The 2021 Natural Products Expo West Virtual NEXTY Awards finalists
These 77 products stood out for innovation, inspiration and integrity across 23 NEXTY Awards categories.
April 13, 2021
12 Tides Organic Puffed Kelp Chips Simple ingredients plus great flavor plus crunch made these a favorite of our judges. And they don’t just have kelp somewhere in the ingredients list, these puffed chips start with regeneratively farmed, organic kelp and follow it with just eight other recognizable ingredients. B-Corp-certified 12 Tides also donates, as a 1% for the planet member, to a nonprofit aimed at restoring California’s native kelp forests. But mostly, they’re just good chips—an innovative addition with an important ingredient. Alec's Organic Ice Cream This is just damn good ice cream. Especially the Honey Blueberry Lavender, where honey is delicately swirled in a delectable cream base, flavored with the perfect synergy of blueberries and lavender. Well, not just damn good, it’s also made of locally sourced organic milk from pasture-raised cows. Our team would love to see grass-fed certification come on board, too, but mostly we’d like to see more samples in our office. The Philosopher's Stoneground Naked Crunchy Sprouted Almond Butter What happens when no corners are cut on producing almond butter? Well, one thing is an $18 price tag on an 8-ounce jar. But we applaud Philosopher’s Stoneground’s gumption. It’s the boldness the industry was built on: sourced from a regenerative orchard that employs nine out of nine regenerative practices (en route to ROC certification in 2023) the almonds are sprouted and dehydrated for increased digestibility and sweeter flavor (and less, er, no acrylamide) then slow, low-temp ground. That’s a lot of wholesome processing but not a lot of ingredients. In the end, it’s just almonds and the residual soaking salt, for sweet and crunchy goodness. Wildbrine Wild Creamery Sour Cream Alternative Not an impeccable mimic of dairy-based sour cream but an impeccably good alternative—and apparently (judging by the judges) a tasty dip by itself—this plant-based sour cream hit on many levels of innovation, integrity and inspiration. Part of the secret might be the use of customized cultures coming out of sister company Wildbrine, providing home-grown fermentation in place of lab-generated cultures. The list of organic kitchen-familiar ingredients and lack of starches or gums probably helps, too.
Harmless Harvest Organic Coconut Smoothie A sip of this organic smoothie is exactly like drinking a coconut—if coconuts were creamy, smooth and served in a bottle. For this new beverage, Harmless Harvest adds hand-scooped coconut meat to its organic coconut water, creating a thick and richly enveloping single-ingredient smoothie packed with naturally occurring MCTs and with no added sugar. Like its other mission-minded products, this beverage represents the brand’s goal of zero waste and its philosophy of always considering its impact “from seed to shelf.” Bonus: In 2020, Harmless Harvest partnered to launch the Regenerative Coconuts Agriculture Project (ReCAP) to develop and implement a regenerative agriculture model for coconuts in Thailand. NADI Organic Wild Rosehip Juice Atlanta-based Nina Tickaradze founded this WBENC-certified, women-owned business as a social venture with the mission to create new opportunities for refugees and Internally Displaced People in her native country, Georgia, by providing safe jobs, training opportunities and housing assistance to those who lost everything due to wars and regional conflicts. The basis of this line of three drinks is vitamin C-rich rosehip juice, a product that has traditionally been consumed in Georgia to promote health. The rosehips used for this USDA Organic, clean-label beverage are grown sustainably in the Caucasus Mountains and mixed with only water and a touch of stevia. Soda Press Co. Organic Kombucha Concentrate Made by a New Zealand-based company, these certified organic kombucha concentrates were more than a year in the making. The kombucha syrup is hand-crafted over the course of a month and a half, yielding a shelf-stable elixir that boasts less than 1 gram of sugar per serving and 1 billion live probiotics. The judges loved that, in addition to bringing consumers a delicious kombucha concentrate that can be used with a SodaStream or added to a fizzy water or other drink of choice, one bottle of Soda Press eliminates up to 10 single-use bottles, is 100% recyclable and gives consumers a more cost-conscious way to enjoy kombucha at home. The brand also partners with CarbonCloud, a climate tool used to show the transparency of its overall carbon footprint. Willa's Organic Oat Milk What began as an heirloom family recipe for oat milk turned into a proprietary, zero-waste oat milling process that was ideated to yield maximum nutritional density, while minimizing environmental impact. Willa’s approach involves using the entire whole grain oat—other brands discard 20-30% of each oat says the brand—not only to reduce food waste, but also to take advantage of the oats’ complete nutrient profile. This includes benefits such as prebiotic fibers and plant-based proteins, and other wellness-supporting substances such as beta-glucans, vitamin B and gramine—all in a creamy and delicious certified organic plant-based milk.
Brooklyn Food and Beverage Moshi Yuzu White Peach Unsweetened Sparkling Drink If you haven’t heard of yuzu, you’re not alone. We hadn’t either until we experienced this delightful drink from Brooklyn Food and Beverage. Yuzu is an undersung citrus and the base for a drink that is both zesty and refreshing and does all that without added sugar. Though not a low-calorie drink, we were impressed with that balance between citrus and peach, and we also appreciated the subtle hints of herb in something that introduces something new while also feeling familiar. Clean Cause Organic Sparkling Cherry Lime Yerba Mate Even without its mission, Clean Cause’s Cherry Lime Yerba Mate would be something we’d eagerly grab out of the refrigerator. The balance of flavors is spot on and the promise of sustained energy is appealing. The mission, however, is the seals-the-deal proposition. Clean Cause pours a hefty 50% of profits into “sober-living scholarships” to help people recover from drug and alcohol addiction. Who are those people? Go to cleancause.com to meet people like Kascidy and Slade. And order a 12-pack while you’re there. Rishi Tea Sparkling Botanicals Sparkling beverages can be a challenge for product developers looking for a flavor that can dance across the tongue and hint at sweetness without overwhelming the palate. Rishi has managed to hit that right balance with intriguing flavors like dandelion ginger and turmeric saffron. In a crowded sparkling water market that has us questioning if we’ve hit “peak fizz,” Rishi stands out as a drink that hits all the notes just right, including the company’s long-established commitments to responsible sourcing, production and employment practices.
