Steve Hoffman 5/9/22 Steve Hoffman 5/9/22

Rediscovered Ingredients that Built an Empire

By AWA Nutrition

Scientists are still baffled by how Incan builders hoisted 100-ton stones to create massive, earthquake-proof structures that fit together so precisely a piece of paper can’t be inserted between the monumental building blocks. They do know, however, what fueled those builders: superfoods.

AWÁ Nutrition uses some of the same Andean superfoods to power their protein blends. Though protein product connoisseurs may be unfamiliar with some of the ingredients that make AWÁ Nutrition’s blends so powerful and delicious—they are certainly not new. These potent botanicals have been around for millennia. Mostly vegan, Incans needed power to energize their extraordinary accomplishments, from a 25,000-mile road system to brain surgery. The plants they cultivated held honored positions in Incan society for thousands of years—until they were deliberately replaced by European species—and faded into relative obscurity. Recently, manufacturers like AWÁ Nutrition have been tapping into these deep agricultural—and cultural—roots to bring the nutritional bounty of the “lost crops of the Incas” to today’s consumers.

“The superfood ingredients AWÁ Nutrition sources from small-scale producers in the Andes have been powering people for over 5,000 years,” said AWÁ Nutrition Founder and CEO Felipe Guevara. “Foods such as Andean Lupine which has the highest amount of protein of any legume and quinoa have long provided highly digestible, plant-based protein sources for humans. Combined with the benefits of super fruits grown in Ecuador and the Andes region, our products match ancestral tradition with today’s consumer desire for authentic, plant-based nutrition, fitness and a balanced diet,” he said.

Sourcing ingredients from local Ecuadorian farmers makes a positive impact on fair trade communities. AWÁ Nutrition processes and manufactures their fruits and proteins in-house through a proprietary process at its NSF-certified Good Manufacturer Practice (GMP) facility.

All AWÁ Nutrition products feature the flavors and antioxidant and micronutrient power of Andean superfoods. Most may be familiar, like passion fruit and cacao. But have you ever experienced the Andean flavor explosion of a juicy mouthful of golden berry? Think of them as nature’s Sour Patch Kids—with health benefits. They’re star players in the Andean Berries flavor of AWÁ Nutrition’s High Performance Series.

Tart, tangy golden berries have a sweet start and end with a delicate sour note, a unique berry citric flavor that tastes like a mix of pineapple, strawberry and sour cherries.

When dried, they have a texture similar to dried figs with a complex sweet-tart. Members of the nightshade family, they are closely related to the tomatillo and look like miniature yellow tomatoes—housed in paper-thin “lantern” wrappers. Golden berries have many names: uvilla (“tiny grape” in Spanish), ground cherry, Cape gooseberry and uchuva. In French, they’re called amour en cage, “love in a cage,” because of their nifty wrapper.

Though small in size, golden berries deliver extraordinary health benefits. Incans prized them as healing foods. In traditional Andean healing, they’ve been used for lung, urinary and digestive health. Recent research suggests they have potent anti-inflammatory properties. Packed with immunity-boosting vitamins A and C, golden berries deliver a potent dose of antioxidants, including polyphenols and carotenoids, which help fight the free radicals that damage cells and may lead to diseases like cancer.

One of this superfruit’s most unique qualities is its withanolide content. Withanolide is a naturally-occurring adaptogen (and the active ingredient in ashwagandha).

These compounds help your body adapt to stress by improving the health of your adrenal system. This, in turn, can reduce feelings of anxiety and irritability. A whopping 25% of each golden berry seed is pure protein— extremely high compared to other seeds and nuts. Almonds are 13% protein and walnuts are only 8%. The whole fruit contains 16% protein—compared with 0% in other berries like cranberries and blueberries—helping ward off hunger. Plus, golden berries contain five grams of dietary fiber per serving, supporting digestive health.

Unique superfood ingredients like golden berry set AWÁ Nutrition protein products apart from the crowd in terms of both flavor and health benefits. There are no other products made from Andean superfoods supplemented with Andean and Amazonian fruit concentrates, which deliver the micronutrients required for a balanced diet. The plant-based smoothie-mixes come in two lines for personalized nutrition. The Lifestyle Active series is formulated for the everyday, healthy lifestyle consumer and is available in six Andean flavor mixes. The High Performance series of mixes are ideal for more serious athletes and are available in four Andean flavor mixes. All AWÁ Nutrition products are dairy free, soy free, gluten free and GMO free.

