Last updated on July 3rd, 2023 at 04:10 pm
KeHE has named the 15 winners of its 2023 TRENDfinder event, which took place March 7-11 at Natural Products Expo West in Anaheim, California.
The recipients of the “Golden Ticket” include: Resist Nutrition, The Plug Drink, CorEats Mixes, Egmont Manuka Honey, Eve Wellness, Green Boy, Clean Juice, Naturli’, Almondy, VGAN Chocolate, Melati Drinks, Bear Bar, Wild Orchard, FITPPL and EVERBLUE.
“A key focus at KeHE is to support small and emerging brands in getting their start and helping them flourish in the marketplace,” said Rachelle Radcliffe, senior director of supplier experience.
“One way we do that is through KeHE TRENDfinder events, providing brands with the opportunities to be in front of the right people at the right time and kickstarting connections with our extensive KeHE marketplace network.”
The event gave 50 suppliers the chance to join one-on-one pitch meetings with KeHE’s category management team, and 15 were selected to be added to the distributor’s assortment. Brands were chosen based on their ingredients, innovation, taste, scalability, packaging, purpose and passion.
By joining KeHE’s product portfolio, these brands will gain exposure to more than 30,000 retail locations and support the distributor’s retail partners in bringing innovation and new products to their customers. Along with assisting the selected brands with navigating distribution, KeHE is offering supplier promotional programs free of charge to the 15 “Golden Ticket” recipients.
“We are thrilled to welcome these innovative brands to our product portfolio,” said Jeremy Adams, senior director of category management.
“The TRENDfinder event provides an opportunity for us to discover new and exciting products that align with our values and mission. These brands stood out because of their dedication to quality ingredients, innovation, and sustainable packaging. We look forward to working with them to bring these products to our retail partners and customers.”
KeHE’s category management team worked closely with suppliers to provide guidance on market trends, consumer insights and packaging requirements. By doing so, KeHE is able to offer its customers products that meet their needs and preferences.
The next KeHE TRENDfinder event will take place virtually from May 1-12. For more information about the event, visit KeHE’s website at kehe.com/news-blog/events/2023-kehe-virtual-trendfinder-event.