Numi Organic Tea Stay Healthy Teas These new teas from Numi put wellness at the fore thanks to their potent blends of herbs, roots, spices and flowers—all carefully chosen and meticulously crafted into this line of seven health-supporting, immunity-boosting teas. Whether the goal is to relieve stress or congestion, support immunity, detox or sooth a scratchy throat, these Stay Well teas have got consumers covered by bringing together ethically sourced, certified organic, botanical ingredients including valerian, echinacea, elderberry, dandelion root, kanna leaf, burdock root and more. What’s more, all of the teas come packaged in Numi’s plant-based compostable tea wrappers and uphold this company’s commitment to sustainability, traceability and a mission to help people and planet. Our Gorongosa Girls Run the World Medium Roast Coffee Our Gorongosa was established with a multipronged rehabilitation approach: coffee growing as a tool to restore a depleted rainforest in Mozambique’s Mount Gorongosa region and to provide new economic opportunities for the rural community. With that in mind there are three products with 100% of proceeds meant for different projects: rainforest restoration, wildlife conservation and girls’ education. Through the $17 bag of Girls Run the World Coffee, the goal is to build 100 schools and enhance education for 20,000 girls. The Republic of Tea Beauty Brain Beautifying Botanicals Lemon Balm Kiwi Tea The subtly sweet (real!) kiwi flavor and soothing aromas of this caffeine-free herbal infusion belie the powerful blend of brain- and beauty-supporting herbs and botanicals found within. Ginkgo biloba, lion’s mane mushrooms, lemon balm, blue spirulina, kiwi and white hibiscus come together in a calming cuppa created as a dual-function tea that helps keep consumers feeling good both inside and out.
Chickapea Chickapea Plus Greens Sitting firmly in the keto pasta realm, with a tasty high protein/low carb pasta of chickpeas and lentils, Chickapea could’ve stopped there. We love that it went well beyond: The product is certified organic, and the company is a woman-owned B-Corp that donates 2% of revenues (yes, revenues) to address food access. Plus, in the Plus Greens line, Chickapea has added two full servings of spinach and kale to each serving of the tasty pastas. Fix and Fogg Everything Butter Six unground seeds bring complexity and crunch to a base of two smooth nut butters to form a delicious smooth/crunchy, sweet/savory blend of the richest nut/seed butter we’ve seen. (So many slashes!) And that just might define this quirky blend. Peanut and almond butters are home to whole sunflower, pumpkin, flax, hemp, chia and sesame seeds. Full of texture and flavor, it’s delectable and fun. And bonus! Check out the company’s Lucky Dip Butter charitable program that reduces food waste in its New Zealand facility. Primal Nutrition Hollandaise Sauce This is a good shelf-stable ready-to-use hollandaise. Nice job, Primal Kitchen. But that’s just the beginning of the story. It’s also dairy free, sans soy and canola oils, keto/paleo-friendly and features several organic ingredients. It starts with cashew butter, adds white wine and lemon juice, fluffs in some egg powder and rounds it out with good flavor from nutritional yeast, onion, garlic and spices. We don’t love the plant-based claim in its marketing (beware vegans, eggs on board) but recognize there are multiple definitions of the industry’s newest slippery term. Innovation led the selection here, as it’s the best shelf-stable hollandaise we’ve tasted. Solely One Whole Organic Spaghetti Squash So simple, so basic. So … what’s the big deal? Solely takes roughly one organic spaghetti squash and does (almost) all the prep for dinner. This single-ingredient item defines the pantry category: placing healthy, organic foods on hand for those what’s-for-dinner? nights. And by working with farmers to collect less-than-perfect squashes, it also takes a step toward reducing food waste. Sometimes the simplest things are the most inspiring. Keep it simple, Solely. Yolélé Foods Fonio Pilafs Fonio pilaf is exactly what it sounds like: a pilaf made of … fonio? Yes, fonio, a climate-friendly and climate-resilient grain from West Africa. The product tastes great (we tried the Afro-funk, flavored with pungent African locust bean, a.k.a. dawadawa, while other varieties feature other nutritious African crops, baobab and moringa). There’s much to like here, from helping West African silvo-agro-pastoral farmers find a market for this organic, irrigation-free crop, to the tasty gluten-free, cooks-in-five-minutes serving on the plate. When we look at the three I’s of the NEXTYs, Yolélé lands squarely in the all-of-the-above fourth I: Impact.
