AUGUST 2026 • SPECIAL SHOW ISSUE
A S P E C I A L S H O W I S S U E O F G O U R M E T N E W S • T H E B U S I N E S S N E W S PA P E R F O R T H E G O U R M E T I N D U S T R Y
La Preferida Expands Iconic Line with New Mole Sauce and Organic Spanish Rice As La Preferida celebrates 77 years of bringing authentic Mexican flavors to American tables, the Chicago-based brand continues to honor its culinary roots while embracing modern innovation. This year, La Preferida unveils two exciting additions to its lineup: Mole Sauce and Organic Spanish Rice – both designed to deliver the rich traditions of Mexico in minutes.
Xochitl Rooted in Mexican Culinary Tradition An interview with Carlos Salinas, Founder, Xochitl. NH: What originally inspired you to start Xochitl?
Authentic Flavor, Ready to Serve Inspired by Oaxaca’s culinary heritage, La Preferida’s Mole Sauce is a tribute to one of Mexico’s most beloved classics. Crafted from roasted sesame, rich dark cocoa and a blend of pasilla chiles, this ready-to-serve mole skips the refined sugar, MSG and fillers found in many store-bought versions. The result is a clean, vegan-friendly sauce with deep, layered flavor that transforms everyday meals into restaurant-quality dishes.
CS: The inspiration came from my family. I grew up in Mexico City surrounded by incredible spices, chiles and condiments. My great-grandmother made an authentic Aztec salsa using chipotle peppers – a recipe passed down through generations. I learned the full process and craftsmanship behind it, and it stayed with me. When I moved to Texas, I began making salsa from scratch to share those authentic flavors with friends. Everything changed when someone asked if I could make 300 jars as gifts for her customers. That was the moment I realized these nearly century-old family recipes deserved a larger audience. In 1995, I founded Xochitl. After perfecting the salsa, I faced another challenge: I couldn’t find a tortilla chip that met my standards. I wanted a cleaner, all-natural, preservative-free chip that tasted exceptional. That led to years of development and ultimately our signature
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Z Natural Foods Announces New Chocolate Flavored Goat Whey Protein
Fantastic Fungi Grows National Retail Presence with Launch at Sprouts
Z Natural Foods, a family-owned leader in organic foods and powdered superfoods, announced its innovative Chocolate Goat Whey Protein Concentrate. This new natural food offers a unique and great-tasting chocolate goat milk protein powder, designed for its health benefits, digestibility and convenience. Z Natural Foods prioritizes the powerful concept of “synergy” – where the combined effect of ingredients is greater than the sum of their individual parts, combining three powerhouse ingredients in this premium blend: Goat Whey Protein, Organic Dark Chocolate (real cacao) and Medium-Chain Triglycerides (MCTs). “Our mission at Z Natural Foods is to provide our customers with the most nourishing, convenient products,” says Jonathan Parker, Director of Nutrition Sciences for Z Natural Foods. “Our Chocolate Goat Whey Protein Concentrate is exactly that: a delicious blend that delivers highquality goat whey protein and leverages
Fantastic Fungi, the wellness brand inspired by the acclaimed Netflix documentary of the same name, announced the nationwide launch of its premium functional mushroom supplements in every Sprouts Farmers Market store nationwide and online. The rollout brings the brand’s complete portfolio to Sprouts shoppers coast to coast, including its full line of capsule formulas and functional mushroom elixirs, making science-backed mushroom wellness more accessible than ever. The expansion marks a significant milestone in Fantastic Fungi’s mission to bring the transformative benefits of functional mushrooms to more consumers seeking natural support for brain health and overall well-being. “Our launch at Sprouts marks a defining moment for Fantastic Fungi as we enter retail for the first time,” said Christian Demers, Chief Executive Officer of Fantastic Fungi. “Sprouts has built an incredible
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