34 of the Most Innovative Items at Natural Products Expo West
Natural Products Expo West, the huge natural and organic trade show held annually in Anaheim, Calif., just closed its 45th show. Many of the 3,000+ exhibitors at the show entered their new products in the annual Nexty Awards, which honor the most outstanding products in 37 natural products categories (not all of them food or beverage products).
“Inspiration, innovation and integrity were the three main criteria used to choose this year’s Nexty Awards winners out of a pool of 164 outstanding finalist products,” said New Hope Network, sponsor of the show.
“This year’s panel of more than 50 judges delighted in the protein-ification of everything (still going strong); a resurgence of meat and dairy and products made with grass-fed ingredients showing up in interesting places—such as in potato chips, RTD beverages and protein powders; and clean label formulations that prioritized ingredient integrity and sustainability in every bite, gummy, sip, swallow or topical lotion.”
Below are the winners in the food and beverage-related categories, plus three Editor’s Choice winners “for their missions and excellence.” The list is also indicative of the novel, often exotic, products shown and often introduced at the show.
In the Plant-Forward product category: Seven Sundays’ Bright Side Oat Granola
Meat or Animal-Based: StarWalker Organic Farms’ Organic Ground Beef
Dairy or Egg: NestFresh’s Humanely Hatched, Pasture Raised Eggs
Pantry Staples: Leaven Foods’ All-Purpose Instant Sourdough
Packaged Product: Ladybug Brands’ Organic Lemons in Zero-Plastic Net
Environmentally Sustainable Packaging: Milkadamia’s Oat Milk Slices
Product Design & Storytelling: Kettle & Fire’s Maui Nui Venison Bone Broth
Dairy Alternative: Elmhurst 1925’s Clean Protein Pistachio Crème
Meat Alternative: MyForest Foods’ MyPulled Pork
Plant Party!: MiLa’s Savory Mushroom Bao Bun
Coffee & Tea: Traditional Medicinals’ Stress Ease Calm Tea
Functional Food or Beverage: Two River Gourmet Mushrooms’ Chago Mushroom Broth
Vegan: Lexington Bakes’ Peanut Butter Protein Cookie
Prepared Frozen Product: Deep Indian Kitchen’s Veggie Masala Momo Dumplings
Dips & Spreads: Bezi’s Hot Honey Labneh
Savory or Salty Snack: Mamame’s Hot Chili Tempe Chips
Gluten-Free Product: Felicia’s Organic Oat Penne
Sweet Snacks & Desserts: Magic Chocolate’s Salted Candied Hazelnut Truffle Layer Bar
Adult Non-Alcoholic Beverage: NoWhere Foods’ Ridgeline Cherry Ginger Maple Sparkling Cocktail
Breads & Bakery: Truly Indian’s Tikka Masala Naan
Certified Regenerative Product: Bionaturae’s Regenerative Organic Certified Crushed Tomatoes
Certified Organic Product: Farmer Focus’ Organic Parmesan & Herb Chicken Meatballs
Kids’ Product: Actual Veggies’ Sweet Potato & Carrot Veggie Nuggets
Beverage: Tractor Beverage’s Apricot Beach Organic Haymaker
Frozen Dessert: Heritage Kulfi’s Rosewater Kulfi Ice Cream
Spices & Condiments: Big Tree Farms’ Original Nali Naughty BBQ Sauce
People-Forward Product: Piko Provisions’ Luau Stew
Prepared Pantry: Fly By Jing’s Creamy Sesame Noodles
Special Diet: Papa Mountain’s Sweet Potato & Herb Bread Rolls
Editor’s Choice: Keya Snacks’ Bombay Spice Kettle Cooked Chips
Editor’s Choice: Ulu Foods’ Chia & Sea Salt Breadfruit Bites
Editor’s Choice: The Republic of Tea’s Regenerative Certified Organic Assam