Applegate’s Well Carved Organic Grass-fed Burgers Applegate ups the blended burger ante beyond mushrooms with this blend of humanely raised meat and vegetables, legumes and grains. This better-for-you burger includes 1/3 cup of veggies. Applegate has long led the way in improving animal welfare standards and cleaning up processed meat ingredient panels. The company commissioned a third-party environmental impact analysis to compare this line to traditional beef patties. It found that the plant-blended burger creates 51% fewer greenhouse-gas emissions, uses 67% less water and generates 99% percent less water pollution from run-off. Global Village Foods Allergy-friendly African-inspired Frozen Meals Damaris and Mel Hall began serving up the rich flavors of Damaris’ native Kenya in farmers markets, food festivals and a restaurant in Vermont. As parents to a child with severe food allergies, they later created this brand of allergy-friendly, frozen, African-inspired dishes to provide other families with healthy and flavorful meal options such as this flavorful Moroccan Inspired Lemon Chicken and olives with preserved lemon and green olives—one of five dishes in a line that also includes Swahili Inspired Curry Chicken, Ethiopian Vegan Lentil Combo, Chickpea Vegetable Tajine and African No-Nut Vegan Stew. This frozen food doesn’t look or taste like traditional freezer fare—an innovation worth cheering. The Jackfruit Company Jack and Annie’s Crispy Jack Nuggets This truly plant-forward meat substitute wonderfully dupes chicken nuggets with whole jackfruit as the first ingredient. The little ones will never know. While not organic, the farmer-direct supply chain impresses; and Jack and Annie’s has helped get 8,000 acres certified organic. The company focuses on harvesting from wild jack trees and hopes its creative line extensions create a market for the versatile vegan ingredient. Nearly 70% of jackfruit goes to waste because of underuse.
Belcampo Meat Company Organic Meatballs Belcampo is meeting consumers on convenience and values by bringing regenerative meat products into convenient formats. Pre-seasoned ready-to-eat regenerative meatballs are a quick snack or complement to any meal. Regenerative agriculture and values are inspiring a storm of activity among small meat brands. Belcampo is a certified organic brand—in the process of applying for B Corp Certification—with the goal to grow and amplify additional regenerative principals. This is an entrepreneurial brand that not only tackles its own supply chain but acts as a farmer partner and leader to support other farmers on their regenerative journeys. Consider Pastures Pasture-Raised Eggs Consider Pastures is a new egg line of Pete and Gerry’s Organic Eggs. Consider Pastures wants the marketplace to consider the role egg farms with small flocks and multilivestock farms can play in regenerative agriculture. To do this, the brand is engaging in three partnerships: American Farmland Trust through a 5-year, $250,000 commitment; Understanding Ag to improve techniques and soil testing methods to measure impact; and The Savory Institute’s Land to Market program to pioneer an egg-laying standard. The eggs are also Certified Humane, pasture raised and B Corp certified in addition to all the regenerative benefits. PureFish Oven Ready Perfect Portions PureFish is a food service brand that recently launched direct-to-consumer seafood boxes. Many of their species come from Fair Trade or Marine Stewardship Council certified fisheries to help ensure fair labor practices, quota controls and reduced environmental degradation on oceans and aquatic life. There is a QR code on each package so the consumer can learn more about the specific fishery. The packaging for this DTC brand (read: excess packaging is a symptom of e-commerce in all forms) is what stands out. Insulating material is made from 100% non-GMO U.S. grown corn that can be composted or dissolved under running water and safely rinsed down the sink (great for folks without composting capabilities). The aluminum trays are 100% recyclable.
Before the Butcher Uncut Plant-Based Grounds A new line extension launched by burger favorite Before the Butcher, the Uncut grounds are a delicious plant-based alternative to ground meat. The five SKUs include a traditional ground and four pre-seasoned varieties of Italian Ground, Chorizo Ground, Breakfast Ground and Taco Ground. The non-GMO meatless meat—made from soy, coconut and canola oils—diversifies the Before the Butcher portfolio of premium plant-based meat alternatives to serve the growing number of consumers looking to reduce their meat consumption. Eat Howl Mac and Chef This shelf-stable pantry product is a better-for-you take on boxed macaroni and cheese. The typical oil-based staple has gotten a nutritional upgrade with Howl, which uses a cashew base that provides a cheesy texture and taste. Refrigerated cashew cheeses have been on the market for a while, but this product stood out for being a shelf-stable plant-based option for America's favorite comfort food. This mission-driven brand donates product throughout its home city of Los Angeles with the help of Black Lives Matters organizers to combat food deserts in low-income and minority neighborhoods. The Jackfruit Company Jack and Annie’s Savory Breakfast Jack Sausage Patties Overprocessing can be a challenge when trying to make plant-based alternatives for sausage. These sausage patties from Jack and Annie's utilize jackfruit as a plant-forward, minimally processed option for making savory breakfast sandwiches. Jackfruit, a whole food that satisfies like meat, is the first ingredient in these patties. A sustainable, regenerative crop, the company supports 1,000 farming families with 10-40% of their income by buying jackfruit directly from them, and community support programs provide tools and cooking vessels to the farmers. SunOpta Sown Organic Oat Creamers The oat milk market continues to remain hot as more plant-based consumers seek a creamy best friend for their coffee. Sown Organic Oat Creamer is crafted with SunOpta's oat base recipe and made from organic rolled oats sourced from certified North American growers. The vertical integration provides transparency to where the oats come from and the product is processed within SunOpta's manufacturing facilities. These USDA-Certified Organic and Non-GMO Project Verified creamers come in three flavors: Vanilla, Unsweetened and Sweet & Creamy. Take Two Foods Barleymilk Take Two Food's Barleymilk takes an innovative route to plant-based milk by using an upcycled ingredient. Utilizing spent grain from beer production, the company creates a second life for barley to make its Rejuvenated Barley ingredient for its milk. Because billions of pounds of spent grain are discarded annually, Take Two is on track to turn 500,000 pounds of upcycled grain into food. The company is in the process of becoming a B Corporation and Non-GMO Project Certified as well as undergoing a third party-led life-cycle assessment of its products and their impacts.
