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TRENDWATCH
EXPO WEST 2016 REVIEW
Our Product Library’s senior staff mined the trade show floor to bring you news of the
most exciting innovations, ingredients, and category crossovers.
SPINS Expo West 2016 Review
As we reviewed our favorite products from Expo West, we realized that we could have segmented the items a dozen ways around diet
and lifestyles, flavor trends, functional ingredients, etc. The lines that once connected certain characteristics to a select few categories
are fading fast. Trends converge to become more than passing preferences: the natural products industry is continually setting and
advancing its own standards for responsibility and quality, focusing at once on product, planet, and people.
We couldn’t be happier about disappearing divisions. Malk’s organic nut milks weren’t just for vegans when Epic mixed them into bone
broth lattes. Devotees of a plant-based or Paleo diet might not change tribes, but they share a thirst for unprecedented quality. The Dr.
Bronner brand, a longstanding and outspoken advocate for fair trade and organic integrity, makes its social position clear: everyone
deserves a living wage. Life Basics Organics started on a quest to spread health, brewing tea with authentic flavors from extensive
travels. But fair trade, non-GMO, and organic certifications weren’t enough for the brand’s founders. They’re also committed to restoring healthy pollinator populations, sourcing honey from organic farms located at least five miles from corn or soy crops (often treated
with industrial pesticides known to cause serious harm to bees and contaminate bee pollen).
This ethos of innovation is driven by many influences. Larger conventional markets show the influence of natural principles more and
more, while cutting edge natural producers evolve and push familiar boundaries for dedicated natural consumers and retailers. Both
improved access to natural food in new markets and the innovation we see in the core of natural add up to one thing: more and better
choices for consumers from all walks of life.
Dairy Trends: The Skinny on Full Fat
Low fat and skim milk products were once touted as the healthiest dairy products around, but new arguments in favor of fat highlight
delicious indulgent flavors, improved satiety, and reduced sugar. Today’s dairy no longer demonizes fat but rather celebrates it in
rich and varied whole milk offerings with a special emphasis on the benefits of grass fed.
Stonyfield Organic introduced whole milk yogurts, including whole milk Greek yogurts and split cups with fruit
pairings, with 100% grass fed certification from Pennsylvania Certified Organic (PCO).
As cultured milk products boom in probiotic popularity, Bellwether Farms becomes one of the first to produce purely
whole milk kefir. In interesting flavors like blackberry and spiced apple, these kefirs are also certified organic and 99%
lactose free.
Green Valley Organics also showed off their whole milk kefir, produced in their own solar powered facility. They’ve
developed a line of whole milk yogurts, as well, which like their kefir, is entirely lactose free, certified humane, and
certified kosher.
Call us today at (312) 281-5100 or visit SPINS.com
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TRENDWATCH
EXPO WEST 2016 REVIEW
Dairy Free Milk: Much More Than an Alternative
New nuts aren’t the only sign of this category’s growth and evolution. Multi and single serve formats,
traditional pasteurization and HPP, and fewer refined sweeteners in sophisticated new flavors are just
a few of the ways producers play with an incredibly nuanced selection of beverages.
YEAR OVER YEAR (YOY)
DOLLAR GROWTH OF NUTBASED BEVERAGES
+8%
ACROSS CHANNELS
Soy may be where it all started, but Fermalife is taking alternative milk nutrition to a new level. Fermentation allows this drink to deliver more amino acids than other soy drinks, making it an attractive choice for
athletes after a workout.
Pop + Bottle is as vocal about what’s in its almond milk as what‘s not: it contains five times the amount of
almonds as many common beverages on the market, and it uses no binders or thickening agents to
achieve its creamy texture.
Macadamia nuts enter the mix in Milkadamia. The Australian beverage is proudly free of carrageenan,
gluten, GMOs, and soy.
In Malk’s organic nut milks, the focus is on simple, cold-pressed quality. Organic sprouted nuts form the
basis for each of the HPP almond, cashew, and pecan milks. Chocolate flavors come from raw heirloom
cacao, organic maple syrup lends a touch of sweetness, and the pecan milk cold brew coffee blend is
steeped in fair trade organic beans.
Numoo works with almonds, cashews, pecans, and pistachios to make a wide range of flavors. Standouts
include pistachio drinks like strawberry and espresso latte. Each one is non-GMO, organic, and sweetened with dates instead of refined sugar.
