Paro

The last - as we know it - #ExpoEast. This year it was especially nice to be at a smaller show, to get a pulse on the industry and how people are feeling. A recap of what Hallie Bonnar and I saw and heard. We’ll start with the good: - Brightest point of the show was the variety and depth of global flavors, particularly the Founder Heritage Council’s cluster (bravo Jake Deleon! 👏). Founder-led brands drawing from personal culinary traditions were out in force, with unique flavors and new formats. - Interesting new focus on kids, and “full family” brands that look to incorporate whole foods and vegetables, with minimal ingredients for simple, easy meals or school-safe snacks. - Noticeably less alternative meats or highly processed #plantbased fare, stood in by brands using whole plants and toting stronger nutritionals. The less than good : - There’s a general sense of unease across the industry. Companies are struggling to #fundraise, growth has been stalled by inflation, and #retailers / #distributors have been putting on the squeeze. A consistent level of anxiety across brands, investors, and service providers permeated the show. - I was surprised by how many brands are pitching themselves as the “#betterforyou” version of an already “#betterforyou” brand. It feels like there’s less product differentiation or solving of problems than there are chasing of opportunity. - We'll miss this smaller Philly show. Wondering what the future holds, and hope that the chance to meet in person doesn't get too undervalued. Best bites / sips of the day: FILLO'S , Paro, Date Better Snacks, Fila Manila, GNGR Labs, and Happy Wolf Snacks 🫰🏻. New Fare Mid-Day Squares Omsom Tacombi Actual Veggies New Hope Network Informa Markets Jake Karls Derek Beigleman Umaimah Sharwani Vanessa Pham Samantha Set Nina Bolka Christie Bok

Scenes from Paro debut at Expo East! It truly takes a village, and I’m grateful to those who stepped in, visited, and shared their words of encouragement. It was a real opportunity not only to share Paro but also to experience and connect with others who are creating change in food. To those who offered their last-minute help, manned the booth, distributed samples, and provided words of support—thank you! We’re building this company together, bringing easy-to-cook South Asian food to everyone’s homes. Can’t wait for the next one...let’s go! 🚀