About AWÁ Nutrition
Based in Ecuador and with offices in Santa Monica, CA, the mission of AWÁ Nutrition is to promote an active lifestyle and encourage mindfulness of nutrition through unique and natural Andean plant-based nutritional products. We source from local, small-scale producers and cater to consumers who consciously seek out quality products with greater purpose. A direct percentage of sales of AWÁ Nutrition products go toward supporting social responsibility and nutrition and sports programs for disadvantaged communities in Ecuador.

For more information, visit our home page at www.awanutrition.com, visit AWÁ Nutrition on Walmart.com, or visit the AWÁ Nutrition store on Amazon.com. Also, visit AWÁ Nutrition on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

Contact
For retail, wholesale and distribution inquiries:
Felipe Guevara, CEO, AWÁ Nutrition, fguevara@awanutrition.com

For media inquiries:
Evan Tompros, Compass Natural, evan@compassnaturalmarketing.com

Steve Hoffman 4/4/22 Steve Hoffman 4/4/22

Packing a Plant-based Protein Punch: Walmart.com Is the Latest Major Retailer to Feature AWÁ Nutrition’s Smoothie Mixes Made with Nutrient-dense Superfoods from the Andes

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Packing a Plant-based Protein Punch: Walmart.com Is the Latest Major Retailer to Feature AWÁ Nutrition’s Smoothie Mixes Made with Nutrient-dense Superfoods from the Andes

Superfood Nutritional Products Maker AWÁ Nutrition Expands Its Online Retail Presence in the U.S. with Products Now Available on Walmart.com, Amazon.com and the Company’s Own eCommerce Site, AwaNutrition.com

SANTA MONICA, CA (April 4, 2022) — AWÁ Nutrition, maker of plant-based smoothie mixes and nutritional supplements featuring ancestral superfoods sourced from the highlands of the Andes Mountains in South America, is pleased to announce that its products are now available on Walmart.com, the ecommerce website of the world’s largest retailer.

Walmart.com joins the world’s number two retailer, Amazon.com, and the company’s own ecommerce site, AWANutrition.com, in offering AWÁ Nutrition’s unique line of nutrient-dense smoothie blends to health conscious consumers who demand quality, efficacy, and products free of many common food allergens.

Founded by the Walton family in 1962 in Rogers, AR, Walmart Inc. (NYSE: WMT) currently operates more than 10,500 retail stores, including nearly 5,000 locations in the U.S., 600 Sam's Club stores and more than 5,000 international locations. In addition, Walmart operates 364 distribution facilities throughout the world. Walmart.com was established in 2000. In 2005, the company made a major commitment to environmental sustainability, including initiatives in zero waste, renewable energy and “focusing on products that sustain people and the environment.”

Andean Lupine, Quinoa and Pea Provide Complete, Plant-based Protein
AWÁ Nutrition’s soy-free, gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan and non-GMO plant-based smoothie mixes combine ancient wisdom and modern nutrition in uniquely formulated blends – with no added sugar – that meet rising demand for plant-based protein, nutrient-dense superfoods, ancient ingredients and convenient solutions for meals, snacks, post-workout recovery and energy boost in all natural, tasty tropical flavors from Ecuador.

Protein-packed, ancient Andean superfoods including the protein-rich Andean lupine (also known as chocho, tarwi and pearl lupin), quinoa and peas in a proprietary blend provide a complete amino acid profile to AWÁ Nutrition’s smoothie mixes. The superfoods are mixed with concentrates of tropical super fruits including naranjilla, golden berry, Wild Andean blueberry, passion fruit, bananas, cacao and coconut to create delicious products high in antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and micro-nutrients.

“The ingredients AWÁ Nutrition sources from small-scale producers in the Andes have been powering people for thousands of years,” said AWÁ Nutrition Founder and CEO Felipe Guevara. “Foods such as the Andean Lupine, which has the highest amount of protein of any legume, and quinoa have long provided high quality and highly digestible, plant-based protein sources for people,” he said. “We specially developed our smoothie blends to appeal to and serve the nutritional needs of everyday active lifestyles, as well as those of elite athletes striving for peak performance,” Guevara added.

Lifestyle Active and High Performance Products for All Fitness and Energy Needs
Ideal for meal replacement, breakfast, snack, post-workout recovery or any time consumers need an energy boost, AWÁ Nutrition supplements are available in two lines, all with healthy non-inflammatory and non-allergenic protein, carbs, fats (omega 3, 6 and 9) and antioxidants, and with no artificial flavors or ingredients.

