The fact that CBD is not a legal ingredient in foods and supplements - at least not yet - did not deter scores of exhibitors at Expo West, who added it to everything from soda to protein bars (absent any claims), with some opting for isolates, but most promoting full or broad spectrum hemp extracts. Oatmilk and plant-based meat were also trending at the show.
CBD - as predicted - was clearly the hot trend at the show. But as VMG Partners founding partner Mike Mauze at VMG Partners told FoodNavigator-USA: "We're wrestling with the question: is it an ingredient, or can a brand be based around it?"
Dustin Cosgrove at Hemp Oil Canada, meanwhile, noted that not all hemp extracts are the same, with companies using different extraction methods, and some containing far more CBD than others: "In future perhaps it will be more like whey proteins, where everyone understand that if it's 90%+ protein it's an isolate, and if it's less than that it's a concentrate."
Howard Hoffman at the Complete Hemp brand, which has an extraction facility in North Carolina, said buyers of hemp extracts should scrutinize certificates of analysis for pesticide residues, THC (to check it's below 0.3%), heavy metals, and for solvent residues.
Manitoba Harvest, which is bringing out a broad spectrum hemp extract extracted with supercritical C02 in May, is also putting together a GRAS determination to show its extract is safe.
Evo Hemp - which has built a business around hemp seed products over the past eight years - first started selling full spectrum hemp extracts via tinctures and softgels about a year ago, and has seen this part of its business skyrocket, co-founder Ari Sherman told FoodNavigator-USA. Now it is adding those extracts to bars and other products.
Plant Life Group, meanwhile, is bringing out functional beverages (MSRP $3.99-$4.99) containing on-trend ingredients such as turmeric and ginger coupled with 15mg of 'hemp CBD' from a full-spectrum hemp extract sourced from Poland.
Chase Terwilliger at Balanced Health Botanicals said there's confusion about the difference between isolates (pure CBD); broad spectrum hemp extracts (which contain some other components in addition to CBD such as other cannabinoids, but in the case of CBD Distillery, don't contain any THC); and full spectrum hemp extracts (which contain all parts of the plant).
Some consumers also remain confused about the difference between hemp-derived CBD, and marijuana (which has >0.3% THC), he said. "At the most basic level, the message is: CBD won't get you high."
Fast-selling alkaline water brand Flow - which grew sales by an astonishing 500% last year - is adding CBD, botanicals and antioxidants to new line Flow Glow, said CEO Nicholas Reichenbach.
Great minds think alike? Nestlé and Danone North America both launched probiotic-packed refrigerated yogurt bars at the show under the GoodBe and Cultured Snacking Co brands respectively. Both contain Ganeden's BC30 probiotic.
Danone North America is also launching a new oatmilk-based yogurt this summer under the Silk Oat Yeah brand, coupled with oatmilk-based yogurts and frozen desserts under the SO Delicious brand.
Happy Planet, which has had a lot of success with its core oatmilk line, is launching a barista blend in the spring utilizing a different oat extract.
Pea protein fueled brand Ripple showcased its new barista-style plant-based milk, which is made with pea protein and sunflower oil, and can deliver "full-bodied foam and a velvety texture." It is also relaunching its yogurts with a new recipe.
Organic plant-based milk brand Three Trees showcased its black sesame nut and seedmilk at the show, which contains filtered water, organic almonds, organic black sesame seeds, organic dates, and pink Himalayan sea salt, with no gums, flavors, added sugar, or stabilizers.
The latest iteration of the plant-based Impossible Burger matches conventional beef burgers when it comes to ‘likeability’ in blind taste tests, says Impossible Foods, which has replaced textured wheat protein with soy protein concentrate, and made other recipe tweaks it claims deliver a “tastier, juicier, beefier” (and now gluten-free) burger.
Rival Beyond Meat, meanwhile, showcased its new plant-based Beyond Beef ground beef, which was "a lot more complex than just forming the burger recipe into a block," noted executive chairman Seth Goldman. The recipe features pea, rice, and mung bean protein.