Nutraw’s love of pistachios is no secret: they’ve made bars, butters, and oils to prove it. Their latest
creation blends the heart healthy nut, dates, salt, vanilla, and water into a drink with 3 grams of fiber in
every bottle and fewer than 100 calories. With only five ingredients, there’s plenty of room on the label to
extol other virtues, such as cold-pressed, gluten free, non-GMO, organic, raw, and vegan.
Bigger brands branched out from their standard fare, too. Silk showed off a line of decadent Nutchello
drinks in large format bottles, including a dark chocolate and walnut flavor, with no carrageenan. In single
serve bottles, Califia’s matcha almond milk adds a bright new hue, while another new blend warms the
palate with ginger and turmeric.
Data Source: SPINSscan Natural, Specialty Gourmet and Conventional Multi Oulet (powered by IRI) 52 weeks ending 2/21/2016.
UPC coded items only. Natural Products only in Conventional MULO.
Growth based on dollar volume for the current period versus year ago and is based on currently coded items.
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TRENDWATCH
EXPO WEST 2016 REVIEW
Smart Snacks: High Quality Crunch
With upgraded functional ingredients and fresh new flavors, snacking has become much more than dispatching hunger pangs
between meals. The snack selection at this year’s show thrilled us with exciting culinary experiences in nutrient dense and sustainable packages.
With the debut of Activated Superfood Popcorn in flavors like tandoori turmeric and salsa verde, Living Intentions has taken organic popcorn to new heights of nutrition. Our trend spotters found this line to be one of
the most innovative and delicious at the show, featuring functional ingredients like ashwaganda extract,
chlorella, maca, and live probiotics.
Good Health released new kettle chips that feature 7g of heart healthy monounsaturated fat from algal oil,
an oil made from one of nature’s most sustainable resources. Keep an eye on algae and other high quality
culinary oils such as avocado, coconut, and sunflower: we love to see them pop up in place of more common,
lower quality oils and blends.
Forager’s organic vegetable tortilla chips feature fresh-pressed veggies, the byproduct of their juice line, and
sprouted grains, creating a healthy snack with a resourceful, sustainable edge.
We love the limited edition elote flavor from Cabo Chips, who grinds non-GMO corn to make, cut, and cook
tortillas into authentic cantina style snacks. Other flavors branch out into ancient grains and sweet churro
seasoning, and the whole grain line is gluten free, kosher, Non-GMO Project Verified, and vegan.
Inspired by spiced preparations of the Mexican root, Jica Chips forgo potatoes in their crunchy, low glycemic
packs for the peckish. Each bag is a serving with 5 grams of fiber and just 100 calories. The baked bites are
gluten free, play well with Paleo, and come in sweet and savory flavors like smoked BBQ, spicy soy ginger,
and cinnamon sugar.
The New Stars of Starch
This past November, the United Nations declared 2016 would be the International Year of Pulses. Expo exhibitors brought this
vision to life with innovative products across a range of categories, where pulses replace starchy counterparts like corn and
wheat. Pulses, or the dried harvests of beans, lentils, and peas, are a nutritional powerhouse of low glycemic and slowly
digested starch, plant-based protein, and fiber in addition to B-vitamins and minerals like iron.
Following the success of alternative grains and legumes in pasta products, Banza’s chickpea-based pasta
enters the packaged mac and cheese world with an impressive 18 grams of protein. Ancient Harvest’s POW!
red lentil quinoa mac and cheese follows closely with 16 grams.
Love Grown Foods has a new line of bean-based, kid-friendly, low sugar, and vegan cereals. Its nostalgic
flavors and packaging fit right in with family favorites made from traditional grains such as wheat and corn, but
today it’s beans for breakfast!
Roasted chickpeas deliver a satisfying crunch of fiber, protein, and interesting flavors from Biena. From cinnamon crunch to habanero to ranch and more, they’re also gluten free, Non-GMO Project Verified, vegan, and
made in the USA.
Brami brings the appeal of edamame to market with a soy free Mediterranean twist. They start with non-GMO
Lupini beans, a hardy crop that grows well in a variety of conditions, and add flavors like chili lime, garlic and
herb, and hot pepper to create sustainable nibbles that deliver richly in minerals and protein.
