Penton Media Acquires Nutrition Business Journal

Posted on February 23, 2001

Penton Media, Inc. announced it has acquired the assets of San Diego, CA -based Nutrition Business International, LLC, publisher of Nutrition Business Journal (NBJ) and a provider of research and consulting services to the nutrition, natural products and alternative healthcare industries.

Nutrition Business International, LLC was founded in 1996 by Grant Ferrier, who will continue to serve as the company's president. The company and staff will remain in California, and become part of Penton's New Hope Natural Media division in Boulder, CO.

``Nutrition Business Journal is the world's leading provider of market data, lists and financial statistics concerning the industry, and we're delighted to add them to New Hope Natural Media's media group ,'' said Kim Paulsen, president, Healthwell.com. ``NBJ is a highly respected source of business information for the natural products industry as well as executives at crossover companies such as mainstream food and pharmaceutical manufacturers, a key group for us to reach. NBJ's research capabilities and database will be extremely valuable assets to our company.''

``We are very excited to become part of New Hope Natural Media,'' said Ferrier. ``The acquisition expands our scope from that of a small entrepreneurial company and enables us to dramatically expand our reach to new customers and new markets. Through New Hope and Penton, we'll participate in a broader strategy for a healthy living and nutrition business platform on a global scale.''

New Hope Natural Media, a division of Penton Media, Inc., is a business media company serving the nutrition industry. Nutrition Business Journal will be integrated into New Hope's Healthwell.com online business. New Hope publishes Natural Foods Merchandiser, a magazine serving the natural foods/health foods and organic foods market; Delicious Living!, a magazine distributed to consumers in-store by retailers; and Nutrition Science News, a monthly journal focusing on the science behind natural products.