Kuli Kuli SuperBark This dark chocolate snack bar ticks all the boxes: low sugar, keto, plant-based and functional. With this product launch, Kuli Kuli expands its mission to bring moringa to the masses to support small organic farmers in Kenya with above-average pay. In addition to moringa, SuperBark features sustainable tree crops including breadfruit from forests in Costa Rica and wild-harvested baobab from Zimbabwe. Real Treat Pantry Cookies The maker of these indulgent cookies made with high-quality ingredients doesn’t pretend to offer health benefits nor hide behind its goal: bringing organic to specialty, gourmet foods. The organic advocate put it this way: “It occurred to me that we may just be able to convince more people to choose organic if we could make organic products that were not ‘delicious for organic/natural’ but genuinely crave-worthy, delicious food. NEXTY judges say: mission accomplished. Solely Organic Whole Fruit Gummies Solely offers up two- to three-ingredient yummy gummies made with real fruit and no gelatin, sugar, preservatives, colors or gums. The company makes whole fruits fun while focusing on using both perfect and imperfect products with its patented cold-pressed processing to retain fruit flavor and goodness. Not one to let any part of manufacturing go unexamined, it also focuses on minimalistic packaging.
Cappello's Almond Flour Ravioli If you've hesitated to dip your toes into the world of grain-free pasta, hesitate no more. This culinary quality ravioli is nutrient-dense and packed with protein, healthy fats and true deliciousness. It takes a creative commitment to innovation to produce pasta this good without grain. Texture and performance coupled with gourmet-quality fillings come together to meet the desires of all customers but are inspired by the needs of those that truly cannot eat grain. Committed to social justice in business practices and the J.E.D.I. Collaborative, Cappello's brings integrity to the table with its inspired grain-free ravioli. Global Village Foods Allergy-friendly African-inspired Frozen Meals Damaris and Mel Hall began serving up the rich flavors of Damaris’ native Kenya in farmers markets, food festivals and a restaurant in Vermont. As parents to a child with severe food allergies, they later created this brand of allergy friendly, frozen, African-inspired dishes to provide other families with healthy and flavorful meal options such as this flavorful Ethiopian Vegan Lentil Combo—one of five dishes in a line that also includes Swahili Inspired Curry Chicken, Moroccan Inspired Lemon Chicken and Olives, Chickpea Vegetable Tajine and African No-Nut Vegan Stew. Renewal Mill Upcycled Dark Chocolate Brownie Mix Baking delicious brownies can be done with a clear conscience thanks to Renewal Mills’ inspired upcycled ingredients. Apparently, you can have your sweet tooth and do something good for climate at the same time, with carbon-negative flours and delicious vegan baking mixes. Sustainable baking! These brownies are chewy, gooey and chocolatey, while being produced using upcycled okara flour, a superfood sourced from the soybean pulp leftover when tofu is made, rich in fiber and protein—and oh yeah, they're gluten free, too. Even the packaging design patterns are inspired by real global weather patterns and is plastic neutral. Women- and BIPOC-owned and operated, Renewal Mills oozes integrity and makes a tasty instant brownie that you really feel good about eating. Taste Republic Gluten and Grain-Free Cauliflower Gnocchi B-Corp certified Taste Republic Gluten and Grain-Free Cauliflower Gnocchi delivers not only on taste and pillowy texture, but each serving provides one full serving of vegetables. It's inspiring to eat a limited-ingredient product that tastes so darn good and is good for you! As a B Corp, the company's integrity and commitments to using business as a force for good focuses on providing access to good food for all populations. We loved that all the right dietary, flavor and conscious-business practice boxes were all checked, with no compromises. Wildbrine Wild Creamery European-Style Butter Alternative Wild Creamery’s European-Style Butter is 100% plant-based butter cultured with Wildbrine’s proprietary wild-fermented culture. This nondairy butter delivers the very same flavor you get from dairy cultures, which is why it tastes so good, plus it performs like butter in recipes that call for butter. Wildbrine uses its wild-fermentation expertise to ferment whole plant-based ingredients to deliver the same lactobacillus-based cultured flavors via plants that are usually produced from animal-based cultures. Now, that's innovative. To fuel the fermentation process, the company incorporates upcycled vegetable ingredients from the manufacture of the other products it produces; waste is virtually eliminated. The integrity behind these commitments to sustainable production are both inspired and driven by the spirit of innovation, and this is one of the best plant butters we've ever tasted.
12 Tides Organic Puffed Kelp Chips Simple ingredients plus great flavor plus crunch made these a favorite of our judges. And they don’t just have kelp somewhere in the ingredients list, these puffed chips start with regeneratively farmed, organic kelp and follow it with just eight other recognizable ingredients. B-Corp certified 12 Tides also donates, as a 1% for the planet member, to a nonprofit aimed at restoring California’s native kelp forests. But mostly, they’re just good chips—an innovative addition with an important ingredient. Earnest Eats Snacking Avocado Earnest Eats’ Snacking Avocado takes the beloved fruit and preserves it at the height of freshness through a flash freeze-drying process, then adds in simple flavor enhancers like lime juice and other seasonings. As you might imagine, this snack is keto-friendly and perfect for consumers who are trying to cut out processed snacks. Each bag features 15 grams of healthy fats and is just 160-170 calories per serving. It’s like biting into a real avocado, but you can take it anywhere and it never gets overripe. Moonshot Snacks Climate Friendly Crackers Moonshot is bold about its dedication to fighting climate change by calling its line of crackers climate-friendly. This young brand is BIPOC female-founded and is a steward for sourcing nourishing food for the environment and humans alike. Currently, USDA Organic certified and sourcing from farms using regenerative agriculture to sequester carbon, reducing carbon where possible and offsetting the rest, this brand is on a path to become carbon neutral while tracking its progress. Founder Julia Collins also brings a climate justice lens to the space and raises awareness that BIPOC communities bear the brunt of environmental and climate change impacts. Sahale Snacks Creole Bean+Nut Snack Mix This blend of nuts, roasted legumes and seeds comes together beautifully in a manner reminiscent of holiday charcuterie boards. As the need for plant-forward protein grows among consumers, snacks like this one that don’t sacrifice whole-food ingredients for flavor are poised for success. Additionally, Sahale Snacks ensures responsible sourcing via third-party partnerships with groups such as PeaceTrees Vietnam, which monitors the black pepper market.
