This past weekend, #TeamCookIt headed out to Philadelphia to attend Expo East! They spent two days taste testing new products, meeting with up and coming brands, and getting some face time with a few members of the #CookItCrew (shout-out Ed, Jill, Tim, Erin, and Amy)!

Here’s a look inside our biggest takeaways from the event.

Trends:

  • Popcorn is making a comeback!
  • Better-for-you candy sweetened with sugar alternatives, like monk fruit and allulose 
  • Food in pouches – it’s not just for kids!
  • Functional wellness for mental health, stress, and anxiety
  • Sustainability – upcycled foods, organic stewardship, regenerative agriculture, reducing waste and responsible packaging
  • Fruits and veggie snacks, any which way – chewy, dried, gummy, dehydrated, puffed, chips…the list goes on and on!
  • Root vegetables showing up in convenient ways – think chips, french fries, croutons, and dehydrated snacks
  • Iterations of vegan comfort food, like vegan fried chicken, mac and cheese, and pizza
  • Avocado as an alt protein base
  • Alternative eggs 
  • Water – Sparkling, still, infused, functional, flavored…you name it, it’s trending
  • Mocktails and zero-proof spirits
  • Caffeinated snacks and cleaner energy drinks

Tasty products and exciting brands:

 
What trends are you most excited about? Let us know in the comments below!