Sports Food/Beverage finalists for 2018 SupplySide CPG Editor’s Choice Award – image gallery

With dynamic speakers, unique programming, expert panel discussions and workshops, and a vibrant exhibit hall, SupplySide West is the go-to event for natural products professionals. The creative collaborations and innovative ingredients that are a hallmark of the event are also the driving force behind the thriving marketplace. Now in its 7th year, the SupplySide CPG Editor's Choice Awards recognizes some of the coolest new launches of consumer packaged goods (CPG) products in nearly 30 categories.

The Sports Food and Beverage category saw lots of ready-to-prepare powder beverage mix entries, reflecting the market’s love of convenience and customization. In active consumer markets it’s rare to talk food and not mention dieting. By far the most represented diet trend in this year’s contest was the ketogenic or keto diet, which involves very low carbohydrate intake to trigger the body’s use of fat and ketones for energy. Keto dietary products often include medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs), which help drive production of ketones and energy.  

Despite the growth of sports- and protein-focused functional foods, from cookies to soups, bars are still a top edible in this category, which saw a low-carb/high-protein bar made from nuts, seeds and whey stand out among the food nominees.

One winner in each category will be announced on the SupplySide Central Stage at SupplySide West 2018, held at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. The supplement winners will be revealed Thursday, Nov. 8, from 1:30 to 2 p.m., followed by the food and beverage winners on Friday, Nov. 9, from 1:30 to 2 p.m.

A display case showcasing all the finalists’ products will be available in the Expo Hall. See the full list of ECA categories and finalists.