For over a decade, the NEXTY Awards have recognized innovative, inspirational, and integrity-driven natural products at Natural Products Expos West and East. Now open to all natural products brands—regardless of whether or not they are exhibitors at these shows—the NEXTYS are a platform for some of today’s most value-driven and exciting brands, many of which are embracing creative solutions to some of the most pressing issues impacting people and the planet.

For the Expo East 2023 edition of these awards, New Hope Network’s team of editors and analysts were joined by a range of industry experts to narrow down the list of 400 nominated products to 69 finalists across 20 categories, as well as to choose the winners. In this episode of The Natural List, Jessica and Adrienne talk to two of these esteemed NEXTY judges: Emily Schildt, CEO and founder of Pop Up Grocer, and Douglas Yu, Senior Contributor at Forbes.

Listen as our judges reflect on current consumer trends, communicating a brand’s mission, and their favorite moments from the NEXTYS.