The showcase featured innovative concepts produced by the company’s creative and applications team.

As health-and-wellness trends pervade the food and beverage markets, plant-based proteins are growing in prominence and becoming a game-changing trend.

Beyond clean labels and plant-based claims, consumers are looking for nutritional supplementation, which nuts and grains are known to provide.

Flavor Producers Inc. (FPI), Valencia, Calif., announced that the company has been recapitalized through a strategic majority investment from St. Louis-based Ceba-Tech Specialty Solutions.

Bell has done research on the protein type and now is presenting these unique and innovative flavor combinations

San Francisco-based Après launched a plant-based protein beverage specifically developed for premium whole-body replenishment. The beverage utilizes a proprietary blend of plant proteins, virgin coconut oil and coconut water in a shelf-stable format for convenient on-the-go consumption. 

Bolthouse Farms, a brand of Campbell Soup Co., introduced Bolthouse Farms Plant Protein Milk, a line of refrigerated dairy alternatives that contain 10 grams of pea protein in each 8-ounce serving. 

Evolution Fresh, a brand of Seattle-based Starbucks Corp., previewed its 2018 innovations: seven new organic smoothies that combine cold-pressed fruit and vegetable juice with probiotics, coconut milk and other functional ingredients. 

With health-and-wellness trends driving product innovation, sports and protein drinks are benefiting from a changing consumer base beyond hard-core athletes to a widening demographic including women and seniors.

With health-and-wellness trends driving product innovation, protein is making its move throughout the aisles as 17 percent of new products contain protein, according to Chicago-based Information Resources Inc.’s August New Product Pacesetters report “Harvesting the Fruits of Innovation Done Right.”