Trade shows around the consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry are starting to heat up, and the most recent Natural Products Expo West show displayed nothing short of the hottest trends. KeHE held its seventh TrendFinder event during the show, where they hand-picked a set of unique “Golden Ticket” winners based on ingredients, innovation, taste, scalability, packaging, purpose, and passion. Out of 180 suppliers given the opportunity to pitch one-on-one to KeHE’s Category Management team, 21 Golden Tickets were awarded, with seven handed out to innovative brands live on the Expo West show floor.
For two years in a row, KeHE, one of the largest and most respected grocery and natural product distributors in the United States, has partnered with RangeMe to facilitate multiple TrendFinder events, including KeHE DIVERSEtrade™, KeHEelevate™, CAREtrade®, and Next Generation Innovation.
Take a look below at each brand that will be added to KeHE’s product portfolio, gaining exposure to more than 30,000 retail locations and their retail partners.
AH! YES
AH! YES is a range of award-winning certified organic intimacy products made with plant polymer technology designed to be side-effect free, without ethical or chemical compromise. AH! YES products include a range of personal lubricants, moisturizers, and feminine washes that are body-safe, natural, and highly effective. Another day, another taboo-breaking brand leading the industry!
Bocce’s Bakery
Bocce’s Bakery started in a tiny NYC kitchen with the belief that our furry friends deserve better. Once upon a time, a small scruffy mutt, Bocce, was told that he was carrying a few extra pounds at a vet checkup, so his owners began cooking their own dog treats without mystery ingredients and preservatives. Bocce’s believes that better treats are made with better ingredients, that long ingredient lists make no sense, and that treating should be fun!
Circles Coffee
Made from compostable materials, Circles Coffee is a round filter that you pour water over to create a smooth single-serve cup of coffee. Circles provides the simplest and smoothest way to brew a great mug on the fly. They do everything in-house, from sourcing and roasting, to packaging the product. As a team of roasters, baristas, q-graders, and retail coffee shop owners, Circles Coffee wants to simplify the coffee experience anywhere.
Deliciou
Kjetil Hansen always disliked having to follow lengthy and complicated recipes when cooking. To solve this issue, he created Deliciou with a mission to make plant-based cooking easy and delicious for everyone! They provide a range of shelf-stable plant-based proteins with a unique blend of herbs and spices, plant protein, fiber, and iron. Create an easy, filling, plant-based meal within minutes by simply adding a few basic ingredients to create the perfect meal for two!
Evolving Kneads Bakery
Evolving Kneads Bakery is a gluten-free and vegan bakery that evolved from owner Glenn Panitz’s love of great-tasting desserts and the fond memory of smelling his mom’s home-baked cookies waft through his childhood home. What started as a challenge from his poker buddies to make the best gluten-free and vegan cookies grew into a booming bakery. Their scrumptious desserts can satisfy any sweet tooth without breaking most dietary restrictions.
Food Huggers
Owned by inventors, women, and friends, Food Huggers® offers silicone disks that form a seal on fruits and veggies to make sustainable habits easy and fun to do without giving up convenience or style. Their inspiration is delicious fresh food and their goal is to help people reduce food waste at home. Food Huggers® easily compact, are dishwasher safe, BPA free, phthalate-free, reusable, sustainable, and eco-friendly.
As a small and growing brand, we are very grateful to have KeHE’s support as we introduce our company and products into this exciting new channel. Knowing that many buyers rely on RangeMe as a tool to organize and prioritize their discovery process, we make sure that our products and brand information are well presented. Our favorite features include access to the schedules and timing of line reviews and the information RangeMe provides about what specific buyers are currently looking for.
Food Huggers team
Go Energy Foods
Founders James Shuman and Jacqueline Smith used to work long hours together on a sales team for a local Utah company. They would bring snacks from home or buy snacks from vendors, which either didn’t fully satisfy their tastebuds or were unhealthy. In 2017, the two created E3 ENERGY CUBES Inc. with a mission to “change the flavor of healthy” by creating good clean foods for any lifestyle. These bars are gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free, preservative-free, and organic!
GoodSam
When Sam Stroot and Heather Terry met, they realized they shared the same dream of bringing delicious food to the U.S. and sharing the amazing stories that came along with it. And just like that, GoodSam, a line of specialty chocolate chips and bars was born. GoodSam believes in food that’s good for you, good for farmers, and good for the planet. When they support small farms, everyone wins!
Humble And Frank
Dip, pour, dunk, and swirl: make any party a little more “taste-full” with Humble And Frank’s delicious condiments. Each one of these condiments is premium-crafted and ready to get your tastebuds celebrating. In every bottle, jar, and shaker, they select only the finest seasonings and ingredients while also mixing in plenty of possibilities. Their products are gluten-free, keto, paleo, trans-fat-free, and have no preservatives, artificial flavors, or colors.
