Bring Your Idea to Life: Iovate Ventures Offers Strategic Partnership Opportunities for Early-Stage Nutritional and Functional Products Brands
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Bring Your Idea to Life: Iovate Ventures Offers Strategic Partnership Opportunities for Early-Stage Nutritional and Functional Products Brands
Leading Active Nutrition and Wellness Company Invites Like-Minded, Impact-Driven Brands to Join the Conversation at Natural Products Expo West, Anaheim, California
Expo West Breakfast Meet & Greet
Iovate Ventures Entrepreneurs
March 5th, 2020, 8:00 am – 10:00 am
Hilton Anaheim, Room #: Palos Verdes A, 777 West Convention Way, Anaheim, CA
Oakville, ON, Canada (February 19, 2020) – Iovate Ventures, a newly formed and dedicated international health and wellness investment group, a division of Iovate Health Sciences International Inc., is seeking like-minded U.S. start-up brands to apply to their strategic partnership program. If you are an emerging start-up brand looking to gain traction, expand retail distribution, and improve innovation, Iovate Ventures invites you to attend a morning meet and greet during the Natural Products Expo West Trade Show on Thursday March 5th, 8:00 am – 10:00 am, Hilton Anaheim, Palos Verdes A Room, Anaheim, California.
At the breakfast, brands will meet with industry leaders and learn more about the application process. Discover why your brand should collaborate with Iovate Ventures and gain access to expert advice and high-level teams, including best-in-class strategic tools and methods to accelerate ideas.
Apply to Iovate Ventures Strategic Partnership Program:
https://www.iovate.com/iovate-ventures/
For impact-driven brands, regardless of your company’s stage of growth, Iovate Ventures tailors specific strategies through its program offerings and services. Iovate Health Sciences International Inc. has more than 25 years of experience in wellness, weight loss, and active nutrition. The company’s seasoned team of scientists, R&D professionals, sales, and manufacturing experts are ready to help take your brand to the next level.
“There are a lot of great product ideas out there with tremendous potential that hit bumps on the road to their becoming viable offerings. It might be owing to a lack of experience, the necessary contacts—or resources. At Iovate Ventures, we want to ensure that great ideas achieve their potential and make a difference in the world. We’ll provide the expert resources to bring your product to market and provide access to people around the world who would most benefit,” says Raza Bashir, Vice President, Product Innovation at Iovate Ventures. “If you have a novel functional food or wellness-related consumer product in-market or ready to launch, then we want to connect at our Expo West breakfast to hear more about your products and what you stand for!”
An additional benefit to applying and joining the partnership includes exclusive connections to Iovate’s global distribution and retail networks, including the world’s largest retailers.
About Iovate Health Sciences International Inc.
Iovate Health Sciences International Inc., has been creating and building successful brands for more than 25 years. Through its commitment to scientific research and product development, Iovate Health Sciences International Inc. has led marketing efforts for countless cutting-edge products, which have been chosen by millions since its establishment in 1996. Iovate’s current brand portfolio includes Purely Inspired®, Conscious KitchenTM, Hydroxycut®, MuscleTech®, and Six Star®. The company’s core values include teamwork, accountability, passion, valuing people, customer-centric, and consumer-driven. For more information on Iovate Ventures and the application process, click here.
Iovate Ventures Contact
Raza Bashir, Vice President, Product Innovation
ventures@iovate.com
Media Contact
Steven Hoffman, Founder, Compass Natural
303.807.1042, steve@compassnaturalmarketing.com
Hemp Market Takes Off at Expo West
For Presence Marketing Newsletter, April 2019
By Steven Hoffman
Anyone attending Natural Products Expo West, the world’s largest natural products trade show, held this past March, couldn’t help but notice that 2019 has emerged as “The Year of Hemp” in the natural and organic products market.
Indeed, the legalization of industrial hemp under the 2018 Farm Bill has been a boon for independent natural foods retailers, said Loren Israelsen, president of the United Natural Products Alliance. “For smaller stores, this category has been a lifeline for them as they battle to maintain foot traffic in the stores as online sales continue to grow.”
Larger stores, too, are eyeing the hemp market: Boulder-based Lucky’s Market has taken the lead in hemp and CBD product sales in its stores nationwide, with full shelf sets in the natural living department. Ohio-based Mustard Seed Market’s supplement sales are being driven by its commitment to CBD products, says Nutrition Director Abraham Nabors. Whole Foods Market’s trend spotters identified hemp as a “top 10 food trend for 2019,” and recently, Whole Foods CEO John Mackey indicated the possibility of Whole Foods selling cannabis products should they become legal in the future.