Call us today at (312) 281-5100 or visit SPINS.com
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EXPO WEST 2016 REVIEW
Goodness on the Go: Expo’s Best Bars
As natural food trends emerge and consumer preferences evolve, the bar category comes right along
in lockstep. Whole food formulas, superfood ingredients, and allergy considerations are just a few of
the advantages of the bars we loved at Expo.
LARABAR knows its way around the winning combination of fruit, nuts and seeds. New organic superfood bars add an extra boost of nutrition to the tried and true formula with no added sugars. The recipes
combine turmeric, ginger, and beet; coconut, kale, and cacao; and cacao with hazelnut and hemp.
YOY DOLLAR
GROWTH OF ENERGY
BARS & GELS
+14%
ACROSS
CHANNELS
Don’t spit ‘em…sprout ‘em! Go Raw’s new protein bar puts sprouted watermelon seeds front and center
and adds a little dark chocolate for good measure. The bar’s appeal reaches consumers with several
popular attributes, including gluten free, certified organic, Non-GMO Project Verified, Paleo, raw, and vegan.
Freedom Foods crafted blends with superfoods bars deliver high levels of nutrition in unusual combinations like chickpeas, maca, and sultanas with none of the eight most common allergens.
COMING SOON!
We’re glad these bar brands didn’t keep new projects under wraps: we can hardly contain our excitement!
Capitalizing on the success of its protein powders and shakes, Orgain will release a plant-based protein bar later
this year. Get ready for 6 grams of fiber and only 4 grams of sugar in a non-GMO, soy free, vegan package as early
as this summer!
What comes next for KIND? Grain free fruit and veggie bars with no added sugars! You’ll be hard pressed to stop
us from trying the new PRESSED by KIND line when it arrives.
Sweetening the Deal: It Can Be Done Without Cane
Natural consumers have long looked for healthy ways to satisfy a sweet tooth. Individuals may weigh a
sweetener’s glycemic index against its degree of processing, but there’s something for everyone with the
expansive range of inventive natural sweeteners available today.
Canadian producer Escuminac brought a new birch syrup to Expo in attractive glass packaging with a contemporary geometric aesthetic. Its timely arrival also coincides with other brands’ new birch water and chaga products
(the medicinal mushroom that grows in symbiosis with the tree’s bark). Birch’s basis in fructose lowers its glycemic
index compared to maple’s sucrose, but Escuminac isn’t drawing a line in the sap: it markets both kinds of syrup
as well as its own maple water.
Cassava’s role as a sweetener is often played under another name, as the starchy root’s flour is commonly called
tapioca in labeling. Madhava’s crystal clear, fructose free sweetener gives cassava center stage in this single
ingredient syrup.
Data Source: SPINSscan Natural, Specialty Gourmet and Conventional Multi Oulet (powered by IRI) 52 weeks ending 2/21/2016.
UPC coded items only. Natural Products only in Conventional MULO.
Growth based on dollar volume for the current period versus year ago and is based on currently coded items.
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EXPO WEST 2016 REVIEW
Animal Proteins: Well Done Products Are Anything But Rare
Shelf stable meat products have come a long way with high quality attributes like grass fed proteins,
Global Animal Partnership ratings, and distinctive flavor profiles. Factor in resourceful recyclable packaging, snout-to-tail consumption, and improved sustainability in sourcing, and it’s clear this is a category with
an innovative impact.
YOY DOLLAR
GROWTH OF JERKY &
OTHER MEAT SNACKS
+39%
ACROSS
CHANNELS
Dick Steven’s Jerky + Mix combines sweet and savory ingredients for a new twist on trail mix, like bison and
hemp, with a new line of bars on the way. Epic adds wild boar to its product mix, introducing a line of bars
made from wild game.
We’re also keeping our eye on The New Primal, and it’s not just because we like that their products are grass
fed, free range, Paleo, and free of gluten, soy, added hormones, and antibiotics. (Though we definitely like all
that!) The brand promises new jerky seasonings like cilantro lime, habanero pineapple, and maple bacon,
plus meat sticks and a new Snack Mates line for kids coming soon to the category.
Crickets have long been one of the most sustainable and efficient sources of protein in countless cultures,
but now they’re finding their place with natural consumers ready to reduce their carbon footprint. Bitty’s
Chiridos are puffed savory chips with spicy familiar flavors that make insect protein easy to swallow for even
the most skeptical snackers. The same company’s Trills cookie crisps are made from their proprietary cricket,
cassava, and coconut flour blend, mixing up chocolate chips with a sense of sweet environmental stewardship.
