The 2025 Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo (FNCE) took place Oct. 11–14 at Nashville’s Music City Center, bringing together the world’s leading nutrition and wellness professionals. Hosted by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, FNCE is recognized as the largest annual gathering of registered dietitians, nutritionists, researchers, food manufacturers, and public health experts.
The event combined cutting-edge education sessions with a vast expo hall featuring the latest innovations in food science, wellness, and technology. Here were some of the highlights:
Chicken of the Sea
Founded in 1914, Chicken of the Sea traces its origins to the Van Camp Seafood Company. The name “Chicken of the Sea” was coined around 1930, when fishermen began calling white albacore tuna “the chicken of the sea” for its light color and mild flavor. The brand’s iconic mermaid mascot, “Catalina,” debuted in 1952.
Now owned by Thai Union Group, the global seafood giant, Chicken of the Sea offers both shelf-stable and frozen seafood products across the U.S. and abroad. Its core lineup includes canned and pouched tuna, salmon, and crab, marketed for convenience and health benefits. The brand also promotes transparency through its “trace your catch” program, allowing customers to see where their fish came from.
Cahokia Rice
Cahokia Rice is a family-owned operation from southern Illinois producing long-grain white and brown rice naturally higher in protein — about 53 percent more than conventional rice — and with a lower glycemic index. Their non-GMO rice, certified by A Greener World (AGW), is also free of heavy-metal contamination. Named after the Native American Cahokia Tribe, the brand also emphasizes sustainable farming, wildlife habitats, and soil health through crop rotation.
Buoy
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Buoy’s hydration drops turn any drink into a functional beverage. Marketed as “purposefully unsweetened and unflavored,” they contain essential minerals and electrolytes without caffeine or additives. The company describes itself as “The people and planet-first future of hydration and wellness,” with products that are HSA/FSA eligible.
Huel
Founded in 2014 by Julian Hearn and nutritionist James Collier, UK-based Huel (“Human + Fuel”) has grown into a global leader in plant-based, nutritionally complete meals. Its range includes Huel Powder, Huel Black Edition, Ready-to-Drink shakes, bars, and greens powder, each designed to deliver balanced nutrition with sustainability in mind. Huel’s mission promotes vegan, low-carbon eating, providing “food as fuel” for modern lifestyles.
The Akkermansia Company
A Belgian biotech firm spun out from Wageningen University and UCLouvain, The Akkermansia Company develops supplements based on the gut bacterium Akkermansia muciniphila. Their patented pasteurized strain, Akkermansia MucT, is designed to improve gut barrier integrity and support metabolic health. Recently acquired by Danone, the company is expanding from direct-to-consumer supplements like “Healthy Weight” and “Gut Support” into mainstream wellness products.
Silver Star Nutrition
Founded in 2014, Silver Star Nutrition targets athletes with its clean, transparent product lines, including both plant-based and whey protein formulas. Its “Select Proformance ELITE” line carries NSF Certified for Sport status, ensuring no banned substances. The brand emphasizes ingredient purity and performance, catering to both vegan and whey-based consumers.
Resbiotic
Birmingham-based Resbiotic was founded by physician-scientist Dr. C. Vivek Lal in 2021. Its products focus on the “Gut-X Axis,” connecting gut health to lung, metabolic, and women’s health. The flagship product, resB Lung Support, combines probiotics and herbs “to improve breathing, reduce mucus, minimise coughing, and strengthen immunity.” Resbiotic also recently launched resM GLP-1 Postbiotic to support metabolic balance.
Gutzy
Gutzy creates refrigerated fruit-and-veggie pouches fortified with prebiotic fiber for gut health. Each pouch includes organic produce and 5–6 grams of prebiotic acacia fiber, which is known to increase beneficial gut bacteria. Founded by David Istier, Gutzy promotes plant-based snacking “for time-pressed consumers” and is now nationally available at Walmart.
Agoge
Phoenix-based Agoge Inc. produces Universal Hemp Protein, a clean-label, vegan powder containing all nine essential amino acids. Founded in 2023, the company highlights its minimal ingredients, organic sourcing, and “no bloat” digestibility. CEO Justin Moore, a military veteran, says the Spartan-inspired name reflects “rigour, training, and performance.”
Just Made
Founded in 2016 by Ecuadorian-American entrepreneur Norka Nimocks, Houston-based Just Made crafts cold-pressed juices, wellness shots, and smoothie bowls. A Certified B Corporation and woman-owned business, it donates five cents per bottle to support teachers in farming communities. Its “Made Justly” model merges ethical sourcing with tropical flavor innovation, and the brand continues to expand nationwide.
Tosi Snacks
Anaheim-based Tosi Snacks makes crunchy, plant-based bars and puffs with simple, organic ingredients. Their motto: “Tosi means true, and we’re here to keep it real.” The brand’s “Cashew Coconut Protein Bars” and other snacks are vegan, gluten-free, and low in sugar, available at Whole Foods, Walmart, and Costco.
SunButter
Created in collaboration with the USDA in 2003, Fargo-based SunButter offers sunflower seed spreads made in a dedicated nut-free facility. Developed as a safe alternative for those with allergies, SunButter products are certified vegan, gluten-free, and non-GMO, with up to 7 grams of protein per serving. The brand continues to expand its lineup for both retail and foodservice markets.
From science-driven probiotics to ethically sourced juices, FNCE 2025 showcased how the food and nutrition world is rapidly evolving toward cleaner, smarter, and more sustainable solutions for the next generation of health and wellness. Till’ next year!
