More than 80,000 specialty foods and beverages were on display at the trade show.
Urban Accents, Inc. is debuting plant-based Ground Veggie Meatless Mixes in three globally inspired varieties: Sweet Black Garlic Korean BBQ, Classic Honey BBQ Sloppy Joe, and Smokin’ Chipotle Street Taco. Available in April, the spiced, soy-based protein is packaged in pouches that provide the equivalent of one pound of ground meat and retail for $4.99.
“The culinary world and home cooking have evolved so much in the past 20 years since we launched Urban Accents,” said Tom Knibbs, president of Urban Accents. “We are excited about the growing demand for vegetarian options and noticed increased choices in fast food and in the frozen section of grocery stores. We were eager to be the first-to-market with flavorful, shelf-stable, dry meal kits that provide home cooks with satisfying flavor experiences. Our products are never dump and stir; they help people cook with confidence. We remove the intimidating learning curve while still providing room for experimentation and personalization.”
Outstanding Foods is expanding its reach in the better-for-you snack category with the launch of PigOut Pigless Pork Rinds, set to roll out in February. Containing 25 grams of plant-based protein per 3.5-oz bag, the baked snacks and are free from gluten, soy, G.M.O.s, cholesterol and trans fats. PigOut Pigless Pork Rinds are certified vegan and kosher and come in Original, Nacho Cheese, Hella Hot and Texas BBQ varieties.
“We've all bought a bag of chips with the intention of having just a few,” said Bill Glaser, co-founder and chief executive officer of Outstanding Foods. “Fast forward to an empty bag and a guilty aftertaste full of fat and salt, but no nutrition. Our PigOut Rinds have solved this problem. Now you can enjoy a salty, savory snack that’s packed with flavor AND nutrition. With a whopping 25 grams of protein in every full size bag, you can PigOut with zero guilt.”
Alden’s Organic is debuting dairy-free frozen desserts in carton and sandwich formats that are made with brown rice, oat flour, coconut oil and pea protein. The 14-oz cartons come in seven flavors: Caramel Almond Crunch, Muddy Brownie, Vanilla Bean, Double Strawberry, Freckled Mint Chip, Peanut Butter Chip and Cookie Crumble. The sandwiches come in two varieties: Vanilla Bean Round Sammie and Caramel Drizzle Round Sammie.
“Consumers are craving a dairy-free option that actually delivers an exceptional flavor-filled experience,” said Joelle Simmons, senior vice-president of sales and marketing at Alden’s Organic. “We saw an opportunity and worked through 29 variations to develop a more progressive, organic dairy-free recipe that upholds the high standards of our famous ice cream.”
Beanfields is introducing Vegan Cracklins, made with beans, cassava flour and chickpea protein. The gluten-free snacks provide 4 grams of protein and 3 grams of fiber per serving and come in two flavors: Chile Limon and Spicy Nacho.
“At Beanfields we’re trailblazing and creating new sub-segments in food and snack along the way,” said Arnulfo Ventura, chief executive officer of Beanfields. “We continue to push the envelope and hopefully raise the bar for our loyal fans and for snackers everywhere who are looking for bold flavors and better-for-you options. Vegan Cracklins signify our first venture outside of chips, and we couldn’t be more excited to share the news. Our Cracklins add a bold new texture and flavor to our existing lineup of chips with a great taste that’s made of clean, guilt-free ingredients.”
Harmless Harvest, maker of organic coconut-based beverages, is expanding into the yogurt alternative market with a full suite of plant-based coconut yogurt alternative products.
Harmless Harvest dairy-free coconut yogurt alternative cups are made with young Thai coconut meat and are cultured with seven live active yogurt strains. Varieties include plain, strawberry, vanilla and blueberry.
The new dairy-free yogurt drinks blend Harmless Harvest coconut water with Thai coconut meat and live probiotic cultures. The 8-oz beverages come in strawberry, mango and original unsweetened varieties.
Additionally, Harmless Harvest is introducing an original unsweetened multi-serve dairy-free drinkable yogurt.
“Harmless Harvest’s dairy-free yogurt alternative line brings delicious flavor to the dairy-free yogurt aisle,” said Heather Cutter, senior vice-president of brand, innovation and marketing at Harmless Harvest. “We recognized an opportunity to give plant-based yogurts a makeover by re-imagining the taste, texture, and recipe development of a beloved household staple that can be loved by both dairy and non-dairy consumers. It’s an innovative addition to the plant-based yogurt category.”