Cooking up new creations from the byproducts of others, bone broth dishes up restorative snacks and meals
to a growing audience who seek its high protein content, collagen, gelatin, and minerals. The segment is
simmering with creativity and rich, varied flavors like turkey, cranberry, and sage from Epic, rosemary and
lemon from Bare Bones, and Vietnamese pho from Nona Lim’s.
No need to beg from the table when human food trends cross over to pets! Lucky pups can lap up their own
bone broth as a functional liquid dog treat from The Honest Kitchen, and Buckley’s sources meat from the
USA for its beef liver jerky dog treats. Both are made from human food grade ingredients.
The New Collection of Culinary Oils
Expo got cooking with a new set of fats and flavors, featuring plant-based choices whose ingredients made
the jump from the supplement side of the store to shelf stable animal fats to please the Paleo crowd. We
love seeing a broad spectrum of choices for home kitchens, as well as ingredient crossover to prepared
products in other categories.
Nature’s Way always liquid premium coconut oil offers a high dose of MCTs, hailed for heart health and
cellular energy. Five new flavors lend themselves to tasty toppings, popcorn, dressings, and dipping sauces.
The line has four savory choices like spicy sriracha and fiery jalapeno, but we were especially intrigued by
the red raspberry bottle at the booth.
YOY DOLLAR
GROWTH OF OILS
+25%
ACROSS CHANNELS
Made from super seeds dating back to ancient peoples of the Peruvian jungle, Flora’s sacha inchi oil is coldpressed, extra virgin, non-GMO, and organic. We’re used to seeing this ingredient in supplements, but now
it’s easy to boost omega-3 fatty acids with a simple drizzle.
Adding to an extensive selection of meats, Epic is doing its part to ensure nose-to-tail consumption with a
new line of cooking oils from their pasture raised animals. Beef tallow, duck fat, and pork lard are back on
natural shoppers’ shelves as part of the brand’s own Whole Animal Project.
Data Source: SPINSscan Natural, Specialty Gourmet and Conventional Multi Oulet (powered by IRI) 52 weeks ending 2/21/2016.
UPC coded items only. Natural Products only in Conventional MULO.
Growth based on dollar volume for the current period versus year ago and is based on currently coded items.
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EXPO WEST 2016 REVIEW
Ready-to-Drink Beverages: Sap to Sour to Sparkling & More
2016 is already an explosive year for beverage! Often effervescent, lighter in sweeteners, and packed with functional ingredients,
this year’s crop of ready-to-drink beverages points to changing palates and high sipping standards. Many new products blend a
number of trends together, and we like the mix.
Maple and birch waters abound in new brand showings and converging drink trends. Happy Tree’s new
coffee is cold brewed in maple water. Sapp organic birch tree water and Sap on Tap maple waters hydrate
with less sugar than coconut water and interesting flavor infusions like nettles and yerba mate, respectively.
Sweet and sour drinking vinegars have shown themselves to be universally beloved. We found tart flavors
from all over the world at Expo! Pok Pok Som’s new sodas feature sweetened bubbly versions of their signature Thai-inspired drinking vinegar flavors like turmeric and Thai basil. CideRoad brought us a taste of Americana with ready-to-drink switchel, a beverage popularized during colonial times. Silk Road subtly highlighted
cider vinegar in their Iranian-inspired Mediterranean Refreshers.
Coco Libre’s new sparkling organic coconut water brings a new carbonated alternative to the highly developed coconut water category. Featuring electrolytes, no added sugar, and only 20 calories, it has soda and
coconut water fans bubbling over with excitement.
Alta Palla, from the makers of HiBall Energy drinks, is a new line of certified organic and fair trade sparkling
juice drinks. With its fresh vibrant look, simple ingredient list, and range of classic but sophisticated flavors,
we feel the appeal for all ages.
Full in flavor but skimpy in sugars, new tea drinks – especially sparkling ones! – are poised to take even more
space from standard sodas on beverage shelves. Bhakti’s new line features specialty teas like matcha and
rooibos in tandem with functional fruits, plus a dose of the brand’s signature fresh-pressed ginger.
In addition to the prebiotic and low-glycemic yacon it uses to sweeten its brews, Sherpa Power sources tea
and functional Ayurvedic ingredients entirely from the country of Nepal. These drinks are firmly rooted in
ethical agriculture and community development, plus they’re certified organic and free of GMOs.
