Touted as the “best Expo West in a decade,” the New Hope Network family of brands put on quite a show, hosting more than 3,000 exhibiting companies. The natural and organic food and beverage categories are so huge, in fact, that Natural Products Expo West is the “granola conference no more.” It’s a resilient, mainstream show catering to an industry projected to reach $338 billion in sales by 2025, according to Carlotta Mast, senior vice president and market leader at Informa Markets’ New Hope Network.
With nearly 900 new exhibitors this year, the show provided insight into how established brands and emerging startups viewed the future of the natural foods industry. A number of the new products on display featured walnuts, and the Expo’s emerging trends mirrored the benefits provided by the clean label-friendly, transparent, plant-forward tree nut:
- Clean label/radical transparency: The 5 Ws aren’t just for journalists anymore — they’re also for consumers who want to know the who, what, where, when, why and how of the products they’re buying. Ingredients lists are making their way to front-of-package design, paving the way for ingredients like walnuts. Brands are focusing on clarity, authenticity and truth in what they’re putting into products and how they are promoting them.
- Plant-forward future: Plant-based products aren’t just animal-free. They are plant-forward, transparent and care about carbon footprints, supply chains and sourcing. Our favorite meat mimicker was NEXTY Finalist Glenda’s Farmhouse Original Savory Walnut Crumbles. Not only are the walnut crumbles plant-based, but the company also is working toward providing over 2,500 acres as a bee and pollinator-friendly space.
- Flavor adventuring: Global influence and diversity were wow factors in several made-with-walnut products on the Expo floor. Cultures and communities were represented through flavor and spices that showcased walnuts’ tasty versatility. Unbound Snacks Seasoned Walnuts, for example, used trendy Chili Lime, Butter Toffee, Cinnamon and Sea Salt & Pepper in its wide range of snack offerings.
Walnuts are poised to be the next great nut in the CPG natural food industry. The nutritious plant-based walnut was used in a number of great new products at the show. Here are a few of our favorites.
Walnut Barista Maple, Elmhurst 1925
The plant-based milk brand has expanded its walnut milk offerings with Maple Walnut Barista Edition. It’s crafted with Elmhurst’s innovative HydroRelease method, which allows for more use of the source nut. The process uses water to separate nutritional components of the nut, keeping the integrity intact in the finished product.
Oatmeal Raisin, Bar-U-Eat
Marketed as a clean, sustainable energy bar, Oatmeal Raisin is soft with the crunch of walnuts and sweet with a touch of honey, medjool dates and cinnamon. The Colorado-based company’s ingredients list is transparent, with walnuts leading the way in this dairy- and soy-free food bar.
The Nice N Cheesy Mix, Orchard Valley Harvest
Walnuts are mixed with cheddary goodness for a delicious snack product with a mission. A portion of sales goes toward tackling child hunger across the country. There are no artificial colors or flavors in the 6 grams per serving cheesy mix.
Walnut Protein Powder, Octonuts
Premium California walnuts are finely pressed with zero heat, and milled into a powder that can be used in smoothies and as a solid topper. Even better, Octonuts’ Walnut Protein Powder is an upcycled ingredient that has 14 grams of protein per serving.
Chocolate Walnut Butter, Nutty Gourmet
New Nutty Gourmet Kiddos Chocolate Walnut Butter was created to expose the power of walnuts as a nutritious nut for the entire family. Fueling kids for the future, this walnut butter has a hint of sweetness.
Organic with Sea Salt Walnut Butter, Crazy Go Nuts
This slightly salty nut butter spread comes with only two ingredients: walnuts and sea salt. With a thick and smooth texture, this walnut butter is light and fluffy when stirred. It’s not as dense or as runny as other nut butters, and it has 2 grams of dietary fiber and 4 grams of protein per serving.
Superfood Oatmeal Blend, Stoked Oats
Hunter-gatherer research and developers formulated this superfood blend that’s a good source of natural protein. Walnuts, coconut, flax and chia are combined to make a product that is great as a hot oatmeal or as a snack.
The California Walnut Commission works with food manufacturers and brands to develop new products with walnuts. Email us to schedule a virtual consultation.
