C-Loop Showcases Sustainable Superfoods and Natural Colours at Natural Products Expo West 2026

Anaheim, California — Natural Products Expo West 2026 delivered another standout year for innovation in the natural products sector, with the team from C-Loop returning from the event energized by strong industry interest in sustainable, functional ingredients.

Representing the company at the expo, Wayne and Georgette spent the week connecting with a broad cross-section of the U.S. natural products ecosystem — from product developers and manufacturers to ingredient partners and brands bringing new products to market. Across conversations, one theme consistently emerged which was the accelerating demand for clean-label, nutrient-dense and sustainably produced ingredients.

The event highlighted the growing shift toward functional foods that deliver both nutritional value and natural ingredient integrity.

C-Loop’s portfolio of organic, carbon-neutral nutraceutical ingredients, including Spirulina, Chlorella and Spirulina Blue (phycocyanin), attracted significant attention from companies seeking high-performance natural ingredients that align with consumer expectations around sustainability and transparency.

Among the standout products generating interest was Spirulina Blue, a vibrant natural blue food and beverage colour derived from spirulina that also delivers nutritional benefits due to its high protein content.

Wayne, who has spent more than two decades working in the natural food colour industry, said the scale of innovation at the event reflected a clear transformation underway in the sector.

“As one of the biggest and most innovative expos I’ve participated in during my more than 20 years working in natural food colours, Expo West really demonstrated the acceleration of the shift toward natural functional foods,” Wayne said.

“Brands are no longer simply looking for colour or flavour in isolation — they’re looking for ingredients that deliver multiple benefits at once. Natural colours that also provide nutritional value, sustainability credentials and clean-label status are becoming incredibly important. The level of innovation we saw from manufacturers and brands looking to replace synthetic dyes with natural alternatives was remarkable, and spirulina-based colours are clearly at the forefront of that transition.”

Georgette noted that the applications for spirulina-derived ingredients across the show floor illustrated how rapidly the market is adopting multifunctional natural ingredients.

“It was clear to see the dominant trends evident across the U.S. market, Australian Grown, highly multifunctional foods and clean ingredients are in strong demand,” Georgette said.

“Spirulina Blue is a great example of this shift. It delivers one of the few stable natural blue colours available to manufacturers while also providing a clean, vegan source of protein. Throughout the expo we saw it being used across an enormous range of applications, from cereals and vitamin gummies to confectionery and beverages. Nearly everything blue we saw was coloured naturally with spirulina blue.”

“The added benefit is that it allows manufacturers to replace synthetic chemical dyes with a natural ingredient that actually contributes nutritional value. Instead of adding something artificial, brands can incorporate a clean, plant-based protein that enhances the overall product.”

The week of meetings also reinforced strong interest from U.S. companies looking to source sustainable ingredients specifically from Australia as they expand their clean-label product portfolios backed by recent announcements from the FDA encouraging it’s uptake.

With the demand for natural colours and functional superfoods continuing to rise, C-Loop says it is focused on expanding its distribution footprint in the United States to support manufacturers seeking reliable sources of high-quality, sustainably produced ingredients.

The company’s range including: Green Spirulina, Whole Spirulina, Chlorella (cracked cell wall or whole) and Spirulina Blue is produced to nutraceutical standards and aligned with growing global expectations around sustainable ingredient production.

Following the success of Expo West, the C-Loop team says the relationships formed during the event will play an important role in supporting the company’s next phase of growth in the U.S. market.

“As the industry continues moving toward cleaner, more functional ingredients, we’re excited about the role our products can play in helping brands create the next generation of nutritious and naturally coloured foods,” the team said.