Highlights from the 2016 Reliant Expo

IMG_7038 IMG_7043 IMG_7040We’re back from the 2016 Reliant Expo, the annual product show from Reliant Foodservice. The Reliant Expo was held at the Anaheim Hilton on June 4, 2016. Reliant Foodservice distributes products for frozen yogurt, juice and smoothie and specialty coffee retailers. Based in Southern California, Reliant serves San Diego up to San Francisco, Arizona and Nevada.

The Expo featured vendors with new and established products carried by Reliant. Samples were plentiful. Most of the attendees were Reliant customers. Attendees enjoyed show specials, lunch and a chance to win raffle prizes.

Frozen Yogurt and Soft Serve

Several mix suppliers were present at the Expo, including Cultures, Dannon YoCream, The Frozen Bean, and Kent Precision Foods (distributors for Frostline and Dole Soft Serve). We noticed the preponderance of new non-dairy and no sugar added flavors.

Dannon YoCream brought their newest flavors, Caramelized Pineapple Sorbet, Passion Orange Guava Sorbet and NSA Irish Cream. They also brought flavors from their popular soft serve gelato line.

Cultures, formerly known as California Cultures, offers premium and organic frozen yogurt. They’re about to launch two vegan flavors, coconut and acai/coconut. This new “All Naturals” line is non-fat, dairy-free and does not contain yogurt cultures.

The Frozen Bean/Gelato Lab offers soft serve gelato and guilt free, no sugar added soft serve.

Kent Precision Foods, distributor for Frostline and Dole Soft Serve, brought Dole Whip, the ever popular fruit soft serve that’s creamier than sorbet without the tartness of frozen yogurt.

In addition to soft serve, the show included many healthy drink vendors (e.g., kombucha, smoothies, coffee, tea), toppings, sauces, flavorings and packaging. Frozen Solutions brought their new edible dividers, the Wiser Divider, and color changing products.

We noticed quite a few protein snacks and some nice looking acai bowls topped with fresh fruit from Sambazon. There was definitely a strong emphasis on health and functional foods at the show.

Thank you Reliant FoodService for a wonderful product expo. We look forward to the next one!