Lucky Foods Kimchi Mayo Lucky Foods is a family-owned business founded by Korean immigrants with a passion for bringing clean, healthy Korean foods to the American market. With this product, the brand has taken a plant-based version of an American classic, mayonnaise, and kicked up the flavor with inspiration from its Korean roots. The Kimchi Mayo has the perfect amount of spice, funk and tanginess, and is certified vegan and gluten free as well as Non-GMO Project Verified. Plant Perks Plant Based Cheeze Spreads Plant Perks achieves its perfectly creamy plant-based cheeze spreads by incorporating MCT oil, which is also found in dairy fat. The company then ferments the spreads with French cultures for 12-16 hours, giving this cheeze the same tangy flavor as its dairy counterparts. Not only are all of the spreads delicious and satisfying, but they are certified organic, non-GMO, kosher, dairy free, gluten free, soy free, vegan, paleo and keto so this is an indulgence you can feel good about spreading on anything and everything. Wildbrine Wild Creamery Sour Cream Alternative Not an impeccable mimic of dairy-based sour cream, but an impeccably good alternative—and apparently (judging by the judges) a tasty dip by itself—this plant-based sour cream hit on many levels of innovation, integrity and inspiration. Part of the secret might be the use of customized cultures coming out of sister company Wildbrine, providing home-grown fermentation in place of lab-generated cultures. The list of organic kitchen-familiar ingredients and lack of starches or gums probably helps, too.
Alec's Organic Ice Cream This is just damn good ice cream. Especially the Honey Blueberry Lavender, where honey is delicately swirled in a delectable cream base flavored with the perfect synergy of blueberries and lavender. Well, not just damn good, it’s also made of locally sourced organic milk from pasture-raised cows. We’d love to see grass-fed certification come on board, too, but mostly we’d like to see more samples in our office. Forager Project Organic Cashewmilk Ice Cream Forager Project’s Cashewmilk Ice Cream is a delicious plant-based and dairy-free dessert. Dairy-like in its creaminess, texture and taste yet still free of lactose, dairy, soy and gluten, the bonus is that this ice cream is also certified organic, made with cashews from ethically sourced farming collectives. None of this should come as a surprise as the company’s mission is “to make delicious, organic, plant-based foods that benefit the planet and people,” yet organic plant-based offerings in this category can still be hard to come by. With flavors including Vanilla, Chocolate, Cookies & Cream, Mint Chip and Salted Caramel, the brand aims to serve up a clean, sustainable solution to an American classic. Yasso Jüve Pops From the makers of frozen yogurt bars, these pops are a water-based popsicle made with real fruit ingredients and packed with vitamins and electrolytes. The aim? To deliver rejuvenating replenishment and hydration. Think hot day after a workout or day of gardening, when water alone just doesn’t suffice. Made without artificial flavors, dyes or sweeteners, these light-flavored pops are super refreshing and lower in calories and sugar than their typical counterparts. We like that this incubator brand is set to contribute to the Yasso GameOn! Foundation, a certified 501(c)3, designed to provide resources and opportunities to get people and communities moving in the pursuit of health and happiness.
Alaffia Curl Enhancing Leave-in Conditioner Words simply cannot describe how amazing this hair product smells. Made with fair trade and unrefined shea butter from the company’s women-led cooperatives in West Africa, Alaffia’s Curl-Enhancing Leave-In Conditioner is tailor-made for curls in need of hydration. It also boasts extracts of soothing chamomile and yarrow. Notably, Alaffia reinvests a portion of its product sales into its Empowerment Projects in the region to help improve living conditions and support an end to poverty. It is also certified Fair For Life by ECOCERT, cruelty free and is GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) certified. Lia Diagnostics The Lia Pregnancy Test The Lia Pregnancy Test is taking a category that has seen roughly zero innovation for decades and is turning it on its head. This product is the first and currently only FDA-approved flushable and biodegradable pregnancy test on the market. Lia’s innovation will help cut down on the 2 million pounds of plastic waste per year in the U.S. alone that results from conventional pregnancy test use. Plus, it boasts a 99% accuracy rate. Pipette Baby Cream to Powder Pipette’s Baby Cream to Powder is a talc-free alternative to traditional baby powder that drastically reduces the risk of powder inhalation, which in recent years studies has been linked to a host of maladies. Because transparency is so important to consumers these days, the fact that this brand can say it bans over 2,000 potentially harmful ingredients across its line is a real boon. The main ingredients in this product are 100% sugarcane-derived squalene, which offers weightless hydration for ultra-sensitive baby skin, and arrowroot powder to safely absorb excess wetness. Pipette is EWG Verified and approved by the National Eczema Association.
