BEST KIDS PRODUCT

STARTUP CPG SHELFIES AWARDS

BEST KIDS PRODUCT

FINALISTS

MAVERICKS

COOKIES

Mavericks Cookies are cookies on a mission to meet children’s cravings while being mindful of their nutritional needs. Vegan, non-GMO, and containing 40% less sugar than the leading natural kid’s cookie, Mavericks’ Birthday Cake Cookies are schoolsafe yet utterly delicious. Even without preservatives, syrups or sugar alcohols, these cookies are buttery and cake-level sweet for any child to enjoy.

KEKOA

FOODS

Kekoa Foods was founded by two Dads on a mission to feed their son the most nutritious foods possible. After finding only bland, uninspiring foods in the American baby food market, they decided to make the food themselves to expand their child’s palate with unique flavors and minimal sugar. They founded Kekoa Foods to share this mission with other parents looking to support their child’s transition to table food. Kekoa’s award-winning Curry Vegetable Mango combines celery, carrot, onion and potato with a custom-made curry blend to provide a hearty, tasty meal without any heat.

BEST KIDS PRODUCT

TINY SPROUTS

Founded in May 2020, Tiny Sprouts Foods is a minority female-led children’s nutrition company focused on producing easy, nutrient-rich products that offer functional health benefits to the developing child. The founders, Kim Pabla and Tina Rajani, both former marketing mavens with young children, started Tiny Sprouts to help parents better nourish their children. As moms, they were troubled to find out that American children are well-fed, but undernourished; high-nutrient needs combined with picky-eating habits have resulted in over 90% of them not meeting daily nutrient needs. Inadequate nutrition can cause anything from fatigue, poor immune health or even chronic disease such as obesity and diabetes. To combat this, the co-founders put their hearts and souls into the idea of “superseeds for kids” — an accessible yet exciting way to improve mealtime. Designed in collaboration with pediatric experts, Tiny Sprouts uses all organic, non-GMO and vegan ingredients with no added sugars, preservatives, or artificial flavors. They include functional ingredients such as probiotics and vitamin D for additional immune & digestive support.

Tiny Sprouts’ Organic Superseed Boosters are blends of cold-milled seeds, probiotics and oth-

er superfoods that can be added into any food to support a child’s daily nutrient needs, combat common ailments from constipation to the cold & flu, and even reduce risk of future disease. Their Digestion Booster is flavored with apple powder and cinnamon, making it a delicious addition to existing breakfasts.

Since kicking off Tiny Sprouts, their largest challenges have surrounded ingredient sourcing. “Since our initial production, ingredients costs have steadily increased, crop yields have decreased, and minimum order quantities have become unattainable in some cases,” says Tina. “There is also a huge level of uncertainty and volatility when dealing with crop-based ingredients, such as flaxseeds, chia seeds and hemp hearts, and we are often at the mercy of mother nature when making our purchasing decisions.” As the team prioritizes product quality and safety above all else, ingredient sourcing and rigorous testing will continue to guide their decisions — even if it requires going the extra mile.

The Tiny Sprouts team is thrilled to see their hard work and dedication pay off through industry recognition, including their most recent Shelfies win. “It has been so rewarding to see our products being recognized by industry professionals and respected organizations,” says Tina. “This will hopefully be the catalyst we need to get our boosters into the hands of many more parents, helping to nourish the health of babies & young children everywhere.”