Top Mexican Buyers to Meet Healthy Products Companies in Puerto Vallarta, January 23-25, 2015
For Immediate Release:
Contact:
Steve Hoffman, Compass Natural Marketing, 303.807.1042
John Pagliaro, The Mexican Healthy Products Summit, 410.828.4637
Top Mexican Buyers to Meet Healthy Products Companies in Puerto Vallarta, January 23-25, 2015
The 2nd annual invitation-only The Mexican Healthy Products Summit will connect Mexico’s major retailers with North American based healthy products companies that seek or want to expand distribution in the Mexican Market.
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico (July 29, 2014) – The Mexican Healthy Products Summit seeks healthy product companies interested in beginning or expanding distribution in the Mexican retail marketplace. Over 60 buyers representing six sectors of Mexican retailers will attend. These six sectors include Supercenters such as Walmart and Costco;Supermarkets such as HEB Mexico, Chedraui, and Commercial Mexicana; Specialty Health Food Stores including The Green Corner and Origenes Organicos; Pharmaciesincluding Benavides and Guadalajara; Convenience Stores such as Oxxo and Super City; and Department Stores including Liverpool and El Palacio de Hierro.
Building off the first show’s success, exhibitors and buyers will have the opportunity to establish and build relationships in an intimate, fun setting with one-on-one meetings and networking events. Also, expert speakers will present on topics ranging fromReaching the Mexican Consumer, The Latest Healthy Lifestyle Trends and Research, and Best Export Practices.
A New Opportunity in an Evolving Mexican Landscape
Mexico’s burgeoning healthy products market reflects a growing middle class, the government’s campaign to fight obesity through education, new food nutrition laws, and increased access to healthier products. As Mexican consumers begin to change their lifestyle habits, a variety of retailers seek to meet the demand for healthier choices. Following the inaugural 2014 Summit one retailer commented, “We are grateful for the opportunity they gave us to participate in The Summit. Recently, we had a business meeting in Mexico with one of the suppliers we met at the show. I am happy to announce that we will now offer their products in our stores. Next week, we have an appointment with another vendor who we met at The Mexican Healthy Products Summit and I am sure we will come to a deal, as we are very interested in their products.”
John Pagliaro, President of The Mexican Healthy Product Summit, has partnered with Trade Show Consulting, LLC., a seasoned trade show event producer in the US and Mexico. According to Pagliaro, “The Mexican healthy products market is rapidly expanding as consumers become more aware of how they eat and what they place in their bodies affect their overall well-being. Healthy food and personal care products are leading the way and the Mexican retail sector is looking for new products to sell.”
Todd Kluger, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Lundberg Family Farms highlights the value of attending the Summit. "We had a great chance to meet retailers. In the past, we only had distribution going through distributors into Mexico, so we did not have contact with the retailers themselves. We had a real chance to sit down and talk to the retailers and discuss how we build our brand to the consumer and connect with the consumer that wants healthy and organic products."
Exhibitor Information
The Mexican Healthy Products Summit will take place January 23-25, 2015 at the Sheraton Buganvilias Resort and Convention Center in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. For details and to exhibit, contact John Pagliaro at john@healthyproductssummit.com or 410.828.4637 and visit www.healthyproductssummit.com.
About Trade Show Consulting, LLC
For over 22 years Trade Show Consulting has produced consumer and trade shows in the United States and Mexico and specializes in launching new events. The company researches trends, markets and attendee interests to identify potential shows to bring buyer and seller together in a neutral forum. ExpoNext awarded Trade Show Consulting the distinguished honor of producing one of the Top 25 Fastest Growing Shows of 2012, Fabtech Mexico. For more information visit www.tradeshowconsult.com.
Communications by Compass Natural Marketing
info@compassnatural.com 303.807.1042
JJ’s Sweets® Awarded Whole Foods Market® Local Producer Loan
For Immediate Release:
Contact:
Steven Hoffman, Compass Natural Marketing, steve@compassnatural.com, tel 303.807.1042
Saskia Cervantes, JJ's Sweets, saskia@cocomel.com, tel 303.800.6492
JJ’s Sweets® Awarded Whole Foods Market® Local Producer Loan; Proceeds Used to Launch New Chocolate-Covered Cocomels®, Organic Coconut Milk Caramels
Boulder, CO-based JJ’s Sweets®, maker of Cocomels®, was awarded financing via the Local Producer Loan Program by Whole Foods Market® to launch new Chocolate-Covered Cocomels® in a convenient two-pack, now available to all retailers nationwide. Cocomels, the original coconut milk caramels™, are artisan crafted, smooth and creamy caramel confections that are gluten free, dairy free, non-GMO, vegan, kosher and certified organic.
