SupplySide West 2024: What's happening off the show floor
Hosted by Informa Markets, the Oct. 28-31 event will also include a full program of education sessions, talks and social gatherings that cover everything from supplements 101 to microbiome market madness, good clinical trial design and navigating the sustainability minefield. With so much going on, here are some highlights.
Education sessions
In addition to full-day NSF training workshops, the first day of the show features education sessions from 2 to 4 p.m. covering the science of aging, how to dodge regulatory heat, active nutrition category updates.
Tuesday morning kicks off with a session entitled “Women's Health: The trends, clinical studies and ingredients helping women thrive).” Speakers will discuss the most important aspects of developing products for women, their unique health requirements and the continued need for clinical trials with female study subjects (South Pacific Ballroom F, Oct. 29, 9 to 11 a.m.).
The “Microbiome market madness: Opportunities, innovations and insights” session will take a deep dive into biotic and microbiome commercial markets, including patents, technology, trends, science, up-and-coming products and future innovations. It will also explore some of the science and innovation fueling enzymes and botanicals that have also shown to support microbiome health (Islander Ballroom E, Oct. 29, 9 to 11 a.m.).
That afternoon, a knowledge and networking session titled “After 30 years of DSHEA, the question is: What now?” will gather industry leaders to discuss how the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 holds up in the face of today’s economy, technology and industry issues. The session includes a screening of an American Herbal Products Association documentary on the beginnings of DSHEA and an interactive happy hour (Islander Ballroom H, Oct. 29, 1 to 3:45 p.m.).
Other sessions in that time slot include “Functional mushrooms: Sources, standards, species and science” (Islander Ballroom C) and “Formulating with functional ingredients: How to make health taste good” (South Pacific Ballroom F).
The next morning kicks off with 9 a.m. breakfast briefs: one hosted by Nutraland “Next-gen nutraceutical rock star ingredients for key growth categories: Abdominal fat, athletic performance, sexual health and sleep” (South Pacific Ballroom C), one titled “The microbiome-allergy connection: Transforming immune responses with biotics” with Verb Biotics (South Pacific Ballroom D), another on "Oxidative stress reduction using novel polyphenolic compounds to improve health and well-being" with Layn Natural Ingredients (South Pacific Ballroom B) and Maximizing magnesium for optimal absorption in tablets, capsules and gummies with Innophos (South Pacific Ballroom A).
Learning power-hour sessions, both 9 to 10 a.m., will cover topics including “AI-powered precision: Revolutionizing supplement supply chain and formulation” (Islander Ballroom H) and “Unleashing the untapped potential of pet supplements” (South Pacific Ballroom F).
From noon to 1 p.m., Kaneka Nutrients will host its “Kaneka Ubiquinol and mitochondria: Partners for health in surprising ways” brief to discuss how its antioxidant ingredient maintains cellular energy production and function for benefits in the heart health, preconception health and healthy aging categories (South Pacific Ballroom C). Other hosted lunch briefs cover topics including "What’s coming next in supplements and how to get a head start" (Catalent), "Targeting glucose spikes with collagen peptides" (Rousselot) and "The future of folate: Fueling innovation in dietary supplements" (Balchem).
On the last day starting at 9 a.m., education sessions include "Mental wellness approaches redefined: The intersection of traditional botanical practices with modern science" (Natural Remedies), "Harnessing the power of Akkermansia: A new frontier in biotics" (Vidya) and "Weight management probiotic support: A new sustainable stress free approach" (Linpharma Bioactives).
Morning learning power-hour sessions on the program that day: “Good clinical trial design: Inclusivity as axiom” (Islander Ballroom E), “Supplement delivery systems: Where technology and demographics have a party” (South Pacific Ballroom F) and “Navigating the sustainability minefield: Challenges and solutions for natural products” (Islander Ballroom C).
From the SupplySide Stage
Located at Booth #5670 on the show floor perimeter, the SupplySide Stage will host a series of 30-minute presentations covering topics from supply chain sustainability to the growing menace of fraudulent research.
On Oct. 29, from 12:45 to 1:15 p.m., the “Addressing health inequity: Opportunity for innovation” panel discussion will address how the supplement industry meets the white space opportunity to provide health-enhancing products for consumers of different ethnicities and socioeconomic levels covering aspects like market need, costing considerations and go-to-market strategies.
Immediately following, industry experts will explore the implications of fraudulent research as growing menace and discuss strategies to identify and mitigate the impact of fake studies on the industry in a session entitled “The real news about fake science: How a flood of fraudulent research is threatening ingredient innovation in the AI age”.
Ingredient Idol rounds out the afternoon with a real-time competition in aging, performance and women’s health categories, judged by Diana Morgan of What’s Up with SUPPS, David Foreman of Herbal Pharmacist and Douglas Lynch of MarketWell Nutrition.
The next day at 10:30 a.m., attendees can listen in on “Formulating for kids: What supplement brands need to know” in a children’s supplement market expected to reach $2.52 billion this year or find out more about Adulteration in the food, supplement, cosmetic and OTC drug supply chain and the Botanical Adulterants Prevention Program (BAPP) at 11:45 a.m.
At 2:30 p.m., Dan Richard of NOW Foods will discuss succeeding in bringing new dietary supplement products to market despite setbacks in “Failing forward: Lessons learned in the lab,” followed by a session entitled “Thin people, fat opportunity: How Ozempic could shape the supplement industry” at 3:15 p.m.
Closing out the last day of the expo hall is the popular “Probiotic Comedy Show," delivered by Stanley T. Probiotic and his trusted sidekick and attorney Ivan Wasserman, managing partner at Amin Wasserman Gurnani. Now in its seventh year and in partnership with the International Probiotics Association, the show combines song, puppetry and deep industry knowledge with humor mined from the microbiome. Starts promptly at 4:30 p.m. with special guest appearances.
Networking and celebrations
Networking events outside the bustle of the show floor provide a space for more casual conversation, starting with the #WINtogether Gender Equity Networking Reception in the Bayside Foyer from 4 to 5:30 p.m. on Oct. 29, where it will be honoring the first annual WIN Award recipients and champions of Gender Equity, Research & Mentorship. The event invites all SSW attendees to learn more about Women in Nutraceuticals’ commitment to empowering women in the industry and increasing diversity among executive suites, corporate boards and research leadership.
That evening, new show visitors can connect with industry leaders at the First-time Visitor Reception at the Border Grill at Mandalay Bay from 5 to 7 p.m., and the American Herbal Products Association hosts its member reception in Islander Ballroom F from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Attendees looking for an early morning workout on Oct. 30 are invited to join the What’s Up with Pumps session at the Dragon’s Lair Gym from 6 to 8 a.m. Open to beginners and gym pros.
After meetings and sessions on day one on the expo floor, the Naturally Proud Network welcomes showgoers to the LGBTQ+ Allies Networking Reception in South Pacific Ballroom F from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Attendees may also pop in the Diwali event happening in the South Pacific Ballroom E at the same time to celebrate the triumph of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance and good over evil.
On Oct. 31, showgoers are invited to the SupplySide Networking Hub at booth #4614 at 2 p.m. to raise a glass and celebrate the Vitamin Angels’ 30th anniversary of working towards a world without malnutrition.
That night from 7 p.m. until midnight, the What’s Up with Supps celebrity icons-themed costume party at the House of Blues wraps up the conference festivities. Proceeds from the ticket sales go to benefit Vitamin Angels.
And those who need a timeout from the hustle and bustle throughout the show can head to the SupplySide Garden in the 6500 aisle or the Zen Den in Coral A on the lower level.
