Unboxed: 18 next-level plant-based products
While the abundance of plant-based options at Natural Products Expo East this year was evident, what stood out the most was the subtle shift in product formulation and positioning.
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Caramelized Coconut Snack Bar
7th Heaven Snack Bars offer the perfect quick plant-based sweet treat made from 100% oat milk chocolate.
Chipotle Mayo
Fabalish's vegan mayo gets its creaminess from aquafaba, the water left over from boiling chickpeas, which acts as a great egg white alternative. The chipotle mayo is seasoned with simple ingredients and is soy-free and top-8 allergen-free.
Chocolate Glazed Donut
Drumroll got a brand new look before coming to Expo East, which is actually the result of the rebranding of Green House Foods. The packaging re-design took the term "plant-based" off of the front of the packaging where in the previous version it was one of the most eye-catching features of the design.
Tigernut Root Milk - Barista
There were numerous kinds of plant-based milk on the show floor this year made from all sorts of nuts, seeds and more. Elari introduced a new ingredient into the mix: tigernuts, a nutritious and innovative option for plant-based milk native to the founders' home in West Africa.
Mexican-style Monterey Jack Olive Oil Cheese
GOOD PLANeT's new line innovates with olive oil as the main ingredient in its dairy-free cheeses. The cheeses can be found in various flavors and forms, from blocks and cubes to shreds, making them the perfect addition to any charcuterie board.
Crunchy Hazelnut Butter Oat Milk Chocolate
New from Dr. Bronner's is its line of Oat Milk Chocolates, a creamy alternative to its other plant-based dark chocolate Magic All-One bars. As with all of its products, sustainability is the foundation of this chocolate bar, which is made from Regenerative Organic Certified ingredients that support farmers and protect the land.
Hazelnut Milk
Hazelicious' delicious and frothy plant-based milks are made from hazelnuts with no added oils or preservatives. The brand supports sustainability by using hazelnuts grown on small family farms that only depend on rainfall.
Barn Cat
Bandit makes impressive cheeses from plants and a cashew base, but never any dairy. Its cave-aged Barn Cat sports a bloomy rind and crumbles just like a bleu cheese would.
Tomato and Poblano Pepper Jackfruit Jerky
This vegan jerky is top 9 allergen-free with no added sugar and gives consumers, vegan or not, a tasty snack that is a good source of protein and fiber.
Sunflower Milk
Lattini is innovating with sunflowers for this dairy-free milk. Sunflowers are a hearty and pollinator-friendly plant that can be grown in diverse climates. And for those with nut and other common allergies, this product offers a great plant-based milk option.
Simple Almond Milk
Mooala is letting the ingredients do the talking here. The USDA Organic Certified, shelf-stable milk is made from only water, organic almonds and salt. That's it!
Puff-Crispy Bar - Italian Pistachio Chocolate
Mezcla is bringing fun and sophisticated flavors to the bar category and packing in 10 grams of plant protein while doing so. Other unique SKUs, such as Japanese Matcha Vanilla and Mexican Hot Chocolate, are bringing excitement to a category overdue for innovation.
Garlic and Herb Cheese Alternative
Seeductive makes cheese without dairy and nuts, an excellent option for those with allergies. With beautiful packaging and classic flavors, including Garlic and Herb, Tuscan Tomato and Fig and Balsamic, anyone will be drawn to Seeductive's products regardless of their dietary preferences.
Pecan Milk
The artistic and endearing packaging alone will stop dairy and plant-based milk drinkers alike when they see these cans on shelves. Pecans are higher in antioxidants than other tree nuts and high in Omegas and heart-healthy fats. Additionally, plant milk in cans is a fun, different and sustainable choice that Treehouse Naturals made for its products.
Mushroom Balls
Shroomeats uses superfood shitake mushrooms for its Mushroom Balls, which are loaded with vitamins and minerals. The Mushroom Balls are made with only six ingredients and have a great umami taste and texture.
Classic Smoked Koji Ham
Prime Roots was founded by meat eaters looking for an option without the same climate impact of animal meat. The brand's booth at Expo East felt like walking up to any regular deli counter; the difference is that all of the meats are made from koji, a fungus used as a fermenting agent with long fibrous roots. Unlike other fungi, Koji takes only two to three days to grow and produces zero byproducts.
Whisked Crispy Salted Chocolate Chip Vegan Cookies
New from Whisked by Jenna are these delightful all-natural vegan cookies in classic flavors. "Crispy" is the primary call out here, with "vegan" still there to let consumers know, but it is smaller in the corner of the packaging.
Plant Based Caviar
Zeroe offers consumers a sophisticated and sustainable culinary experience with its vegan caviar. Zeroe uses sustainably sourced seaweed from the coast of France to craft this cruelty-free caviar. With beneficial nutrients, seaweed helps give the same taste and flavor as traditional fish caviar.
Plant Based Caviar
Zeroe offers consumers a sophisticated and sustainable culinary experience with its vegan caviar. Zeroe uses sustainably sourced seaweed from the coast of France to craft this cruelty-free caviar. With beneficial nutrients, seaweed helps give the same taste and flavor as traditional fish caviar.
A number of plant-based products stole the limelight at Natural Products Expo East this year. Beyond the mere fact of being plant-based, however, these products shone for their exceptional quality, taste and use of simple ingredients. Unlike at previous years' shows, where the terms vegan, plant-based and (meat or dairy, etc.) alternative may have taken center stage, this year's class of plant-based products seemed to have graduated to a different approach. Instead of loudly proclaiming their vegan or plant-based status on their labels, these brands opted to let the quality of their products do the talking.
Furthermore, innovation within the plant-based category was exceptional at Expo East, reflected in brands that were focusing on creating products derived from true, plant-based ingredients, rather than merely offering vegan alternatives. These standout products emphasized simplicity and recognizability in their ingredients. Rather than making "vegan" the central theme, brands incorporated it subtly into their packaging, allowing other product attributes to shine.
The "why" behind this shift for brands
Product-centric approach
Brands are letting their products speak for themselves. They are creating plant-based offerings that are elevated, sophisticated and, most importantly, that taste good. The products aim to provide consumers with a satisfying culinary experience, regardless of whether they are plant-based or not.
Simplicity and transparency
Unlike other plant-based alternatives that rely on complex and processed ingredients to mimic animal products, these standout products prioritize simple, recognizable ingredients. The goal is to offer consumers real food without the need for sacrifice with regard to taste or nutrition.
More than plant-based
The packaging and branding of these products do not heavily emphasize their vegan nature. Instead, being plant-based is just a part of the product's story, giving more attention to qualities like taste, sustainability or health benefits.
Appealing to a broader audience
Brands are recognizing that not everyone interested in plant-based options identifies as vegan. By avoiding the "vegan" label and making its products more inclusive, a brand can attract a wider range of consumers, including flexitarians and those exploring plant-based choices without committing to a fully vegan lifestyle.
Click through this gallery to discover high-quality, satisfying and transparent plant-based products that will appeal to a diverse range of consumers and set the tone for the next generation of plant-based.
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