Natural Products Expo West 2026 was held from March 3–6, 2026 at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California. As one of the largest and most influential trade shows in the natural, organic, and wellness industry, the event attracted tens of thousands of attendees from around the world, including retailers, distributors, investors, media professionals, and health-focused brands.
The annual event featured thousands of exhibitors showcasing the latest innovations in natural foods, beverages, supplements, beauty products, and wellness solutions. Major buyers from companies such as Whole Foods, Sprouts, Costco, and other leading retailers attended the show to discover emerging brands and new industry trends.
One of the strongest themes at Expo West 2026 was functional wellness. Products promoting hydration, immunity, mental focus, gut health, and high-protein nutrition drew significant attention throughout the exhibition halls. Functional beverages containing mushrooms, adaptogens, probiotics, and botanical ingredients were especially popular among attendees.
Sustainability and regenerative organic agriculture also remained key topics during the event. Many companies emphasized environmentally responsible farming, transparent sourcing, and clean-label ingredients as consumers continue seeking healthier and more sustainable lifestyles.
The beverage section remained one of the busiest areas at the show. From premium sparkling waters and coconut waters to plant-based drinks and low-sugar wellness beverages, brands competed to stand out in an increasingly competitive marketplace through innovation, packaging design, and health-focused positioning.
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Beyond product launches, Natural Products Expo West is widely recognized as an important networking platform for the industry. The event created opportunities for founders, retailers, media outlets, and marketing professionals to establish partnerships, discuss collaborations, and explore future business opportunities.
As consumer interest in wellness and natural living continues to grow globally, Natural Products Expo West 2026 once again demonstrated the strong momentum of the natural products industry and offered a clear glimpse into the future of health-conscious consumer trends.
Archer Jerky
Archer Jerky, formerly known as Country Archer, is a rapidly growing premium meat snack company in the United States known for its clean-label beef jerky and meat sticks made with ingredients like grass-fed beef and no artificial preservatives. Founded originally in 1977 and later expanded by entrepreneur Eugene Kang, the brand became popular by positioning itself as a healthier, high-protein alternative to traditional jerky brands. Archer products are now sold in major retailers including Costco, Whole Foods Market, Target, Walmart, and Starbucks, and the company is widely recognized in the natural products industry as one of the major success stories in the better-for-you snack category.
Tao Kae Noi
Tao Kae Noi Global is one of the most famous seaweed snack companies in Thailand and is widely recognized across Asia for its crispy seasoned seaweed products. The company, officially called Taokaenoi Food & Marketing PCL, was founded in 2004 by Thai entrepreneur Itthipat Peeradechapan, who started the business when he was only 19 years old. “Tao Kae Noi” means “little boss” in Thai, reflecting the founder’s young entrepreneurial story, which later inspired the popular Thai movie The Billionaire. The brand became extremely successful through distribution in 7-Eleven stores throughout Thailand and today exports to more than 40 countries worldwide. Tao Kae Noi is considered the No.1 seaweed snack brand in Thailand, reportedly holding over 70 percent of the Thai seaweed snack market. Their products include crispy fried seaweed, grilled seaweed rolls, tempura seaweed, roasted seaweed, and topping seaweed in flavors such as original, spicy, seafood, kimchi, and tom yum. The company also expanded internationally, including operations in the United States through Tao Kae Noi USA
ZICO
ZICO is a pioneering coconut water company founded in 2004 by Mark Rampolla after he discovered coconut water while serving in the Peace Corps in Central America. The brand helped popularize coconut water in the United States as a natural hydration beverage rich in electrolytes and potassium, positioning itself as a healthier alternative to traditional sports drinks. ZICO grew rapidly and was later acquired by The Coca-Cola Company before being discontinued in 2020; however, in a rare comeback story, founder Mark Rampolla bought the brand back in 2021 and revived it with a renewed focus on clean-label, plant-based hydration and sustainability.
Takari International
Takari International, Inc. is a U.S.-based food importer and distributor specializing in natural and packaged foods from Southeast Asia. The company was founded in 1988 by Yuntakari Wiharyanto and originally started by importing disposable chopsticks before expanding into Asian snacks, coconut products, beverages, and other ethnic grocery items. Today, Takari supplies supermarkets, food service businesses, and distributors across the United States, with brands such as Kara Coconut among the products it markets. The company operates from Ontario, California, and has grown into a nationwide importer with a large warehouse and distribution network focused on Asian and ethnic food products.
Dr. Bronner’s
Dr. Bronner’s is a well-known family-owned natural personal care company best recognized for its organic Castile soaps and its strong mission-driven philosophy centered on environmental sustainability, fair trade, and social responsibility. Founded in 1948 by Emanuel Bronner, the brand became famous not only for its multi-use peppermint soap and distinctive text-heavy labels promoting the “All-One” message, but also for its commitment to ethical sourcing, regenerative organic agriculture, and activism on issues such as animal welfare and fair labor. Today, Dr. Bronner’s products are widely sold in natural food stores and major retailers, and the company has built a loyal following among consumers who value clean ingredients, eco-friendly practices, and socially conscious business values.