Lifestyle Active Series: For the Everyday, Healthy Lifestyle Consumer
Available in 6 Andean flavor mixes: Naranjilla (citrusy lemon-pineapple flavor), Andean Blackberry, Andean Wild Blueberry, Coconut, Cocoa and Passionfruit; 11g of plant protein from non-inflammatory sources, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants; made with real fruit concentrates

High Performance Series: For More Serious Athletes
Available in 4 Andean flavor mixes: Andean Berries, Tropical Splash, Ancestral Power and Jungle Shake; 21g of plant protein from non-inflammatory sources; 3 billion CFU probiotics; vitamins, minerals, antioxidants; made with real fruit concentrates; KETO friendly

Contact
For retail, wholesale and distribution inquiries:
Felipe Guevara, CEO, AWÁ Nutrition, fguevara@awanutrition.com

For media inquiries:
Evan Tompros, Compass Natural, evan@compassnaturalmarketing.com

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Steve Hoffman 3/21/22 Steve Hoffman 3/21/22

Peak Performance: Superfoods from the Andes Mountains Power Everyday Active Lifestyles and Elite Sports Nutrition with Plant-based Protein Supplements, Now Available on Amazon from AWÁ Nutrition

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Peak Performance: Superfoods from the Andes Mountains Power Everyday Active Lifestyles and Elite Sports Nutrition with Plant-based Protein Supplements, Now Available on Amazon from AWÁ Nutrition

SANTA MONICA, CA (March 21, 2022) — AWÁ Nutrition plant-based smoothie mixes and nutritional supplements featuring ancestral superfoods sourced from the highlands of the Andes Mountains in South America are now available on Amazon.com. Until now, the sustainably sourced products were only available direct-to-consumer on the company’s website, www.awanutrition.com.

AWÁ Nutrition’s soy-free, gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan and non-GMO plant-based smoothie mixes combine ancient wisdom and modern nutrition in uniquely formulated blends – with no added sugar – that meet rising consumer demand for plant-based protein, nutrient-dense superfoods, ancient ingredients and convenient solutions for meals, snacks, post-workout recovery and energy boost in all natural, tasty tropical flavors from Ecuador.

Protein-packed, ancient Andean superfoods including the protein-rich Andean lupine, quinoa and peas in a proprietary blend provide a complete amino acid profile to AWÁ Nutrition’s smoothie mixes and shot packs. The superfoods are mixed with concentrates of tropical super fruits, like naranjilla, golden berry, Wild Andean blueberry, passion fruit, bananas, cacao and coconut, to create delicious products high in antioxidants, minerals and essential micro-nutrients.

Ancient Wisdom Powers Today’s Superfoods
“Ancient Wisdom” is one of the key macro forces driving 2022 food trends in the U.S., according to New Hope Network’s NEXT Data & Insights. “As consumers retreat from the common food system’s over-processed, less-than-satisfying products, innovators look to Ancient Wisdom for guidance…resurrecting the wisdom of ancient cultures.”

“The superfood ingredients AWÁ Nutrition sources from small-scale producers in the Andes have been powering people for over 5,000 years,” said AWÁ Nutrition Founder and CEO Felipe Guevara. “Foods such as the Andean Lupine (also known as chocho, tarwi and pearl lupin), which has the highest amount of protein of any legume, and quinoa have long provided highly digestible, plant-based protein sources for people. Combined with the benefits of super fruits grown in Ecuador and the Andes region, our products match ancestral tradition with today’s consumer’s desire for authentic, plant-based nutrition, fitness and a balanced diet,” he said.

“Further, we specially developed our smoothie blends to appeal to and serve the nutritional needs of everyday active lifestyles, as well as those of elite athletes striving for peak performance,” Guevara added.

Lifestyle Active and High Performance Products for All Fitness and Energy Needs
Ideal for meal replacement, breakfast, snack, post-workout recovery or any time consumers need an energy boost, AWÁ Nutrition supplements are available in two lines, all with healthy protein, carbs, fats (omega 3, 6 and 9) and antioxidants—and no artificial flavors or ingredients.

