Coming out of this year’s Natural Products Expo West, we wanted to share a few standout moments and why they matter for where brands—and innovation—are headed next.

A Defining Conversation on the Future of Nutrition

We start with a curated, invite-only experience:

“Bitter is Better — Living in a Sugar Society”
Presented by TCI and supported by UNPA

Hosted at House of Blues Anaheim, the event brought together industry leaders, including a keynote from internationally recognized expert in the fields of dietary supplements, herbal medicine, women's health, and natural medicine, Dr. Low Dog, to explore what’s next across functional ingredients, metabolic health, and next-gen delivery systems.

Key themes that emerged:

The growing role of bitterness in balancing sugar-heavy diets
Acceleration of GLP-1 aligned innovation
Breakthrough technologies like duo-chamber delivery systems
The shift toward science-backed, efficacy-driven products

Watch the highlight recap here:

Once Upon A Coconut: Breakout Momentum

Once Upon A Coconut continues to build serious traction on the Expo floor—reinforcing its position as one of the fastest-growing brands in the hydration space. From strong buyer engagement to expanding retail conversations, the brand is clearly resonating at the intersection of:

Functional wellness
Lifestyle-driven branding
Purpose-led storytelling

For a deeper take on where things are headed, check out this recent conversation featuring our very own Marc Sampogna on The Ad Podcast with Dylan Conroy:

Where We Go From Here

If Expo West reinforced anything, it’s this: The brands that win next will be the ones that bridge science, story, and speed to market.