Coaqua
Coaqua is a premium coconut water brand founded around 2020 that focuses on Vietnamese-sourced coconuts, clean ingredients, and upscale branding within the wellness beverage market. The company offers pure coconut water along with flavored and sparkling varieties, packaged in sleek aluminum cans to differentiate itself from traditional coconut water brands. Coaqua has been expanding into retailers such as Hannaford, H-E-B, and The Fresh Market, as well as hospitality channels including Ritz-Carlton and Marriott properties, positioning itself as a modern, lifestyle-oriented alternative to larger brands like Vita Coco and ZICO.
RIND Snacks
RIND Snacks is a New York–based healthy snack company founded in 2018 by Matt Weiss. The brand is best known for its “peel-on” dried fruit snacks that keep the fruit rind/peel intact instead of removing it, based on the idea that the peel contains extra fiber, antioxidants, and vitamins. Their slogan is essentially “eat the whole fruit,” and sustainability is a major part of the company’s identity because they aim to reduce food waste by using more of the fruit instead of discarding the peels. RIND sells dried fruit blends, chewy fruit snacks, and fruit-and-nut mixes (“REMIX”), and the brand has expanded into thousands of retail stores across the U.S. Founder Matt Weiss often credits his great-grandmother’s old-school natural foods philosophy as inspiration for the company. The brand has gained attention in the natural products industry for combining wellness-focused snacking with sustainability messaging and was featured heavily at shows like Natural Products Expo West.
Undercover Snacks
Undercover Snacks is a New Jersey-based “better-for-you” snack company best known for its chocolate-covered quinoa crisps that are gluten-free, allergy-friendly, and marketed as healthier alternatives to traditional chocolate snacks. The company was founded by Diana Levy after two of her daughters were diagnosed with Celiac disease, which inspired her to create snacks that tasted indulgent but were safer for people with food sensitivities. Undercover manufactures its products in its own SQF-certified facility in East Hanover, New Jersey, and has expanded rapidly into major retailers including Whole Foods, Target, Kroger, Costco, CVS, and even United Airlines snack service. The brand emphasizes simple ingredients, lower sugar, quinoa as a superfood protein source, and school-safe/allergen-conscious production. It is also WBENC-certified as a woman-owned business and has raised significant funding to expand operations and vertically integrate its quinoa processing capabilities.
Like Air
Like Air is a fast-growing snack company founded in New York City in 2020 that makes “Puffcorn,” a light, airy popcorn alternative designed to melt in your mouth without kernels or hulls getting stuck in your teeth. The company was founded by siblings Allison Lin, Steven Atieh, and Kevin Atieh, and focuses on better-for-you snacking with non-GMO corn, gluten-free ingredients, and no artificial flavors or preservatives. Their products gained major national attention after appearing on the TV show Shark Tank, where they secured a deal with Mark Cuban and Lori Greiner. Like Air has expanded rapidly into major retailers including Walmart, Costco, Kroger, CVS, Albertsons, and Wegmans, with thousands of stores carrying the brand nationwide. Popular flavors include Pancake, White Cheddar, Classic Butter & Salt, Cinnamon Bun, Dill Pickle, and Cotton Candy. The company markets itself as a fun, family-friendly healthier snack with low calories and a unique texture that is softer and lighter than traditional popcorn.
HIPPEAS
HIPPEAS is a snack brand best known for its organic chickpea puffs, marketed as a better-for-you alternative to traditional cheesy snacks. The company was founded in the UK by entrepreneur Livio Bisterzo and expanded strongly in the U.S. natural foods market through retailers like Whole Foods, Target, Costco, and major grocery chains. HIPPEAS focuses heavily on plant-based ingredients, organic certification, fiber and protein content, and sustainability messaging, especially around chickpeas being a more environmentally friendly crop. Their flagship flavor, Vegan White Cheddar, became especially popular because it delivers a “cheesy” taste without dairy. The brand uses colorful retro-style packaging and a playful social-conscious identity centered around positivity, inclusivity, and “giving peas a chance.” HIPPEAS became one of the standout snack startups in the natural products industry and competes with brands like LesserEvil, Pirate’s Booty, and Like Air in the healthier puffed-snack category.
SLAPP
SLAPP is an organic wellness shot company best known for its bold ginger and turmeric drinks made with cold-pressed ingredients such as Peruvian ginger, turmeric, lemon, and black pepper. Previously known as DOSE, the company rebranded to SLAPP while keeping its focus on natural wellness products with no added sugar, artificial ingredients, or preservatives. The brand uses edgy, energetic marketing and positions itself as a lifestyle wellness company that supports immunity, energy, and recovery through powerful functional shots, which are now sold through retailers including Costco, Target, and other major grocery chains.
WILDE Protein Chips
WILDE Protein Chips is a fast-growing snack brand best known for making high-protein chips from real chicken breast instead of potatoes. Founded by entrepreneur Jason Wright, the company created a unique “protein chip” using chicken breast, egg whites, and bone broth to deliver the crunch of traditional chips with much higher protein content — typically around 10g per serving and low net carbs. The brand is positioned as a healthier, keto- and paleo-friendly alternative to regular chips, with flavors like Nashville Hot, Chicken & Waffles, Buffalo, Sea Salt & Vinegar, and Spicy Queso. WILDE started in natural grocery channels like Whole Foods and Sprouts but expanded rapidly into Costco, Target, Walmart, and more than 20,000 stores nationwide. The company has raised significant investment funding and built its own large manufacturing facility in Kentucky as demand for protein snacks continues to grow. The brand especially appeals to health-conscious consumers looking for higher-protein snacks without giving up flavor or the “junk food” experience.
