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7 February 2018 SNACKING NEWS transparency seriously, says Katie Forrest. the company's co-Founder. "At EPIC, we created a public 'honesty pledge' — our animal-by-animal sourcing library — for our consumers to consult and verify where their food comes from. We're damn proud of our suppliers, their practices and how the animals used in our products are treated through every stage of their lives." There's a larger goal behind such trans- parency, she says. "Our goals extend far beyond our own company practices. We want to help our consumers understand how we're pushing the massive meat in- dustry to improve its standards and realize the need for transparency in food produc- tion. Through this, we have laid a founda- tion for truth and created a platform for injecting truth into a realm of business known all too often for murky, inaccessi- ble and misleading information." EPIC's decisions for its products and their sourcing begin with big ideas, in- cluding better health for the animals and the environment, and supporting produc- ers who emphasize animal and soil health, she says. "Every move we make revolves around providing food that is better for our ani- mals, better for our bodies and better for Trends Continued from Page 1 our planet," she says. "Using 100 percent grass-fed and pasture-raised beef and cat- tle ties directly into that, especially our mission to spread the word on regenera- tive agriculture and how food production can positively impact our soils and lands. No matter how you slice it, grain- or soy-fed cattle don't receive their naturally intended diet, and don't boast the same nutritional or ecological value as pasture-raised, grass-fed and regenerative options." EPIC's mission also includes fair treat- ment for the growers who provide the an- imals for its products. "By supporting ranchers who practice holistic land man- agement and put a premium on animal and soil health, our products meet the gold standard," Forrest says. "They empower consumers to impact our planet's health while improving their own well-being." Plant-based Proteins are Hot "Healthy snacking isn't an oxymoron any- more," says Robbie Rech, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Hope Foods, which makes a variety of hummuses. "People are re- alizing in a big way that snack- ing, if done right, can really help them be their best. One example is that a healthy snack in the afternoon helps put down cravings, keeping you from a big meal or an un- healthy snack that makes you feel horrible and crashes your energy. A balanced snack, like hummus and vegetables or hummus and crackers can actually give you the energy to finish the day strong." While healthy snacks may have once dutifully chowing down on something fla- vorless and bor- ing, that's no longer the case, says Rech. Today's snacks are not only full of flavor, they're also full of all the things that do a body good. "Hummus has a really good balance of protein, fiber and carbohydrates, with no sugar," he says. "There are amazing flavors in hum- mus that gives a health-conscious foodie that mid-afternoon fix that helps them be their best self." Using good ingredients is important, too, Rech says. "Chickpeas, garlic and olive oil are all great sources of antioxi- dants. Avocado Hummus is becoming very popular, and makes for a a conven- ient way to get some avocado, loaded with vitamins, healthy fat, protein and fiber, into your diet." Puffed, Popped and Popular Whole Foods announced its 2018 trends, and high on the list were puffed and popped snacks. New technologies make almost anything puff-able and poppable, Whole Foods says, and even old-fash- ioned chips are getting an upgrade into better-for-you versions made from things like jicama, parsnip and Brussels sprouts. Products such as Veggie Pasta Snacks pack a healthy vegetable punch, says Pasta Snacks Chief Marketing Officer Adam Cohen. With red bell peppers, tomatoes, spinach, broccoli and kale, they offer "an extra kick of protein, calcium and iron." Cohen's snacks are made with semolina flour, ancient grains and Italian herbs, he says, "Snacking is important for a healthy lifestyle," he says, "but instead of ruining your healthy eating habits, it's best to stick to better-for-you options that still satisfy your cravings — like Pasta Snacks. Guilt- free with nutrient-dense ingredients, these are a must-have for any healthy snacker." New consumer interest in flavored sparkling waters and other beverages such as kombucha surfaced on a number of trend roundups, with Whole Foods noting that "these drinks are a far cry from their sugary predecessors." Other Prognostications Grocery industry veteran and trend-spotter John Karolefski of GroceryStories.com says he expects to see more product infor- mation available to shoppers via scannable QR codes. "A major education campaign will take place in 2018 to make shoppers aware of the codes and prompt them to scan to learn more about the food they're buying," he says. Marketing and press relations experts at MSL have their own take on trends. They're predicting, among other things, a rush to instant gratification, as food deliv- ery systems try to outdo one another in sat- ing their customers' appetites. That could include meal kits, but also snacks that have enough protein — typically 10 or more grams — to tide over customers until their next full meal. Convenience store retailers say they ex- pect lunchtime sales in their stores to grow in 2018, with 67 percent of respondents to a National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) consumer survey seeing lunchtime sales as their biggest opportu- nity. "People love food inside a conven- ience store. It's a one-stop shop for them," said Parvez Himani of Pryia Impex Inc. in Alpharetta, Georgia, in a NACS report. n Smart Cups Debuts First-Ever 3D-Polycapsule Printed Energy Drinks Smart Cups, a technology company and cutting-edge drink manufacturer, has intro- duced its proprietary technology and first product line of energy drinks. The pioneer of an exclusive 3D-polycapsule printing delivery system technology, Smart Cups transforms a virtually empty vessel into a self-stirring energy drink with the simple addition of water. Smart Cups' innovative technology has applications across a vari- ety of industries — from food to pharma- ceuticals and beyond — and speaks to today's on-demand market needs, while encouraging a positive global impact. Launching its first product offering with a range of four tasty 9-ounce energy drinks including Tropical Recess™, Nerdy Lemon-T™, Pucker Up Brain Boost™ and Magna Cum Latte™, Smart Cups de- buts its revolutionary technology to the beverage market by entering an industry valued at over $4 billion, poised to com- pletely disrupt the future of beverage man- ufacturing and delivery. Smart Cups is made for busy and active consumers who need energy drinks that not only provide an effective boost, but can also be easily transported, stored and dis- posed in an eco-conscious way. The core advantages and attributes of Smart Cups include: zero calories and no sugar in each Smart Cup; eco- friendly, 100 percent biodegradable plant-based cups for reduced carbon footprint; and stackable design for stor- age efficiency and cost reduction for ship- ping and delivery (more than 10 times the quantity of product than the equal number of traditional bottles or cans). Entrepreneur and lifelong chemistry vet- eran, CEO and Founder Chris Kanik con- ceptualized the innovation behind Smart Cups while patiently waiting to be served a drink he ordered at a restaurant. Realiz- ing the need for in- stant drinks, Kanik embarked on explor- ing how printed tech- nology could be applied to the bever- age industry. Kanik has always had a life- long passion for sav- ing resources and enhancing the effi- ciency of products, to meet the needs of today's on-the-go con- sumers. As the son of immigrants, Kanik experienced first-hand the struggles and inequalities that exist among socio-eco- nomic classes, and he has always been drawn to disrupting the status quo and de- signing better solutions to systems. "This delivery system is a scientific breakthrough that the food and beverage industry has never seen before," said Kanik. "Putting the power of science into a cup, Smart Cups provides a more con- venient, hassle-free and eco-friendly bev- erage experience for consumers. We've developed a game-changing delivery method that consumers will be able to ex- perience through our initial line of energy drinks. This delivery system print technol- ogy will become the new standard for a variety of industries including pharmaceu- tical, beverage, water purification and be- yond." Smart Cups' energy drinks are now available for purchase at SmartCups.com for $11.99 for a five-pack and $17.99 for a 10-pack. For more information, visit www.smartcups.com. n

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