Renewal Mill is introducing 1-to-1 Gluten-Free Baking Flour, featuring okara flour. The flour contains 25% more protein and more than 4 times the fiber of other gluten-free cup-for-cup blends, the company said. The baking flour ingredients include brown rice flour, organic okara flour, potato starch, white rice flour, tapioca flour and xanthan gum.
“We kept hearing from consumers that they were dissatisfied with their current gluten-free baking options,” said Claire Schlemme, co-founder and chief executive officer of Renewal Mill. “Other blends were either too beany, not 100% plant-based, or nutritionally lacking. Renewal Mill saw an opportunity to meet these needs, while also introducing a climate-friendly, sustainable ingredient to consumers.”
Yolélé Foods is debuting a new line of fonio pilaf blends inspired by the flavors of popular West African dishes. The blends come in six varieties: Jollof, Yassa!, Suya Spice, Dakar Curry, Afro-Funk, and Greens!.
“Our new fonio pilaf mixes take another step forward in introducing West Africa’s oldest cereal grain to tables around the world,” said Chef Pierre Thiam, co-founder of Yolélé Foods. “They make it easy for anyone to serve the exciting flavors I grew up eating, with delicious and nutritious fonio as the quick-cooking base. And of course, every purchase helps to alleviate poverty and create stronger food systems in Africa.”
Cool Beans is debuting plant-based wraps that are gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free, egg-free, vegan and non-G.M.O. Cool Beans wraps come in three varieties: Moroccan Gold, with red kidney beans, sweet potato, golden millet, tomato and Moroccan seasoning; Spicy Chipotle, with black-eyed peas, corn, brown rice, poblano chili peppers and chipotle seasoning; and Tikka Masala, with blonde chickpeas, jasmine rice, riced cauliflower, green peas and Tikka Masala seasoning.
“Vegan choices are no longer a category niche, and we are excited to be entering the market at this time,” said Eric Schnell, chief executive officer of Cool Beans. “We believe our brand is a natural fit and cost-effective solution for an easy-to-prepare meal that nourishes the mind and body.”
Country Archer Jerky Co. has unveiled a new format in its meat stick line with the launch of Pineapple Mini Pork Sticks. The meat snacks come in a pouch with 8 individually-wrapped sticks that contain 40 calories and 3 grams of protein each. The pork sticks are keto certified, paleo-friendly and contain zero grams of sugar.
“When launching new products, we always want to deliver something that meets at the intersection of taste, health and convenience,” said Eugene Kang, chief executive officer and co-founder of Country Archer. “We received amazing feedback on our original, larger sized versions of the Pineapple Pork Sticks, and wanted to give consumers an even more convenient, portion-controlled, on-the-go option. Growing up working in my parents’ convenience store, I was always around unhealthy snacks filled with unknown, questionable ingredients. In an age where people are always busy, our new minis are clean ingredient solutions that deliver satiating protein, real, juicy chunks of pineapple and low carbs and sugar. Today’s consumers are increasingly demanding sustainable options, and with the new year upon us, they’re are looking to make healthy lifestyle changes. These new meat snacks are a great opportunity to meet that need.”
RW Garcia is expanding it snacks lineup with new avocado lime MixtBag tortilla chips. Certified gluten-free and Non-GMO Project verified, the corn tortilla chips come in 12-oz bags and will roll out in March.
“Our research has shown that consumers are continually seeking out exciting new flavors in the chip aisle while continuing to focus on better-for-you snacks made with no artificial flavors, colors, preservatives or G.M.O.s,” said Genelle Chetcuti, vice-president of marketing for RW Garcia. “Our new avocado lime tortilla chips deliver on both, combining two flavors that are growing in popularity in restaurants and grocery stores into one delicious chip made with real ingredients.”
New from Good Planet Foods is plant-based cream cheese made from refined coconut oil and plant starches. The cream cheese is Non-GMO Project verified and certified gluten-free, vegan, kosher and halal. Each 7-oz cup retails for $4.99.
“Our plant-based cheeses are almost identical to the real thing,” said David Israel, chief executive officer of Good Planet Foods. “The new cream cheese spreads wonderfully on your favorite bagel and is great in countless recipes, like cheesecake, where a person wants the traditional cream cheese flavor and texture but without the dairy. We’re proud of our products and our mission to help reduce food’s environmental impact while respecting animal rights.”
Innovative limited-edition menu items make their debut.
Beverage innovation is on the rise.