Exhibitors include vendors of food & beverages, restaurant equipment, financial services, hospitality technology solutions, and more. The show attracts 15,000 industry professionals and has many long time exhibitors. The 2007 Western Food Expo was much like the 2006 show, with a few notable exceptions. Organic foods, trans-fat free products and environmentally friendly to-go containers were highlighted by many of the exhibitors.

Government regulations and changing consumer sentiment are fueling the green and organic movement. The new demands present additional challenges to restaurant owners and operators. Change is never easy, but there is an opportunity for those operators who get ahead of the curve and embrace the green movement. Whole Foods in groceries and Patagonia in outdoor clothing have built a loyal following by embracing enviromentally-conscientious practices, consumers and products. California is requiring earth friendly to-go containers and bags, while New York City is leading the way is eliminating trans-fat. Restaurant operators need to decide whether to make the move to green and trans-fat free products and foods now, or wait till government regulations force them to make changes. The Western Food Expo is held in Los Angeles, so there is a decidedly California influence. It will be interesting to see if the May 2008 National Restaurant Association show in Chicago will be as green as the Western Food Expo. It could be that the green movement is the latest fad that will lose its appeal in a few years. Unlike the Atkins fad, which indeed was too good to be true, the green movement has the potential to evolve from trend to standard.