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Plant Based World Expo Engages Food Industry

The third Plant Based World Expo North America returned to the Javits Center in New York on Sept. 8-9. Attendees at the 100 percent plant-based B2B industry event enjoyed innovative new plant-based products, speakers and networking opportunities. There were 3,722 attendees, up roughly 20 percent from 2021, and 232 exhibitors.

“The response to this year’s Plant Based World Expo has been tremendous,” said Chris Nemchek, general manager. “One of our goals this year was to improve the audience quality and increase the number of retail and foodservice buyers at the show, and we are thrilled to report that we increased the number of buyers by 20%.”

Trends on display included:

● Mushroom-based meats, snacks and jerky from Fable, Popadelics and Eat the Change.

● Plant-based meats and seafoods from companies such as Atlas Monroe, Hoya, Unlimeat, The Blue Butcher, Mind Blown Seafood and Finless Foods.

● Functional foods and beverages from Broma, True North, Remedy and Purposefuel.

● Snacks galore from Rule Breaker Snacks, Lupii, Mozaics and Fat Badger.

● Global culinary creativity and chef-crafted products.

● Convenient and accessible frozen and prepared entrees from companies such as Strong Roots and Wicked Foods.

● Elevated plant-based cheeses from Good Plant Foods, Bedda Cheese, Selfish Cow Plant Based Cheese, Plant Perks, Nuts for Cheese, Wildbrine and Miyoko’s Creamery.

“The success of this year’s Plant Based World Expo demonstrates the continued excitement around the plant-based foods industry,” said Rachel Dreskin, CEO of PBFA and The Institute. “Thanks to the strength of our partnership with the PBW team, we were able to put on a fantastic show featuring impactful conference sessions and so many meaningful opportunities for our members to connect with industry leaders and buyers. We look forward to continued growth and the expansion of our joint mission to showcase the power of plant-based.”

The show’s exhibitors were enthusiastic about their experiences at the show, citing great connections and the chance to showcase their products to a highly qualified audience as reasons why they plan to return next year.

“This was Mind Blown’s first year exhibiting at the show and it was incredible start to finish,” said Monica Talbert, co-founder of Mind Blown Plant Based Seafood Company. “The energy and excitement from attendees and other exhibitors was truly electric and so many quality connections really makes PBW a show not to miss!”

Whether they were sampling delicious plant-based frozen desserts and mouth-watering plant-based entrees or learning from expert speakers, celebrity chefs, and industry leaders, attendees agreed that this was the best PBW yet.

“The show has been incredible. We’ve made a lot of good contacts with all the right people to get our product into the right places. We’re looking forward to next year,” said Marc Elkman, co-founder, Mighty Yum.

“This was our first time coming to the show and we have made many amazing connections here–it gives me goosebumps–and we’re excited about following up and our future,” said Camille Holder-Brown, co-founder, Kale Cafe.

Read more about plant-based food in the October issue of Gourmet News. Subscribe today so you don’t miss it!

Olipop Names Camila Cabello as Brand Ambassador

Olipop brand ambassador Camila CabelloFunctional soda brand Olipop has signed multi-Grammy nominated Cuban born singer/songwriter Camila Cabello as its first major brand partner. While known primarily as a singer, songwriter and actor, Cabello is also a passionate businesswoman working to support brands with impactful missions. The partnership will center around deep creative collaboration on upcoming marketing initiatives, as well as ongoing involvement and advocacy of their shared mission in the health and wellness space.

This partnership is a testament to the better-for-you beverage’s current exponential growth and long-term ambition to transform the traditional soda industry, as Cabello is going against the grain by choosing to partner with an up-and-coming brand like Olipop.

“What we put into our bodies can lead to so many different health issues, including negative effects on your mental health,” said Cabello. “I’m proud to partner with a brand that is working to provide healthier drink options that align with how I strive to live.”

“Authentic alignment with our talent partners is critical to us, and our partnership with Camila sprung out of her organic love for the product and our love for her amazing values and creativity,” said Ben Goodwin, Olipop’s founder, formulator and CEO. “We are thrilled to partner with Camila to amplify Olipop ’s involvement in meaningful cultural moments born out of making a positive change in society and spreading true enjoyment in the process.”

Cabello was previously announced as an Olipop investor in February 2022, but is deepening her relationship with the brCaand with this new deal. OLIPOP’s delicious product offerings, health benefits, and transparency to customers have attracted additional strategic celebrity and business investors including Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Nick Jonas, Joe Jonas, Kevin Jonas, Mindy Kaling, Logic, Gwyneth Paltrow, top execs from ClassPass, TikTok, Shake Shack, Equinox, and many more.

Since launching in 2018, Olipop has already achieved a striking valuation of $200 million, disrupting the traditional soda industry and amassing widespread appeal for its tasty, nostalgia-infused flavors, and proprietary gut-friendly formulation. The brand was started by beverage entrepreneurs Goodwin and David Lester who set out to create a functional soda—one with a familiar and delicious taste but with the added benefits of microbiome and digestive health support.

While traditional soda is loaded with sugar and additives, each can of OLIPOP has only 35-45 calories, contains two to five grams of natural sugars, and provides nine grams of prebiotic plant fiber, which is one-third of the daily recommended amount. The product is eliminating the consequences of the traditional soda category, and making way for a new functional soda with benefits, changing the trajectory of health outcomes for many consumers.

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Kroger Debuts Thrifty Smart Way Product Line

The Kroger Co. has launched Smart Way, a new opening price point Our Brands product line. This line brings together 16 legacy brands into a single, easy-to-find identity.

“As our customers face an ongoing inflationary environment, we know they are looking to stretch their dollars further than ever before,” said Stuart Aitken, senior vice president and chief merchant and marketing officer. “Smart Way is an exciting, eye-pleasing product line that will be easy for customers to find. By adding a simplified opening price point brand strategy to Our Brands portfolio, we will further cater to every customer, every time.”

Smart Way joins Kroger’s extensive Our Brands portfolio, which also includes the namesake Kroger brand, Simple Truth, Private Selection, Home Chef and Heritage Farm among others. Consolidating a number of legacy brands will ensure customers searching for opening price point items will be able to easily find what they are looking for on the shelves.

“We are confident Smart Way will have something for everyone,” said Juan De Paoli, vice president, Our Brands. “From canned vegetables and bread to juices and staples, this new product line features the products families need to put an even more affordable meal on their table.”

Customers can shop approximately 150 Smart Way products on shelves nationwide, with additional items available in Fall 2022.

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