Boulder, CO (July 14, 2014) – After achieving significant growth and national distribution for its artisan-made, dairy free and certified organic Cocomels®, innovative confectioner JJ’s Sweets® was awarded a small business loan by Whole Foods Market® under its Local Producer Loan Program in the Rocky Mountain Region.
The funding was earmarked to create and launch a new product: Chocolate-Covered Cocomels®, in a convenient grab-and-go two-pack size, now available to all natural, organic and specialty food retailers nationwide.
Chocolate-Covered Cocomels are handcrafted, luscious, smooth and creamy coconut milk caramels, enrobed in a silky layer of vegan dark chocolate. The new package size is convenient and perfect for the everyday consumer to indulge in a delicious caramel confection, without any dairy or gluten. Chocolate-Covered Cocomels are available in Sea Salt, Vanilla and Espresso varieties.
“Our new Chocolate-covered Cocomels two-pack is the perfect size and price point for customers on the go. They are presented in space-saving, eye-catching display boxes - ideal for point of purchase displays and merchandising on the shelf,” said Saskia Cervantes, Director of Marketing for JJ’s Sweets.
Loan Program Supports Growth of Artisan Producers
The new Cocomels product was made possible by the support of the Whole Foods Market Local Producer Loan Program in the Rocky Mountain Region. The loan program, established in 2006, is driven by Whole Foods Market’s 11 regions, with support from the company’s central office in Austin, TX. “By playing a role in advancing new ideas, growing businesses and realizing dreams, Whole Foods Market stays connected with both our neighborhood producers and our global food community,” said Betsy Foster, Whole Foods Market Global VP of Growth and Business Development, who helps oversee the local producer loan program.
Speaking to the success of Whole Planet Foundation's micro-credit loans in developing world communities, Whole Foods Co-CEO John Mackey said, “We intend to do a similar thing to support local agriculture wherever we have stores.” Today, the Local Producer Loan Program provides up to $25 million in loans to independent businesses. Since its inception, the program has provided 184 loans to 155 companies.
“We are grateful for the support provided to us by our local Whole Foods Market region,” said JJ Rademaekers, Chief Candyman and Founder of JJ’s Sweets. “The Local Producer Loan Program has allowed us to extend our family of products and bring new Cocomels sizes to all retailers and consumers looking for a delicious treat that is organic, non-GMO, kosher, vegan, gluten-free and dairy free. Our customers will be able to indulge just the right amount with this two-pack size, or if they’re feeling generous, share with a friend!” he said.
About Cocomels® and JJ’s Sweets®
JJ’s Sweets®, maker of Cocomels® – The Original Coconut Milk Caramel™ – is a Boulder, CO-based company that creates innovative, artisan-crafted candy confections using sustainable practices, premium ingredients and old-world inspiration. Award-winning Cocomels are batch-cooked in copper kettles with dairy-free ingredients to create delicious, smooth and creamy caramels, which are vegan, gluten-free, non-GMO, kosher, and USDA certified organic. Inspiration, creativity and love go into each blissfully delicious treat!
Cocomels are available to retailers and consumers nationwide in four delicious flavors: Original, Sea Salt, Vanilla, and Espresso, and come in 3 convenient sizes (Single piece tubs, 3.75 oz. Flagship boxes, and 1.5 oz. pocket packs). Chocolate-Covered Cocomels are available in convenient, 1 oz. two-packs, including Vanilla, Sea Salt and Espresso varieties.
Cocomels can be found throughout the U.S. at leading natural, organic and specialty food stores, including independent co-ops, Whole Foods Market, Fresh and Easy, Earth Fare, The Fresh Market, Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, Sprouts, PCC, New Leaf Market, Erewon, Lassen’s, Mother’s Market, Dean and Deluca, MOMs, and other leading retailers.
Learn more at www.cocomels.com, and on Facebook and Twitter. Contact info@cocomel.com, tel 303.800.6492.
About Whole Foods Market
Founded in 1978 in Austin, TX, Whole Foods Market® (NASDAQ: WFM) is the leading retailer of natural and organic foods, and America’s first national “Certified Organic” grocer. The company has 386 stores in the U.S., Canada and the United Kingdom.
