# Expo West 2024 Recap: Trends, Brands, and Swag

- Show: [The Startup CPG Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast)
- Published: 2024-03-26
- Length: 45m
- Episode: 26
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2024-03-26-expo-west-2024-recap-trends-brands-and-swag
- Listen: https://share.transistor.fm/s/11853fef

## Summary

Daniel Scharff, host of Startup CPG, debriefs Expo West 2024 with team members Patricia Menegoto, Kiki Huddleston, and Grace Kennedy. They discuss dominant industry trends such as the 'gummification' of products, the rise of natural sweeteners like monk fruit over alulose, and the saturation of protein in foods. The team highlights standout brands including Better Sour, Riffcare, Sobo Foods, and Lottie's Meat, while also analyzing successful booth designs and swag strategies from companies like Only Bean and Board & Tree.

## Outline

1. Introduction and Startup CPG Section Recap
2. Key Trends: Gummification, Natural Sweeteners, and Protein
3. Standout Brands and Product Innovations
4. Booth Design, Swag, and Brand Marketing
5. Alley Rally Party and Community Feedback
6. Personal Preparedness and Lessons Learned

## Topics

- [Marketing & brand](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/marketing-and-brand)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [Retail, wholesale & distribution](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/retail-and-distribution)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Hiring & workforce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/hiring-and-workforce)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Startup CPG (company)
- Better Sour (product)
- Riffcare (company)
- Sobo Foods (company)
- Lottie's Meat (company)
- Only Bean (company)
- Board & Tree (company)
- Impossible Foods (company)
- Liquid Death (company)
- Whole Foods (company)
- GNC (company)
- Kroger (company)
- GoPuff (company)
- Alulose (material)
- Monk Fruit (material)
- Lion's Mane (material)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Magic Spoon & Exo: Gabi Lewis and Greg Sewitz](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2024-02-12-magic-spoon-exo-gabi-lewis-and-greg-sewitz) (How I Built This)
- [Advice Line with Ben Goodwin of Olipop](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2026-09-03-advice-line-with-ben-goodwin-of-olipop) (How I Built This)
- [SmartSweets: Tara Bosch](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2024-08-05-smartsweets-tara-bosch) (How I Built This)
- [Advice Line with Andy Dunn of Bonobos](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2025-04-17-advice-line-with-andy-dunn-of-bonobos) (How I Built This)
- [7 - Interact Boulder Forum](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2019-09-16-7-interact-boulder-forum) (People of Packaging)

## Citing this page

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