Four Sigmatic Sweet Vanilla Plant-Based Protein The brand name Four Sigmatic is an interesting notion. Each “sigma” represents a step away from average when it comes to food quality. On the positive side of the ledger are staple foods, health foods, super foods and then the fourth sigmatic. The foods here are the cleanest, most transparently sourced protein powder ingredients, provided by a company that is 100% vegan. Each serving contains 18 grams of sustainably sourced organic vegan protein, 1,000 mg worth of mushroom extracts from chaga, lion’s mane, cordyceps and turkey tail mushrooms, and 500 mg of adaptogens from ashwagandha and eleuthero. Each scoop has a balanced amino acid profile from five organic plant proteins: peas, hemp, pumpkin and chia seeds, and coconut. There are no grains, gums or stevia. Of course it’s certified USDA Organic. Kos Immune Defense with EpiCor Kos is dedicated to plant-based proteins and powders. This is one power-packed immune-supported formulation. The key to it is EpiCor, a branded ingredient with an interesting backstory. The fermented powder was used in a Wisconsin plant, and management noticed that a segment of its workforce was sick significantly less than all others. They discovered it was because of exposure to the EpiCor ingredient, and a star was born. This formulation did not stop there. It also includes elderberry, echinacea, vitamin C from cherry extract, zinc, olive leaf extract, astragalus and a host of immune-boosting mushrooms. It might be the most diverse, supercharged immune-enhancing supplement on the market today. Probulin Total Care Immune Probiotic Probulin is a probiotic powerhouse company. Always innovating with therapeutic doses of probiotic strains, this SKU uses 10 different food-based probiotic strains as well as the prebiotic lunchbox—and then also is a pioneer in using postbiotics. These are the fermentation byproducts of probiotic bacteria, but found to enhance immunity in their own right. In fact, some research suggests postbiotics are the master health-regulating compounds in the body. This microbiome diversity is a landmark expansion of what started as the provocative probiotic category. The company’s MAKTrek 3-D Probiotic Delivery System provides safeguards to help ensure better survival in the body. And if all that digestive and immune support were not enough, for good measure it includes the Eldermune brand of elderberry. Wiley's Finest CatchFree Omega Full Spectrum Omega-3 Liquid Wiley’s is famous for catching its fish in Alaska and processing in Ohio. But in diversifying its set, it launched this inspired omega-3 for vegans. It does it using a combination of ingredients. The most notable is ahiflower—better than flax and with no fishy burps. It provides 160 mg alpha-linolenic acid, 60 mg stearidonic acid and 10 mg gamma-linolenic acid. An algal oil provides 500 mg DHA. A solid 1,000 IU vitamin D comes from lichen. Wiley’s packaging is always 100% recyclable materials. It is certified by NSF as vegan and non-GMO. Overall, it is a nice option for vegans looking to gain some of the omega-3s that typically come from fish sources.
Kos Organic Plant Protein Blueberry Muffin Powder Protein powders, once relegated to the weight room, have become ubiquitous across channels and demographics, but for consumers who are looking for something beyond the protein grams count, there is always something new. Kos brings in blue spirulina, adaptogens and immunity ingredients like elderberry to produce what the brand describes as an “all-in-one” protein shake. Of course, “organic” is also something that stands out on that now-ubiquitous wall of protein tubs. Editor's note: The other finalist in this category withdrew its nomination.
Natural Factors Quercetin LipoMicel Matrix COVID-19 concerns have boosted quercetin’s fortunes: Sales of the flavonoid doubled in the past year. That’s because studies found quercetin has a significant, if not wholly proven, capability to interfere with the replication of SARS-CoV-2—the virus that causes COVID-19. One study using a phospholipid matrix boosted quercetin bioavailability by 20-fold, with researchers suggesting it “should be considered a possible candidate to clinically face COVID-19.” LipoMicel Matrix, as its name suggests, enrobes the quercetin molecule inside a fatty micellular bubble, which has been shown to boost bioavailability by 10-fold. Natural Factors tests its products by ISURA for more than 700 possible contaminants. This is a high-quality company with a high-tech product that is on-point for the moment. Natural Stacks Magtech Magnesium Drink Mix Magnesium is the master mineral, responsible for hundreds of biochemical reactions in the body. One estimate asserts half of Americans are abjectly deficient. Magtech is a premium product unlike any other mag on the market. It features three different types of the mineral. Magnesium glycinate is the best-absorbed form of the mineral. It does not have a laxative effect like other forms, and is best to help with stress relief, sleep issues and occasional anxiety. Magnesium taurate is particularly effective in helping the heart muscle relax, which improves the quality of heart contractions. Magnesium L-threonate is from the branded ingredient Magtein, shown to benefit cognitive function in particular. Combined, this trifecta of magnesium provides broad and deep magnesium to different parts of the body. The drink mix makes it easy to take. Because magnesium is such a bulky ingredient, there’s no need for fillers or additives in the brand. Taking a tip from the innovative hemp CBD category, a QR code on the box leads shoppers to third-party batch lab tests. The company also donates to the Cure Alzheimer’s Fund. Winged Chilled Out Powder Winged is a high-flying of- by- and for-women company aimed at empowering women through the talisman of CBD. Women are twice as likely as men to experience anxiety, depression and insomnia, so the company launched Chilled Out—one of its first forays outside the CBD space. This drink mix is powered by a slew of ingredients to soothe a tattered psyche. Magnesium plays a central role in allowing tense muscles to relax, yet many women are deficient in this master mineral. Organic ashwagandha reduces the stress hormone cortisol. 5-HTP, as any raver can tell you, brings serotonin back up to par. GABA puts the brakes on the brain. L-theanine encourages mental relaxation without drowsiness. Passionflower, lemon balm and chaste tree berry have been used traditionally by women for anxiety and hormonal balance. What a formulation! Winged also works with four organizations that help lift disadvantaged women.
Gaia Herbs Hemp and Herbs Calm Leave it to Gaia to develop a thoughtfully curated formulation that would stand on its own as a traceable, transparent, high-quality botanical blend—in this case, using holy basil, passionflower, American skullcap, milky oats and magnolia to bring about a sense of tranquility. The company then supercharges the formulation with organic hemp at 20 mg CBD per serving. As part of its mission, Gaia Herbs donates 5% of profits from its hemp product sales to programs that support and empower small U.S. family farms. Through Gaia Herbs’ industry-leading Meet Your Herbs traceability program, customers can enter the ID number located on the back of any Gaia Herbs product to learn where each ingredient came from, how the herbs were grown, harvested and extracted, and the tests the product underwent to validate its purity, integrity and potency. Gaia Herbs is also a certified B Corp—using business as a force for good. ZBD Health CBD Infused Nutrition Bars CBD is everywhere, but this is no sugar-soaked confectionary or chocolate bar. It’s a super-delicious nutrition bar that contains 7 grams protein, 2 grams fiber and only 4 grams total sugar. It’s gluten free, vegan, non-GMO and, because it’s a broad-spectrum hemp, it contains no THC. And the hemp oil is organic. That’s inspired sourcing. A QR code reveals lab testing, vouchsafing ingredient quality through the value chain. That’s integrity. The professionally designed packaging makes this bar a hit on any store shelf, and any consumer would feel good about picking it up—and not only feel full after eating it, but also just a wee bit more balanced.