According to Hemp Business Journal’s new report, The Global State of Hemp: 2019 Industry Outlook, U.S. sales of hemp products – from full-spectrum hemp extract and CBD products to hemp foods, textiles, building materials, bioplastics and more – estimated at $1 billion in 2018, are projected to grow 27% annually to reach $2.6 billion by 2022. Global hemp retail sales totaled $3.7 billion in 2018 and are projected to grow to $5.7 billion by 2020.
The passage of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, commonly known as the Farm Bill, in late December was nothing less than historic, legalizing for the first time in more than 80 years the commercial cultivation and sale of industrial hemp. “Most importantly, noted journalist Chris Chafin in Rolling Stone, “it removes hemp and any hemp derivative from the Controlled Substances Act, legally separating it from marijuana and putting its supervision under the Department of Agriculture. In the most basic sense, these plants serve three primary uses: fiber (paper and cloth), seeds (for hemp oil and food), and cannabinoid oils. It’s this last category that’s the most profitable and has the biggest potential for growth. The [Farm Bill] defines hemp as any part or derivative of cannabis with a THC level below 0.3 percent on a dry-weight basis,” Chafin reported.
Hemp Steals the Show at Expo West
Interest in the category was so strong at 2019 Natural Products Expo West that a full-day Hemp & CBD Summit held at the show spilled out beyond a 500-person ballroom into two other rooms where a similar-sized audience watched by live video feed. Also, during a panel discussion hosted by Presence Marketing and NCG at Expo West for over 150 retailers, CBD and hemp supply chain (e.g., ensuring that the full spectrum hemp extract products you carry are sourced from certified organic producers, etc.) dominated the discussion.
Full spectrum hemp and CBD products from new and national brands alike were introduced everywhere at the trade show: carob snacks with hemp extract from Missy J’s; CBD sparkling water from Weller; hemp-infused honey from Colorado Hemp Honey; CBD wellness shooters introduced by Navitas; organic full-spectrum hemp extract from Gaia Herbs, Charlotte’s Web, CV Sciences and others; hemp supplements by Leaf Therapeutics, a new brand launched by legacy brand Solaray; hemp gummies and caramels from Boulder-based Restorative Botanicals; CBD sports nutrition, hemp balms, hemp infused body care products and more. Honestly, what didn’t have CBD hemp extract at Expo West?
And that’s not to mention hemp foods derived from hemp seed – high in plant-based protein and omega-3 essential fatty acids, but with no CBD or cannabinoid compounds. Sold for over 20 years in natural foods stores, hemp seed-derived products are now widely regarded as superfoods. Brands such as Tempt, Manitoba Harvest, Evo Hemp and others presented new hemp food offerings at Expo West, capitalizing on heightened interest in all things hemp.
CBD or Hemp Extract?
The FDA may yet come out against use of the term “CBD.” While the agency is expected to review CBD and hemp extracts in food and supplements in the near future, according to outgoing FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, CBD isolate was approved as a drug by the agency after granting license for Epidiolex, the first pharmaceutical derived from cannabidiol (CBD), manufactured by the company GW Pharmaceuticals. The commissioner had recently spoken of a “pathway” to acceptance of hemp CBD as a dietary ingredient. However, with Gottlieb announcing his resignation in early March, many in the natural products industry are uncertain whether progress on FDA regulatory policy regarding hemp and CBD will be made.
However, judging from exhibit after exhibit on the trade show floor, you wouldn’t know the regulatory waters around the use of the term “CBD” are murky. For many exhibitors at Expo West, “CBD” was the go-to phrase on product packaging, literature and exhibit signage, while others more conservatively stuck to the phrase “full-spectrum hemp extract.”
Despite FDA’s lack of a decision to date in this regard, manufacturers, retailers and consumers alike are responding positively to the use of CBD on the product label, and are not waiting for FDA to decide. This could be an issue down the road for many manufacturers, should the FDA decide to crack down on use of CBD on labels. The key, advised a number of speakers at the show, is avoid the use of CBD isolate in products and stick with full-spectrum hemp extract to avoid unwanted attention from the FDA.
While "it’s still unclear how different federal agencies will interpret the new [Farm Bill] rules...it doesn’t matter — people in the CBD industry are calling the new legislation a game changer," observed Chafin in Rolling Stone.
Transparency and Testing Are Crucial
A major theme at Expo West’s Hemp & CBD Summit focused on manufacturers operating with safety and integrity, noted CBD Insider in a March 9, 2019, report. “To preserve integrity, businesses must always test their products, especially in these six areas: cannabinoid potency, residual solvents, heavy metals, pesticides, microbes, and terpenes. After this testing is complete and the products are verifiably ready for consumption, companies should be transparent with their testing and provide documentation of third-party lab results. Companies — and consumers — must do their homework and ask questions. If a laboratory, farmer, brand, or any other entity in the supply chain is not willing to be transparent, it’s a sign that you should do business elsewhere. Many of the speakers discussed how they personally vet businesses before working with them, such as requiring documentation or personally visiting the company’s facility,” reported CBD Insider.
