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The latest natural trends and the most promising better-for-you products and companies will be featured at Expo East.
9 Min Read
Charm City is going au naturale.
More than 1,300 exhibitors and 25,000 attendees are expected to inhabit the Baltimore Convention Center from Sept. 21-24 during Natural Products Expo East 2016. According to show organizers, there will be about 400 new exhibitors this year, including entrepreneurs launching natural food, beverage, beauty and health products. The Natural products category is growing rapidly, industry observers say, and Expo East attendees will have the chance to spot emerging trends in the industry.
The content and research team at New Hope Network, the show’s producer, tracked trends across several categories this year. As part of that, Expo East’s 2016 Education Conference will focus on: supplement Oopportunities, climate friendly foods, mindful leadership, natural storytelling and nutrition science.
Featured keynote speakers will include Paul Hawken, natural products industry pioneer and New York Times bestselling author; Robyn O’Brien, a former food industry analyst; and Walter Robb, co-CEO of Whole Foods Market and chairman of Whole Kids Foundation and Whole Cities Foundation.
Always an Expo East highlight is the show floor. Here is a small sampling of companies exhibiting and what they will be presenting:
Alvarado Street Bakery
Alvarado Street Bakery, a solar-powered, employee-owned company based in Petaluma, Calif., will go to Baltimore with new “Black Label” breads; Energy Squares, a new plant-based protein bar; and Sprouted Wheat Burger and Hot Dog Buns. The products are all USDA Certified Organic.
“Retailers will walk away from our booth with a clear understanding of what ‘sprouted’ really means,” says Michael Girkout, director of marketing. “After all these years of being a ‘niche’ item, sprouted has finally become a category of its own, but retailers and consumers are confused as to what it actually means. We call what we do ‘Seriously Sprouted,’ because of our unique process of harvesting fresh sprouts every day, and converting those sprouts into dough—and then into delicious, whole grain breads.”
Blount Fine Foods
Blount Fine Foods, a Fall River, Mass.-based company specializing in soup, sauce and side dishes, launched its full line of organic soups in June. At this year’s show, attendees will have the chance to talk to Blount product developers about how they can elevate their stores’ fresh soup program, turning it into a focal point of their hot-to-go prepared foods program.
“As the popularity of prepared foods has exploded at retail, we have seen the call for organics to be part of the solution grow from a murmur to a rumble to a roar,” says Bob Sewall, executive vice president of sales and marketing. “For the last two years, our chefs have been working with restaurant chefs to refine our true-to-nature, delicious handcrafted organic recipes; improving our sourcing and collaboration with certified organic farmers; and testing and studying consumer attitudes, tastes and desires as they relate to premium organic soups.”
New additions to the soup line include Organic Coconut Lentil Soup and Organic Broccoli Cheddar Soup. The line also includes Organic Vegetarian Chili, Organic Tomato Bisque, Organic Ancient Grain Minestrone Soup, Organic Savory Harvest Bisque and Organic Chicken Tortilla Soup.
Carrington Farms
Carrington Farms will be discussing its insights into where the industry is going and will share a “big announcement” set for 2017. The Oradell, N.J.-based company will also be showing off some new additions to its portfolio.
“We are excited to be showcasing three of our newest additions to our rapidly expanding line of organic products: Organic Ghee, Organic Coconut Oil & Ghee and a Coconut Avocado Oil Blend.” says Debbie Shandel, executive vice president. “Both Ghee products are a clarified butter, a casein- and lactose-free alternative to butter, gluten- and dairy-free and contain significant levels of vitamins A, D and E in addition to linoleic acid, known to facilitate the balancing of cholesterol levels. The Coconut Oil & Ghee blend also has high levels of medium chain triglycerides (MCT). The Coconut Avocado Oil is a natural energy source, high in MCTs and high in monounsaturated fats, which are the beneficial and necessary fats needed in healthy diets. It also is a tastier alternative to butter and various oils including canola, soybean, vegetable and olive.”
Cornfields
Cornfields, the Waukegan, Ill.-based producer of G.H. Cretors and Hi I’m Skinny brands, is launching two organic popcorn flavors: Organic Dill Pickle Popped Corn and Organic Chile Jalapeno White Cheddar Popped Corn. The company will also offer samples of its Blueberry Lemon Popped Corn that launched in August, and Limited Edition Popped Corn portfolio (Orchard Apple, Pumpkin Spice, and Double Chocolate), which launches in September. Company officials say the popcorn line contains only real, simple ingredients and no artificial colors or flavors; it is also certified gluten-free, kosher and has organic varieties.
Drink Maple
Drink Maple is best known for its DRINKmaple Organic Maple Water, but this year it will be showing off its new DRINKmelon Organic Watermelon Water, which rolled out into stores this summer. DRINKmelon is made with only one ingredient: organic watermelons. Each batch is tasted prior to bottling and the drink is non-GMO, kosher, organic, gluten-free and vegan.
