In search of the complete package at Expo West

At The Idea Suite, we are always on the hunt for new and innovative products from all corners of the globe. The Natural Products Expo in Anaheim was a fantastic opportunity to see these innovative ideas come to life.

There were a few key elements that stood out as we scanned thousands of leading-edge food and beverage products, as follows:

• Design – the importance of a captivating product design cannot be overstated. Despite the diversity in products and their target markets, a captivating design remained a strong differentiator.
• Taste – great taste played a crucial role. Over the course of three days, we sampled hundreds of products. The texture, sweetness and flavour had a significant impact our impressions of various products.
• Quality – Products that were able to deliver on taste using just a few, high-quality ingredients stood out.
• Benefit – Distinctive benefits – from hard-hitting functional benefits to experiential ones (like a great crunch, indulgence, or a sophisticated/elevated experience) - played a pivotal factor.

Above all, the products that resonated the most were those that had a clear purpose acting as their North Star. These brands and products were all in with their approach – with every bundle element unified by a compelling why. Some standouts on this dimension were:

• BAMnut by WhatIF Foods : The creamer boasts nutritional benefits such as being rich in fibre and naturally occurring iron. BamNut coffee creamers are a sustainable and nutritious choice for coffee enthusiasts and those seeking plant-based alternatives to traditional dairy products.
• GOODLES – the brand was built to provide a healthier and more delicious version of classic mac and cheese, with a focus on clean ingredients, nutrition, and innovative flavours.
• JonnyPops – Jonny Pops are frozen fruit and cream bars made with simple, wholesome ingredients. The company behind Jonny Pops aims to spread kindness and make the world a better place by encouraging good deeds through their pops. Each JonnyPop stick features a good deed to inspire acts of kindness.
• Bunjie – these baby products offer a range of essentials designed to care for babies’ delicate skin. Their range features innovative products like minibiotics, which supports the baby's skin microbiome, colloidal oat and oat lipid to soothe sensitive skin, and moringa oil for skin barrier protection, all wrapped in a cute bundle.
• Kitpas – these non-toxic art crayons made in Japan combine versatility, water-solubility, and a smooth texture, and stood out to us as a unique art medium.
• Medicine Mama – offers a range of natural skincare products designed to address various skin concerns such as dryness, irritation, and menopausal symptoms. Medicine Mama emphasizes the importance of personal care for women's health and promotes self-love and empowerment through their products.

The Natural Product Expo was a showcase of creativity and a highly inspirational way to see some of the biggest trends come to life. We are excited to fuel our upcoming innovation projects with all that we took away from this leading-edge showcase.