Reviews: Casa Arte Sano, Gotham Greens, Dirty Gut

Gotham Greens Vegan Dips

Gotham Greens has expanded and reformulated its line of vegan refrigerated dips, introducing new Buffalo and Queso varieties while updating the core lineup of Spinach Artichoke, Green Goddess, and Tzatziki. Made with a cashew base and a short, clean ingredient list, the lineup aims to deliver simple, but no-compromise, plant-based products. The packaging, as shown, is clean, modern, and color-coded, which helps clearly differentiate varieties on shelf.

Things that stand out:

• Clean, modern packaging with strong shelf presence and easy flavor recognition. The priority was clearly to complement Gotham Greens’ other products, and they’ve definitely succeeded in this as well as making something that looks high-quality.
• Top-notch taste, especially the new Buffalo dip. It delivers a bold buffalo sauce flavor, and the cashew base adds a tangy creaminess. We also like the new Queso variety as well as the Green Goddess and Spinach Artichoke. The Tzatziki tastes good as well, but it isn’t as interesting and layered as the others.

Things to consider:

• Some varieties show separation, which may require consumer education.
• Cashew base provides consistency but may limit textural differentiation across flavors.

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Casa Arte Sano Nopalli Chips

Salty snack sales may be slipping, but Casa Arte Sano is betting its nopal cactus-based tortilla chip line Nopalli can draw consumers back in with a clean-label, flavor-forward crunch. Available in Sea Salt, Lime, Jalapeño and Chile Limón flavors, the chips are flavored with purees and powders and do not contain any artificial inputs. The chips are high in fiber, due to the nopal cactus flour and the addition of chia, flaxseed and sesame.

Things that stand out:

• The texture and crunch are spot on. The chip itself is sturdy enough for dips but thin, crispy and flavorful enough to be a standalone snack.
• The nopal cactus-like shape of the chip itself is a nice touch and a good differentiator.
• Flavor profile of each of the varieties is strong, but the Japaleño flavor is a clear standout.

Things to consider:

• The packaging design is a bit cluttered, and the hierarchy of company Casa Arte Sano and product line, Nopalli, could lead to confusion for consumers down the line. We’d recommend leaning into the product line on the front of the pack and moving the company name elsewhere.
• The Sea Salt flavor could use a bit more saltiness.

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Dirty Gut Premium Dark Chocolate Bites

Dirty Gut offers a functional twist on indulgence, pairing premium dark chocolate with probiotics and postbiotics. Each 0.35 oz. bite delivers one billion live cultures along with a simple, clean ingredient list that leans on chocolate liquor, organic coconut sugar, cocoa butter, and organic vanilla bean. The pouch contains eight individually wrapped pieces, each molded with a playful design that looks like it has a bite taken out.

Things that stand out:

• Clean and high-quality ingredient list makes way for a very satisfying bite of dark chocolate. The product itself is definitely high-quality.
• The bites are individual wrapped, which offers convenience and portion control, while their clever square shape with a bite mark adds a fun and memorable touch.
• Strong shelf impact thanks to the bold blue and yellow color scheme. It definitely has visual pop and should stand out amongst other chocolate brands.

Things to consider:

• Heavy emphasis on probiotics on the front of the package may distract from or undermine the perceived quality or enjoyment factor.
• The name Dirty Gut, while playful, may be polarizing depending on the shopper and, to our prior point, doesn’t totally make you want to eat chocolate. But it’s one of those things that the brand can probably overcome with time.

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