2010 Best of Show
After scouring the selection at this year’s largest natural products expo, the VN crew returns with the fifth annual Best of Show winners.
Every March, thousands of people flock to Anaheim, Calif., for the annual Natural Products Expo West. Open only to those in the natural-products industry and media, the three-day show boasts dozens of aisles, hundreds of booths, and thousands of attendees determined to show off and seek out the hottest natural products. This year, VegNews attended in search of the top new vegan goods. After hours of research, testing, and deliberating, we're proud to announce the winners of the fifth annual Best of Show awards! Check out the full feature in the upcoming July+August issue, and keep your eye out for these amazing offerings, coming soon to a store near you.
Amy's Gluten-Free Mac 'n' Cheeze
Indulge in unbelievably melty and delicious vegan mac ‘n' cheese in minutes, sans pesky allergens.
Cal Naturale Svelte
We're still craving these satisfying meal replacement shakes, packed with vitamins, minerals, and protein.
Earth Friendly Products DuoDish
The first of its kind, this gentle, earth-friendly dish detergent does double duty in both the sink and dishwasher.
Eastbluff Trading Company Cacao Tea
Made from cacao husks, this fragrant tea is like sipping melted chocolate. Who could argue with that?
Gardein Mandarin Chick'n Crispy
Crispy meatless chicken covered in a sweet and tangy orange sauce makes the perfect meal.
Justin's Chocolate Hazelnut Butter
An addictive chocolate spread packed with roasted hazelnuts, this sweet treat is revolutionizing snack time.
Kaia Foods Kale Chips
Our love for kale reached a new level with these crispy snacks, coated with sesame seeds for extra crunch.
ReVitaPop
There's never been a tastier way to get a dose of vitamin B-12! Each pop provides a whopping 3.6 mg of the good stuff.
SoCalCleanse Charcoal Body Products
Gentle and effective, these detoxifying cleansers also come wrapped in plantable, earth-friendly packaging.
So Delicious Coconut Water Sorbet
Not your average sorbet, this rich, coconut water-based dessert satisfies with fun flavors, such as hibiscus and mango.
Tofurky Pizzas
Frozen vegan pizzas come ready to bake, topped with veggies, Daiya cheese, and Tofurky meatless toppings.
Zuke's Superfood Dog Biscuits
Companion animals deserve delicious treats, too. These superfoods-packed biscuits will keep any pup healthy and happy.
Kerin Boutique
After months of planning, redesign, and careful deliberation, Kerin boutique opens its doors to fashion-hungry New Haven residents.
Read More »
Ultraman Rich Roll
Dedicated, hard-working, and completely ripped, this ultra-endurance, veggie-fueled athlete is competing in the name of health, fitness, and the animals.
Read More »
Animal Education
Thanks to a generous $1 million endowment, Drury University is on its way to offering a groundbreaking Animal Rights undergraduate curriculum.
Read More »
Posted: Mar 16 2010 17:03PM By Laura
Surprised that Daiya vegan cheese isn't on the list!?!?
Posted: Mar 16 2010 17:21PM By VegNews
Hi there Laura. Daiya Cheese was a 2009 VegNews Best of Show winner; we discovered them last year! That said, two of this year's winners are made with Daiya: the Tofurky Pizzas and the Amy's Mac 'n' Cheeze. Yum on both counts.
Posted: Mar 16 2010 17:59PM By Christine
I bought the Amy's GF Mac N Cheese last week. It was my first taste of Daiya, and holy crap, it was AMAZING. I just wish the portion was a little bigger for the price! It'll be a special once in a while treat for me, but it's the best vegan mac & cheese I've had ever. YUM! I can't wait to find the chocolate hazelnut butter as soon as humanly possible!!
Posted: Mar 17 2010 03:28AM By BethO
Ah, every time I try to buy Amy's Mac N Cheese, it's sold out! Tons of the dairy-filled stuff...but not her vegan stuff! It must be good!
Posted: Mar 17 2010 04:53AM By Patee
Amy's Gluten-Free Mac 'n' Cheeze and Tofurkey pizza
Posted: Mar 17 2010 09:53AM By Angela
Can't decide between the So Delicious Coconut Water Sorbet (the name doesn't lie -- their stuff is always So Delicious!) and the Tofurky Pizzas (I've had so many pizza cravings lately). Both sound like real winners to me!
Posted: Mar 17 2010 10:16AM By Mandy Scott
My husband and I have just began our journey into the vegan world and have since become lovers of kale so the Kaia Foods Kale Chips sound absolutely amazing! Close runner-up would be Justin's Chocolate Hazelnut Butter. :)
Posted: Mar 17 2010 10:34AM By katherine
The SoCalCleanse Charcoal Body Products sound So cool! They obviously think "outside the box" with their wildflower seeds. I can't wait to try them!
Posted: Mar 17 2010 10:41AM By nancy munoz-hubbard
Amy's makes delicious everything. Can't wait to taste it.
Posted: Mar 17 2010 10:42AM By Linda
I've just started to become more interested in vegetarianism, but I think that Kaia Foods kale chips and Amy's mac & cheeze sounds appetizing!
Posted: Mar 17 2010 10:46AM By Mary Ann
I am most excited about the Kaia Kale Chips, the Eastbluf Cacao Tea and the Tofurky Pizza.
