Innovation, inspiration and integrity are top criteria when it comes to landing a spot as a Natural Products Expo East and Expo West Pitch Slam semifinalist. While there are other factors involved in the reviewing process, these three key points embody the core of the natural products industry.

The Expo East 2019 Pitch Slam semifinalists kicked it into high gear this year, scoring high in all three categories. While we recently featured four brands that nailed innovation, this time we’re shining a spotlight on three brands that put inspiration at the forefront, and we’ll round it out with integrity-focused brands soon.

Between popped water lily seeds, an African-inspired beverage line and organic, grain-free tortilla chips, these brands lead with inspiration, and we bet your brand can learn from their stories, too.

To get the 4-11, we asked each brand: How and why does inspiration play a key role in your brand?

MAKOMAS: African-inspired beverages

The idea of setting up MAKOMAS started with inspiration. My products are based on family recipes handed down through generations. Their unique blends and flavors motivated and excited me to share them with my newly adopted countrymen and women.

I have grown up with many inspirational women around me, one of them being my mother who single-handedly supported her five daughters by selling these homemade juices. I learned the importance and value of family support, helping each other and being there for those whom we love.

This inspired me to set up the Makomas Foundation, a philanthropic arm of MAKOMAS, in Burkina Faso, West Africa, where we partner with 350 women farmers. These industrious women grow and harvest the fruits, flowers and leaves we use to make our products. The income the farmers earn help them support their families and to keep their girls in school. I promote my products with the objective of spreading this message to every individual who consumes MAKOMAS beverages.

–Magbè Savané, president

Soñar!: mission-driven, organic tortilla chips

Our brand,

–Maria Brennan, co-founder and CEO; Pete Brennan, co-founder

Bohana: Ayurveda-friendly popped water lily seeds

Everything we do at Bohana draws inspiration from Ayurveda, one of the world's oldest holistic life sciences. Bohana is more than just a delicious and nutritious popped water lily seed snack brand. We're on a Free Spirit Snacking mission, striving to spread love, positivity and wellness through Ayurvedic principles and practices. We believe in listening to your unique body and doing what works for YOU, not following prescriptive diets or trendy fads, but tuning in to achieve your ultimate health and wellness.

At Bohana, our snacks are the perfect grain-free alternative to popcorn that the whole family can enjoy, no matter what path you choose.

–Nadine Habayeb, co-founder