Communications by Compass Natural Marketing
info@compassnatural.com | 303.807.1042
Brand New Daiya
For Immediate Release:
Contact:
Michael Lynch, Daiya Foods, michael@daiyafoods.com, tel 778.383.1471
Steven Hoffman, Compass Natural, steve@compassnatural.com, tel 303.807.1042
Brand New Daiya – Non-Dairy Products Leader Daiya Foods Appoints Healthy Lifestyles, Consumer Products Industry Veteran Terry Tierney as CEO
Natural, organic and consumer packaged goods industry veteran Terry Tierney assumes CEO helm from Daiya Co-founder Greg Blake; new leadership set to propel company to next level of strategic growth.
Vancouver, British Columbia (June 26, 2014) –Daiya Foods, creator of best-selling dairy-free, soy-free and gluten-free cheese alternative products, is pleased to announce the appointment of Terry Tierney as its CEO. Experiencing massive growth in the non-dairy, cheese alternative products market, the addition of Mr. Tierney to the team brings seasoned, professional leadership that will help propel the company to the next level of strategic growth, said company Co-founder Greg Blake.
The recent growth of Daiya Foods – founded in Vancouver in 2008 and based on an innovative, all natural recipe widely acclaimed for its remarkable cheese-like taste, consistency and melting properties – necessitated the addition of a seasoned executive to help realize the company’s aggressive long-term growth plan. Mr. Tierney has served as a director of Daiya since 2011 and has been instrumental at a strategic level in the company’s success to date.
Mr. Tierney’s career in the natural, organic and conventional grocery industry spans 30 years, serving in previous roles as the President and CEO of MyChelle Dermaceuticals, a leading natural skin care company; President and CEO of Allegro Coffee, one of the nation’s premier specialty and organic coffee brands; Chief Marketing Officer of Frontier Natural Brands, a pioneering natural and organic products company with such prominent brands as Simply Organic and Aura Cacia; and Founder, President and CEO of Rocky Mountain Natural Foods. He is, and has been, a board member for numerous natural products companies over the last 20 years. Mr. Tierney began his career in marketing and brand management at Kraft Foods.
“Terry has a long track record of leading companies through various growth stages even while serving as a Director for Daiya. We are thrilled to be in the position to further leverage his vast experience and skills in this new role,” said Daiya Co-Founder Greg Blake.
“It’s an honor and privilege to become a more integral member of the Daiya leadership team. The success that the company has earned to date is a clear testament to the talent, passion and culture that co-founders Greg and Andre (Kroecher) have built from 'Daiya 1.' I look forward to building on that foundation," said Mr. Tierney.
As the dairy-free trend gains momentum and the non-dairy cheese products category continues to experience double-digit growth, Daiya has doubled its manufacturing capacity to meet current and anticipated consumer demand. By expanding its brand portfolio to other products, including Daiya Slices and Cream Cheese Style Spreads, and the newly launched Daiya Pizza – the industry’s first dairy-free, gluten-free and soy-free frozen pizza – Daiya projects that its products will be sold in more than 20,000 stores by year end.
About Daiya Foods
Daiya products are a deliciously dairy-free alternative that melt, taste and stretch just like dairy-based cheese. Daiya is free of many of the common food allergens, including gluten, dairy, casein, lactose, soy (common to many other non-dairy cheese alternatives), egg, wheat, barley, whey, peanuts and tree nuts (excluding coconut oil). Suitable for vegans, Daiya products are free of animal products, cholesterol, trans fats, and preservatives. To learn more, visit www.daiyafoods.com.
For more information, visit the Daiya News Room, like us on Facebook, follow us on Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter.
Communications by Compass Natural Marketing
info@compassnatural.com | 303.807.1042
Vital Farms Partners with Hen Meadows Farm
For Immediate Release:
Contact:
Dan Brooks, Director of Marketing, Vital Farms, dan.brooks@vitalfarms.com, tel 646.468.5902
Steven Hoffman, Compass Natural, steve@compassnatural.com, tel 303.807.1042
Bringing the Pasture to Your Local Grocery: Vital Farms Partners with Hen Meadows Farm to Bring Regionally Produced Pasture-raised Organic Eggs to the Southern California Market
Vital Farms recently affiliated with Hen Meadows Farm, a small-acreage, fourth generation family farm with roots in both San Diego and Ventura Counties, California, to provide regionally produced, pasture-raised USDA certified organic eggs to Whole Foods Markets in the Southern California region. Vital Farms currently works with 49 family farms across the country, and the company will be exhibiting at Natural Products Expo West, the world’s largest natural and organic products trade exposition, March 7-9, 2014. Visit Vital Farms at booth number 5437 in Hall E.