Known for merging well-loved soda flavors into kombucha, Live Soda’s latest innovation is in sparkling drinking vinegars. Featuring prebiotics designed to complement the brand’s probiotic kombuchas, these drinking
vinegars have a smooth, approachable flavor and only 20 calories per bottle.
Kombucha’s popularity launched it from natural grocers’ shelves to corner convenient stores and even
professional sports stadiums. To stand out in a growing group of producers, certain smaller companies draw
inspiration from the craft beer world. Brew Dr.’s version with citrus and hops has a unique bitter dimension.
Revive Kombucha captures the essence of a campfire in its roasty brew of genmaicha green tea and toasted
rice.
Activated charcoal has been known to absorb toxins dating back to antiquity. Now it’s a hot ingredient in
several impressively approachable functional beverages. A new drink from Honeydrop features charcoal
derived from coconut shells combined with raw honey and cold-pressed lemonade. Juice Served Here
makes their own cold-pressed charcoal lemonade featuring alkaline water and montmorillonite clay, while
Kor’s Black Magic mixes the key ingredient with coconut water and ginger juice in a smaller but no less
potent High Pressure Processing (HPP) package.
Wonder Fuel coconut oil superdrink serves up 7g of medium chain triglyceride oils (MCTs) with organic
certification and no added sugar. Look for the coffee and mocha flavors to provide an extra boost of energy
from fairly traded coffee beans.
Blue Northern’s artisan butter coffee combines grass fed butter, MCTs, and collagen peptides into a cold
brew coffee with 10 grams of protein and zero added sugars.
Call us today at (312) 281-5100 or visit SPINS.com
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EXPO WEST 2016 REVIEW
A Plethora of Plant-Based Choices
Looking at Expo’s vast selection of artisanal plant-based foods, it’s hard to believe this was once a small sector of the market.
Powered now by practically every segment of natural food customers – followers of ancestral diets, environmentalists, vegetarians
and vegans, etc. – the new array of gourmet, handcrafted, and small batch goods hardly harken back to the heyday of soy.
At the center of the plate, Goodseed’s wild mushroom cauliflower burger is a true superfood. Prized savory
ingredients like black garlic, coconut aminos, pecans, shiitakes, and the brand’s signature hemp seeds deliver
on great flavor in grain free and Paleo-friendly form. There's also no gluten, soy, or added sugar.
Kite Hill made its name in artisanal dairy free cheese, but they’ve since grown into several lines including
yogurts, spreads, and now fresh filled pastas. Mushroom and almond milk ricotta makes an elegant entrée or
side on any diner’s dish.
4some Smoothies pack a plant protein punch with 10 grams in every ready-to-drink bottle. Cold-pressed,
gluten free, and vegan, the smoothies feature four different seeds: flax, hemp, poppy, and pumpkin.
Good Karma broke into a new category with a cultured flax milk probiotic drink in four flavors, including a blend
of pineapple and greens. With 5 grams of protein and 1200 milligrams of omega-3 fatty acids, it’s a welcome
addition to the dairy free yogurt set.
Last but never least, there’s a new bacon on the scene – made from pinto beans! Cool Foods veggie bacon
bits are soy free and entirely vegan, and they come in tempting hickory and maple flavors.
Unconventional Condiments
The natural products industry gives classics like mayonnaise and salad dressings a makeover to meet the
needs of dairy free, Paleo, and vegan customers. Some creative concoctions are already on the shelves, and
others are coming soon!
YOY DOLLAR GROWTH
OF CONDIMENTS,
DRESSINGS & MARINADES
+11%
ACROSS CHANNELS
Primal Kitchen’s mayo blends avocado and cage free eggs into a sauce to make dedicated Paleo enthusiasts
salivate – with no canola, soy, or sugar!
Daiya extends its offering from refrigerated to shelf stable with dairy free salad dressings in traditionally creamy
flavors like blue “cheeze,” Caesar, and ranch.
Sir Kensington’s reimagined condiments have built a strong following, and the newest addition contributes a
groundbreaking element of sustainability. Capturing what used to be kitchen waste, Fabanaise gives new use to
the water that remains after boiling chickpeas. The cooking liquid, a protein rich byproduct called aquafaba, takes
the place of eggs in the market’s newest vegan mayo. The spread is slated for release this summer.