Enviromedica Terraflora Deep Immune Broad spectrum support for the microbiome is what's needed. Research supports the importance of maintaining the gut microbiome and that doing so is complex. Inspired by the science, Terraflora Deep Immune reflects this complexity. With a specific focus on the interplay between the gut microbiome and immune system function, Enviromedica has created an innovative product formulated with LC-Plasma, a unique paraprobiotic shown to activate the body’s pDCs, known as the "commander-in-chief" of the immune system. Designed to mimic the gut biodiversity reflected in ancestral diets and incorporating soil-based microorganisms, this multi-pronged approach honors the integrity of the interconnectedness of the ecosystems of this earth and the ecosystems of the human body. To your inner health! Gaia Herbs Microbiome Food With a pleasing cinnamon taste, Microbiome Food is a clean, plant-based prebiotic powder featuring traditional herbs (including cinnamon!) that nourish the digestive microbiome. We love that this formula combines traditional herbs known for their digestive benefits, bolstered by the power of clinical research. Inspired by a foundational gut-health approach to well-being, Microbiome Food comes with the assurance and integrity of Gaia's traceability program, meetyourherbs.com and B-Corp certification. Laird Superfood Activate Prebiotic Daily Greens No matter if you don't know Laird Hamilton or big wave surfing, there's plenty to feel inspired about with Laird Superfood’s Activate Prebiotic Daily Greens. An innovative well-rounded gut-health-supporting blend of nutrient-dense superfoods and mushroom-derived prebiotic fibers that positively influence the microbiome. Perhaps most exciting is the inclusion of Shilajit, a substance found primarily in the rocks of the Himalayas and prized as a rasayana in Ayurveda. This product provides what we modern humans are often missing most in our diet: diversity and elemental nutrition from the earth, supporting a healthy microbiome symbiotically.
ChildLife Essentials Healthy Vision SoftMelts These gummies offer a timely product innovation designed to meet an important and growing need in the market. The SoftMelt Gummy format was inspired by ChildLife Essential's mission to provide the nutrition that children need in a format that children will enjoy. With many kids attending school at home and spending even more time with screens, the Healthy Vision formulation offers parents an option to help protect their children’s eyes against blue-light radiation with its formulation of wild-grown Bilberry extract, Lutein, Zeaxanthin and vitamin A to help support healthy vision. Green Sprouts Sprout Ware Sip and Straw Cup This is a transitional sippy cup made from plant-plastic and silicone to help avoid harmful chemicals. We appreciated this product and Green Sprouts’ commitment to using safer materials and minimizing environmental impact. The Sprout Ware Sip and Straw Cup is made from innovative and nontoxic plant plastic, offering a safer alternative to petroleum plastics in children’s drinkware by utilizing a renewable resource that does not contain hormone-disrupting BPA, BPS, BPF, BFDGE, NOGE or BADGE additives. Llama Naturals Kids Elderberry Immunity Bites These organic gummies are part of Llama’s kid-formulated line of organic, fruit-sweetened, no-added-sugar line of plant-based gummy supplements. This product stood out for its makers’ dedication to creating USDA Organic certified, non-GMO, plant-based and vegan products, their organic fruit-sweetened formulation and for Llama Naturals’ success in obtaining Plastic Negative Certification by rePurpose Global—demonstrating its values rooted in sustainability, consumer wellness and transparency. We hope more companies follow Llama Naturals’ commitment to offsetting its plastic footprint through environmental action.
Compostic Compostable Cling Wrap Compostic Cling Wrap is the first home-compostable alternative to traditional plastic wrap. The product stood out for its innovation—with every aspect of the product being considered to ensure it is truly zero-waste. Made from a compound of biopolymers designed to mimic traditional plastics in functionality, the cling wrap will break down in a composting environment in under 24 weeks (less time than an orange peel!). The cling wrap is perforated, eliminating the need for plastic or metal cutters, and the box with soy-based printing ink is both recyclable and compostable. Tasty Clean Flavored Cleaning Spray From musical instruments to baby pacifiers, Tasty Clean is the on-the-go solution when soap and water aren't an option. This flavored multisurface spray uses the disinfecting power of apple cider vinegar and kills 99.9% of germs but is safe enough to digest. No need to rinse, either. This single product provides a convenient solution for many of life's situations while also saving an average of 50 gallons of water per 2-ounce bottle. The certified women-owned company also helps to support Children's Cancer Fund and Genesis Women's Shelter.
