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This year’s annual Natural Products Expo West drew over 85,000 attendees to view the latest products and innovations in natural food. In this video, BevNET editor-in-chief Jeff Klineman and NOSH editor Carol Ortenberg go beyond new products to discuss some of the key themes that could be deduced from the show floor; they talk about the move of CBD into food, the uptake of a variety of plant-based products, and where the ketogenic diet is taking new product development.

While there were plenty of buzzy, ketogenic, CBD-enhanced, cauliflower-based products lurking in Expo booths, if you looked deeper, several larger themes within the natural food industry emerged — including retail channel strategies, the effects of integrated sets and sleepy categories seeing new attention.

Despite the already wide array of choices in the set, the bar category continues to see new entrants thanks to growing sales. To learn more about some of the bar launches, redesigns and new flavors seen on the Expo West show floor, view the gallery below.

Last year CPG giant Mondelēz tasked its innovation and venture arm SnackFutures with the goal of generating $100 million dollars in growth by 2022. At Expo West 2019 NOSH Editor Carol Ortenberg sat down with SnackFutures’ head of innovation Brigette Wolf to discuss the group’s mandate and how it hopes to achieve that goal.

Last fall cookie manufacturer Lenny and Larry agreed to settle a suit that alleged it’s protein-enhanced cookies only had 4 to 9 grams of protein, versus the 16 grams of protein stated on the nutrition facts panel. Although the settlement had moved forward, with a fairness hearing scheduled for this month, last month the U.S. Department of Justice’ Consumer Protection Branch urged the courts to reject the reject the settlement deal.

It can take a little ingenuity to get consumers to buy a new product. Over the past decade, that’s the (sometimes hard) lesson Jonathan Wolfson and Mark Brooks, have learned. Last week the duo launched their new brain health-focused company, Ingenuity Brands, and its first product line, Brainiac Kids.

Since its launch in 2016, Sonoma Brands’ Zupa Noma has refined its packaging, sales strategy and messaging. Now they’re trying for a new name and product approach, rebranding as Medlie and launching a line of vegetable “mashes” which are vegetable blends that can be eaten as a snack or used as a spread or dip.

Plant-based meat alternatives have remained a strong trend in 2019 as brands continue to innovate with products ranging from meatless chicken nuggets and coconut bacon to fish-free seafood and deli slices. Take a look at some of the new products featured at Expo West.

From cashews to almonds to pili nuts, brands are going nuts for nut-based snacks. While several brands are integrating nuts into sweet snacks like brittle and spreads, others are going savory to create plant-based cheese alternatives. Take a look at some of the latest nut innovations showcased at Natural Products Expo West 2019 in Anaheim, California.

Beverage veteran Lance Collins is ready to disrupt the cooler yet again — this time from a different angle, the fresh nutrition bar set. The founder of beverage brands BodyArmor, Fuze and CORE Nutrition announced today the launch of his newest CPG venture, Core Foods, which will launch its first product, Core Bar, at Natural Products Expo West.