In Part 1 and Part 2 of this series, get the scoop on the final Expo East, and discover some of the innovation highlights. And there’s even more to love in Part 3!
Here’s a look at more of the new and evolving trends we saw at Expo East.
Indulgences made healthier
Healthy gourmet pizza delivery represents a shift in the pizza industry towards providing more nutritious, high-quality, and innovative options for consumers who seek a balance between indulgence and health-conscious choices. This trend is on the rise – who doesn’t love pizza?
Porta is a family-run business 30 years in the making, providing authentic Italian pizza made by skilled chefs with premium ingredients. Based in Toronto, Ontario, Porta specializes in delicious Italian pizzas that are flash frozen at the restaurant and delivered straight to your door with no prep or mess. This company is on a mission to change the perception of frozen pizza in America with restaurateur Cosimo Mammaliti. Their chef-made pizzas use a hand-stretched technique for the dough and fresh ingredients, including 100% Extra Virgin Cortatina Olive Oil, Italian grown tomatoes, and Paola Mariana Flour to make true Italian classics like their light and airy Roman-style Stirata. People are enthusiastic about how much they love their pizzas due to the unique taste and texture, especially the dough and crust. Customers also love the stylish, sophisticated packaging.
WisePies Pizza started in 2014 as a single store in New Mexico with a dream vision of creating personal gourmet pizzas in a faster-than-ever way with healthier choices in mind. This certified minority-owned and female-operated business makes fun creations and an overall “smarter way to pizza.” The product line containing pizza, pizza bites, a variety of sauces, and calzones is the crossover between natural foods and traditional premium pizza categories, carrying the clean label promise. It is 100% locally operated and family-owned. The key is the proprietary recipes with their secret recipe roasted red pepper marinara sauce and certified Hatch Green Chile toppings. Hatch Green Chiles are exclusively grown in New Mexico.
Beyond pizza, sweet indulgences are including more natural ingredients rather than processed and artificial fillers. This allows us to savor delicious treats while still embracing whole ingredients. We don’t need to compromise on quality, taste, or nutrition when we seek to satisfy that sweet tooth.
Totally Bananas is the leading provider of premium chocolate banana novelties that will satisfy your sweet tooth. They offer novelties that are dairy-free, gluten-free, trans-fat free, and are a natural source of antioxidants and nutrients, without artificial flavors. All their snack pops are coated with a generous layer of rich dark chocolate that bursts with flavor. Totally Bananas dessert snacks are better for you than high calorie ice cream or sugary ice pops.
Numa makes naturally healthier taffy and peanut candies inspired by traditional Asian recipes. This Asian-American candy brand draws from heritage to inspire more functional candies. Their candies contain 40% less sugar and 200% more protein than the standard candy bar without sacrificing taste and prioritizing real and simple ingredients. Numa means daughter and mother in Chinese, as the company was founded and scaled by a daughter-mother duo from their home kitchen to a dedicated facility in PA. Numa continues to honor the founding values of health, family, and heritage.
Date Better is upgrading the Medjool date game. Their date snacks are full of fiber, potassium, B-family vitamins, magnesium, and calcium, just to name a few. Better yet, there are no preservatives and they are100% vegan. Explore their flavors from creamy cashew butter with toasted quinoa coated in 85% organic dark chocolate and infused with lime, to almond java crunch with espresso beans that hit the spot, to peanut butter crisp or hazelnut praline.
International flavors
The Mediterranean diet is getting more recognition for its many health benefits and diverse flavors. Brands are marketing more authentic dishes across the U.S. market. Consumers are being exposed to authentic Mediterranean cuisine, and it is only a matter of time before unhealthy, unnatural, and processed American dips and spreads are replaced with nutrient-filled cultured food.
In Mediterranean culture, cuisine is often synonymous with a bounty of food, reflecting the region’s emphasis on sharing and hospitality. Yaza Foods’ traditional labneh, using clean ingredients sourced from New York State, captures the true essence and authenticity of the Mediterranean culture, without fillers and artificial additives. Labneh is made from fermented milk that has been strained for several hours. It is rich in probiotics and low in fat. Most manufacturers put too much fat into labneh, add in too much salt, and blend in too many chemicals. Yaza has a cleaner and more refined process. When their cheese cloth strains the labneh, they get rid of bacteria and excess water without adding any preservatives. Their product even has a shelf life of 90 days. Yaza is determined to make labneh more mainstream and encourage those wanting to expand their tastebuds to replace basic, unhealthy American condiments with traditional labneh. In addition to their plain labneh, they are the first to offer unique flavors like Za’atar & Olive Oil and Spicy Chili varieties, with more to come so that everyone can enjoy labneh with the most beloved spices of the Mediterranean.