Lifestyle Active Series: For the everyday, healthy lifestyle consumer
- Available in 6 Andean flavor mixes: Naranjilla (citrusy lemon-pineapple flavor), Andean Blackberry, Andean Wild Blueberry, Coconut, Cocoa and Passionfruit.
- 11 g of plant protein from non-inflammatory sources
- Vitamins, minerals, antioxidants
- Made with real fruit concentrates
- No added sugars
- Soy, gluten, dairy and GMO free
High Performance Series: For more serious athletes
- Available in 4 Andean flavor mixes: Andean Berries, Tropical Splash, Ancestral Power and Jungle Shake
- 21 g of plant protein from non-inflammatory sources
- 3 billion CFU probiotics
- Vitamins, minerals, antioxidants
- Made with real fruit concentrates
- KETO friendly

AWÁ Nutrition smoothie mixes are NSF-GMP ANSI 455-2 Dietary Supplements certified, vegan, dairy free, soy free, gluten free and GMO free. A percentage of sales go directly to nutrition and sports projects that help disadvantaged families in rural Ecuador.

For more information, visit www.awanutrition.com or visit AWÁ Nutrition’s home page on Amazon.com. Also, visit AWÁ Nutrition on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

Contact
For retail, wholesale and distribution inquiries: Felipe Guevara, CEO, AWÁ Nutrition, fguevara@awanutrition.com
For media inquiries: Evan Tompros, Compass Natural, evan@compasnaturalmarketing.com

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Steve Hoffman 3/3/22 Steve Hoffman 3/3/22

CHi Foods, a 2022 NEXTY Award Finalist, Launches the World’s First Certified Organic and Regenerative, Plant-based Pork Products at Natural Products Expo West

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CHi Foods, a 2022 NEXTY Award Finalist, Launches the World’s First Certified Organic and Regenerative, Plant-based Pork Products at Natural Products Expo West

Made from nutrient-dense Sacha Inchi nuts, NEXTY judges said it could become the “other, other white meat!” Visit CHi Foods at Natural Products Expo West, Hot Products Hall, Booth #N1643.

SANTA BARBARA, CA (March 3, 2022) — CHi Foods, a new brand of organic plant-based proteins, will debut its products at the upcoming Natural Products Expo West, the world’s leading natural and organic products trade show, held March 8 – 12, 2022 in Anaheim, CA. The brand will launch four SKUs, including Original, Italian Herb, Chirizo and Maple Breakfast.

Launched earlier this year, CHi Foods company founders state their new CHi Organic Plant-Based Ground Pork is the world’s first line of Certified Organic plant-based pork. The company’s product was selected as a finalist for the 2022 Natural Products Expo West NEXTY Award for ‘Best New Product Supporting A Plant-Based Lifestyle’. The NEXTY awards recognize the most progressive, impactful and trustworthy products in the natural products industry.

CHi Foods is backed by an impressive slate of CPG industry veterans including Ahmed Rahim (Numi Tea), David Bronner (Dr. Bronner’s) and David Karr and Don Miguel (Guayaki). The company has additional funding from Conservation International and Amazonia Impact Ventures.

CHi meat is made from highly nutritious sacha inchi nuts, also known as CHi nuts. Grown in the tropics, sacha inchi nuts contain eight times the omega-3 content as salmon, and four times as much protein as macadamia nuts and zero net carbohydrates. The product, which tastes delicious and has the look, taste and texture of pork, took nearly a decade of research and development to create, say its founders.

Product Attributes:

USDA Certified Organic
Soy & Gluten Free
Top 9 Allergen Free
Keto & Paleo
Powered by regenerative proteins - CHi Nuts & Protein

Ethically Sourced, Certified Organic and Committed to Regenerative Agriculture
CHi Foods offers a line of plant-based meat products made from ethically sourced organic and regenerative ingredients from BIPOC farmers around the world. Co-founders Philip Matthew and Tucker Garrison created the company to bring integrity to plant-based meat and restore trust with consumers in the category. CHi Foods is an LGBTQ Certified diverse owned business.

Garrison, CHi Foods’ CEO/CFO, is an avid regenerative agriculture practitioner (and surfer), who has managed a 40-acre organic avocado ranch and has lived among indigenous communities in Bali, Guatemala and Peru. Philip Matthew, the brand’s CMO, is a technology integrations and marketing design expert, as well as a devoted cyclist.

A decade ago, the pair launched Imlak’esh Organics, a company and national brand that curates plant-based, keto, paleo and immunity-boosting functional snacks through ethical supply chains that benefit diverse small farmers around the world. Leading natural products distributor KeHE Foods recently selected Imlak’esh Organics to participate in the KeHE CAREtrade Program that recognizes and promotes mission-based brands that “advance a higher purpose, giving back to communities worldwide and working to truly make the world a better place.”

