The event will debut in New York in 2019 co-located with the International Restaurant & Foodservice Show of New York (March 3-5, 2019 at the Javits Center).

As restaurant and foodservice guests increasingly demand more healthful options, operators need to respond to consumer interest and demand with healthy and sustainable menu items, nutritional information, food safety and preparation techniques. The Healthy Food Expo has been established to serve that demand. 

A celebration of healthy food products and ingredients, Healthy Food Expo will include an exhibit hall, conference and education, and special events including culinary demonstrations. The exhibit hall will be comprised of the latest healthy food and beverage products, services and tools.

"The need for a stand-alone event was evident after our 2017 shows as 85% of buyers in attendance were looking to source healthy, natural, gluten free and organic products at the show," said Tom Loughran, Vice President for the Urban Expositions foodservice event portfolio. "Until now, there has not been a significant food and beverage-exclusive event serving this segment. And launching Healthy Food Expo alongside our existing events brings an already established buying audience who has exhibited interest in healthy food products."

Healthy Food Expo West in Los Angeles will be anchored by The Avalon Group, the nation's largest Organic Food Service broker, has secured space for their 50+ partner brands after the success of their participation in the Healthy Food and Beverage Pavilion at the Western Foodservice & Hospitality Expo in 2017. "This is the place to be to introduce organic, fair trade and sustainable products to the food service market", said Phillip Waring, President. The Avalon Group provides organic, non-GMO, fair trade and gluten free certified brands to the foodservice, vending, c-store and micro market channels. Waring added, "Our brands saw huge interest and success at the Western Foodservice & Hospitality Expo, and we are excited to be working with the Urban team to expand the reach of the Healthy Foods Expo and The Avalon Group brands in the Western US."

Thousands of foodservice professionals, restaurateurs, dietitians, nutritionists and retailers will gather during this three-day trade show and conference to demo and taste the latest products and services from 550+ exhibitors, attend 40+ thought-provoking education sessions and network with 20,000+ industry peers. For additional information, visit www.internationalrestaurantny.com.

The Clarion/UX 2018 Foodservice events calendar includes:

International Restaurant & Foodservice Show of New York, March 4-6, 2018 at the Javits Center in New York City, sponsored by the New York State Restaurant Association.

Coffee Fest Baltimore, March 16-18, 2018 at the Baltimore Convention Center.

Coffee Fest Denver, June 8-10, 2018 at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver. 

Western Foodservice & Hospitality Expo, August 19-21, 2018 at the Los Angeles Convention Center, sponsored by the California Restaurant Association.  

Healthy Food Expo West, August 19-21, 2018 at the Los Angeles Convention Center.   

Coffee Fest Los Angeles, August 19-21, 2018 at the Los Angeles Convention Center.  

Florida Restaurant & Lodging Show, September 6-8, 2018 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, sponsored by the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association.  

Healthy Food Expo Florida, September 6-8, 2018 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL.  

ABOUT URBAN EXPOSITIONS -- Urban Expositions, now operating as Clarion UX and owned by Clarion Events produces and manages a portfolio of 36 trade and consumer events, serving a range of industry sectors including Gift, Souvenir, Art, Foodservice, Specialty Retail, Gaming, Automotive and Enthusiast Lifestyle, with offices in Kennesaw, GA, Chicago, IL, Trumbull, CT, Portland, OR, and Boca Raton, FL.

ABOUT CLARION EVENTS -- Clarion Events operates over 180 events in 50 countries from offices in the UK, South Africa, USA, Brazil, Germany, Singapore, UAE, and the Netherlands. Clarion can trace its roots back to 1947 and takes great pride in being one of the oldest independent event organizers in the UK. More recently the firm has developed an international portfolio of brands and now has interests in a number of global vertical industries. The teams at Clarion create uniquely effective and stimulating environments that can serve as a platform to build businesses, enhance customer relationships and accelerate product awareness. www.clarionevents.com