Beyond Meat's foodservice sales are now outpacing sales at retail, said Goldman, who said the frozen Beyond Chicken product is being dropped, although the beefy crumbles are still doing well. "The bulk of our growth is coming from the fresh platform."
Kellogg-backed MorningStar Farms, meanwhile, made a commitment to convert its portfolio to be 100% plant-based (vegan) by 2021.
Plant-based meat brand Tofurky is notching up strong double digit growth, said CEO Jaime Athos. "We grew more than 20% in 2018 and 20-19 looks set to be an even bigger year."
The WayFare brand uses a base of micronized oats and butter beans that delivers a very silky texture for plant-based products from sour cream-style dips to cheeses and butters.
Serenity Kids is seeking to carve a distinct niche in the baby food category by offering an alternative to sugary fruit purees with a line of products built around meat protein (wild salmon, grass-fed beef, pasture-raised turkey) and healthy fats such as avocado and olive oil. The brand is set to launch in Whole Foods stores nationwide this spring.
Clio chocolate-coated Greek yogurt bars deliver 9g protein per serving in an indulgent but simple snack with the texture of cheesecake and a shelf-life of 35 days. Available in big names including Walmart and Whole Foods, the bars are typically sold in the dairy set (rather than the refrigerated snack set).
Egglife high-protein, low-carb gluten-free chilled egg white wraps (ingredients: egg white, xanthan gum, Nisin natural preservative) contain 90%+ egg white and will launch in September, likely in stores' deli sections.
Snack brand Lesser Evil also utilizes eggs in its latest innovation, launching this summer: grain-free cage-free egg white curls cooked in avocado oil and seasoned with himalayan pink salt.
Israeli brand Mighty Sesame is building a brand around nutrient-packed sesame seeds, with products including tahini bars and a nutritious alternative to mayo that works in sweet and savory dishes.
Ingenuity Brands - a Bay area-based start-up founded by two food industry veterans - is injecting functionality as well as fun into the kids’ yogurt segment with the launch of Brainiac Kids: whole milk yogurts, tubes, and drinks on a brain health platform.
Frozen dessert Totes Oats - launching in selected Whole Foods stores in April - is the latest innovation from plant-based 'nice cream' brand and Expo West pitch slam 2019 winner Hakuna Banana, and is made from oats, dates, coconut cream, carob and guar gum, with 180 calories per serving.
New launches from Chameleon include shelf-stable cans of cold brew and blends of cold-brew and milk; plus an organic oatmilk and cold brew blend (sold in a 46oz bottle). Chameleon's sparkling cold brew was ditched after lackluster sales, said co-founder Chris Campbell, who said being part of Nestlé had helped the brand develop the new lines more rapidly.
The latest innovations from mission-driven brand This Saves Lives include kids' bars and collagen bites made with almond butter and grass-fed collagen. Find out more in our video with co-founder Ryan Devlin later this week.
Deep Indian Kitchen launched new packaging at the show with callouts on its frozen entrees highlighting the region of India from which the dishes are derived, the spice level, and the brand's clean label credentials: 'free from antibiotics.'
Suntava (now part of Healthy Food Ingredients) - which is making waves with its anthocyanin-packed Non GMO purple-corn ingredients - says its purple-hued wares now feature in everything from cereals (Kashi, Cascadian Farms, Back to the Roots) and snacks to craft beers, and baked goods.
The latest innovation from quirky condiments brand Sir Kensington's - which was acquired by Unilever in 2017 - is a line of sunflower oil-based vinaigrettes in amber glass. Flavors include: Raspberry pink peppercorn, Dijon balsamic, Pepperoncini Italian, and Golden Citrus.
New from allergy-friendly brand Freedom Foods is the Messy Monkeys brand of baked snacks for kids made from sorghum, rice, whole grain yellow corn, expeller-pressed sunflower oil and quinoa. There are three flavors: Pizza, cheese, and apple & cinnamon.