New CPG trends from the Newtopia Now 2026 show floor

Fresh off the show floor, we’re talking about new CPG trends from Newtopia Now! Newtopia Now is the destination for emerging CPG and natural product brands! This was our third year hosting the show in Denver, and it did not disappoint. Hosts Jessica Rubino and Adrienne Smith are joined by Nancy Coulter-Parker, director of sponsored content at New Hope Network, to discuss the trends and products that caught their eyes. Functional beverages with subtle, natural flavors and innovative ingredients like fermented Reb-M sweeteners, Kana and trace minerals caught our editor’s eyes. Women's health products were everywhere, from truly 100% cotton period care to products supporting menopause, perimenopause, and cycle-specific needs with targeted formulations. Ancient grains resurging in bars, pastas and porridges, with Adlai pearls positioned as "the next quinoa" Ayurvedic ingredients like ashwagandha, shatavari and holy basil moving into mainstream supplements and products. Gut health is continuing its crusade with fermented elixirs, and unexpected flavor profiles like dill everything! Purpose-driven brands like Dr. Bronner's and Alter Eco demonstrate how regenerative practices can be profitable. Tune into this episode of The Natural List for all of these trends and more from the show floor at Newtopia Now 2026. Thank you to our sponsor GnuSante. In this episode: 0:42 – Hosts chat about favorite parts of Newtopia Now year three. 1:11 – We’ve gotten feedback that exhibitors and retailers have been connecting all over the show floor, thanks to the cozy, connection-heavy setup of this show. 2:47 – The quality of brands, products and stories behind the positioning has impressed our editorial team. 3:12 – Across all three neighborhoods we noticed clean, simple packaging stood out. 4:46 – Let’s talk trends! 5:10 – Functional beverages are always one of our favorite parts of the show. We saw subtler flavors, innovative and branded ingredients plus still lots of sparkling bevvies. 8:00 – Gut health is still king. We saw kimchi, gut elixirs and other fermented products. 9:00 – Dill everything is a big trend! 9:20 – Our team noticed more specific, intentional ingredients in the spotlight instead of blends. 9:30 – Ayurvedic ingredients are showing up in supplements like shatavari, holy basil and ashwagandha. 11:15 – Jessica posits that Ayurveda was the original “personalization” trend! 11:30 – Classic, simple and traditional natural products are having a resurgence, in line with our trend predictions from last year. 12:41 – Women’s health product innovation is happening! 13:20 – Personal care trends: menstrual care that is truly 100% organic cotton, skincare with ingredients more hydrating than water and sun care with natural colors and scents. 15:55 – We saw more products featuring fragrances and scents to support the olfactory senses during self-care routines. 16:32 – Jessica predicts flavor and scent innovation will keep blooming! 17:22 – Innovation in natural deodorant that… actually works? 19:00 – Jessica shares advice for first-time exhibitors. 1) Talk to everyone, not just retailers! 19:31 – 2) Step outside of your comfort zone. 19:43 – 3) Get really focused feedback; now is the time to refine! 21:21 – Adrienne and Nancy were impressed with the pet food innovation; brands Pezi and Whole Animal included human-grade ingredients and wagyu lung pet treats, respectively. 24:25 – We couldn’t get enough of Gato dates. Dates are still strong! 25:15 – Adrienne calls it: Adlai pearls might be the next quinoa. 26:41 - Dr. Bronner’s, Alter Eco and Ancient Nutrition are leading the way to show how purpose-driven companies can be profitable. We love to see them at Newtopia Now to celebrate and uplift the other brands at the show. 27:50 – Adrienne’s pick: Tozi Superfoods blue corn and amaranth tortillas. 28:30 – Multiple ancient or heritage grains popped up at the show don’t seem to be going anywhere soon! 28:51 – The Posana bar and Beni Bites bars were bringing global flavors to the bar category. 29:58 – We loved the brand Shooka, a shortcut to making shakshuka. 30:55 – Nutrient-dense convenience was trending, per our trend predictions last year! 31:41 – Stay tuned for more coverage of Newtopia Now on newhope.com!