2023 Natural Products Expo West Highlights Hormel Foods’ Brands Innovations and SustainabilityInitiatives

-KH News Desk (cbedit@imaws.org)

Hormel Foods Corporation, a global branded food company and Fortune 500 member, recently participated in the 2023 Natural Products Expo West in Anaheim, California, to exhibit its latest natural and sustainable food products. The company’s brand teams, including Justin’s and Applegate, showcased their newest products and innovations at the event. The Applegate Naturals Do Good Dog, the first retail hot dog made with regenerative agriculture, and Applegate Organics Uncured Genoa Salami Bites were among the featured products. Meanwhile, Justin’s Super Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup and Super Dark Chocolate Espresso Almond Butter Cup were popular choices due to their taste and quality.

Penny Andino, Vice President of Marketing at Justin’s, expressed delight in the warm reception the brand received at Expo West, citing the positive response from buyers and consumers who are increasingly seeking brands that offer real, simple, and clean ingredients. Andino highlighted that Justin’s Super Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup, which contains only five grams of real sugar per cup, stood out for delivering on taste without compromising on quality. The product is certified USDA Organic, Rainforest Alliance Cocoa, and Non-GMO Project Verified.

Hormel Foods’ global impact and innovation team members attended the conference’s climate day, where they heard over 50 sustainability and environmental experts share insights on regenerative agriculture, traceable supply chains, and sustainable trends in the food industry. The company’s 20 By 30 Challenge goals, which focus on sustainability and corporate citizenship in the food industry, includes initiatives in sustainable agricultural production, clean-label initiatives, renewable energy sourcing, and packaging sustainability.Expo West provided Hormel Foods with a valuable opportunity to understand the latest trends in natural and sustainable food products and packaging, according to Ashley Krautkramer-Gonya, Senior Innovation Manager at Planters. Krautkramer-Gonya added that the event also provided the company with the chance to network with potential partners to capitalize on emerging trends in a way that enriches their business and product portfolio.