The Specialty Food Association’s 2018 Winter Fancy Food Show, held Jan. 21-23 in San Francisco, featured more than 80,000 products from 1,400 companies. Show organizers created spaces to highlight new products and trends, new brands, and food flavors and textures set to resonate through the industry for years to come.

This year, attendees had the chance to engage with a proposed grocery aisle of the future. The interactive exhibit suggested supreme customization and ease of selection and purchase. Apparently, convenience will continue to play well in the future. 

As for the current state of industry trends, plant-based foods, products that highlight sustainability in marketing efforts, products with reduced and alternative sugar components, products that feature simple ingredients and meals and snacks that strike a balance between health and convenience work collectively to make up the current landscape of food and beverage product development.

It’s increasingly difficult to place new food and beverage products into clearly delineated categories. Product developers are blurring the lines between meals and snacks, health and indulgence, and traditional protein and plant-based foods. However, we have made an effort to describe the characteristics of new product introductions. In doing so, we created these descriptions:

Of the mountain of products on display at the 2018 Winter Fancy Food Show, our editors uncovered several products that meander on the periphery of category definition.  

Found at the 2018 Winter Fancy Food Show: 

BOBO’S STUFF’D

BOBO’s STUFF’d is a line of nut butter filled oat bars in four flavor options: Chocolate Almond Butter Filled, Peanut Butter Filled Chocolate Chip, Coconut Almond Butter and Peanut Butter Filled.
[ www.eatbobos.com ]
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BUBBIES ICE CREAM

Bubbies Homemade Ice Cream & Desserts, Inc. debuted Triple Chocolate Mochi Ice Cream. In the tradition of mochi, the new variety is made with a sweetened rice confection filled with ice cream.
[ www.bubbiesicecream.com ]
FLAVOR JOLT | INDULGENCE SQUARED | SIMPLICITY

CHOCODREAM ORGANIC COCOA RICE STIX

Natural Nectar ChocoDream™ Organic Cocoa Rice Stix are USDA organic certified, gluten-free certified, vegan and contain no artificial flavors, colors or high fructose corn syrup. The products are individually wrapped and filled with coconut cream.
[ www.natural-nectar.com ]
FLAVOR JOLT | INDULGENCE SQUARED 

ELMHURST MILKED PEANUTS

A dairy alternative, Elmhurst Milked Peanuts are made with a few simple ingredients including filtered water, peanuts, cane sugar, Dutch-processed cocoa, natural flavors and salt. A patented “cold milling” process retains many of the peanuts’ natural nutrients, creating a creamy, satisfying beverage with as much protein as a glass of milk.  
[ www.elmhurst1925.com ]
ALT-FOOD | FLAVOR JOLT | PLANETARY FUTURE | SIMPLICITY

ENJOY LIFE

Enjoy Life Foods introduced new packaging for its expanding portfolio of allergy-friendly foods. The new colorful design creates a cohesive brand block on shelf, making it easy for ingredient-conscious shoppers to find Enjoy Life’s 70+ products within the traditional supermarket aisles. Enjoy Life’s new packaging allows consumers to eat freely knowing that each product is free-from 14 common allergens, including wheat, peanuts, tree nuts, dairy, casein, soy, egg, sesame, sulfites, lupin, mustard, fish, shellfish, and crustaceans.
[ www.enjoylifefoods.com ]
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FAWEN READY TO DRINK SOUPS

Balancing aspects of convenience, health, snack and meal, Fawen’s Ready to Drink Soups are available in three varieties including Beet & Cabbage with Cumin, Broccoli & Cauliflower with Turmeric and Sweet Potato & Red Lentil with Cinnamon.
[ www.drinkfawen.com ]
BLURRED MEALS & SNACKS | FLAVOR JOLT | QUICK & HEALTHY | SIMPLICITY

GRANDYOATS COCONOLA

Coconola is a grain-free coconut granola that is organic, gluten-free, paleo, kosher and non-GMO. The product is made with coconut chips, seeds and nuts and is available in three varieties including Original, Chocolate Chunk and Sugar Hemp Blend.
[ www.grandyoats.com ]
FLAVOR JOLT | QUICK & HEALTHY | SIMPLICITY

OHI SUPERFOOD BARS

These refrigerated superfood bars are rich in plant-based fats and proteins. The bars are non-GMO, vegan, paleo, and free from gluten, grain, dairy, soy and refined sugars. Varieties include Almond Crunch, Coconut Macadamia, Super Green and Chocolate Espresso.
[ www.OHiFoodCo.com ]
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ORGANIC MOON BARK

