The LMCA team attended the 37th Informa Markets Natural Products Expo East in Philadelphia on September 28th-October 1st. With over 1,200 exhibitors, about 500 of those being first time exhibitors, the show was jam packed with the newest products in natural or organic foods, health, and beauty.
Sustainability and regenerative practices were top of mind at the show. PATH Water, a sustainable aluminum bottled water company helping to fight the issue of plastic waste showcased their newest 4th sku: a grapefruit mango sparkling water. Airly, which launched their oat cloud crackers last year, use oats grown on cutting edge carbon converting farms that end up removing CO2 from the air. Smootch showcased their plant-based sports drinks that also use regenerative oats in their formulation.
Created in 2019, the Upcycled Food Association helps making find sustainable foods and beverages easier for consumers with their certification program. They first exhibited at Expo West back in March of this year and membership has grown fast with over 220+ upcycled food companies at the time of this show.
We picked up our Upcycled swag bag and were delighted with a Miyoko’s Creamery Salted Peanut Butter Cookie and Matriark Spicy Arrabbiata Sauce. Miyoko’s Creamery upcycled cookies are made in partnership with Renewal Mill, a leading plant milk creamery, by using the leftovers of production runs of Miyokos Creamery vegan butter that is unable to be packaged or sold. Matriark is the first ever carbon neutral tomato sauce. Instead of growing tomatoes in greenhouses which produces more CO2 emissions, they grow them outdoors and sell the sauce in cartons all in effort to help fight climate change.
While at the Upcycled Food Association booth we sampled some tasty Reveal Avocado Seed brew with prebiotics, antioxidants and no added sugar. Sugar reduction has been ramping up in the beverage space. We’re seeing more kombuchas go towards less or no sugar formulations. Aqua Vitea, an established player in kombucha, launched a kombucha line for kids -TIMTAMTUMMY- with less calories and less than 3g of sugar per can that tastes delicious.
We saw soda redefined. Prebiotic soda has been on the rise since last year. Daytrip, known for their CBD infused sparkling water, just entered this growing category with a new prebiotic soda at the show. Tribucha Kombucha was exhibiting their line of functional sodas under their Super B brand that are loaded with probiotics and no sugar. Perfy, a first-time exhibitor, was putting smiles on attendees faces with their line of superfood soda made with mood boosting adaptogens and nootropics.
Soley, an innovator in organic dried fruits and fruit jerky, is now looking to disrupt the pasta aisle with their new line of fruit pastas- Solely Organic Green Banana Fusilli Pasta- which they introduced at the show.
Overall, we enjoyed seeing all the plant-based innovations and functional beverages, with so many different types of waters & seltzers, veggie & fruit jerky, dairy free ice creams and yogurts, organic and humanely raised beef and chicken, unique spice blends and hot sauces, organic pet supplements, mocktails with adaptogens, fun human vitamin collabs, sustainable oral care products and more! It was the perfect playground for meeting opportunities on behalf of our clients.
If your company is looking to learn more about brand licensing in the food and beverage space or to learn more about opportunities with our brand Odwalla, please visit: https://www.lmca.net/odwalla.