New York, NY – Penton added another serving to its solid portfolio of food shows in October by acquiring World Tea Media and its flagship World Tea Expo from F+W, a Content + eCommerce company.
The moves brought World Tea Expo, a pair of conferences and related educational programs to Penton along with the Las Vegas-based show management staff. The new properties will be directed by Group President Fred Linder, who also oversees the New Hope Media division and its thriving Natural Products Expo East and West exhibitions.
“We are excited to work with the team at World Tea Media to further extend their value as an information resource for the global tea industry,” said Linder.
Linder said the deal fit with Penton’s strategy of seeking out a leadership presence in high-growth sectors such as natural products and foods. “World Tea Media is at the forefront of the U.S. tea industry and is poised to double its size over the next five years.”
Jim Ogle, acting CEO of F+W and a former vice president of Penton, said parting ways with World Tea Media further streamlined his company with its core business of enthusiast niche communities, such as outdoors, arts & crafts and lifestyle.
George Jage founded the annual trade show in 2002 and sold it to F+W Media in 2012. He left the company in June 2014 and now heads up CannaBusiness Media, a publishing and event company serving the medical and recreational marijuana trade.
World Tea Expo took place in Long Beach in May this year and moves to the Las Vegas Convention Center June 15-17. There was no immediate announcement of any plans to change future show dates or co-locate the tea shows with other New Hope events.
Reach Fred Linder at (212) 204-4200 or fred.linder@penton.com; Jim Ogle at (212) 447-1400 or jim.ogle@fwcommunity.com
