From Winter to West Coast: RCC at Expo West
A Trip Anaheim for the Natural Foods Industry’s Biggest Show
Every now and then, business travel comes with an added perk, like trading a Pennsylvania winter for a few sunny days in Southern California.
This past week, our CEO traveled from to Anaheim, California to attend Natural Products Expo West, one of the largest gatherings in the natural and specialty foods industry. With thousands of brands, buyers, and innovators under one roof, the scale of the show is truly something to behold.
The trip was an opportunity to connect with partners across the specialty food and beverage industries, explore emerging trends in natural foods, and support our sister company as they introduced exciting new products to the market.
Carlino’s Specialty Foods Debuts Organic Sauces & Imported Pasta
A highlight of the show was supporting our sister company, Carlino’s Specialty Foods, as they debuted their newest line of all-natural, organic sauces and imported dried pasta.
Carlino’s brought their signature dedication to quality to the Expo West stage, showcasing sauces made with carefully selected ingredients and free from GMOs, alongside authentic imported pasta crafted in Italy. The response from attendees, ranging from specialty retailers to chefs and distributors, was overwhelmingly positive, with many stopping by the booth for tastings and conversations about bringing these products to shelves nationwide.
It was exciting to see the Carlino’s team share their passion for authentic Italian flavors with such a large audience, and even more rewarding to hear the rave reviews.
Connecting with Coffee Partners & Industry Friends
While Carlino’s was busy introducing their new products, our President & CEO spent time meeting with coffee partners, suppliers, and industry colleagues from across the specialty food and beverage world.
Events like Expo West are about more than just new products, they’re about building relationships, exchanging ideas, and gaining insight into the future of the industries we serve. These conversations help shape everything from sourcing to innovation back home at our Birdsboro roastery.
Exploring Los Angeles Coffee Culture
No trip to Southern California would be complete without exploring the local coffee scene.
Between time at the show floor and meetings, our team made sure to visit some of Los Angeles’ finest coffee shops, experiencing firsthand the creativity and craftsmanship that define the West Coast specialty coffee culture. Cafe visits like these are always a source of inspiration, offering fresh perspectives on everything from roasting styles to cafe experiences.
After all, great coffee is always worth the research.
Next Stop: The SCA Specialty Coffee Expo in San Diego
While the entire Reading Coffee Company team did not attend Expo West, many of our team members will be attending the upcoming Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) Coffee Expo next month in San Diego.
This event is one of the most important gatherings in the global coffee industry, bringing together roasters, producers, equipment manufacturers, and cafe professionals from around the world. Our team is looking forward to connecting with partners, discovering new innovations in coffee, and continuing the conversations that began this week in California.
Back to the Roastery
With Expo West behind us and San Diego on the horizon, it’s an exciting time for the Reading Coffee Company team.
Trips like these remind us just how vibrant the specialty food and coffee industries are, and how fortunate we are to work alongside passionate partners, producers, and innovators every day.
Now it’s back to Birdsboro, where we’ll continue doing what we love most:
sourcing exceptional coffees, roasting to order, and serving our cafe guests with care.
Stay tuned—more to come from the West Coast next month.
Keywords: Reading Coffee Company, Natural Products Expo West 2026, Anaheim California food expo, Carlino’s Specialty Foods sauces, organic pasta and sauce brands, specialty coffee roaster Pennsylvania, Los Angeles coffee shops, SCA Coffee Expo San Diego, specialty coffee industry events.