Austin, Texas (February 26, 2014) – Vital Farms, the nation’s leading provider of pasture-raised eggs, has partnered with regional producer and fourth generation family-owned Hen Meadows Farm, with operations in Valley Center and Moorpark, California, to provide Certified Humane®, organic and locally produced eggs to the Southern California grocery market. Vital Farms eggs from Hen Meadows Farm are currently on the shelf in Whole Foods Markets in Southern California.
Pasture-raised organic eggs are gaining in popularity among those who want to ensure their food is ethically produced without the use of synthetic pesticides and genetically engineered or GMO ingredients. Pastured chickens graze outside all year long, and are also provided organic feed that is produced without toxic, synthetic pesticides, hormones, antibiotics or GMOs. These chickens flap their wings, eat bugs, and roll around in the dirt. In short, they act like chickens should.
Vital Farms pasture-raised eggs are now produced on 49 family-owned farms across the US, and, with this new relationship with Hen Meadows, Vital Farms is able to provide locally sourced, pasture-raised Organic eggs directly to the Southern California market.
With roots in San Diego and Ventura Counties, family-owned Hen Meadows Farm has been producing farm-fresh eggs in Southern California since 1941. The company has been producing cage free and organic eggs for more than 20 years, and now pasture-raised eggs in working with Vital Farms.
“We saw an opportunity to support a local business and regional food producer. By working with a small local farm, we are able to reduce the distance from the farm to the table which, in turn, produces a more sustainable, environmentally friendly and fresher product,” said Jason Jones, President and Co-owner of Vital Farms.
About Vital Farms
Vital Farms began on a 27-acre farm in southeast Austin, TX, with the goal of providing the best quality eggs while creating a place where the hens can “flap their wings, stretch their legs, move around, and act like chickens.” Vital Farms works with a network of 49 independent, family-owned farms to produce Certified Humane® pasture-raised eggs for the natural, organic and conventional food markets, and is the largest supplier of pasture-raised eggs in the nation.
For more information, visit www.vitalfarms.com, info@vitalfarms.com, tel 877.455.3063.
Visit Vital Farms at Natural Products Expo West, the world’s largest natural and organic products trade exposition, March 7-9, 2014. Visit Vital Farms at booth number 5437 in Hall E.
For more information, visit the Vital Farms Blog, like us on Facebook, follow us on YouTube and Twitter.
Communications by Compass Natural Marketing
info@compassnatural.com | 303.807.1042
Makeena Mobile App - Shopper's Personal Assistant; Brand's Best Friend
For Immediate Release:
Contact:
Steven Hoffman, Compass Natural, steve@compassnatural.com, tel 303.807.1042
Karen Frame, Makeena, karen.frame@makeena.com, tel 303.204.5446
Introducing the Makeena Location-Aware Mobile and Web App: the Health-Conscious Shopper’s Personal Assistant; the Natural & Organic Brand’s Best Friend
Makeena’s location-aware mobile and web app, publicly launching in Summer 2014, connects healthy lifestyle shoppers with natural and sustainable brands. The company will showcase its app to brand partners in booth #8110 at Natural Products Expo West.
Boulder, CO (February 24, 2014) – Healthy lifestyles shopping app developer Makeena, which connects shoppers with leading natural and sustainable brands, will expand beta testing of its location-aware mobile and web app with shoppers in advance of its Summer 2014 public launch. Also, the company will be demonstrating its app and signing up additional brand partners at Natural Products Expo West, March 7-9, 2014, in Anaheim, CA, at Exhibit Booth #8110.
Makeena is capitalizing on a growing mobile smartphone base and health-conscious consumers hungry for information and value. By 2015, the number of US adult smartphone mobile coupon users is forecast to reach 74.1 million, according to research firm eMarketer. The integration of couponing into social networks, along with an increase in smartphone users, new mobile apps, and location-based deals will be factors fueling the increase.