Data Source: SPINSscan Natural, Specialty Gourmet and Conventional Multi Oulet (powered by IRI) 52 weeks ending 2/21/2016.
UPC coded items only. Natural Products only in Conventional MULO.
Growth based on dollar volume for the current period versus year ago and is based on currently coded items.
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EXPO WEST 2016 REVIEW
Prêt à Paleo: Speedy Solutions for a Modern Ancestral Diet
Thanks to the variety of new products we saw this year, contemporary Paleo cooks can count on quick
and easy dining ahead as convenience foods catch up to consumer demand.
YOY DOLLAR
GROWTH OF PALEO
POSITIONED PRODUCTS
+78%
ACROSS
CHANNELS
Known for their fruit bars, Paleo Passion introduced a line of skillet meals that are grain free with no
added sugars. Sauces are influenced by Asian flavors and made with honey, juice, and vinegars.
Boulder Canyon cuts out a time-consuming meal prep step. With new frozen “riced” cauliflower and sweet
potato, Paleo fits right into the mostly homemade meals trend we’ve seen consumers embrace.
Grandcestors‘ complete line of prepared Paleo frozen meals features international and American flavors,
and Beetnik Organic offers four frozen Paleo plates.
Pizza and Paleo are not mutually exclusive! Mikey‘s new crusts contain no dairy, gluten, grain, or soy, but
they do have plenty of room for creativity on pizza night. Dinner’s on the table even faster with Cappelo’s
fully prepared frozen pizzas in three gluten, grain, and nut free flavors.
In the realm of snacks, convenience reigns supreme. Simple Mills enters the category with a highly anticipated line of gluten free Paleo crackers made from almond flour with fewer carbohydrates than a typical
cracker. With a wide variety of sweet almond flour baking mixes under its belt, flavors like cheddar,
rosemary and sea salt, and sundried tomato with basil give the brand a strong savory start.
Fermentation Flavors
The natural food culture loves cultured food – naturally! The category continues to grow wildly as
fermented foods yield probiotics and appealing flavor mixes in both familiar and new formats.
Glory Bee adds to its already vast range of bee-driven products with a new fermented honey vinegar, aged
for six months.
Flavor profiles cross cultures in Ozuké’s probiotic pickled vegetables. The brand preserves consumer
interest with several flavors of kimchi and kraut that are organic, raw, vegan, and vinegar free.
Focusing on radishes, roots, and spicy or mild Napa cabbage, Sinto Gourmet’s kimchis carry Non-GMO
Project Verification and gluten free certification. They’re also vegan and vinegar free.
New “gut shots” make keen use of the byproduct of kimchi and kraut. The leftover liquid becomes a probiotic prize, repurposed into a drink or to season other dishes. We loved what we saw from Wildbrine, with
salty, spicy flavors from Japanese, Korean, and Thai style ferments. Alkalizing, unpasteurized, and wild,
these kimchi shots contain 5 billion active cultures. Adding two more flavors to our experience, Mother in
Law’s liquid kimchi also pulls double duty as gut shot or flavor elixir in food preparation.
You and Me and Umami
The Western palate has evolved to embrace the umami flavors of Eastern cultures. We found two
more treats that we know are a major boon for adventurous cooks in natural consumers' kitchens.
Muso’s adds powerful umami flavors like Togarashi pepper and ginger to mostly homemade meals by
way of convenient purees.
New products from grain veterans Lundberg blend exotic tastes like Korean BBQ with organic sprouted
brown rice, effectively spicing up the whole grain staple.
Data Source: SPINSscan Natural, Specialty Gourmet and Conventional Multi Oulet (powered by IRI) 52 weeks ending 2/21/2016.
UPC coded items only. Natural Products only in Conventional MULO.
Growth based on dollar volume for the current period versus year ago and is based on currently coded items.
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Exciting Elixirs
“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food” is as relevant now as it was in the time of Hippocrates. Today, functional foods
are breaching the line of simple nourishment to medicinal purposes, particularly in the form of drinkable concoctions. As the body’s
response and experience with food is acutely chronicled across generations and cultures, a modern day fusion of remedies is
captured by creative innovators. Curative and defensive nutrients star in golden milks, powdered broths, teas, and tonics.
Jarrow Formulas’ Beyond Bone Broth combines hot beverage trends and supplemental nutrition in a most
convenient powdered broth. Just add hot water and drink up the collagen, sea minerals, and activated
silicon. Recipes are free of added hormones, antibiotics, and gluten and come in beef or chicken flavors.
