Team PBFA is still buzzing from all the excitement and energy at the Natural Product Expo East. The presence of plant-based foods gets stronger every year and we are proud to represent our members at such a prestigious event.
We were especially honored to take the lead with the Expo’s dedicated programming on plant-based foods, a session they called: “Changing the Menu: How Increased Demand & Product Innovation is Driving Plant-Based Eating”.
Kicking off the session was our own Senior Director of Retail Partnerships Julie Emmett, impressing the crowd with our annual retail sales data from SPINS.
We are also proud to have invited Marcellus Harris, of Kroger’s meat department to join Julie to discuss our exciting news about PBFA’s new partnership with Kroger to test a plant-based meat set next to conventional meat. Julie and Marcellus shared details about the collaboration and how it will inform retailers on merchandising best practices for plant-based foods. (Go here to see the media coverage.)
PBFA’s Executive Director Michele Simon also led a discussion on policy updates , with a focus on recent labeling challenges – including details of our recent legal victory in Mississippi.
The Expo show floor was buzzing with crowds flocking to try the plant-based goodies at our members’ booths. Over 30 members, were prominently displaying their proud PBFA member signs.
Big congrats to PBFA member Good Catch Foods for winning the Nexty award for Best New Plant-Based Meat Alternative and Nuttin’ Ordinary for being nominated in the Best New Special Diet Food category.
PBFA also sponsored a happy hour hosted by members No Evil Foods and Good Catch. The entire bar was packed with passionate folks eager to network and try some tasty plant-based appetizers. It was also a great opportunity for our new Chief Growth Officer, Sally Rueking to meet and greet many of our members.
I’m happy to close out the last Expo East in Baltimore (next year is in Philadelphia!) with such positive energy. I look forward to hearing from our members about new opportunities and connections made while at Expo. I am confident that PBFA’s presence – through proud member signs, participation in education, and bringing folks together, will lead to even more companies joining PBFA. (We are at 160 members!)