Based in Boston, Sweet Tahini is an immigrant women-owned business, crafting plant-forward desserts, snacks, and dish enhancers using Middle Eastern nutritious pantry staples. There is nothing more comforting, pleasing, and mood-boosting than a little something sweet. In the ancient Middle East, clusters of raisins, dates, and fig cakes were given as reviving foods, and sweets were created by combining fruits with nuts, and wheat, or tahini with honey. Tahini is a reliable source of plant-based fat and protein, and it’s packed with vitamins and minerals.
Inspired from family recipes, Arya International is introducing mainstream consumers to heritage inspired Indian staples like roti and batters for dosa where authentic flavors meet wholesome ingredients. Their products are all-natural and clean. They bring the love of South Indian cuisine from the streets of India to your kitchen.
International Asian cuisine is being praised for its health benefits and palatable flavors. More small business owners are loud and proud when sharing their culture and culinary creativity. They experiment with various ingredients, spices, and sauces to make unique and appetizing noodle dishes.
Omsom is the cult-favorite saucy noodles brand everyone is talking about. Omsom is a Vietnamese phrase meaning noisy, rambunctious, riotous, representing the true spirit of the brand by bringing proud, loud Asian flavors to your fingertips any day of the week. The owners are daughters of Vietnamese refugees, who grew up at their family’s kitchen counter, watching their mom cook Vietnamese dinners from scratch every night. Like so many Asian moms, this was her love language to her children. No more diluted dishes, or compromises, just authentic meals from a true community of cultured food lovers.
Miracle Noodle provides healthy, low carb, ready-to-eat meals that fit your lifestyle. For those new to shirataki noodles, there’s no better way to get acquainted than with Miracle Noodle’s variety samplers, with an assortment of flavors. Their products are made from the Konjac plant eaten in Asia for more than 1,000 years and are soy-free, gluten-free, vegan, and non-GMO. Started by a dermatologist who is nutrition-focused and has a special interest in auto-immune diseases, Miracle Noodle’s core value is to provide food that helps people heal, especially for those with dietary restrictions, such as, diabetes, celiac, and certain seizure disorders.
S’NOODS are simple, easy, and delicious noodles that don’t require any hassle to prepare. These crunchy and crispy noodle snacks are the brainchild of Lauryn Bodden, a recipe developer, culinary producer, private chef, and self-proclaimed snack queen who just took home the win on Netflix’s Snack vs Chef, which pushed her to launch this very snack brand. Made from a proprietary, gluten-free formulation, S’NOODS delivers the crunch without the allergen. Their goal is and always will be to provide climate-friendly snacks from upcycled ingredients to eco-friendly packaging. As the S’NOODS community grows, so will their sustainability goals, so they encourage all to be a part of their journey.
Omegas & collagen
Omega-3 fatty acids and liquid collagen supplements are gaining traction because they positively affect the body and mind. Omega-3s support heart, brain, eye health, and more. Collagen is the most abundant protein in the body; it supports hair and nails, joint health, muscle recovery and more.
Carlson Labs’ nutritional supplements began in Founder Susan Carlson’s small Chicago apartment in 1965 and have grown to offer more than 300 vitamins, minerals, Omega-3s, kids’ products, and other nutritional supplements. Carlson’s Omega-3s are made with pure, potent oil sourced from wild-caught fish. They are committed to the environment as they are to the high quality of their products. The full Carlson product line is recyclable and 100% plastic neutral. To date, they’ve helped remove more than 1/4 million pounds of plastic from our global waterways – the very source of some of their most popular products. products are third-party certified and are tested by an FDA-registered laboratory for potency and quality.