Jarrow Formulas continues to innovate with new drink mixes: a grass fed whey-based Golden Milk and a
Golden Tea for vegans. Long before turmeric took root as a popular pill in the supplement segment, it was a
key ingredient in the nurturing Ayurvedic rituals of warm drinks throughout the day and before bed. These
blends with traditional Indian spices like black pepper, ginger, and turmeric have plenty of culinary and
medicinal applications with antioxidant and digestive aid properties…now in convenient powdered form!
Gaia Herbs debuted its golden milk mix, a creamy tea that’s also certified organic, non-GMO, vegan, and free
of dairy and soy. Coupled with an herbal traceability program that authenticates ingredients from seed to
shelf, we think this little gem is, in fact, golden.
Four Sigmatic thrives off of heavily researched nutrient-dense superfood mushrooms. Wild harvested or
sustainably farmed chaga, cordyceps, and reishi are converted into powdered extracts for elixirs, hot chocolates, and coffees. Single-serve pouches only need hot water or can be blended into your favorite smoothie.
With herbal additions, the drinks’ healing properties range from immunity boosting and energy inducing to
supporting brain function.
RePear tonics espouse ancient Chinese practices to repair the body through the use of cooling properties,
Vitamin C, fiber, and pectin found in pears. Pear pulp infused with added medicinals such as chrysanthemum, honey, honeysuckle, licorice root, lily bulb, and monk fruit mimic ancient remedies of “Bintan Dwenli.”
Urban Moonshine, a veteran of herbal tonics and healing potions, has extended its offerings to mingle with
your social calendar. Appropriately named, the Cocktail Apothecary line of original, chamomile, orange, and
maple bitters complements adult beverages with a healthy herbaceous twist.
Home Health: Tree Free Staples
TG Eco Products offers a full line of 100% tree free paper towels and facial and bathroom tissues. Environmentally motivated, this brand opts for sugarcane pulp and bamboo grass to achieve the soft and absorbent
qualities consumers love. Sugarcane pulp is the once discarded residue from processing sugar that the brand
now diverts from waste. Pulp production relies on a 12 month regenerative cycle, as opposed to 10-30 years
for trees. Bamboo only needs 6 months, and together the mixture ekes out the ingenuity that we love from
the natural industry.
Compo is also going tree free with the mission to “rescue” sugarcane pulp, advancing its role as environmentally conscious trailblazers in the disposable serve-ware business. The 100% compostable line of tableware
includes napkins, plates, plus petroleum free cups and cutlery made from plant-based biopolymers.
Savannah Bee Company is dedicated to educating children and communities about the magic of bees
through honey sales as well as beeswax, propolis, and royal jelly laden beauty care products. Bee-friendly
tupelo honey moisturizing hand wipes are the latest product launch. Made form bamboo, they are 100%
biodegradable and contain no parabens, petroleum, phthalates, or SLS.
Call us today at (312) 281-5100 or visit SPINS.com
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Community Connections
Many natural brands are committed to transparency and grassroots empowerment throughout the supply chain. Here we spotlight
a few supplier partnerships with strategic intention to support their respective communities.
Asante Mama’s hand cut herbal teas and culinary spices that help lift rural Ugandans out of poverty. Diversifying farms to accommodate cocoa, herb, and spice cultivation in conjunction with subsistence food production is this founder’s passion. Fair trade, gluten free, and organic, every purchase invests in sustainable
sources and supports over 7,000 families. Be on the lookout for superfood baobab powder coming soon.
Atacora is the enterprise of a former Benin-based Peace Corps volunteer who ultimately never left. By 2007,
the founder established a superfood-centric company with its own Fair Partnership Model. Committed to
providing supplier communities with the resources they need, Atacora produces baobab, honey, moringa,
non-Indonesian palm oil, and fonio – an ancient grain to keep tabs on.
Portland Bee Balm brandishes a “Supporting Local Bees & Their Keepers” on the label, which itself features
independent Oregon printmakers. DIY-style beekeepers provide beeswax as well peppermint oil from
Oregon sources. One local investment at a time, this brand is addressing the need to rebuild pollinator populations.
