East Forest Becomes a Finalist at the Nordic Organic Food Fair 2024
Originally published: 2024 · Last updated: August 2026
In 2024, East Forest Kenari Nuts became a finalist for Best New Organic Food at the Nordic Organic Food Fair in Malmö, Sweden.
The recognition added another international milestone to the development of Kenari Nuts and East Forest.
It also introduced the product to the Nordic organic market, a region known for strong interest in organic and sustainable food products.
A Platform for the Nordic Organic Market
The Nordic Organic Food Fair is a major trade event for organic and sustainable products in the Nordic region.
For an emerging product such as Kenari, the event offered an opportunity to reach buyers and professionals in a market where organic food has a strong presence.
The finalist recognition provided additional visibility for East Forest and the Kenari category.
Best New Organic Food Finalist
East Forest was selected as a finalist for Best New Organic Food.
The recognition was associated with the Spicy Salted Caramel variant.
For a product based on a relatively unknown nut, reaching the finalist stage was significant because it placed Kenari within a competitive field of new organic food products.
The recognition also helped communicate two things at once:
Kenari is a distinctive ingredient.
and
Kenari can be developed into contemporary organic food products.
From an Indonesian Forest Nut to Nordic Consumers
The Nordic market represents another step in the international expansion of Kenari.
The nut's Indonesian origin provides a strong point of difference, while the organic positioning makes it relevant to consumers and businesses interested in natural and responsibly developed foods.
East Forest's approach is to keep Kenari at the center of the product while developing flavors that complement its naturally soft, creamy and buttery character.
Spicy Salted Caramel is one expression of that approach.
Recognition Helps Build Awareness
Awards and finalist positions are particularly useful for emerging food categories because they can help reduce the unfamiliarity surrounding a new product.
Consumers may not know Kenari.
Buyers may not yet have encountered it.
Recognition provides an independent reason to take a closer look.
For East Forest, the Nordic finalist position added another point of recognition following earlier awards and nominations in Europe.
It contributed to the broader story of Kenari's development from a little-known Indonesian nut into an internationally presented food product.
Another Market, Another Opportunity
The Nordic Organic Food Fair was another step in expanding the geographic reach of Kenari.
By this point, Kenari had already been introduced through major international events in Europe and North America.
The Nordic market added another audience and another set of potential relationships.
For Kawanasi, each market provides an opportunity not only to sell products, but to learn how different consumers and food businesses respond to Kenari.
Continuing to Develop East Forest
The finalist recognition also reflects the broader product-development philosophy behind East Forest.
The starting point remains Kenari.
From there, different ingredients and flavor profiles can be used to create products that allow consumers to experience the nut in different ways.
That development continues through new flavors and new applications.