Collagen supplements help support healthy, more youthful skin, stronger nails and luscious hair, gut health, joints & bones, and post-workout recovery. Full Body Impact changes the way people consume collagen with hydrolyzed liquid collagen protein supplements that contain hyaluronic acid and vitamin C. Their products do not have artificial sweeteners, sugar, diary, gluten, or soy. Plus, they are paleo and keto friendly. A quick drink of Full Body Impact gets the small, stimulating peptides in hydrolyzed liquid collagen, full of highly digestible proteins, absorbed into the body. Almost 100% of it is immersed within 15 minutes and acts on the spot, triggering your body to make more collagen for stronger bones and healthier joints, according to the company. The new Collagen Gold Edition absorbs Hyaluronic Acid and Vitamin C with it for better full body results.
A clean & green lifestyle
More consumers are prioritizing natural and non-toxic ingredients for their bodies and their homes. These products are designed to reduce the impact on the environment and on our health. Check product labels to make sure there are no harmful or hazardous chemicals. A cleaner and greener lifestyle is the way to go.
Cleanery offers low-waste cleaning and personal care products that come as a powder that dissolves in water at home to create an ultra-effective clean. They provide reusable bottles as well. In 2050, there will be more plastic than fish in the sea. Cleaning and personal care products are a huge part of the packaging problem – every year, billions of single-use bottles are manufactured, filled mostly with water, shipped around the world, and then thrown away. Cleanery knew there had to be a better way, so they set out to create a no-compromise low-waste alternative that was eco-friendly – and actually worked. They patented new formulations that allow naturally occurring plant and mineral materials to mix easily in water. They are committed to minimizing their impact by manufacturing in New Zealand, which reduces shipping emissions and the energy bill. Their ingredients are ethically sourced, and they use sustainable postage and packaging options, plus their sachets are more than 99% less waste than traditional products.
Clean Age is all about natural deodorants that work while allowing the body to do its thing with scents that are refreshing yet subtle, so you can mix and match and layer as you go. Additionally, they have products for oral care to maintain that wonderful smile. Each of their products is made with the same standards in mind—sustainable inside and out, vegan & cruelty-free, and good for the planet. They are true problem solvers. Their deodorant is the perfect solution for teens looking for a sustainable, aluminum-free, baking soda-free, natural formula with scents that work for everyone and their toothpaste tabs are pre-measured and waterless, so there is no waste and less mess.
ProofPlus is the protector of couches, the savior of rugs, and the champion of white shirts everywhere. They are on a mission to make the world a better place for people, pets, and the planet, which is why their products are free from harmful ingredients, PFAS-free (100% fluorine-free) water-based chemistries that outperform their fluorinated counterparts, packaged in ecofriendly solutions, and powered by 100% compressed air. They believe in protecting what you love without compromising on safety.
Vegan skincare
Skincare treatments and products that are cruelty-free and formulated with natural, non-toxic, and ethically sourced ingredients are being valued higher than those without. Not only are animal-derived ingredients being avoided and environmental impact is being minimized, but effective skincare solutions are being created as well.
Dr. Botanicals is a multi-award-winning European skincare company with the single belief that natural skincare works. This company was founded in 2011 by Richard Walker. His mother came from a 4th generation farming family, and they knew the value of respecting the Earth. His father was a community pharmacist who spent his life in local healthcare. This brand’s collection represents the drive to find the best natural ingredients and deliver specific solutions, treatments, and benefits to your skin. Plus, with every order, they plant a tree. They are also a proud LGBTQ+ owned brand, championing diversity. They want every person that loves their products to feel good about themselves and feel part of the family. They even promise to be carbon-free by 2025 and to continue to use only eco-friendly packaging.
Founder Elina Sofia Wang struggled with stomach ulcers for many years and in early 2018, she started to live a cleaner lifestyle. She began to transition to clean skincare products but found out that there weren’t any non-toxic sheet masks on the market, so she started her own brand called ESW Beauty. Her goal was to create beauty products that mix clean ingredients and good-for-you foods with a playful flair in packaging. These sheet masks and beauty tools are vegan, cruelty free and made with sustainable packaging.
The next iteration of this event, Newtopia Now, will launch August 6-8 in Savannah, Georgia.
Read part 1 and part 2 for more trends from the Expo East show floor!
For more trends, read the latest from trendspotter Nancy Trent.
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