Winners of the 2020 NEXTY Awards have been announced through a livestream since the Natural Products Expo West was canceled due to coronavirus concerns.

NEXTY Award winners are determined in a two-round judging process in the New Hope Network office prior to Expo West. Exhibiting brands can nominate their products, explaining how they exemplify the NEXTY judging criteria of Innovation, Inspiration and Integrity.

The NEXTY Consumer Choice Awards allow brands to send samples of their product to 1,000 targeted health consumers. In partnership with Sampler, this brand of the NEXTY Awards is judged by consumers; they decide the finalists and winners, in turn delivering product ratings and feedback.

The NEXTY Gold Awards honor legacy brands that have demonstrated over time that every element of their businesses exemplify the NEXTY criteria of Innovation, Inspiration and Integrity, ultimately inspiring the industry to move towards a more healthy, sustainable future for people and planet. The NEXTY Gold Award is the highest pinnacle of excellence in the natural products industry.

Undercover Snacks’ Dark Chocolate + Pomegranate variety won the NEXTY Award for Best New Sweet or Dessert. The Dark Chocolate + Pomegranate flavor is a guilt-free, gluten-free, nut-free snack featuring a healthy dose of crispy organic quinoa, premium dark chocolate and real pomegranate arils for a burst of flavor.

"We are truly honored to win our first NEXTY Award," said Diana Levy, founder and CEO of Undercover Snacks. "As a mom whose kids can't eat gluten, I know how hard it is to find safe snacks that are truly delicious and I'm happy I can provide that same assurance to people with other food allergies as well."

Albanese Confectionery’s Ultimate 8 Flavor Gummi Bears won Consumer Choice Award for Food and Beverage. Made with natural colors and flavors, the assortment includes Alphonso Mango, Amity Raspberry, Asian Pear, Black Currant, Blood Orange, Crimson Cranberry, Fuji Apple and Queen Pineapple flavors.

“The Ultimate 8 Flavor Gummi Bears really take flavors to the ultimate level,” Dominique Albanese said. “The variety of unique real fruit flavors give your palate the experience of biting into the actual fruit. From the skin on the outside, to the juicy flesh on the inside, your taste buds will be begging for the next flavor.”

Other winners include:

Best New Savory or Salty Snack
Everything Zucchini Veggie Flats, Brad’s Plant Based

Best New Sweet Snack
Fruit Jerky, Solely, Inc.

Best New Mission-Based Product
Organic Grain Free Tortilla Chips, Soñar! Foods