Four finalists who created sweet treats with functional benefits will move forward in the Real California Milk Excelerator product competition created by the California Milk Advisory Board and VentureFuel. These innovators have tapped into the nutritional and flavor profiles of milk and dairy ingredients to deliver performance and recovery benefits in products consumers crave, according to the CMAB.
The finalists are:
• Nightfood – Formulated by sleep experts and nutritionists, Nightfood ice cream delivers great taste and a sleep-friendly nutritional profile to help promote quality sleep.
• ReThink Ice Cream – Low sugar, stomach- and diabetic-friendly ice cream that is infused with fiber and sourced from lactose-free A2 dairy.
• Sweetkiwi – Founded by a McKinsey 2021 Black Executive Leader and certified cultured dairy professional, Sweetkiwi makes whipped Greek yogurt that's under 320 calories per pint and formulated with fiber, protein, and probiotics.
• Wonder Monday – A 2020 RCM Snackcelerator finalist, Wonder Monday returns with a new protein keto cheesecake snack bar with no added sugar and 10 grams of clean protein.
"The products moving to the finals reflect America's sweet tooth and continuing desire for treats that don't give up taste in favor of function," said John Talbot, CEO of the CMAB, in a statement.
Selected from a field of 12 semi-finalists during a two-day virtual pitch event judged by a group of experts from companies like Hershey's, Nestle, Mars, FoodNavigator.com, and Health Magazine, the finalists also received votes from 2,000 fans who weighed in virtually through Perksy, which provides market research for the mobile generation. Each semi-finalist received $10,000 worth of support to develop an edible prototype, while receiving a suite of resources including graphic design, lab, or kitchen time, and mentorship from global marketing, packaging, and distribution experts.
At the final event, which will take place live virtually at 5 p.m. PST on November 18, each founder will present to a judging panel of experts from across CPG, retail, venture capital, and food science segments. The winner will receive $150,000 in marketing support to bring their vision to market, and a runner-up will receive $100,000 towards the same goal. Registration for the event is available online.
Related: Global Ingredients, Functional Foods Among Specialty Food Live! Trends; Category Spotlight: Sweet Escape.