Nexe Innovations, a Canadian plant-based materials manufacturer, has unveiled its Xoma Superfoods signature product line and Xoma Keto micro-ground coffee pods. 

The company prototypes its coffee pods using 3D printing, saving time and cutting back on waste and emissions by prototyping entirely in-house. 

The certified compostable Nexe pod took five years of R&D to create.

Speaking to FoodIngredientsFirst, Zac Hudson, chief scientific officer for Nexe Innovations, says, “3D printing is an amazing prototyping technology, and I think we’ll see more and more companies adopting it for developing new products.”

3D printing suitable for scaled-up manufacturing is also becoming possible through new technologies like Digital Light Synthesis, which could reshape the kinds of products we see on store shelves, he explains. 

Sustainable choices
Hudson says consumers are becoming “increasingly aware of the strain we’re putting on the environment, and are demanding change.”

“Governments are responding with new regulations designed to reduce plastic waste, creating a generational opportunity for innovative companies to provide solutions.”

“Moreover, consumers know that they need to be socially responsible with their purchases, but it’s not always clear how,” he observes. 

According to Hudson, other compostable beverage pods exist today on the market, but he believes Nexe’s solution to be “the best in the space.”

“We combine compostable polymers with plant fiber to create a product that looks and feels compostable, keeps coffee fresh, and provides a bolder cup of coffee than the competition,” he outlines.

“Our line of premium superfood coffees are conveniently packaged in our single-serve, fully compostable, plant-based Nexe pods, which are compatible with Keurig single-serve brewing systems,” adds Marc Bains, brand manager for Xoma Superfoods. 

“Our lives are busier than ever, and we created these pods because we believe that it is possible to create products that are both convenient and sustainable.” 

Nexe’s pod materials meet international standards for compostability, validated by researchers at The University of British Columbia (UBC) and the Municipal Composting Facility in Surrey, BC. 

Health prevails
Xoma Superfoods is Nexe’s in-house superfoods brand. Xoma’s new Keto micro-ground coffee is a rich and energizing beverage made with quality fats from cocoa butter and medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) oil.

Consumers can add it to their morning cup of coffee as part of a ketogenic diet, fasting regimen or part of a healthy lifestyle. 

According to Hudson, the health and wellness segment of the beverage market is showing strong growth, with consumers increasingly conscious about their well-being, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Ketogenic diets are trending among health and wellness consumers, and the company was keen to put forward a product that supports those goals. 

Mushroom magic
Meanwhile, mushroom ingredients are also spotlighted for their health credentials. 

“Mushrooms are a rich source of functional ingredients to support health and wellness, and these are growing in popularity in all kinds of food and beverage sectors,” continues Hudson. 

“By creating a functional mushroom coffee, we’ve provided a convenient way to access these health benefits along with your morning coffee.”

“Both our MCT and mushroom coffees have been in high demand from customers, and we are excited to add our new keto coffee to the lineup,” adds Bains. 

“In less than one month, we have successfully added three SKUs to our Xoma Superfoods lineup and look forward to introducing additional SKUs. We are on a mission to deliver sustainable, high-quality, great-tasting superfoods that support the health of our customers and the health of the planet,” he explains. 

Hudson says the company is in the process of scaling up its production capacity to take orders from some more prominent coffee brands. “We’re also growing our team in all roles – engineering, business development, marketing and so on.”

Earlier this month, Nexe Innovations secured CA$8 million (US$6.3 million) in financing from Canaccord Genuity at the heels of launching an e-commerce superfood store via its subsidiary Xoma Superfoods.

In February, Nexe Innovations and its subsidiary Xoma Superfoods launched a micro-ground soluble coffee with organic MCT in a fully compostable coffee pod.