Launching to the public in Summer 2014, the Makeena app will provide shoppers the ability to add to their mobile smartphones information on healthy and sustainable products, as well as savings for those products. The app provides the following benefits to both shoppers and brands:
Shoppers
The ability to locate the shopper's favorite healthy and sustainable products in any retail location
The ability to collect coupons and track savings on the shopper's mobile device
One location where coupons and savings for natural and organic foods, supplements, personal care, pet food and other natural, organic and eco-friendly items can be found
The ability to compare nutritional information on products, as well as add healthy recipes and shopping lists to the shopper's web portal and mobile device
Brands
The ability to track shopper engagement and view data to understand product popularity
The ability to encourage shoppers to try other items in a brand line
The ability to track shopper trends at retailers and focus marketing dollars accordingly
The ability to reward loyal customers
In December 2013, Makeena was one of only six companies selected throughout the world to participate in the Telluride Venture Accelerator (TVA), which was created to help launch new high-growth businesses and to stimulate the Telluride regional economy. As part of TVA, Makeenareceived a $30,000 investment.
“We’re excited about the opportunity to work with the five other companies selected for the Telluride Venture Accelerator and hope that the first-class mentors and investors who are involved with the program will help us quickly and successfully launch Makeena to the public," said Karen Frame, Makeena CEO and Founder.
“Also, exhibiting at Natural Products Expo West, the world’s largest natural and organic products trade exposition, will allow us to showcase our mobile and web app to trade partners so that they can better understand its innovative usefulness,” said Frame.
Makeena will be exhibiting at Expo West in booth space #8110 where it will demonstrate the app.
For vendors and brands interested in participating in the Makeena app, please visit booth #8110 at Expo West or contact Karen Frame, tel 303.204.5446.
About Makeena
Based in Boulder, CO, Makeena has built a mobile and web app that increases in-store awareness for natural and sustainable brands by providing the shopper with quick product comparisons and nutritional information, loyalty rewards, shopping lists with aisle information, and coupons. Founded in 2013, Makeena is comprised of an experienced team, including Founder and Chief Executive Officer Karen Frame, and entrepreneurial, marketing, and natural food industry veterans Scott Perlman, Bill Capsalis, and Mark Maggio, serving as Chief Financial Officer, Chief Marketing Officer, and Chief Sales Officer, respectively. Recently selected as a company to participate in the Telluride Venture Accelerator, Makeena is set to publicly launch in Summer 2014. For information, visitwww.makeena.com, tel 408.466.4673.
Visit Makeena at booth #8110 at Natural Products Expo West, March 7-9, 2014, at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, CA. Expo West is the world’s largest trade exposition of natural and organic products and services.
For more information, visit the Makeena Press Room, like us on Facebook, follow us on LinkedInand Twitter.
Actor Channing Tatum to Appear with RUNA at Expo West
For Immediate Release:
Contact:
Tyler Gage, RUNA, tyler@runa.org, tel 401.426.9543
Steven Hoffman, Compass Natural, steve@compassnatural.com, tel 303.807.1042
Actor Channing Tatum to Appear at Amazonian Beverage Maker RUNA's Booth at Natural Products Expo West, World's Largest Natural and Organic Products Trade Show
Best known for his starring roles in 21 Jump Street, White House Down and Magic Mike, Actor Channing Tatum will join the RUNA team at Booth #3005 at Natural Products Expo West on Friday, March 6, at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, CA
Brooklyn, New York (February, 24, 2014) – So, how does Hollywood action star Channing Tatum stay energized through a grueling film schedule? By exercising, getting plenty of rest, and drinking RUNA beverages, made with Guayusa (pronounced “gwhy-you-sa”), an Amazonian “super leaf” with a long tradition of use as a natural, healthy energy drink by the indigenous peoples of Ecuadorian Amazon. Speaking about the benefits of Guayusa, Tatum riffed to Jimmy Fallon on the Tonight Show that Guayusa gives him "the energy of the gods."
In fact, Tatum was so taken by the sustained energy he gets from Guayusa and the social mission behind RUNA that he befriended the owners, traveled last year to the Amazon with them, and invested in the company. From its roots as nothing more than a class project at Brown University, RUNA has emerged as one of the fastest-growing organic, ready-to-drink tea brands in the U.S.
Channing Tatum will join RUNA founders Tyler Gage and Dan MacCombie at their exhibit booth, #3005, on Friday, March 6, at Natural Products Expo West. Now in its 34th year,Natural Products Expo West is the world’s largest natural and organic products trade exposition, drawing more than 70,000 trade visitors from over 100 countries.