Posted: Mar 17 2010 12:41PM By Carol
Being a vegan for almost 7 months, I'm always open to try new vegan products, esp. the food variety! Would love to sip on Eastbluf Cacao tea while watching some of my favorite vegan movie stars on the tellie!
Posted: Mar 17 2010 12:43PM By Jeremy
I am most excited about the Tofurky pizzas.
Posted: Mar 17 2010 13:27PM By Alicia Webster
I'll be eating Amy's 'til I die--yummo!
Posted: Mar 17 2010 14:07PM By Helen
Hibiscus coconut water sorbet? Oh, yes!
Posted: Mar 17 2010 14:18PM By Casey
So Delicious Coconut Water Sorbet--YUMMMMMMMMMMMMM! Can't wait to try it!!
Posted: Mar 17 2010 14:19PM By Lisa
Earth Friendly Products DuoDish! This product sounds great!
Posted: Mar 17 2010 16:31PM By Juniper
The Tofurky pizzas! I'm craving a good vegan pizza real bad.
Posted: Mar 17 2010 19:37PM By Marci
I am going to have to say the coconut water sorbet. Nothing is more refreshing than coconut water, and to have it ice cold and a thicker more substantive texture would just be amazing!
Posted: Mar 17 2010 20:36PM By Des
So many great sounding choices! Tofurky pizza, Amy's Gluten-Free Mac 'n' Cheeze, Kaia Foods Kale Chips, and the Gardein Mandarin Chick'n Crispy all sound so tempting. I've been veg for 22 years, and just recently discovered gardein.
Posted: Mar 18 2010 01:32AM By katie
vegan mac 'n cheese?? heck yeah!!
Posted: Mar 18 2010 04:00AM By Sheila
I've already checked out Justin's Chocolate Hazelnut Butter's website to see where I can buy! The kale chips and Tofurky Pizza sounds good too. And the dog treats for my babies.
Posted: Mar 18 2010 08:13AM By Kristina
Wow, the Eastbluff tea sounds delicious.
Posted: Mar 18 2010 14:13PM By Jennifer
The kale chips!
Posted: Mar 18 2010 15:14PM By Joseph Turner, Sr.
Unfortunately the Eastbluff tea does not appear anywhere on the Web site to which your link above leads one.
Posted: Mar 18 2010 15:15PM By Samantha
The pizza and mac and cheeze sound AWESOME! Also the doggie treats for my pup, Gwen. She deserves the best :)
Posted: Mar 18 2010 15:39PM By Lynette
Mandarin Chick'n, kale chips and coconut sorbet! Where can I buy them?
Posted: Mar 18 2010 15:53PM By Sara T
Chik'n crispy sounds amazing!!!!! I have to drive a half hour to get good soy orange chicken at Sipz...hopefully this will be at a health food store nearby!
Posted: Mar 18 2010 16:51PM By Krista
I'm surprised Betty Lou's Inc. is not on this list! She has so many nutritious natural and organic snacks, and most of them are vegan and gluten-free! She has a new line of "Just Great Stuff" Organic bars that uses all quality ingredients: "Fruit and Veggie" with spinach, kale, carrot, banana, raisins, broccoli sprouts, and cashews! "Superberry Acai" with raspberries, acai, goji berries, cranberries, and cashews--over 22,000 ORAC value per bar! "Cacao Acai" with cocoa powder, healthy cacao nibs, acai, and cashews--tastes like a gooey brownie! And "Chocolate Covered Dream Greens", the fruit and veggie bar coated in organic dark chocolate! They should be selling them shortly, and I can't wait.
Posted: Mar 18 2010 18:42PM By Marissa Lewis
They all sound do great! Since I'm 3 months pregnant with a bit of a sweet tooth and good food on my agenda, Justin's Chocolate Hazelnut Butter sounds amazing. The So Delicious Coconut Water Sorbet and Tofurky Pizzas will be on my must find list...hopefully our few health food stores will carry some of these yummy products...I dont live in a big city, so I will be looking for these things when I do travel to big cities in the near future! Thanks for bringing the news!
Posted: Mar 18 2010 18:45PM By Jacqlyn
Chocolate and Hazelnuts....a delicious combination, cant wait to try justin's chocolate hazelnut butter!
Posted: Mar 18 2010 19:43PM By Angela Weaver
For me, Best in Show definitely goes to Xan Chocolates. I tried the best vegan chocolate caramel truffles (the coconut pecan caramel one tasted like a Girl Scout Somoa Cookie). The chocolate espresso almond caramel truffle was divine as well. I've got to give props to Amy's. She saves my life whenever I travel to places with no vegan restaurants. I tried the Mac n' cheese....holy moly!
Posted: Mar 19 2010 03:37AM By Tina
I'm excited to try the Tofurkey Pizza. I've been wanting to try Diaya cheese and this will be a great opportunity to try it and to satify my pizza craving!
Posted: Mar 19 2010 07:29AM By Carol
I can't wait to try the Gardein Mandarin Chick'n Crispy. I've tried several of their other items and love them all.
Posted: Mar 20 2010 07:51AM By Theresa
coconut water sorbet and kale chips are now at the top of my "to try as soon as humanly possible" list
Posted: Mar 20 2010 13:59PM By Dawn
ANY Gardein product is something to cheer about - can't wait to try this one!
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