Lively Harvest
Lively Harvest’s 100% oat pancake and waffle mix is made with high-quality ingredients and is certified Gluten-Free, Non-GMO, and Kosher. Studies have shown that oats carry many benefits that help lower blood sugar levels and promote better gut health through high levels of fiber and antioxidants.
Local Culture
Local Culture was founded in Bend, Oregon by Sarah Frost-McKee and Paul Trendler in the summer of 2017 through their mission to create healthy and sustainable options for their growing family. They take every step possible to minimize waste by composting 100% of their kitchen scraps and never fermenting or packaging in plastic. Direct relationships with small local farms are the foundation of their business, and every product is hand-packed with love.
Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu originated from Bernardo Paiva’s passion for sharing the joy of living outdoors to the fullest and his understanding of the importance of education. His dream is to use that same passion to improve the lives of children in difficult situations. Matcha Picchu energy drinks are organic, non-GMO, preservative-free, and powered with organic Peruvian maca and natural caffeine from green coffee.
Mighty Gum
Mighty Gum is a functional chewing gum designed to help our bodies cope with life’s compromises, from not getting enough sleep and overworking ourselves to overwhelming stress. Mat Thalakotur, founder of Mighty Gum, came up with the idea from his inability to remember to take his daily vitamins. Mighty Gum is designed to help people feel as fresh as their breath. All their products are vegan, and free from sugar, aspartame, allergens, GMOs, and artificial flavors/colors.
Moodify
Since 2020, Moodify has been producing instant oatmeal made with all-natural ingredients to boost your mood with delicious flavors made with care. Their oatmeals contain ingredients like berries, bananas, chocolate, coffee, nuts, probiotics, and more! Their no-sugar-added instant oats are packed with thoughtfully curated ingredients to boost moods with flavors we all crave.
Mori Leaf Tea
After Julie Lee’s dad was diagnosed with cancer in 2018, she dedicated her time to researching anti-inflammatory and highly nutritional plant-based foods. She discovered the “miracle plant” aka Moringa. Mori Leaf Tea is the first bottled version of Moringa tea sourced from the highest quality leaves from their ancient origin in India. They brew and bottle all their teas in California.
Naked Life
By artfully distilling botanicals with quality ingredients and balancing art with science, Naked Life creates beautifully crafted spirits that provide all the things you need to celebrate special moments, but without the alcohol—or the sugar, preservatives, artificial flavors or colors. They are naked by design!
Ruby Wellness
Ruby Wellness creates a water alternative similar to hibiscus iced tea, yet it’s simply hibiscus and water, no additives. This beverage is organic, with no sugar, calories, or additives, with a wonderful tart flavor. Ruby Hibiscus helps curb pesky sugar cravings with its naturally sweet tartness. Hibiscus is packed with antioxidants and electrolytes, making it a great functional beverage without the insane sugar content!
Taika
Taika means magic in Finnish and that’s precisely what Taika’s keto-friendly, plant-based coffees and teas will make you feel. Think inspired, not wired. Their blends of single-origin coffees and organic ceremonial grade matcha deliver adaptogens for immune support, focused energy, enhanced creativity, and reduced stress. On top of that, there is zero added sugar.
Two Spoons Creamery
Two Spoons was started by Rich Ferreira and Gabe Zichermann, two LA foodies and ex-boyfriends who dreamed of creating premium ice cream on a low-carb, ketogenic diet. After two years and more than 1,000 test batches, Two Spoons Creamery was born. Their proprietary gluten-free, egg-free, and low-allergen ice creams are for the better-for-you consumer who’s nostalgic for the flavors from their childhood.
As someone who is super techy, I immediately gravitated toward the transparency and efficiency that RangeMe offers. We’re a startup, so time and money are precious. Having a place where we can see retailers quickly, submit our brands, and engage is amazing. The premium subscription isn’t for everyone, but it has really had a tremendous payoff for us.
Gabe Zichermann, Two Spoons Creamery
UPPEREAST Side Foods
Where Seoul meets New York: UPPEREAST Foods promotes a healthy lifestyle through innovative and clean yet incredibly savory food products. UPPEREAST offers the best and most authentic assortment of Korean-inspired sauces created to serve a global consumer willing to experience regional and local foods alike.
Upstart Kombucha
Made with three primary ingredients: water, tea, and sugar, each bottle of Upstart Kombucha is packed with vitamins and probiotics that provide many health benefits to make you feel good. Various herbs and fruits are also included to create each flavor. Their kombucha contains all-natural, organically certified ingredients and is 100% raw, vegan, and gluten-free.
Our hats go off to all the Golden Ticket winners! We’re excited to continue working with KeHE to facilitate future discovery events through RangeMe. Stay tuned for KeHE’s next virtual TrendFinder event taking place May 2-6. Apply by April 18th to be considered for this opportunity!