Deadline fast approaching to enter Best Independent Retailer, Best New Packaging Design and NAHS Retailer of the Year Awards

Natural Products - the industry's leading trade magazine, has announced the last call for entries for its annual Natural Awards, which have become a benchmark for excellence and set the highest standard for innovation, quality and commitment within the natural industry. Entry applications will be accepted until Friday 25 February for the Best Independent Retailer and Best New Packaging Design categories and until Friday 11 March for the NAHS Retailer of the Year Award. The winners will be announced at the Natural & Organic Awards, hosted in association with The Soil Association, on Sunday 3 April at Olympia Conference Centre after the close of business on the first day of the Natural & Organic Products Europe trade show.

Jim Manson, Natural Products editor, said: "The Natural & Organic Awards are the most important annual celebration of the very best our industry has to offer. As well as recognising excellence in all aspects of the trade on a big stage, the Awards offer winners a year-round marketing opportunity and a big morale-booster for hard-working teams."

Award entry forms are available to download from www.naturalproducts.co.uk/awards and should be submitted to Suzanne Rowland (srowland@divcom.co.uk) from the show's organiser Diversified Business Communications UK. The NAHS Retailer of the Year Award is only open to NAHS members and all entries should be submitted direct to Avril McCracken at the NAHS.

Judges of the Best Independent Retailer and NAHS Retailer of the Year Awards will be looking for quality and diversity of product range, product knowledge, store layout and design, customer care, staff training, innovation and local community involvement. The New Packaging Design category will be judged on the functionality, design aesthetics and shelf prominence of the entry, which must have been launched or re-branded between April 2010 and March 2011.

While the awards for Best New Food Product, Best New Non-Food Product, Best New VMS Product, Best New Natural Beauty Product, Best New Sports Nutrition Product are open to Natural & Organic Products Europe exhibitors only and will be chosen by visitors to the show's New Product Showcase throughout Sunday 3 April.

Natural & Organic Products Europe is free to attend for pre-registered trade visitors. To register, please visit www.naturalproducts.co.uk.

Ends

Media enquiries to: Emma-Louise Jones, PR Executive t: +44 (0)1273 645134 e: ejones@divcom.co.uk

Exhibitor enquiries to: Simon Barry, Event Director t: +44 (0)1273 645125 e: sbarry@divcom.co.uk

Notes for editors:

• Previous Natural Industry Awards winners include: Best New Packaging Design - Evolve Beauty Best Independent Retailer - Better Food Company, Bristol NAHS Retailer of The Year - Natural Health, Welwyn Garden City Best New Food Product - Triano Brands, Mamma Cucina Cheesecake Best New Non-Food Product - Mohdoh, Mohdoh Wellbeing Products Best New VMS Product - Natures Aid, Immune Support+ Best New Natural Beauty Product - Butterflies Healthcare, NATorigin Pencil Eye Liner Best New Sports Nutrition Product - Mulebar, MuleBar MegaBite Hunza Nut

• Natural & Organic Products Europe is the UK's biggest trade show for the natural products, health food and organic sectors. It is the key event of the year for independent health store retailers, wholesalers and distributors, supermarket and multiple buyers, and specialist and organic shop owners looking to source the very best in natural, organic, biodynamic, fair trade, artisan, sustainable, ethical, free from, and healthy living products.

VISTOR INFORMATION: Admission: Free to all trade visitors Location: The Grand Hall, Olympia, Kensington, London W14 8UX Opening hours: Sunday 3 April 9.30-17.30 & Monday 4 April 9.30-17.00 www.naturalproducts.co.uk http://twitter.com/NatProductsShow http://www.facebook.com/pages/Natural-Organic-Products-Europe/100622126677939

• Diversified Business Communications (UK) Ltd (Diversified UK) is a fast growing event organising and publishing company based in Brighton. Diversified UK publishes Natural Products - the industry's leading trade magazine, and the Natural Beauty Yearbook. The company also organises Natural & Organic Products Europe, camexpo, the UK's leading event for complementary and alternative healthcare, the Independent Health Store Conference, lunch!, and office*.

• Diversified UK is part of Diversified Business Communications, a leading international media company with a successful portfolio of sector leading exhibition, conferences, publications and websites.