Expo West 2024: The Most Exciting Alt-Protein & Future Food Launches

With tens of thousands of people flocking to the Anaheim Convention Center this week for Natural Products Expo West, we look at some of the standout plant-based and future food products being unveiled at the trade show.

Tuesday marked the start of Expo West, one of the world’s largest trade events for the food industry. Over five days, thousands of companies will exhibit new innovations and offerings to attendees in Anaheim, California, with the event serving as a launchpad for many products’ routes to market.

Last year, over 3,000 brands participated in the show, with more than 65,000 visitors. Needless to say, it’s a big deal for companies hoping to gauge consumer sentiment about upcoming launches. With that in mind, here are some of the most exciting plant-based and future food products on display at Expo West 2024.

Plant-based milk and cheese go big

Non-dairy products have an expansive presence at Expo West 2024. At booth #3994 in Hall D, vegan cheese giant Violife is exhibiting what it says is the ‘first-ever’ bakeable non-dairy cream cheese as part of a build-your-own bagel stall and cheesecake offering, while booth #3899 will see Armored Fresh sample its oat-milk-based Cheddar and Pepper Jack slices in grilled cheese sandwiches. In the North Hall, meanwhile, olive oil cheese producer Good Planet Foods will be showcasing new vegan sharp Cheddar and smoked Gouda slices at booth #507.

Plant-based milk brand MALK Organics is launching a cashew milk and shelf-stable oat and almond milk SKUs this quarter, which will be previewed at booth #335 in the North Hall as well. Another milk launch comes from TiNDLE Foods, marking its alt-dairy debut with a barista oat milk at booth #4905 in Hall E.

Likewise, Milkadamia (booth #691 in Hall A) and THIS PKN (#100 in the North Hall) will showcase their macadamia- and pecan-based creamers, respectively.

In the precision fermentation dairy sector, Bored Cow (#1249 in the North Hall) will unveil a new product made using Perfect Day’s animal-free whey protein, while Vivici (booth #4495 in Hall D) will be promoting its beta-lactoglobulin protein.

Breakfast in the spotlight with vegan eggs and meat alternatives

This year, breakfast foods are in. Fresh from announcing its retail launch, Yo Egg will be exhibiting its vegan sunny-side-up and poached eggs at booth #609 in the North Hall. In the same area, AcreMade will showcase its plant-based scrambled eggs made from pea protein at booth #1336.

It’s a big year for vegan bacon too. Expo West attendees will be able to taste seaweed bacon from Umaro Foods, which just closed a $3.8M funding round and will present its bacon bits and a bacon, egg and cheese sandwich at booth #211 near the entrance arena. Likewise, MyForest Foods will be sampling its bacon (made from oyster mushroom mycelium) at #1123 in the North Hall, and Prime Roots will offer its koji mycelium bacon at #4695 in Hall D.

Dinner favourites shine with mushrooms

Apart from its brand-new oat milk, TiNDLE Foods is also launching its vegan stuffed chicken at its Expo West stall. And Hong Kong-based OMNI is unveiling the US’s first lion’s mane mushroom steak product to kickstart its new whole-food OMNI Garden range at booth #2101 in the North Hall.

Mycelium meat maker Meati, meanwhile, is showcasing its carne asada and chicken analogues at #4981 in Hall E. Shroomeats will be doing the same with its mushroom-based burgers and meatballs at #4199A in Hall D, and Pan’s will exhibit its mushroom jerky at North Hall booth #333.

If you’re looking for sushi, by the way, Konscious Foods is launching three new products at Expo West: a salmon avocado roll, a kimbap, and smoked salmon (a Nexty Award Finalist at the event). You can find the brand in Hall E at booth #5679.

Sweet treats and future foods show promise

In the dessert realm, OMNI is introducing a new line of dessert-themed baos in four flavours at its booth. Voyage Foods, meanwhile, has partnered with Rudi’s Rocky Mountain Bakery to offer allergen-free PB&J sandwiches with its peanut-free peanut butter at both #2338 in the North Hall.

Mid-Day Squares will demo its newest functional plant-protein-powered chocolate in the form of a crunchy peanut bar, which visitors can taste at booth #5783 in Hall E. While you’re there, check out Minus‘s beanless coffee cans in cold brew and vanilla oat milk latte flavours at LA Libations’ booth #5535.

Finally, MeliBio is launching a new flavour of its plant-based Mellody honey, keying into the ultra-popular hot honey trend with a Spicy Habanero variant at its North Hallbooth #445.

These are just a handful of plant-based and future food innovations being spotlit at Expo West – check out the full list of exhibitors here.

Natural Products Expo West 2024 is running from March 12-16 at the Anaheim Convention Center in California.