Unboxed: 13 new comfort foods with nutritious twists
From this year's pool of Natural Products Expo East NEXTY Award nominees, New Hope Network's judges discovered these 13 comfort foods.
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Henrietta Said
Henrietta Said offers a bold and flavorful line of chicken wing-flavored peanuts featuring a unique fusion of traditional and global flavors. Vegan, protein-packed and with no artificial ingredients, these scandalously spicy peanuts are disrupting the snack category with their approachable yet exciting tastes. At the same time, the brand's sustainable, zero-waste and carbon-friendly peanut sourcing makes every snack environmentally conscious.
Ruby Jewel
For this indulgent treat, Ruby Jewel uses house-made caramelized espresso ice cream nestled between delectable double chocolate chip cookies. This product embodies the brand's commitment to exceptional flavor combinations and natural, high-quality ingredients, offering a rich and aromatic coffee experience that captures the essence of true indulgence. This brand, a 2022 Expo East NEXTY Award finalist, sources its ingredients from farmers local to Portland, Oregon.
JonnyPops
JonnyPops Organic Star-Spangled Flag Popsicles offer a nostalgic treat, with just a few simple ingredients and no artificial flavorings. JonnyPops are non-GMO, organic and dairy free, making them perfect for food-sensitive fans of all ages. The inspiring messages on the popsicle sticks, a hallmark of the brand, reflect the company's values by placing kindness at the center of every pop. Today, not only does JonnyPops have a Kindness is Golden Rewards Program through which it rewards fans for doing kind deeds, but it also promote kindness at over 3,500 schools throughout the U.S. with its Kindness Curriculum. This brand won a 2023 Expo West NEXTY Award for Best New Sweet Snack.
Seattle Chocolate Company
Not sure what to try first? Seattle Chocolate Company offers a delightful surprise to all chocolate lovers with its indulgent assorted chocolate truffles in flavors such as dark chocolate, blackberry crème and Mexican hot chocolate. Seattle Chocolate Company commits to fighting climate change and becoming carbon neutral through sustainable and regenerative farming practices and compostable wrappers. The box comes with clear instructions on how and where to recycle it.
This brand's ingredients are all natural, non-GMO and have no preservatives, artificial or synthetic components. As it sources its chocolate from Rainforest Alliance Certified cocoa suppliers, the brand supports social, economic and environmental sustainability issues including gender equality, child labor and more.
Sayso
Sayso's Skinny Spicy Margarita, a craft cocktail or mocktail in a tea bag, is as relaxing as a spa day at the beach. This innovative use of a tea bag delivers delicious cocktails or mocktails with less effort than ever. Sayso also prides itself on ingredient transparency, providing the short ingredient list directly on the tea bag. The brand's new pouches are sustainable, made with no single-use plastics and recycled materials. All Sayso cocktails are certified gluten free and non-GMO, and the margarita is certified kosher and vegan as well.
Katie's Pizza and Pasta
Katie's Pizza and Pasta started as a family-owned and operated restaurant group based in St. Louis, Missouri. During the pandemic, it expanded into frozen pizza—and elevated the category. Katie's chefs constantly experiment with fresh ingredients, and this cheesy, garlicky pizza is the perfect easy and comforting meal after a long day.
Elmhurst
Experience autumn in a cup with Elmhurst's new Apple Pie Spice Blend plant-based milk. Crafted through its unique HydroRelease method, this creamy and indulgent blend combines whole grain oats and cashews, delivering 4 grams of protein per serving. Not only is it delicious, but it's also sustainable: Elmhurst's commitment to reducing land and water usage, lowering emissions and using renewable energy from Niagara Falls ensures a minimal environmental footprint. Enjoy the taste of the season with this Non-GMO Project Verified, gluten-free, dairy-free, carrageenan-free, Kosher and certified vegan product, packaged in 100% recyclable, Forest Stewardship Council-certified paperboard cartons.
Rudi's Rocky Mountain Bakery
With its signature Rocky Mountain Sourdough Bread, Rudi's Rocky Mountain Bakery has brought ultimate convenience to comfort with its new, delectable frozen Texas Toast featuring a buttery garlic spread paired with a delicious three-cheese blend. With no artificial preservatives and premium quality ingredients, consumers will love toasting it up for the whole family. Gluten-free consumers will also be happy to see a gluten-free option launching as well.
