Top Trends in CBD From Expo East

Having weathered the last 18 months during a pandemic, consumers are looking to CBD products that can help them sleep more and stress less. Demand for products and supplements that aid with both are resonating with today’s consumers, noted Carlotta Mast, SVP of content and market leader for New Hope Network during the “State of Natural and Organic” keynote address at Natural Products Expo East on Sept. 23.

And while, one Expo East exhibitor noted that grocery is “still dragging its feet” on the CBD category, others noted that CBD products are slowly but surely gaining traction in supermarkets from Wegmans to Hy-Vee. Out on the Expo East show floor at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, exhibitors displayed a vast array of CBD products for humans and pets.

The company showcased its THC-free Real-Fruit Infused Sparkling Water with 25 milligrams of CBD per 12-ounce can in Lemon, Blood Orange, Raspberry and Blackberry, as well as its new Pear Real-Fruit Infused Gummies with 20 milligrams of CBD and 10 milligrams of CBG per gummy. And for those wanting catch more z’s, Wyld CBD featured its Elderberry Real-Fruit Infused Gummies for sleep. The nighttime/naptime gummies contain 25 milligrams of CBD and 5 milligrams of CBN (for sleep) per gummy.

Substance met style at the Canopy Growth booth at Expo East, where a host of Martha Stewart-branded CBD products were on display, including Super Strength CBD Cream with 2,500 milligrams of CBD. A variety of other products designed to help with de-stressing, sleep and wellness were also featured. “With Martha Stewart, people trust her brand name,” Roxana Garvey, director of sales, grocery and mass, told WGB. “If there’s any hesitation or skepticism around CBD, we want to squash that with the Martha Stewart brand.” The Martha Stewart CBD line is carried by UNFI.

Sleep, relaxation and pet wellness were on tap at Lazarus Naturals. Its Sleep Cannabinoid Gummies is a formulated blend of CBD, CBG and CBN. It is full spectrum and high potency for people working on sleep habits and restlessness, says the company. Meanwhile its Calm CBD Gummies are formulated to help people unwind and promote a deeper sense of calm any time of day. And don’t forget Fido. “Pet is a quickly growing channel,” said Brian Connelly, senior manager, wholesale sales. Lazarus Naturals offers a host of dog treats and tinctures with pet health in mind.

At the CBDfx booth, a variety of tinctures, gummies and capsules designed to promote better sleep were on display, including its CBD Gummies with melatonin. The vegan gummies contain 200 milligrams of hemp-based cannabinoids. From gummies with added apple cider vinegar to topicals with calming lavender, all CBDfx products contain layered benefits, said John Coakley, regional manager for the company. Also on display at the CBDfx booth—a cool CBD vending machine flown in fresh from the U.K. and headed for its new home in Las Vegas, Coakley noted.

At the Caliper booth, WGB asked Caliper Consumer Goods National Sales Manager Josh Crosier about the potential for CBD in grocery. “The key in grocery is that so few are doing the category justice,” he said. But Caliper has recently made headway into the grocery channel with its unique dissolvable CBD powder in a flavorless variety as well as flavored powders in Lemonade, Lemon Lime, Mixed Berry, and Cool Mint.

New CBD gummies from Harmony were spotlighted at the RE: Botanicals/Harmony booth. The new gummies target four needs: Focus, Sleep, Gut Health and Immunity. Harmony Focus Gummies and Harmony Sleep Gummies contain 900 milligrams of CBD each, while the gummies intended for gut health and immunity both contain 750 milligrams of CBD.