A dark chocolate rich with cacao and a bar with a dash of cardamom are among the top five products vying for the 2018 CPG Editor’s Choice Award in Confectionery.
With dynamic speakers, unique programming, expert panel discussions and workshops, and a vibrant exhibit hall, SupplySide West is the go-to event for natural products professionals. The creative collaborations and innovative ingredients that are a hallmark of the event are also the driving force behind the thriving marketplace. Now in its 7th year, the SupplySide CPG Editor's Choice Awards recognizes some of the coolest new launches of consumer packaged goods (CPG) products in nearly 30 categories.
Beverages make up the lion’s share of the functional food and beverage market, and there is no shortage of innovation. Once dominated by sports drinks, this category increasingly is seeing a range of functional beverages including everything from enhanced waters, juices, cold-brew coffee, RTD teas, etc. with an increased emphasis on clean label ingredients.
One winner in each category will be announced on the SupplySide Central Stage at SupplySide West 2018, held at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. The functional beverages winners will be revealed Friday, Nov. 9, from 1:30 to 2 p.m. Click the following link to learn more about the networking event or to register for SupplySide West.
A display case showcasing all the finalists’ products will be available in the Expo Hall. View the full list of ECA categories and finalists here.
Informa Exhibitions announced the finalists for its seventh annual SupplySide CPG Editor’s Choice Awards. Five consumer packaged goods (CPG) products were selected by the SupplySide editorial team for achievements in innovation and market impact in 28 categories.
“SupplySide West is the perfect venue to showcase the innovative products we recognize as part of our annual Editor’s Choice Awards,” said Sandy Almendarez, editor in chief, Natural Products INSIDER. “Each fall in Las Vegas, we gather to celebrate quality, smart products, all in an environment where CPG companies make connections on the show floor and learn about market forces in our educational programs to serve their next big launch.”
One winner in each category will be announced at SupplySide West 2018 during the SupplySide CPG Editor’s Choice Awards Presentations, set for Nov. 8 and 9 at the Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada.
“The SupplySide and INSIDER editors researched, reviewed and tasted our way through nearly 600 nominations to narrow the field to 140 truly notable products that serve to better the health of consumers,” Almendarez said.
For 22 years, SupplySide has helped dietary supplement, food, beverage, personal care, cosmetic, animal nutrition and pharmaceutical professionals find information to explore, discover, innovate and market their next best-selling product.
The 2018 SupplySide Editor’s Choice Awards Finalists are:
Hosted by Informa Exhibitions, this annual tradeshow and educational forum is the finished product manufacturer’s gathering place for top performers, trends, scientific advances and networking. SupplySide West is all about the exploration, discovery, innovation and marketing strategy around the development of finished consumer goods that drive the global business economy. The 2018 show will be held Nov. 6 to 10 at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. For more information, visit www.supplysideshow.com.
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DownloadConsumers are increasingly taking control of their health and wellness—developing personalized styles of eating that work best for their individual needs and preferences. Food and beverage brands looking to keep pace need to customize their offerings with products appealing to a variety of diets and clean label attributes, from certified organic and non-GMO to gluten-free, paleo, plant-based, Whole30, keto and more. Technology and convenience are two key areas continuing to help shape the space.
Takeaways for Your Business
• The food landscape is being transformed by the fusion of food, well-being and technology.
• Consumers want personalized food and beverage products that are also convenient and healthy.
• Vegan frozen meals posted nearly 20% growth in the past year, indicating high interest in the niche.
Registering as a member of Food & Beverage Insider will give you free access to premium content including digital magazines, webinars, whitepapers and more.
DownloadRegistering as a member of Food & Beverage Insider will give you free access to premium content including digital magazines, webinars, whitepapers and more.
DownloadDownload this infographic, developed from the Euromonitor International's webinar “Top Ready to Drink Coffee Trends in 2018,” to find out more about global trends boosting the RTD coffee sector as well as global forecasts for continued growth.
Registering as a member of Food & Beverage Insider will give you free access to premium content including digital magazines, webinars, whitepapers and more.
DownloadUpon completion of the deal, Pirate Brands will operate within Amplify, Hershey’s better-for-you snack hub in Austin, Texas, which is focused on driving growth in the warehouse snacking aisle with unique product flavors and forms like Skinny Pop, Paqui and Oatmega. Pirate’s Booty is a fast-growing brand in the more than $2.5 billion cheese puffs category, with retail sales up more than 8 percent on a year-over-year basis, and a market leader for consumers seeking snacks with clean labels and no artificial flavors, colors or preservatives.
