5 Key Predictions for Trends at Natural Products Expo West 2025
Natural Products Expo West 2025 brings together many creators in the natural product industry, including artificial intelligence-, sustainability-, and lifestyle-related products, which may define the future of the industry. Here are a few predictions for what will be most exciting this year…
1. AI Integration
AI is an important influence on the natural products industry, enabling personalized wellness and nutrition planning based on biometric data. AI can also automate label compliance checks for quality control, reducing shrinkage and waste. AI-driven biotechnology is being used to discover new plant-based compounds as alternatives to traditional ingredients. Companies like Placer.ai are leveraging AI-driven location analytics to help businesses optimize store placements and customer engagement strategies.
2. Waste Less Food
Although the heyday of sustainability is most likely not 2025, reducing food waste remains a popular aim for both cost optimization and sustainability purposes. Apeel, for example, has created plant-based coatings to extend the shelf life of fresh produce. Freeze-dried foods (e.g. Thrive Freeze-Dry) are also coming into vogue, reducing the waste of foods that would otherwise likely spoil. Notwithstanding the interest among consumers in sustainability, rising costs of consumer products and especially food have driven innovation in this area. We will have to wait and see if any participants in the expo have good ideas on reducing the cost of eggs.
3. Flexible Labels
Consumers are embracing a more flexible approach to diets and lifestyles, leading to a rise in brands that cater to both plant-based and traditional food preferences. Actual Veggies, known for its clean-label, plant-based burgers made from whole vegetables, exemplifies this trend. While they highlight their commitment to plant-based eating, they also acknowledge consumer demand by incorporating real cheese into select products. Similarly, this trend extends to beverages, with consumers seeking both alcoholic and non-alcoholic options in their diets.
4. Added Benefits with Functional Ingredients
Likely intertwined with the recent longevity obsession and an emphasis on both mental and physical health considerations, consumers are prioritizing ingredients that support their overall health and well-being. Products focused especially on mental health, gut health, and stress relief are on the rise. BrainJuice is just one of a slew of brands aiming to offer products to improve your mental clarity, focus, and overall health with adaptogens, probiotics, and nootropics, among others.
5. Protein-Enriched Products
Alongside another public obsession with “keto” and “low-carb”, brands are innovating in food products packed with protein. We should add that the meteoric rise of GLP-1 has also driven demand for protein-rich foods…Finally! Chickpea Snacks, for example, is a standout among snacks rich in protein and fiber. Eggcellent Protein Puffs is also gaining in popularity for its egg white-based, low carb snacks.
These are just a few of the exciting areas we’ll be looking carefully at during the Natural Products Expo West 2025 in Anaheim. We’re excited about more than the free samples…