“We are pumped to host Channing at our booth at Expo West to help spread the word about RUNA and educate people about the benefits of Guayusa," said RUNA co-founder Tyler Gage, who also noted that RUNA’s booth, made from renewable bamboo, will feature a sustainable rainforest design. The company also plans to introduce three new flavors of its ready-to-drink Guayusa beverages at the show.
Guayusa is a native Amazonian super-leaf with as much caffeine as a cup of coffee and double the polyphenols of leading green tea products. However, unlike traditional teas, Guayusa has no tannins, so it tastes surprisingly smooth and naturally sweet. Indigenous peoples in the Ecuadorian Amazon have brewed Guayusa like tea for thousands of years as an essential part of what makes them “RUNA” – fully alive.
“The tradition of Guayusa and why the indigenous tribes drink it is very intriguing,” saidTatum. “Being down in the Amazon and getting to spend time with the Kichwa and Sapara people, and really trying to understand how and why they use Guayusa and some of their other medicinal plants has given me a much greater understanding of how people can relate to nature on a deeper level.”
With a mission to improve the livelihoods of indigenous farmers in the Amazon, RUNA’s founders believe that consumers everywhere can benefit from the bounty of the rainforest without destroying it, starting with the people who live there. RUNA works directly with more than 3,000 indigenous farming families who are proud to see guayusa shared around the world. These families are RUNA’s partners in a Fair Trade relationship, and by organically growing guayusa in traditional forest gardens they help protect the rainforest.
About RUNA
RUNA is a Brooklyn-based social enterprise founded in 2009 by college classmates Tyler Gage and Dan MacCombie that makes beverages brewed with the Guayusa “super leaf” and improves the livelihoods of Amazonian farming families through its supply chain. RUNA’s products are sold in more than 6,000 stores across the country, and are an effective alternative to the legions of artificial beverages and energy drinks on the market. The journey continues at www.RUNA.org.
About RUNA Foundation 501c3
RUNA Foundation works with Amazonian communities to improve livelihoods and protect the Amazon rainforest. While a million acres of rainforest are destroyed every year to meet the global demand for precious hardwoods, sugar, cattle, and agricultural commodities, this exploitation does not benefit the farming families whose land and culture is being destroyed. RUNA Foundation provides sustainable land management training, community development support and business development services to indigenous communities so that they can work toward their vision of sustainable development in the Amazon. The mission continues at www.runafoundation.org.
To receive more news and updates from RUNA,
sign up for our newsletter here.
Copyright © 2015 RUNA LLC. All rights reserved.
Communications by Compass Natural Marketing
info@compassnatural.com | tel 303.807.1042
Forging the Way: Functional Formularies® Liquid Hope™
For Immediate Release:
Contact:
Robin Gentry McGee, Functional Formularies, robin@functionalformularies.com, 937.271.0381
Steve Hoffman, Compass Natural LLC, steve@compassnatural.com, 303.807.1042
Forging the Way: Functional Formularies® Liquid Hope™ Innovative Organic Whole Foods Meal Replacement Wins NEXTY 2014 People’s Choice Award
Award-winning Liquid Hope by Functional Formularies, the world’s first organic, non-GMO shelf stable whole foods meal replacement and feeding tube formula, is poised for growth in the natural products retail and health care institutional channels.
Wilmington, OH (October 17, 2013) – The combination of revolutionary product and the power of social media placed Liquid Hope—the first organic, non-GMO, shelf stable whole foods meal replacement designed for enteral (feeding tube) delivery produced by Ohio-based Functional Formularies—among a select group of 61 nominees for the 2014 NEXTY Awards.
The winners were announced in time to be showcased at Natural Products Expo East this past September. Liquid Hope won the People’s Choice Award in the Natural, Organic and Functional Foods and Beverages Category.
The NEXTY Awards, powered by Boulder-based New Hope Natural Media in conjunction with the Sterling Rice Group, recognizes companies in the natural products space for their ingenuity and innovation in a given category.
While meal replacements and supplements are a fiercely competitive and growing category—U.S. consumer sales of supplements grew 7.5% to $32.5 billion in 2012—the organic whole foods meal replacement feeding tube category was virtually nonexistent until Liquid Hope came to market. The leading conventional feeding tube formula brands are Nestle and Abbott Nutrition.
Robin Gentry McGee is the Founder and CEO of Functional Formularies, the company behind Liquid Hope. The whole foods meal replacement is the first of a line of products developed by McGee in 2006 in an attempt to help her elderly father recover from a traumatic brain injury. McGee realized the hospital feeding tube formula was comprised mainly of ingredients including corn syrup, soy and sugar that may have been genetically engineered, artificial flavors and other chemicals—“no real food to be found,” she says, and thus began her quest to use food as medicine to help her father.