“Pirate’s Booty is a leading cheese puffs brand loved by moms and kids as a better-for-you treat,” said Mary Beth West, chief growth officer, The Hershey Co. “We expect the full Pirate Brands portfolio to be a great fit for Hershey’s growing Amplify business which is targeted toward consumers who are looking for great-tasting snacks without compromise.”
The Food Price Index averaged 167.6 points in August, virtually unchanged from its revised estimate for July and 5.4 percent below its level in August 2017.
The Cereal Price Index 168.4 points in August, representing a rebound of 6.5 points (4 percent) over July and of 15 points (10 percent) from August 2017. Wheat prices rose twice as much due to deteriorating crop prospects in the European Union and the Russian Federation. International maize quotations rose by more than 3 percent while rice prices eased during the month.
The Vegetable Oil Price Index averaged 138.2 points in August, down 3.7 points (2.6 percent) from July, nearing a three-year low as palm, soy and sunflower oil quotations all fell amid favorable production trends and, in the case of palm oil, weak global import demand.
The Dairy Price Index averaged 196.2 points in August, down nearly 3 points (1.5 percent) from the previous month, marking the third consecutive month of decline. Price quotations of butter, Skim Milk Powder (SMP) and Whole Milk Powder (WMP) fell for the second successive month, while cheese rebounded marginally from the dip in July. While droughts may adversely affect milk production growth in parts of Europe and Australia, New Zealand's output prospects are improving.
The Sugar Price Index averaged 157.3 points in August, down 8.9 points (5.4 percent) from July, the lowest level in a decade. The decline in August was largely the result of the continued depreciation of the currencies of Brazil and India against the U.S. dollar. As major exporters of sugar, shipments from Brazil and India become more competitive when their currencies weaken against the U.S. dollar, which leads to increased supply of sugar in world markets.
The Meat Price Index averaged 166.3 points in August, only slightly changed from the revised value for July but 4.6 percent below its level in the same month last year. Pig meat and ovine meat quotations rose on strong import interests from China, offsetting declining poultry and bovine meat prices, with the latter under pressure by high export availabilities from the United States of America.
U.S. retail sales of popcorn increased 32 percent in the past five years to reach an estimated $2.5 billion in 2017, with RTE popcorn leading the flavor innovation wave, growing an impressive 118 percent between 2012 and 2017 to reach $1.1 billion. In fact, 45 percent of popcorn consumers are seeking out all-natural varieties.
“The popcorn segment, particularly RTE popcorn, is likely to continue benefiting from a generally healthy image as well as its suitability as a medium for a wide range of flavors and toppings,” said John Owen, senior food and drink analyst at Mintel. “As such, there is an opportunity for brands in other salty snack segments to innovate with unexpected flavors to engage consumers, especially among younger generations who, our research shows, are looking for variety in the salty snack aisle.”
Today’s consumers are interested in flavor innovation—both familiar and unexpected—in the popcorn category. While traditional varieties like cheese-flavored (49 percent) and indulgent (e.g., chocolate/caramel covered) (32 percent) are high on the list, popcorn buyers are also interested in purchasing options that are mixed flavor (e.g., salty, indulgent, and cheesy popcorn in one bag) (39 percent), have additions mixed in (e.g., dried cranberries or candy) (20 percent), and are seasonal flavored (e.g., pumpkin spice, gingerbread) (12 percent).
The popularity of snacking is undeniable, but salty snack consumers are more likely to say they’re eating less (19 percent) salty snacks today (compared to 2017) than they are to say they’re eating more (16 percent), Mintel noted. While they’re seen as an acceptable indulgence, 42 percent of consumers agree taste is more important than health when it comes to salty snacks, while 48 percent want healthier snack options. Increased snacking occasions and variety of products helped the salty snacks category see continued growth over the last year, with overall category sales increasing 5 percent to reach an estimated $11.9 billion in 2017. According to Mintel, sales have grown 31 percent since 2012, making salty snacks one of the best performing major packaged food categories in recent years.
Snacks are one of the major categories getting clean label makeovers. If you are looking to learn about the factors driving clean label food & beverage reformulation, ingredient selection, or how functional ingredients interact in the formulation process, join us for the Food & Beverage Reformulation workshop on Saturday, Nov. 10, at SupplySide West 2018. This workshop is underwritten by Martech Research.
