The Natural Products Expo East wrapped up last week, and we had the opportunity to tour the show floor and check out the latest innovations in natural and organic foods and beverages. These are some of the most prevalent trends we saw at the expo.

Plant Based

Plant-based meat alternatives were in the spotlight at Expo East, and plant-based seafood dishes were the rising stars of the category. Product examples include:

Sophie’s Kitchen scallops and crab cakes made with pea protein and konjac

Good Catch Tuna made with pea protein and legumes

Seitan, made from wheat gluten, was also showcased in several products like:

Upton’s Vegan Cheesy Bacon Mac

Sweet Earth’s Cheddar and Vegan Sausage, Egg & Smoked Gouda breakfast sandwich

Evil Foods Vegan Italian Sausage

New lines of plant-based dairy alternatives we saw included:

Elmhurst Milked Lines

Milkadamia macadamia nut milk

Lifeway’s Plantiful made with pea, hemp and rice protein (and contains five vegan kefir cultures)

Functional Food and Beverage

The functional food and beverage trend hasn’t lost any momentum, and ingredients that are inherently beneficial continue to drive growth in this category. Several products with collagen protein (which supports elasticity and regeneration of skin, hair, tendon, cartilage, bones, and joints) and charcoal (a detoxifying ingredient) were showcased, like:

NeoCell Corp.’s Collagen Cookie Bar	NuttZo Cacao + Collagen bar	Primal Kitchen’s Coconut Cashew Bar with grass-fed collagen
Honey Drop Lemonade	Solti Organic Charcoal Lemonades	KOR Pressed Juice Shots in Black Magic

Botanicals

Botanical ingredients like rose, turmeric, and elderflower had a strong presence throughout the expo. Product examples include:

Sipp Ruby Rose Sparkling Organic	Sound Sparkling Tea in Rose	Touch of Honey Zen Basil with basil seed, honey, and lemon juice
K’UL Chocolate Golden Spice Dark Chocolate Turmeric Bar	Forager Turmeric Gold made with a cashew and coconut milk blend	Bottle Green Sparkling Pomegranate and Elderflower

Cold Brew Coffee Innovation

The cold brew coffee market is growing rapidly (sales grew 80% in 2016 alone), and brands are getting innovative with flavor and format to stand out. Examples we saw include:

Chameleon Sparkling Cold Brew Coffee in Ginger and Citrus Flavors

Rise Nitro Cold Brew Coffee in Blood Orange and Lemonade Flavors

For more information about product trends, and for help developing your next beverage, contact Imbibe by emailing thedrinktank@imbibeinc.com.