Nutritional Products International (NPI) founder and CEO Mitch Gould is set to attend Newtopia Now 2026 in Denver, Aug. 18-20, where he will meet with select brands seeking experienced partners to accelerate their U.S. market growth. Gould, who has sold into tens of thousands of retailers throughout his decades in the health and wellness industry, has secured multimillion-dollar orders from major retailers including Walmart, 7-Eleven, GNC, The Vitamin Shoppe, Vitamin World, CVS, and Walgreens. He also played a pivotal role in the early growth of Amazon's sports nutrition category, helping it expand from infancy to over $100 million in sales.
Newtopia Now brings together more than 500 emerging and established brands, along with retailers, distributors, investors, and industry leaders across natural products and consumer packaged goods. The event, held at the Colorado Convention Center, offers Gould a chance to identify companies with innovative products and strong leadership ready for their next development stage. "We're not looking to work with every brand," Gould said. "We're looking for companies where there is a strong fit and where we believe we can build something together."
Gould's career spans retail distribution, manufacturing, brand development, sales, and marketing. Beyond his retail collaborations, he has partnered with high-profile athletes and celebrities like Wayne Gretzky, Steven Seagal, and Hulk Hogan on product initiatives. This experience led to the creation of NPI's "Evolution of Distribution" platform, which offers domestic and international companies a coordinated approach to entering and expanding in the U.S. The platform integrates global logistics, market entry, product readiness, regulatory alignment, brand strategy, retail placement, and post-placement marketing and demand generation.
"Getting a product into the United States is only one piece of the puzzle," Gould explained. "You need the right strategy before you approach retailers, and then you need the infrastructure and marketing support to build demand after you secure placement." This comprehensive approach is particularly relevant at Newtopia Now, which emphasizes emerging natural products across food, beverage, wellness, beauty, and lifestyle categories. The 2026 show also features educational programming, networking, and the event's first International Pavilion.
Gould is especially interested in entrepreneurs who have already built strong products or brands but recognize that scaling in the U.S. requires a comprehensive strategy. "There are tremendous products being developed by entrepreneurs in the United States and around the world," he said. "What many of those companies need is a partner who understands how to turn that potential into retail opportunities." Companies interested in discussing U.S. market expansion or retail distribution can request a meeting with Gould during the event.
The implications of this meeting are significant for emerging brands. Gould's track record of launching products into major retailers and e-commerce platforms like Amazon, Walmart, and GNC provides a proven pathway for market entry. His involvement could help smaller companies bypass common pitfalls in regulatory compliance, supply chain logistics, and retail negotiations. For the industry, Gould's focus on strategic partnerships underscores the growing complexity of U.S. market entry, where success requires more than just a good product. As the natural products sector becomes increasingly competitive, collaboration with experienced distribution experts like NPI could be a key differentiator for brands aiming to scale.
Newtopia Now 2026 takes place Aug. 18-20 at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver.
