Expo West: Southeast Asian Flavors Capture New Spice and Sauce Products
Though emerging globally-inspired flavors were on display across the show floor, CPG brands unveiling new spices and sauces at Natural Products Expo West tapped into the trend in a range of new and interesting ways. New products featured a variety of Southeast Asian and Middle Eastern flavors while a handful of others chose to elevate the ingredient lists of an all-American classic: Ketchup. Check out the gallery below for a selection of new spices and sauces we saw at this year’s show.
Diaspora Co.
Single-origin, regeneratively grown spice company Diaspora Co unveiled its new bright and bold retail packaging look for its full portfolio of spices, salts, herbs and seeds. The new hot pink and orange packs are intended to reinvigorate the spice aisle, while also capturing consumer attention in the slow growth set. The new packaging comes less than a year after the California-based D2C company raised over $2 million to open a manufacturing facility and expand its farming network.
Fody
Low FODMAP, plant-based brand Fody added a new unsweetened ketchup product to its line of digestion-friendly pantry products. The product is made with tomato puree, balsamic vinegar, a range of spices and no added sugar or artificial sweeteners. The brand also tweaked the formulation of its original ketchup product and transitioned to plastic-free packaging. Both ketchups are available in an 11.7 oz. glass bottle for $6.99.
Hot Jiang
New chili crisp brand Hot Jiang made its debut at the show with a three-SKU line of hot sauces in Mild, O.G. Spicy and Extra Spicy varieties. Launched by Bling Empire star Kelly Mi Li, the brand’s inspiration came from Mi Li’s relationship with her mom and their mutual love of cooking, a prominent story line on the show for the past three seasons. Hot Jiang sauces are available in 6 oz. glass jars for $13.99 and are made with hot chili peppers, black peppers, prickly ash, sesame seeds, fresh fried garlic, mushroom powder, soybean oil and spices.
Freak Flag
Organic food maker Freak Flag added a new, mildly-freaky variety to its lineup of pesto sauces: Basil Pesto. The Minneapolis-based brand, which claims to make “ultra-organic” foods, sells a 3-SKU chicken bone broth line in addition to its existing pesto sauces in Kale, Carrot and Bruschetta varieties. The brand also launched a Chicken Pho Bone Broth at the show. All Freak Flag pesto products are vegan and nut-free and come in a 6.5 oz. glass jar for $8.
Vegan Rob’s
Snack brand Vegan Rob’s has expanded into a new complementary set, introducing its Dragon Dip and Salsa line at the show. With front-of-pack callouts including “fire breathing,” as well as “gut health” Vegan Rob’s new dips contain a base of either Pinto or Black beans, depending on the flavor, while the salsa product comes in one variety: Hot. The new dips join Vegan Rob’s lineup of snack puffs, popcorn, crisps and tortilla chips.
Primal Kitchen
Pantry staple brand Primal Kitchen also unveiled a new ketchup formulation at the show, dubbed “A Tad Sweet,” alongside a new avocado oil-based, mayo-like Whip. The new ketchup is sweetened with honey and does not contain any cane sugar or high-fructose corn syrup. The ketchup innovations come only weeks after better-for-you ketchup maker Sir Kensington’s announced it would discontinue its flagship product.
Mazaah
Afghan condiment brand Mazaah added a new Mango flavored chutney to its 3-SKU sauce lineup. The brand, which means ‘flavor’ in Farsi, sells two other chutneys in Hot and Mild varieties as well as a Vegan Aioli. The new flavor is made with a blend of mango, spicy chili and cardamom and is available in a 8 oz. bottle for $24.99 per 3-pack.
Humble & Frank
Condiment brand Humble & Frank launched a new line of ‘protein-boosted’ salad dressings in four flavors: Buttermilk Ranch, Raspberry Miso Balsamic, Vegan Caesar and Lemon Tahini. The line’s chickpea-based protein ingredients are sourced from InnovaPro, a clean-label plant-based protein platform. The new line joins Humble & Franks’ portfolio of marinades, seafood sauces and batter mixes.
Dosa by Dosa
Indian food brand Dosa by Dosa introduced a new format for its line of fresh simmer sauces. The new 8 oz. sauce pouches compliment the brand’s existing lineup of sauces, available in Tikka, Butter, and Kerala Coconut flavors. Dosa also makes a line of lassi, a traditional yogurt drink, as well as Indian flavor-forward ready-to-eat products including sandwich wraps, salads and grain bowls.
Lucky Foods
Asian-inspired food brand Lucky Foods unveiled the latest addition to its sauce line: Chinese Hot Mustard. The new product joins Lucky’s portfolio of Korean-fusion foods and condiments. The company expanded two other existing lines with the introduction of a new Radish Kimchi and a mini format of its Korean pancakes.