Food as Medicine
As a seasoned chef, certified health coach and entrepreneur, McGee knows Functional Formularies is an opportunity to “delve into the deeper healing properties of food and share with those in need of alternative forms of nutrition due to illness or digestive issues, or simply a desire to consume nutritious whole foods on a regular basis.”
With an extensive ingredient list of pureed gluten-free, vegan, organic whole foods including green peas, carrots, sprouted quinoa, miso, almond butter, turmeric, rosemary and a proprietary vitamin blend, the meal replacement was originally intended for feeding tube delivery however it’s palatable savory flavor works well for anyone seeking increased daily nutrition through oral consumption.
Currently consumers of Liquid Hope range from children as young as 18 months to the elderly suffering from such illnesses as cancer and Eosinophilic Esophagitis, extreme inflammation of the esophagus.
“Many of my cancer and ALS patients have asked me for a whole foods approach to nutritional support and I have not had anything to give them until now. Liquid Hope is a perfect answer to this problem. It is … made to help improve the health of patients, not add to their illness. I would love to have all my patients on it,” said Lynn Goldstein, MS RD CDN, Clinical Nutrition Supervisor for Beth Israel Comprehensive Cancer Center.
With positive response from health care professionals, McGee would like to see the company launch into the larger health care institutional channel, crossover pharmacies, and the natural products retail marketplace. Retail outlets that emphasize education for the consumer are ideal, says McGee. Liquid Hope, available in 12 oz. shelf-stable pouches, is currently sold at Dorothy Lane Markets, select independent natural products stores and online atwww.functionalformularies.com.
Meet Functional Formularies at the Food and Nutrition Conference & Expo
Functional Formularies will exhibit at the Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo October 19-22 in Houston, TX. For more information visit www.eatright.org/FNCE.
For more information about Functional Formularies or to inquire about selling Liquid Hope in your store or health care practice, please email Functional Formularies or call 937.271.0381.
About Functional Formularies
Founded in 2008 by chef, certified health coach and entrepreneur Robin Gentry McGee, Functional Formularies produces organic whole foods meal replacement products, including Liquid Hope, designed for enteral feeding and oral consumption. The company is founded on the principles of “food as medicine” and is an alternative for patients suffering from a wide range of illness as well as those seeking increased daily nutrition through whole foods. For more information visit www.functionalformularies.com.
Communications by Compass Natural Marketing
info@compassnatural.com 303.807.1042
MetaBrand Makes Trade Show Debut at Natural Products Expo West
MetaBrand - the leading "concept-to-market" turnkey solutions provider for emerging natural and organic beverage and supplements brand at Expo West
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Steven Hoffman, Compass Natural, tel 303.807.1042, steve@compassnatural.com
Eric Schnell, MetaBrand, tel 888.611.5573, info@metabrandcorp.com
MetaBrand Makes Trade Show Debut at Natural Products Expo West
Visit MetaBrand - the leading "concept-to-market" turnkey solutions provider for emerging natural and organic beverage and supplements brands - at Booth #7213 in the "Next" New Products Pavilion at Natural Products Expo West, the world's largest natural and organic products trade exhibition, March 8-10.
March 7, 2013 – Edison, NJ – Turnkey beverage and supplement companyMetaBrand is off to a fast start. Founded in 2012, the "concept-to-market" solutions provider has contributed to the growth of more than a dozen natural product brands in various capacities.
Company representatives, including Founder and CEO Eric Schnell, will be on hand at Natural Products Expo West - the world's largest natural and organic products trade exhibition - to showcase MetaBrand’s capabilities and meet with prospective clients.
Much of the early success for MetaBrand can be attributed to its ability to address the specific needs of each unique client. Unlike more rigidly structured organizations, MetaBrand is able to leverage the broad, multi-disciplinary expertise of a team of 35 industry-veteran advisors. Because of this unique model, MetaBrand can provide unmatched workscope and pricing flexibility to its growing client roster.
This flexibility is demonstrated in two distinct projects that MetaBrand is currently working on; Runa Tea and FitPro Real Milk Protein. The former, a brand of organic ready-to-drink (RTD) Guayusa teas, utilizes MetaBrand’s formulation, extraction, and packaging technologies. The latter, a brand of all-natural RTD protein shakes, leans on MetaBrand for branding, marketing, and sales/distribution strategy. Both rely on the broad capabilities of MetaBrand, only in very distinct ways.