In addition, and importantly, retailers and consumers should seek out hemp products that are grown in accordance with certified organic and preferably climate friendly regenerative practices, emphasized John Roulac, founder of Nutiva and RE: Botanicals, a new hemp “apothecary,” which debuted at Expo West. Beware of low-cost hemp extract products that may have been produced with industrial agriculture practices including toxic, synthetic pesticides and synthetic nitrogen fertilizers derived from natural gas and fracking – contributors to global warming – and extracted with toxic organic solvents, he cautioned.
U.S. Hemp Acreage – 80,000 Acres and Growing
Although hemp is now legal across the U.S., the message seems to be getting out slowly, and state and local authorities are still seizing hemp crops and truckers are being arrested for crossing state lines with container loads of harvested industrial hemp for processing, tying up individuals in jail and leaving valuable inventory in limbo.
Currently, nine states – Idaho, Louisiana, Mississippi, Georgia, Ohio, South Dakota, Iowa, Texas, and Connecticut – still prohibit hemp production under any circumstances. And four states – Idaho, South Dakota, Nebraska, and Kansas – still prohibit hemp-derived CBD. “For now, transporting hemp across these state lines may still be as dangerous as it’s ever been,” reported science writer Leo Bear-McGuiness in Analytical Cannabis.
Yet, “damn the torpedoes,” U.S. farmers are saying, as they respond to soaring demand by dedicating farmland to hemp cultivation, seeing it as a potential cash crop and an alternative to growing GMO corn, soy, tobacco and other commodity crops.
According to hemp advocacy group Vote Hemp, the U.S. hemp crop tripled in 2018 to 78,176 acres, up from 25,713 acres in hemp cultivation in 2017. That figure is expected to grow now that the Farm Bill has opened the door nationwide to hemp production, says Vote Hemp. Montana emerged as the top hemp growing state in 2018, followed by Colorado, Oregon, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina and North Dakota, respectively, according to Vote Hemp.
Learn More
Let’s Talk Hemp – a leading newsletter and podcast by the producer of NoCo Hemp Expo and Southern Hemp Expo
Hemp Business Journal – strategic data and information for the hemp industry
Hemp Industry Daily – news, market research and trade information
Organic Trade Association’s Organic Week – May 20-23, 2019, Washington, DC, featuring a track on organic hemp production
Southern Hemp Expo – September 6-7, 2019, Nashville, TN, the largest exhibition and conference of hemp industry professionals in the East
Natural Products Expo East – September 11-14, 2019, Baltimore, MD, presenting the Natural Products Hemp & CBD Summit
Vote Hemp – representing hemp producers and advocating for hemp policy and regulation
NuLeaf Naturals, Leading Provider of CBD Wellness Products, Expands Nationally to 1,600+ Retail Locations; Will Feature Brand at Natural Products Expo West
Visit NuLeaf Naturals at Booth N1735, North Hall, in the Hot Products section at Natural Products Expo West, March 6-8, 2019, at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, CA.
Denver, CO (February 27, 2019) – NuLeaf Naturals, a leading manufacturer of whole-plant CBD wellness products, is quickly gaining traction in the natural products channel and has been invited once again to exhibit at the world’s largest natural products trade show, Natural Products Expo West, March 6-9, 2019, at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, CA.
The brand was founded in 2014 and has national distribution in more than 1,600 retail locations across the United States including New Seasons Market in Oregon, Westerly Natural Market in New York, Jungle Jim’s in Ohio, Alfalfa’s Market in Colorado, and many other prominent natural products stores nationwide. For retail locations, visit here.
“NuLeaf is our most popular CBD product,” said Organic Food Depot Manager Jim Jacobs “We love it.” Westerly Market located in the heart of New York City echoed similar thoughts, "NuLeaf is our best-selling CBD oil brand.” According to New Seasons Market, "Customers love that the product is highly concentrated and contains no additives.”
Wholesale inquiries are welcome. Please contact NuLeaf Naturals, tel 720.372.4842, email contact@nuleafnaturals.com
Visit NuLeaf Naturals and sample its full line of CBD wellness products and dietary supplements at Booth N1735, North Hall, in the Hot Products section at Natural Products Expo West, March 6-8, 2019, at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, CA.
About NuLeaf Naturals
Founded in 2014 by a group of health-conscious plant medicine aficionados, NuLeaf Naturals is one of America's top pioneering hemp companies. The company vision is to continue to create cannabinoid wellness products that promote a healthy body and mind and to help people and their loved ones live a happier, healthier life. NuLeaf Naturals CBD oil is 100% organic and contains all the synergistic cannabinoids, terpenes, essential oils, and other beneficial phytonutrients of the original plant. The brand is committed to providing the highest quality products in their most pure and simple form. Visit www.NuLeafNaturals.com, email contact@NuLeafNaturals.com.
