First of all, Boston is a very happy place if you watched last night’s dramatic win by the Red Sox. That kept the town up last night.
OK, I’ve now had a second day to scan the landscape here. First a couple observations about some of the Boulder-area firms here. I love Ice Box Bakery. A refrigerated cookie dough in traditional chub packs like Pillsbury, but much healthier and more delicious. A year-old start up, I bet they’ll find a broad following once they gain broader distribution and consumer awareness. Another relatively new company is Twist. They, too, are a recent start-up with a smart line-up of kitchen accessories. They have novel, earth-friendly plant-based scrubbies, sponges , towels and more. They have a very sharp look and feel. Earth Balance, a Longmont-based organic buttery spread, was drawing crowds. Lots of interest in their line-up of heart-healthy and delicious butter and nut spreads. They too have a very nice look to them. Van’s Natural Waffles didn’t have a booth at this show, but they are typically a good neighbor for Earth Balance. And finally, a company relatively new to Louisville, MyChelle Dermaceuticals, seemed to have dozens of people hovering around their booth all the time. They said they’re the fastest growing skin care line in natural stores – and it appeared that way. Their line of “educated skin care” products is very impressive for a relatively young company.
A few other observations: Comfort foods are back. The economy has forced consumers to look back to the center of the store where some of the old standbyes live – mac and cheese, soups and stews, canned and jarred sauces for cooking at home, ready-to-eat cereal and granola. Annie’s Homegrown, Cascadian Farm, Kashi all received a lot of attention.
You see quite a few newly forming organic baby food and pet food companies here. Is there a connection? Lots of healthy snacking companies – is there hope here? It can be interesting to see how “healthy” is defined differently here. You can find nutrient-enhanced foods in every form. Plant sterols may become the new Omega 3. There are some new super fruits emerging (as someone said, “acai is so 2004″). Cupuacu and graviola, two new rainforest berries, I believe, are beginning to show up. And, lastly, there’s an avalanche of gluten free products coming. People with wheat gluten allergies are in for some good eating. All for now. I’ll be leaving soon. Will try to blog in at least one more time.