Burt’s Bees released its new line of lip balms with the slogan #BringBacktheBees reiterating the issue that
declining honey bee population indicate poor environmental health. For every one of these lip balms sold,
1,000 bee-friendly wildflower seeds will be planted.
Good for Mom and Kids
Foods for new and expecting moms have come on strong over the last year. As more Millennials become
parents, our eye is on the proliferation of new products for pint-sized natural consumers, mirroring those
attributes and high standards that are important to mom and dad.
Milkmakers lactation cookie mixes contain brewer's yeast and oats to help boost milk production.
Bundle Organics’ line of juices are designed to complement prenatal vitamins with an extra dose of folic acid
and omega-3s.
Happy Family Foods recently released Happy Mama, a line of prenatal vitamins, snack bars, and fruit
pouches containing choline and DHA for baby and soothing ginger for mom.
Allergy-friendly (and school-friendly) is an increasing priority in many parents’ food purchasing decisions.
Freeyumm featured a line of allergy-friendly oat bars in 6 different flavors, highlighting chia, hemp, and
sweeteners like agave, coconut, and honey.
Free2B introduced a new line of chocolate bars, also free of the 8 common allergens, as the company
debuted new branding of its popular Sun Cup candy products which replace peanut butter with sunflower
seed butter.
Two innovative brands in the Paleo snack space, Thunderbird and The New Primal plan on releasing
kid-focused products within the next year, bringing their respective brands of nutrition to a new audience in
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Mind Your Mouth!
Activated charcoal and other key ingredients cross over from supplements to provide TLC for teeth in new
balms, mouthwashes, toothpastes and powders.
My Magic Mud’s tooth powder uses activated coconut shell charcoal, bentonite clay, mint, and orange peel
extract to detoxify, polish, strengthen, and whiten. Made with organic ingredients, the fluoride free formula is
gentle on enamel and claims to treat sensitivity in teeth.
Curaprox toothpaste proudly proclaims “Black is White.” It’s made with activated carbon in two varieties,
extra mild and lime, and it promises to gently remove stains and to repair enamel without abrasion, chemical
bleaching, or sodium lauryl sulfates (SLS).
Noyah has created the first food-grade edible lip balm for babies. Figuring that what goes on the lips is eventually ingested, the new natural lip product is made with organic ingredients like beeswax, coconut oil, and
extra virgin olive oil. The brand’s goals for beauty go far beyond skin deep: Noyah says its line of lipsticks
and glosses are already safe to consume, but it plans to extend the edible label claim to cosmetics in the near
future.
Thayers Natural Remedies protects your pucker with a new application of a time-honored treatment, including certified organic slippery elm extract in its new lip balm. The ingredient has been carefully harvested for
centuries from the inner bark of elm trees to comfort sore throats in lozenges, sprays, and teas, to ease
digestion, and to heal wounded skin.
Medicinal mouthwash gets a makeover with fresh new tastes and functional ingredients from Nature’s
Artisan. Cardamom tea, coconut ginger, green tea pomegranate, mandarin thyme, and rosemary mint flavors
are sweetened with xylitol. Swish freely: there’s no alcohol, artificial colors or flavors, parabens, phthalates,
or sulfates in any of the gourmet gargles.
New Strength in Supplements
Reg’Activ is all about glutathione, the compound it calls the “master antioxidant.” Featuring a uniquely
patented strain of probiotics, this new line of supplements from Essential Formulas manages to both recycle
glutathione and produce it anew in formulas that support detoxification and liver health, immunity and vitality,
and cardiovascular wellness.
Colostrum, the first milk of female mammals, provides a sizeable dose of antibodies to help fight disease. In
addition to supporting immune function, Symbiotics employs the ingredient to encourage cellular regeneration and to improve digestion. With a new line called Symbiotics Sport, the brand highlights colostrum’s
bio-active peptides as the next great asset for athletic recovery.
Turmeric combines with other botanicals in Himalaya’s Curcumin Complete, lending the power of synergistic
Ayurvedic herbs to combat inflammation and maintain the body’s connective tissues. This innovative blend
supports healthy joints, improved mobility, and increased flexibility.
Amazing Grass is shaking things up with a new certified organic and entirely vegan supplement. Aptly
named Protein Superfood, the formula incorporates fruits, greens, and other veggies along with a blend of
plant-based powerhouse ingredients like chia, hemp, pea protein, and quinoa. Stevia lends a sweet touch to
tempting flavors like chocolate peanut butter and vanilla.
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