[IKYMI – Read Part 1 of this post and check out my Instagram reel and story highlights.]
If you’ve been following along on Instagram stories, you know I attended Expo West in Anaheim again this year. The energy, enthusiasm and innovation were back and I’m here for it. The crowds were a bit intimidating, but it was possible to find some less crowded areas and to spend time talking to some great brands.
Day 3 – Pre-Show Run
I met Lisa from Kuli Kuli for a run. We chatted and caught up. We tried to run at Downtown Disney but it doesn’t open until 7:05, so we just ran around Anaheim and caught the end of the sunrise.
Day 3 – Arena, Hot Products and Main Hall
I started the day in the “Arena.” This is a small area where newer / new to the show brands usually are. I had a meeting with Chargel so I checked out other exhibitors beforehand. I tried some Vietnamese coffee from Trung Nguyen Legend. Their instant was especially good! I tried some amazing habanero almond butter from Amoretti, grabbed a few Mightylicious gluten free cookies and botanical water from WaterFirst. Let’s hope that last one gets picked up in the US. It’s amazing!
I met with the Chargel team. Chargel is a pocket-sized athletic gel drink designed to meet the needs of runners and bikers. It’s caffeine-free and delivers its immediate energy from a blend of carbohydrates, fruit juice and five essential B vitamins. Chargel comes from Japan and it tastes really good (it’s from the same parent company as HI-Chew!) Each pouch has 180 calories and is resealable. Stay tuned for more on Chargel with a full review and giveaway.
I headed back over to Hot Products to meet with Heraclea. Heraclea makes organic, cold-pressed olive oil at their family farm in Turkey. They just launched four infused flavors – chili, garlic, rosemary, and lemon. The olive oil tastes amazing and the company is committed to sustainability and it’s employees. You can find it here. On the way out, I saw Matt from Kooshy. This Chicago company makes THE BEST croutons and are soon coming out with the first sugar free panko breadcrumbs on the market. Stay tuned for more from Kooshy.
It wouldn’t be an Expo without catching up with Omur from Lebby Snacks. Their new milk and dark chocolate pistachios are just delicious! I also met the team from Create Wellness. They make creatine gummies. Creatine contributes to the development of lean muscle and a toned physique and supports cognitive function. They are non-GMO, vegan and gluten free. I’ve been meaning to add creatine into my regimen so I’m excited to try them. We chatted about all of the marathon majors and running performance in general. Definitely could have chatted there all day!
I swung by to check out what was new at Malk. They’re launching shelf stable Almond and Oat Malk, Cashew Malk and flavored creamers. I tried the Oat and Cashew and both were really good. The Cashew one will be great for baking and cooking! I tried new Strawberry and Cream Siete gluten free cookies and new Crisp Power Protein Pretzels. The Crisp Power pretzels are high in protein and low in carbs. They’re nice and crunchy and better for you than traditional pretzels.
I stopped in to check out what was new with Vermont Smoke and Cure. I’m a long time fan and got samples of a few flavors that are coming soon. I’m very excited for Hot and Spicy Turkey meat sticks. They gave me some pepperoni and salami for The Husband, too! I stopped by to see Asli from Bee & You and they shared a bunch of wellness and beauty products made with bee propolis. I’m most excited about the hand cream. I also tried Craize’s new Jalapeno Lime corn crackers – YUM!
I headed over to Hall E to meet Regina from Nemi Snacks. Her new Pickled Jalapeno Cactus Sticks won the Nexty Award for “Best Salty or Savory Snack!” I’m an OG fan and friend of the brand so I was SUPER excited. I visited a few of my fave brands – Honey Mama’s, Justin’s and Kize Bar. Honey Mama’s new Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip and Chocolate Peanut Butter bars are unbelievably delicious! BOLO – they’re coming soon. They also have a new Manuka Honey bar.
I was excited to see Justin’s back at Expo after a few years. They were sharing new (to me) Dark Chocolate Peanut and Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Candy Pieces. So good! I snagged some almond butter, too! I headed over to grab the three new Kize bar flavors and they were ALL OUT. They were anxiously awaiting a new shipment. It was great to catch up with them anyway!
I swung by to see Chosen Foods. They sent me an awesome care package of avocado oil, avocado oil spray and avocado oil mayo before the show. Someone clued me in to their new Chocolate Hazelnut Spread. It has 40% lower sugar and no palm oil. It’s awesome! If your household uses this type of spread, find it here. I stopped by to grab some Steeped Coffee. These single serve coffee bags are the BEST for travel where you can find hot water but not always good coffee. Finally, I met up with my friends from Undercover Snacks and grabbed some of their new flavor – Dark Chocolate S’mores.
Day 3 Haul
And just like that, it was time to go! I organized all of my goodies and headed to LAX to take a red-eye home!
I’ll be back with more features and giveaways soon!
Which products or trends do you want to see in more detail on the blog?
Please note: This post contains Amazon affiliate links. If you use these links, I’ll receive a small commission. Check out many of these and previous finds on my Amazon list!