Dr. Bronner's Magic All-One Chocolate Bars Everyone knows Dr. Bronner’s and it continues to amaze. This is why we love this company. Not only does Dr. Bronner’s build sustainable supply networks for its product lines but it is starting to create products based on the market need. In other words, the team at Dr. Bronner’s has been sourcing Regenerative Organic Certified Serendi palm from Ghana as palm oil is a key ingredient in many of its soaps. And since those farmers also grow cocoa, it made sense to provide them with a better market opportunity—instead of low prices earned by selling into the commodity market—by creating a line of chocolate bars. Dr. Bronner’s does chocolate and they are yummy. Our Gorongosa Girls Run the World Medium Roast Coffee Our Gorongosa was established with a multipronged rehabilitation approach: coffee-growing as a tool to restore a depleted rainforest in Mozambique’s Mount Gorongosa region and to provide new economic opportunities for the rural community. With that in mind, there are three products with 100% of proceeds meant for different projects: rainforest restoration, wildlife conservation and girls’ education. Through the $17 bag of Girls Run the World Coffee, the goal is to build 100 schools and enhance education for 20,000 girls. Pastificio Boulder Organic Heritage Wheats Casarecce Craft Pasta Pastificio Boulder is at the forefront of the grain revival—a surge of farmers, educators, millers, manufacturers and let’s not forget the consumer—intent on transforming commodity grain chains into community grain networks. Pastificio does it all by sourcing organic heritage and ancient wheats and grains from biodynamically and regeneratively committed farms; milling and manufacturing grains into pasta; and educating communities near and far on the benefits of community over commodity. Consider Pastures Pasture-Raised Eggs Consider Pastures is a new egg line of Pete and Gerry’s Organic Eggs. Consider Pastures wants the marketplace to consider the role egg farms with small flocks and multilivestock farms can play in regenerative agriculture. To do this, the brand is engaging in three partnerships: American Farmland Trust through a 5-year, $250,000 commitment; Understanding Ag to improve techniques and soil testing methods to measure impact; and The Savory Institute’s Land to Market program to pioneer an egg-laying standard. The eggs are also Certified Humane, pasture raised and B Corp certified in addition to all the regenerative benefits. Take Two Foods Barleymilk Take Two Food's Barleymilk takes an innovative route to plant-based milk by using an upcycled ingredient. Utilizing spent grain from beer production, the company creates a second life for barley to make its Rejuvenated Barley ingredient for its milk. Because billions of pounds of spent grain are discarded annually, Take Two is on track to turn 500,000 pounds of upcycled grain into food. The company is in the process of becoming a B Corporation and Non-GMO Project Certified as well as undergoing a third party-led life-cycle assessment of its products and their impacts.
Bhoomi Ginger Recovery+ Cane Water Elixir Bhoomi (“Mother Earth” in Sanskrit) is the first certified low-glycemic cane water company in the U.S. making Ayurveda inspired super-botanical elixirs. Partnering with minority sugarcane farmers in Louisiana, Bhoomi works to address equitable economies, focus on regenerative practices and compost its sugarcane waste. Through a packaging study with the Climate Collaborative, Bhoomi identified the substantial impact of moving away from a fossil fuel-based plastic. This inspired the brand’s commitment to launch a new, recyclable, 100% sugarcane-based biopolymer bottle. Caulipower Riced Cauliflower Cups Single-serving frozen food packaging is, for the most part, an environmental disaster, and the boom in frozen food sales during the pandemic has made it clear the industry needs to make a change—soon. Enter Caulipower’s first-of-its-kind reusable, recyclable, microwaveable cup that houses three plant-based frozen cauliflower rice SKUs that boast unique flavor profiles. The packaging is also dishwasher safe and exceptionally easy to use: simply pop it in the microwave for a few minutes and dig in. Caulipower is a B Corp, offers certified keto-friendly products and is certified Non-GMO. Eco Lips 100% Plastic Free Plant Pod Hemp Lip Balm The tube, or “Plant Pod,” that was created for Eco Lips’ Hemp Lip Balm is made using food harvest waste that otherwise would have been burned, and the label is also 100% plastic free. Eco Lips plans to transition all its 0.15 oz tubes across its product line into this same sustainable packaging, which is indistinguishable from the packaging most lip balms on store shelves come in (yay, no consumer learning curve!). Eco Lips is both certified organic and a B Corp; its products are free from BPA, phthalates and heavy metals.
The NEXTY Awards recognize the pinnacle of excellence in the natural products industry, elevating impactful brands and products that inspire a healthy, sustainable future for people and planet.
With over 800 nominations for the 2021 Natural Products Expo West Virtual NEXTY Awards, the New Hope Network team recently spent four intense days evaluating the nominated products at our Boulder, Colorado, offices using the following criteria:
Innovation: The product or company shows truly creative thinking and execution (not a "me too" approach); uses a newly discovered or rediscovered ingredient, flavor profile, technique or process; fills a legitimate (though perhaps not yet recognized) natural products market need or niche; and/or is predicted to have a longer-term impact in the industry.
Inspiration: The product or company adheres to an unusual or new mission targeting an issue or problem not yet widely addressed; its message/mission is clearly communicated, focused and effective, with real, wide-reaching potential or already proven positive social or environmental impact.
Integrity: The product or company takes a creative, next-gen approach to clean ingredient(s), sustainability, transparency, traceability and safety/security.
On top of an already rigorous judging criteria, for the first time ever this year’s NEXTY Awards judging process implemented an additional step that provided an extra layer of insight for judges.
The weekend before judging commenced, judges were invited to take home some of the products from each category to which they were assigned. By preparing these products in their own kitchens, trying them with their families and observing and experiencing their real-world applications, judges came prepared for the preliminary round with an even greater familiarity with and sense of the applicants.
Even so, the competition was fierce and the selection process was extremely challenging. In the end, 77 products rose to the top.
These 77 products will be judged during a final round of evaluation that will welcome an experienced panel of guest judges to join the New Hope Network team in selecting a single winner within each of the 23 categories.
Only one product per category will be awarded a coveted NEXTY, and winners will be announced in a live virtual event on May 27 from 11:15 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. MDT during Expo West Virtual Week. To watch the announcement, you can register for free here.
For more information about the NEXTY Awards, head to the NEXTY Awards website.
Click through the gallery to see the finalists for Expo West Virtual Week 2021.
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