NEXT Trends 2020 series: In an effort to help support retailers and brands, we will be publishing regular brand features for the next few weeks. Brands are selected from those that registered to exhibit at Natural Products Expo West 2020 and were curated as great examples of one of 50 trends New Hope Network is monitoring in the marketplace.

These trends are part of New Hope Network's NEXT Expo Guidebook and trend hierarchy.

Today, we look at five companies that are innovating in the "Nutrition Meets Convenience" trend within the Coping with Chaos macro force. Make it simple but make it nutritious. Whether it’s incorporating medicinal benefits through food, foodification of supplements or using the latest medicinal herb, innovation in convenience-focused brands is trying to bring nutrition back to the category.

1. Medlie

What is it? Medlie makes soups, veggie drinks, cleanses, veggie shots and new veggie mashes.

Innovation: These ready-to-drink-and-eat vegetable meals, snacks and beverages are (depending on the product) vegan, paleo, Whole 30-approved and keto-friendly. Medlie makes getting nutrients from vegetables easy and convenient.

2. ReadyWise

What is it? ReadyWise manufactures emergency food supply buckets, bags and backpacks.

Innovation: ReadyWise sells is a 60-serving emergency food supply bucket. Freeze-dried and dehydrated foods are ready in minutes. Entrees include pouches of cheesy lasagna and chili mac. The emergency food supply kis comes in stackable buckets for easy storage and transport.

3. Slingshot Foods

What is it? Slingshot Foods makes on-the-go breakfast shakes like high-protein peach yogurt with granola in an attached pouch. 

Innovation: This on-the-go nutrition was developed by a team of chefs, pediatricians, nutritionists and moms. These shakes are made from real foods like seeds, yogurt and milk, and are high in fat, protein, fiber and probiotics.

4. Fullgreen

What is it? This is the first shelf-stable range of vegetable rice.

Innovation: Fullgreen sells pouches of veggie rices including riced cauliflower, sweet potato and a broccoli-cauliflower blend. These heat-and-serve sides contain up to 85% fewer calories and 87% fewer carbs than normal rice.

5. DYLN

What is it? DYLN makes insulated water bottles with diffusers at the bottom of each bottle that creates alkaline water.

Innovation: The DYLN Living Alkaline Water Bottle makes it convenient to enjoy alkaline, antioxidant water on the go thanks to the bottle's VitaBead Diffuser. The Replaceable VitaBead Diffuser located at the bottom of each bottle increases the pH to 9, reduces the Oxidation Reduction Potential down to -150 and lasts up to 315 refills.