Seven Teas
Seven Teas is on a mission to refresh, re-energize and modernize the iced tea category for consumers and retailers with five flavors of organic iced teas, including this thirst-quenching Georgia Peach Iced Tea. Using only natural ingredients from countries around the world, Seven Teas contributes to a sustainable ecosystem that supports farmers, the agriculture and everyone who is part of the tea journey. Every bottle reflects quality, uncompromised ingredients and giving back to communities, including supporting 1% For the Planet.
Louisville Vegan Toppins'
Bringing delicious local and regional flavors to stores around the U.S. and Canada, Louisville Vegan Toppins' continues innovating and inspiring the BBQ world with its Vegan Bacon Bits made from all-natural ingredients. Louisville Vegan Toppins' works to create a world where all flavors are available to food-sensitive consumers. Louisville Vegan Toppins' shares proceeds from its Shelby Park bag toward beautification and community projects surrounding its manufacturing facility in the heart of downtown Louisville, Kentucky.
Yishi
Inspired by the classic Chinese dessert mango pudding, Yishi's Mango Coconut Oat Spread uses sweet mango and creamy coconut milk to create a light yet decadent spread like no other. Yishi's Mango Coconut Oat Spread is gluten free, dairy free and peanut free, yet it's nourishing and satisfying. Made with whole grains and only 3 grams of added sugar, it's a tropical combination that brings joy to any day, no matter the weather. Created by a female Chinese immigrant, Yishi aims to provide fun yet healthy alternatives to sickly sweet and boringly bland breakfast staples.
Eastern Standard Provisions Co.
Eastern Standard Provisions Co. offers Turnbuckle Soft Pretzel Sticks with Cheese Sauce, a delightful combination of airy soft pretzel sticks featuring a brioche-style interior and a traditional Bavarian crust. These pretzels are complemented by a smooth, creamy white cheddar cheese sauce, providing a delicious snacking option.
Catalina Crunch
Catalina Crunch's new Pairings line combines nutritional science with culinary arts. Catalina's high-protein snacks are made with fiber, good fats, real ingredients, very little to no sugar and are Keto-friendly. The brand's suppliers exceed the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil standards to ensure that ingredient is benefits the planet and the people who make their living from palm oil. This cereal provides a delicious, nostalgic and healthy start to anyone's day.
Catalina Crunch
Catalina Crunch's new Pairings line combines nutritional science with culinary arts. Catalina's high-protein snacks are made with fiber, good fats, real ingredients, very little to no sugar and are Keto-friendly. The brand's suppliers exceed the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil standards to ensure that ingredient is benefits the planet and the people who make their living from palm oil. This cereal provides a delicious, nostalgic and healthy start to anyone's day.
It's the most wonderful time of the year: NEXTY Awards season!
This year's nominees brought the New Hope Network judges tidings of comfort and joy with products showcasing cozy and nostalgic flavors. Some of these treats reminded these adults of their childhoods, while others simply carried the judges back to the regional flavors of their hometowns.
These brands have elevated the nostalgic flavors of the past by using organic ingredients and alternative proteins; being free of gluten, dairy or other allergens; and following sustainable practices throughout the lifecycle of their products.
One feature of the NEXTY Awards that every New Hoper loves is the sneak peek of what we'll see from exhibitors at Natural Products Expo East. These products, including blueberry muffin cereal, Texas toast and soft pretzel sticks, represent just some of the good eats we'll all find in Philadelphia.
Click through the gallery to find new products your shoppers will love.
Natural Products Expo East begins Sept. 20 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia. In addition to the traditional education sessions and trade show, New Hope's Innovation Experience debuts this year. Attendees can enjoy the Harvest Festival, Pitch Slam, a Fun Run through the streets of Philly and a concert with Grammy Award-winning musician Wyclef Jean. Learn more about Expo East's agenda, exhibitors, retail buyers and registration. NEXTY Award winners will be announced at the show on Sept. 21.
Qualified retailers, food service providers, distributors and other buyers will receive a $50 discount from the on-site registration price through Sept. 17.
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