If I haven’t mentioned it before, I really love my job as a Marketing Account Executive at Ignite2X. One of the reasons that I love it so much is that the learning never stops, whether it’s a new day-to-day tactic or exploring a new category of products, there’s always something to explore. And going to Trade Shows is the ultimate experience if you want to drink in new information. Last week, I was fortunate enough to attend the Natural Products Expo East Show, where I got to make my way down aisles and aisles of improved and innovative natural products.
My first stop, you guessed it, marshmallows. If you haven’t already heard of the brand Hudson Valley Marshmallow Co. you haven’t lived. Seriously, these are by far THE. BEST. MARSHMALLOWS. And they’re all-natural to boot (well, as all-natural as sugary treats get). They have awesome flavors too: Chocolate, Vanilla, Salted Caramel, Strawberry, AND French Toast (which is to die for, especially when you let it caramelize). They even have seasonal flavors, like Pumpkin Spice and Gingerbread! Anyway enough of me gushing about marshmallows, this was just one of the amazing booths we stopped at.
Moving on we tasted our way through different products, the following are just the ones I thought were the most interesting. In the Hot Products Pavillion, we saw: Banana Jerky, Portabella Jerky, all types of CBD and hemp-infused products, Vegan Wine, and a brand of 100% traceable Chocolate, French Broad Chocolate. The Banana Jerky was very unique IMO – I’ve had dried fruit before, and I love banana chips, but this was a completely different experience. The flavors really went together and I could really feel a jerky texture just without the meat! The same goes true for the Portabella Jerky. You get that chewy and teriyaki (if you tend to get that flavor, which I do) experience similar to that of other jerkies, just with different ingredients. I would 100% pick this up as a snack and I think that these products are an excellent option for those looking to eat less meat.
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I think these shows also give attendees an insight into the current food trends, and for me, I think the biggest trends are:
CBD is flooding the market — between full-spectrum oils to infused gummies, caramels, bars, etc., there are many companies starting and ramping up in this space
Company Responsibility — whether it’s being sustainable, responsible, or traceable, company roots and back story really matter these days. And I think that’s another big reason why so many plant-based products are getting traction because it’s less impactful on the environment
Organic is not going anywhere. If it wasn’t organic before, it is now. Also in a world of plant-based meats, i.e. Beyond Meat, Impossible Burger, and Awesome Burger, if you’re going to produce meat, it better be organic, minimally processed and even certified humane
Protein — keto, paleo, grain-free, organic, etc. all of these go hand in hand with “a good source of protein” callout. If you’re following a specific diet or not, you’ll notice a lot of the new packaging has some sort of mention of protein on the front of the product
This show wrapped up my trade shows for 2019! I’m super excited to see what happens in 2020 and what new trends emerge!
Until Next Time,
-M
My Experience at Expo East – 2019 If I haven't mentioned it before, I really love my job as a Marketing Account Executive at…