Chuao Chocolatier expanded its portfolio to include Organic Moon Bark in three flavors: Chia Berry Dreamer, Quinoa Berry Skies and Coconut Almond Radiance. The organic treats pair playful superfood inclusions with 72% Fair Trade Certified dark chocolate, offering a better-for-you snack.
[ www.chuaochocolatier.com ]
FLAVOR JOLT | INDULGENCE SQUARED | SIMPLICITY

ORGANIC MORINGA GREEN SMOOTHIE MIXES

Kuli Kuli introduced the Organic Moringa Green Smoothie Mixes to its line of moringa products. The Organic Moringa Green Smoothie Mixes come in three flavors: Dark Chocolate, Vanilla and Unsweetened. All three can be mixed with water or a non-dairy beverage for a healthy, plant-based way to start the day.
[ www.kulikulifoods.com ]
ALT-FOOD | BLURRED MEALS & SNACKS | PLANETARY FUTURE | QUICK & HEALTHY | SIMPLICITY

PAN'S MUSHROOM JERKY

Zesty Thai, a variety of Pan's Mushroom Jerky, is a shiitake-based jerky that is vegan and features organic and Non-GMO ingredients. Pan’s Mushroom Jerky launched in the Pacific Northwest in 2008 and is now available throughout the US.
[ www.mushroomjerky.com ]
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RAAKA CHOCOLATE MINI BARS

Raaka’s unfrosted dark chocolate can now be consumed in the form of a mini bar. The eight gram mini bars will initially be available in Pink Sea Salt and Coconut Milk varieties. The bars are known to celebrate the wild flavors of cacao.
[ www.raakachocolate.com ]
INDULGENCE SQUARED | SIMPLICITY

REGRAINED SUPERGRAIN+ BARS

The bar products are developed using spent grain from craft brewers. The grain contains protein, fiber and micronutrients. The Regrained Supergrain+ Bars are available in three varieties including Chocolate Coffee Stout Energizing SuperGrain Bar, Honey Cinnamon IPA Immune Supporting SuperGrain Bar and Blueberry Sunflower Saison Antioxidant SuperGrain Bar.
[ www.regrained.com ]
ALT-FOOD | PLANETARY FUTURE | QUICK & HEALTHY | SIMPLICITY

RW GARCIA 3-SEED ARTISAN CRACKERS

RW Garcia updated its packaging for its 3-Seed Sweet Potato, Kale and Sweet Beet crackers. The products contain no additives or preservatives, are verified non-GMO and certified gluten-free.
[ www.rwgarcia.com ]
QUICK & HEALTHY | SIMPLICITY

SAVORIES

The Season Brand launched Season Savories, a new sardine concept that is a ready-to-eat kit including a skinless and boneless flaked sardine salad, blended with select vegetables and spices, along with six fat-free organic rice crackers and a foldable spoon for scooping. 
[ www.seasonproducts.com ]
BLURRED MEALS & SNACKS | QUICK & HEALTHY

SEJOYIA COCO-THINS

Referred to as “snackable cashew cookies,” this new product line is made with seven or less ingredients. The product makers aim to split the difference between indulgence and guilt-free. Coco-Thins are available in four varieties including Chocolate, Vanilla, Lemon Zest and Salted Caramel.
[ www.sejoyia.com ]
FLAVOR JOLT | INDULGENCE SQUARED

UNISOY VEGAN JERKY

Offered with 21 grams of protein per package, Vegan Jerky is a snack made from non-GMO and plant-based ingredients. The jerky contains 90 calories per serving and is available in three varieties: Black Pepper, Spicy and Teriyaki.
[ www.unisoyfoods.com ]
ALT-FOOD | PLANETARY FUTURE | SIMPLICITY

WÜNDER CREAMERY

Misha Dairy is releasing a new line of nutrient-rich, super-dairy quark under the name Wünder Creamery. Wünder Creamery quark contains added probiotics and grass-fed whole milk, resulting in a naturally creamy, good-for-your-gut snack.
Flavors include Blueberry, Coffee, Vanilla Bean Coconut, Raspberry, Matcha in 5.3-ounce cups, as well as a Plain option in a 24-ounce container.
[ www.mishadairy.com ]
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