Like Imlak’esh products, CHi Foods products are USDA Certified Organic and made with ingredients grown with regenerative agriculture practices. All CHi Foods products are soy and gluten free, free of the top nine allergens, non-GMO, and keto and paleo. The company supports indigenous communities and working with a diverse supply chain, including BIPOC farmers in Thailand, Ecuador and Peru.

Lauded as the “Other, Other White Meat”
CHi Foods is debuting Four SKUS at Natural Products Expo West 2022, including:

Original - Lightly Seasoned
Chirizo
Italian Herb
Maple Breakfast

“Finally, a product that makes us want to see how the sausage is made,” wrote the NEXTY judges. “This food disruptor proves that technology can work in tandem with organic, regenerative supply chains… We see real potential for this product to become the other, other white meat,” they said in recognizing the most progressive, impactful and trustworthy products in the natural products industry.

Natural products industry experts highlighted CHimeat Organic Plant-Based Ground Pork as a hot product to watch during a recent webinar “Navigating Expo: The Hottest Trends and Products.” Plant-based foods, organic, diverse-owned companies and climate-friendly are among the trends SPINS and New Hope Network identified as driving growth in the natural products industry. CHi Foods products check all of these boxes.

Visit CHi Foods at Natural Products Expo West, Hot Products Hall, Booth #N1643.

For wholesale inquiries and to schedule a meeting at Natural Products Expo West, contact Tucker Garrison, CEO and Co-founder, CHi Foods, tucker@chifoods.us, 805.244.1750

About CHi Foods
We are CHi Foods, a revolutionary crew on a journey to transform plant-based meat from soil to shelf. As modern-day “Plant Hunters,” we journey to the rainforest to bring you nutritious, ethically sourced, whole food ingredients. We craft delicious, Certified Organic plant-based meats with bold heritage flavors to delight you and your community! Learn more at www.chifoods.us/

Media Contact
Evan Tompros, Compass Natural, evan@compasnaturalmarketing.com

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Steve Hoffman 2/3/20 Steve Hoffman 2/3/20

Plant-based Foods Are Hot, Getting Hotter

Originally Appeared in Presence Marketing News, February 2020
By Steven Hoffman

The growth of plant-based foods will continue to skyrocket into the new decade, resulting in a continued decline in traditional meat and dairy products, reports Forbes Magazine. The article cites SPINS data commissioned by The Good Food Institute showing that retail sales of plant-based foods in the U.S. increased 31% over the two-year period ending July 2019 to reach nearly $4.5 billion. According to Forbes, plant-based milk is driving the category with total dollar sales of $1.86 billion in April 2019; plant-based meat alternatives totaled $801 million, followed by ready to drink beverages at $103 million. According to Forbes, investment bank UBS predicts that U.S. sales of plant-based protein and meat alternatives will grow from $4.6 billion in 2018 to $85 billion in 2030, and sales of plant-based dairy alternatives could reach $27.5 billion by 2025. Forbes noted that U.S. chocolate company Hershey recently launched two plant-based jerky varieties under the Krave brand, a meat snacks company it acquired for $200 million in 2015.

Steve Hoffman 9/27/19 Steve Hoffman 9/27/19

Plant-based Meat Market to Reach $2.5 Billion by 2023, But Whole Foods’ Mackey Says Today’s Most Popular Brands Are “Super, Highly Processed Foods”

Originally Appeared in Presence Marketing News, September 2019
By Steven Hoffman

The plant-based meat market is expected to reach $2.5 billion in sales by 2023, and while Whole Foods Market CEO John Mackey does believe that plant-based products are a more ethical choice and are better for the environment than conventionally produced meat, he questions the highly processed nature of some of these products. “The [brands] who are capturing the imagination of people – and I’m not going to name these brands because I’m afraid I will be associated with the critique of it – but some of these that are extremely popular now that are taking the world by storm, if you look at the ingredients, they are super, highly processed foods,” Mackey told CNBC Make It. “I don’t think eating highly processed foods is healthy. I think people thrive on eating whole foods,” said Mackey, who has been a vegan for more than 20 years. “As for health, I will not endorse that, and that is about as big of criticism that I will do in public. So the reason why these plant-based meats have taken the world by storm is that they taste very similar to regular meats, whereas if you get a [healthy] black bean burger with flax seeds and sweet potatoes in it, that’s going to taste great to me,” he said. Mackey added: “A lot of people say ... that [plant-based] meat is a transition food, meaning it’s a way for [people] to begin to reeducate [their] palates”; it’s a good first step in weaning people off of meat products,” he said.

Rediscovered Ingredients that Built an Empire