Also paramount to MetaBrand’s success is the recent addition of three key personnel; General Manager Janis Grover, Technical Director Kathryn Deibler, Ph.D, and Director of Operations Michael Fougere. Together, the trio brings more than 60 years of collective industry experience in the areas of brand management, food science, flavor research, manufacturing, and distribution.
“MetaBrand has been a success for two main reasons,” says Schnell. “First, we have assembled an unbelievably talented group of industry advisors. Second, our structure allows for à la carte services based upon client needs. No other company that I am aware of offers such a dynamic combination.”
MetaBrand will make its national trade show debut at Natural Products Expo West at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California, March 8-10, 2013. Interested attendees should visit Booth #7213. For more information on MetaBrand, please visitwww.metabrandcorp.com.=
About Metabrand
Created by natural products industry veteran and Steaz Teas Co-founder Eric Schnell, MetaBrand, based in Edison, NJ, offers turnkey “R&D to retail” services to start-up and early-stage natural and organic beverage and supplement brands, including product formulation and development, manufacturing, distribution, and sales, marketing and promotional strategies. With a team of 35 advisors and long-standing industry relationships, MetaBrand helps companies quickly and efficiently develop winning formulations for natural product concepts that are on-trend and efficacious, regulation compliant, and scalable. For more information on MetaBrand, visitwww.metabrandcorp.com, info@metabrandcorp.com, tel 888.611.5573.
The IFOAM Organic Leadership Course North America 2013
A World of Organic Leadership Learning
The IFOAM Organic Leadership Course - North America 2013
A Professional-level, Online and In-Person Leadership Learning Intensive Into the World of Organic Food, Agriculture, Production and Trade
Presented by IFOAM, the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements
Training the Next Generation of Organic Industry Leadership
Register Now and Join Us for the First Residential Module in Lutz, Florida March 20-29, 2013
Led by international and regional experts, the IFOAM Organic Leadership Course - North America 2013 provides intensive training for executives, managers, entrepreneurs, producers and others to gain deeper knowledge and understanding of the North American and world markets for organic food and agriculture.
Through a series of 10 webinars and two in-person residential modules, the curriculum will focus on:
Understanding the Organic World
You will gain an in-depth understanding of the fundamentals of the organic sector and the channels of distribution and the ability to apply this knowledge in your work and advocacy.
Institutional Management
Learn effective leadership and modern management skills that are consistent with the ethics of the organic sector. Develop skills for organizational development, project management and the ability to forge strategic alliances for cross-sector collaboration.
Networking & Communications
Gain knowledge and skills to communicate effectively within your organization and sector. Identify organic industry leaders and hone industry networking skills.
Organic Value Chain
You will gain the necessary understanding of the organic value chain in theoretical and practical terms.
Certification & Regulation
Increase your knowledge and gain a deeper understanding of organic regulations, standards, certification and production in the U.S., North American and world markets.
Organic Services & Development
Understanding the support system that underpins the value chain will enable you to work with and strengthen the organic sector and achieve long-term sustainability.
Organic Leadership Skills
Build your advocacy skills for organic food and agriculture, and hone skills and attitudes to take a leadership role in the organic industry.
"Leadership and learning are indispensible to each other." - John F. Kennedy
We're Looking for a Few Good Organic Leaders
Our planet needs people with the right skills and attitudes to make the shift we need toward a more sustainable future.
The IFOAM Organic Leadership Course aims to do just that. If you want to take yourself or your staff to the next level, then enroll in this exciting program!
The IFOAM Organic Leadership Course, North America 2013 includes:
- Two Residential Modules in Tampa, FL, March 20-29, and Baltimore, MD, Sept. 19-25.
- Ten online webinars between March and September 2013.
- Course fee of US $4,500 covers tuition and all training materials, plus food & lodging during the residential training. (Travel costs not included.)
Click here for more info
Download brochure here
To Apply, contactacademy@ifoam.org
Deadline to apply: Jan. 1, 2013
© 2012 International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM). All rights reserved. IFOAM, Charles de Gaulle Strasse 5, 53113, Bonn, Germany, tel +49 228 926 5099, www.ifoam.org. Communications on behalf of IFOAM by Compass Natural LLC, Boulder, CO USA.