SAN FRANCISCO — Functional beverages, vegetarian meals and allergen-free snacks were popular picks over the past year among Instacart users. The grocery technology company compiled a list of the fastest-growing emerging brands on the platform based on sales velocity metrics, spanning a variety of product categories. 

Instacart partners with more than 75,000 retail stores to provide grocery delivery and pickup service to consumers in 13,000 cities across North America. Millions of items offered by more than 5,500 brands are available to purchase through the platform, according to the company. 

In recent years, Instacart has developed tools to elevate and empower small brands competing in the crowded marketplace. The company recently introduced page templates and shoppable display ads, enabling businesses of all sizes to promote creative content and showcase product assortments featuring add-to-cart functionality. 

The fastest-growing emerging brand of the year is Slate Milk, a bottled line of lower-sugar, high-protein chocolate milk and lattes, followed by Tattooed Chef, a maker of frozen meals including organic, vegan and grain-free options, and Liquid Death, a brand of canned still and sparkling water. Rounding out the top five are Snapdragon Foods, a maker of instant pho and ramen noodle soup bowls, and MadeGood, a brand of organic snacks that are free from the top eight allergens. 

Also on the list are plant-based protein companies, including Impossible Foods, The Jackfruit Co., Unreal Deli, Alpha Foods and Daring, as well as dairy-free brands Ripple Foods and Dream Pops. Beverage makers include Poppi, Wtrmln Wtr, Skinte, Suja Juice and Roar Organic.  

Many fast-growing brands, such as Cappellos, Wilde Chips, Egglife, Catalina Crunch and HighKey Snacks, cater to consumers cutting carbohydrates. Others, namely Mush Foods, Brekki Overnight Oats, Mason Dixie Foods and Belgian Boys, produce convenient breakfast products. Baby food makers Serenity Kids, Cerebelly and Once Upon A Farm and specialty pet food brands Reveal Pet Food, Portland Pet Food Co., I and Love and You were highlighted, too.  

View a slideshow of Instacart’s fast-growing emerging brands.