Healing through Hemp…and Honey
With a mission to support veterans and educate consumers about natural health, Colorado Hemp Honey hits the road to introduce Double-Strength Raw Relief Honey with 30 milligrams of whole plant hemp extract per serving.
Parker, CO (January 30, 2019) – Colorado Hemp Honey, the original hemp honey company, will hit the road this spring at leading healthy lifestyles expositions in the U.S. to introduce its new Double-Strength Raw Relief artisan honey with 30 milligrams of full-spectrum, naturally occurring hemp extract per serving. The company’s goal is to educate people about sustainable and organic agriculture and the importance of preserving bee health, along with showcasing its line of hemp-infused honeys at Natural Products Expo West, the world’s largest natural products trade show in Anaheim, CA. Colorado Hemp Honey also will feature its products at the 6th Annual NoCo Hemp Expo, the nation’s largest gathering of hemp industry professionals, in Denver, March 29-30.
Further, the company is dedicated to supporting the veteran and service-animal communities through its various philanthropic partnerships.
“We can’t wait to get out there and talk with healthy lifestyles influencers, advocates, business leaders and enthusiasts about the tremendous benefits of CBD and full spectrum, whole-plant hemp extract,” said beekeeper and farmer Nick French, co-founder with his wife Ali French of Frangiosa Farms, which produces Colorado Hemp Honey. “The naturally occurring CBD in our products calms the mind and soothes the body, supporting its inflammatory response and toning the endocannabinoid system.”
Frangiosa Farms, founded in 2008 in Parker, CO, to create local artisan neighborhood honey using organic practices, is dedicated to responsible beekeeping in the face of the bee population decline through community education, backyard beekeeping workshops, and support of locally sourced raw honey. In 2015, Nick and Ali created Colorado Hemp Honey using raw honey from the farm, full-spectrum, plant-based, non-isolate hemp extract, and organic essential oils.
Frangiosa Farms donates 10 cents from every jar of honey sold to Veterans to Farmers, with a mission to “train veterans in agricultural systems, technologies and business operations for a fulfilling and sustainable lifestyle.” Similarly, the company donates a portion of each jar of Colorado Hemp Honey Pet Tincture sold to support Freedom Service Dogs of America, which helps train and transform the lives of shelter dogs to serve as companion animals for veterans and others suffering from serious injury.
Combining the Raw Power of Hemp and Honey
Colorado Hemp Honey combines the healing powers of raw honey, organic essential oils, and cannabinoid-rich whole hemp extracts in a product formulated to help provide relief. Double-Strength Raw Relief contains twice as much full-spectrum hemp extract as the company’s popular Relief honey without sacrificing any of the delicious sweetness and complexity.
Colorado Hemp Honey is made from 100 percent pure, raw Rocky Mountain honey directly from the farm’s hives and industrial hemp from its fields and those of other Colorado farmers. Colorado Hemp Honey uses a proprietary blend of Colorado-grown, non-GMO, pesticide-free hemp and handles it gently to preserve terpenes and phytonutrients such as amino acids, carbohydrates, vitamins (including B1, B2, B6, D, and E), fatty acids (including omega 3 and 6), and trace minerals (including iron, zinc, calcium, magnesium, and potassium).
In addition to hemp honey in jars and sticks, Colorado Hemp Honey produces a line of diverse products, including pet tinctures with propolis, hemp-infused coffee and hemp honey chocolates. All products are triple tested for purity and potency.
Colorado Hemp Honey products are available in leading retail stores and natural food and pet retailers nationwide and online at www.coloradohemphoney.com. For wholesale inquiries, contact Dave Podesta, dave@frangiosafarms.com, 415.310.1659.
About Frangiosa Farms and Colorado Hemp Honey
Frangiosa Farms was founded in 2008 with the goal of creating local artisan neighborhood honey using organic practices. In 2015, Nick and Ali French created Colorado Hemp Honey using raw honey from the farm; full-spectrum, plant-based, non-isolate hemp extract; and organic essential oils. Frangiosa Farms helps save bees and veterans with its community outreach efforts, supports local farmers, and recently began growing industrial hemp. Colorado Hemp Honey has been featured in Food & Wine, Westword, and CNN, among others. Colorado Hemp Honey products are available in natural food and pet retailers nationwide. Visit www.coloradohemphoney.com.
Visit Colorado Hemp Honey Booth N2236 in the North Hall New Products Pavilion at Natural Products Expo West, March 6-8, 2019 at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, CA, and at the 6th Annual NoCo Hemp Expo at the Crowne Plaza DIA Convention Center in Denver, March 29-30, 2019.
Media inquiries: Steve Hoffman, steve@compassnaturalmarketing.com, 303.807.1042
Wholesale inquiries: Dave Podesta, dave@frangiosafarms.com, 415.310.1659
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