“Retailers will be able to discover our newest product and taste it firsthand,” says Kate Weiler, co-founder and CEO of the St. Albans, Vt.-based company. “We’ll be able to share our current distribution footprint and projections for upcoming expansion relevant for their markets.”
Enjoy Life Foods
Enjoy Life Foods will be showing its newly launched Soft-Baked and Crunchy Mini-Cookies. The new cookies are free from wheat, dairy, peanuts, tree nuts, egg, soy, fish and shellfish and use flour alternatives such as buckwheat, millet and rice flour.
“With one in 13 children currently diagnosed with food allergies in the U.S. alone, the consumer demand for safe and delicious, allergy-friendly snacks and ingredients will only continue to rise, and we are the brand leading the charge in innovation to meet and exceed these growing consumer needs and tastes,” says Joel Warady, chief marketing and innovation officer for the Chicago-based company. “Like gluten-free, retailers still struggle with where to position allergy-friendly foods within grocery aisles because it’s still a category that’s establishing its footprint—albeit growing rapidly.”
Mini Cookies flavors include Chocolate Chip, Double Chocolate, Sugar Crisp and Vanilla Honey Graham. The Soft Baked Mini Cookies offerings include Chocolate Chip, Double Chocolate Brownie and Snickerdoodle.
Explore Cuisine
Explore Cuisine will introduce its Thai Rice Noodles SKUs, including Brown Rice Pad Thai Noodles and Red Rice Pad Thai Noodles. The Brown Rice Pad Thai Noodles are made with organic, nutrient-rich whole grains and the Red Rice Pad Thai Noodles are made with nutritious red rice grain. Both options are designed to be a better-for-you alternative to traditional Pad Thai and come packed in 2-ounce nests for portion control.
“At the Explore Cuisine booth, retailers can learn about the changing landscape of the grocery’s store pasta aisle,” says Erika Wasserman, vice president of marketing for the Red Bank N.J.-based company. “Explore Cuisine’s pastas are the perfect solution for anyone seeking an alternative to traditional pasta without sacrificing quality or taste. We are committed to making the pasta for everyone, whether they eat gluten-free, suffer from diabetes or are a fitness fanatic.” Explore Cuisine will be sampling pasta dishes as well.
Frontier Co-Op
Frontier Co-Op, based in Norway, Iowa, will present its new Organic Saffron, which is handpicked from the Castille-La Mancha region of Spain. Frontier Co-Op’s all-organic brand, Simply Organic, will also introduce several additions this year including Wicked Aioli Seasoning, Roasted Garlic Hummus Seasoning, Onion Chive Dip Seasoning, Chipotle Ranch Dip Seasoning, Mild Taco Seasoning and Pumpkin Pie Spice, which is part of the brand’s bottled spice line.
“In addition to sampling cuisine featuring Frontier Co-Op and Simply Organic new products, retailers visiting the booth can learn more about new merchandising options, new Frontier Co-Op packaged spice point-of-purchase materials and an upcoming, large-scale digital media campaign for our Simply Organic brand,” says Ellen Bouchard, senior brand manager, food and flavorings.
Lorissa’s Kitchen
Lorissa’s Kitchen will present all four flavors of Lorissa’s Kitchen premium protein snacks, which include Korean Barbecue, Ginger Teriyaki, Sweet Chili and Szechuan Peppercorn—all launched in April. Officials for the Minneapolis-based company say the products contain only 100 percent grass-fed beef, responsibly and socially raised pork and antibiotic-free chicken; have no preservatives, growth hormones, MSG or nitrites added and are gluten-free.
“In addition to sampling, we can provide deep insights on the growing meat snack category and ideas on how we can partner together to be successful in targeting a consumer segment that is demanding more from their food to fit their clean eating lifestyle,” says Tim Goldsmid, vice president of marketing.
Organic Valley
Organic Valley, based in La Farge, Wis., will be highlighting Grassmilk Yogurt 6-ounce Cups, Flavored Half & Half, Cheese Snack Sticks and Mighty Bars at this year’s show.
“Retailers will be able to sample our new products and learn more about how our products can increase their profits,” says Cate Hollowitsch, community engagement manager. “They will also be able to experience one of our beautiful family farms with our new interactive Virtual Reality Farm Tour.”
Perfect Bar
Perfect Bar will be showcasing three additions to its refrigerated nutrition bar line: Blueberry Cashew, Maple Almond and Coconut Peanut Butter. As with the brand’s other offerings, the newest innovations contain combinations of nutrient-dense, organic, whole-food ingredients. The additions mark the company’s first inclusion of cashew butter into the line that already features peanut- and almond-butter varieties.
“Today, Perfect Bar offers refrigerated, nut butter-based, high-protein nutrition bars with peanut- and almond-butter options,” says Bill Keith, CEO and co-founder of the San Diego-based company. “With an unparalleled flavor profile and ingredient list, the line of ten whole food nutrition bars is high in protein, gluten-free, non-GMO, kosher, and Oregon Tilth Certified Organic.”
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