AWÁ Nutrition CEO Felipe Guevara: Bringing the Superfoods and Exotic Fruits of Ecuador to the World
As an expert food technologist, accomplished entrepreneur, and extreme sports enthusiast, Felipe Guevara continues his journey to the forefront of food innovation in his home country of Ecuador and throughout the world. In his most recent and prominent business venture, Guevara is taking his company AWÁ Nutrition internationally, developing, manufacturing and commercializing nutritional supplements made with ancestral Andean superfoods for everyday health conscious individuals, as well as dedicated athletes.
Following significant success in his home country of Ecuador, Guevara wasted no time in taking the brand to the global marketplace. When some would consider celebrating their success in developing a major national brand, AWÁ Nutrition’s CEO continues to expand the company into new markets, and has most recently entered into the United States.
Felipe Guevara, Founder and CEO, AWÁ Nutrition
A Lifetime of Multinational Experience
Born and raised in Ecuador, Guevara developed a vast knowledge of the country’s unique crops, agriculture, fruits and flavors at a young age. Pairing this uncommon expertise with his passions for personal fitness and adventure, Felipe would embark on a 20-year, and ongoing, journey through the food/ beverage and nutritional supplement industries. This would ultimately set the foundation for his success in founding AWÁ Nutrition, quickly becoming a global player in the protein supplements category.
At just 18 years old, Guevara dedicated himself to learning everything he could about Ecuador's agroindustrial environment. Throughout 2003 and 2006, during his studies and R&D work in Europe, he started developing the first quinoa protein concentrates, a significant and disruptive breakthrough concept at the time. After achieving a Masters Degree in Food Technology in Wageningen University in the Netherlands and having worked for major European multinational players in the protein and human nutrition industry like Friesland Campina and Arla Foods Ingredients, he then founded his first company in 2011, Alimlogia Food Consulting, where he developed the first ready to drink horchata beverage, leading a successful launch to bring the unique herbal elixir drink to consumers in Ecuador.
This food and beverage innovation experience would guide him to seamlessly incorporate AWÁ Nutrition’s unique, plant-based superfood ingredient Andean lupin into their products. The use of Andean lupin fulfills a significant and continuously growing consumer trend in plant-based proteins and exotic fruits. Like acai, which is now widely popular in Western countries, was once just a staple of indigenous populations in Brazil.
The Pursuit of a High Performance Active Lifestyle
Matching his high level of entrepreneurial spirit and business acumen, Guevara incorporates an equally important passion into his daily routine — fitness and exercise. He regularly pursues his love for extreme outdoor sports throughout the landscapes of Ecuador, Isla de la Plata, the Galapagos Islands, as well as in other countries in South America and Europe. When at home managing day-to-day operations for AWÁ Nutrition, Guevara balances his work with his personal fitness routine, combining functional exercise, high intensity cardio and weight training.
“My passion for sports and fitness taught me the need to consume protein supplements and reach higher performance levels. I was always trying new supplements to improve muscle growth and recovery and had tried hundreds of brands and protein supplements. However, I just never found one that had a great amino acid profile, was easy to digest, and would cause little to no inflammation,” Guevara said. “I knew there was a point of intersection between my passion for fitness and my career. Ultimately, this led me to transforming Ecuador’s unique crops into amazing added value protein nutritional supplements that could be aimed at health and wellness-oriented consumers.”
Assisted by his food innovation background, Guevara developed AWÁ Nutrition’s products to be all natural, non-inflammatory, nutrient dense and infused with high nutritional quality vegetable protein. In pursuit of a clean label, the products are naturally flavored with fruit concentrates high in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that provide important micronutrients for metabolic health and functional benefits. Each of AWÁ Nutrition’s product creations are developed with the consumer in mind — free of allergens, GMO’s and added sugars.
When Guevara is out of office from expanding AWÁ Nutrition’s global presence, he is a fitness and extreme sports enthusiast, including scuba diving, snowboarding, dirt biking and more.
Devotion to Ecuador and the Andes
Guevara’s lifelong vision and business success comes with a deep appreciation and commitment to his Andean heritage. Ecuador’s food, culture, music, family, and exotic environment of the Andes Mountains, coastal region and Amazonian influence has all contributed to the founding of AWÁ Nutrition and his passion for leading the business to global markets.
This background would culminate in the founding of AWÁ Nutrition, with their products frequently referred to as Ancestral Wellness of the Andes. As the success of his company continues far and wide throughout the United States and beyond, Guevara maintains commitment to his roots and true passion to share the beauty of Ecuador with healthy lifestyle consumers and athletes around the world.
AWÁ Nutrition’s 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.
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.
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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Compass Coffee Talk Episode 25 — Mark Retzloff: A Lifetime of Service to the Planet and Its People
Compass Coffee Talk Episode 25 — Mark Retzloff: A Lifetime of Service to the Planet and Its People
Leading Podcast Compass Coffee Talk Welcomes Mark Retzloff, an Original Founder and Pioneer of the Modern Day Organic Food Industry, June 15, 2022, 11:30am EST.
Wednesday, June 15, 11:30am – 12:00pm EST
Zoom, Admission is Free
Mark Retzloff, CEO, Climate Foods
Compass Coffee Talk™, now in its 25th episode, continues exploring the industry landscape of natural, organic and sustainable products with guest Mark Retzloff. With a wide ranging impact throughout the natural products industry in his five decades of service, Mark continues to push the envelope in the role that food, agriculture and climate change play in our society and environment.
As Co-Founder of Alfalfa’s Market, Mark Retzloff was influential in the inception of natural foods retail in the United States, and helped set the standard for the modern day full service retail environment we know today. From there, Retzloff became Co-Founder of Horizon Organic Dairy, and was instrumental in leading one of the first organic milk brands to nationwide success and becoming a household name. Mark is also a Co-Founder of Greenmont Capital Partners and former Chairman of Organic Food Alliance where he was instrumental in Washington D.C., leading passage of the Organic Food Production Act in 1990. Today, Mark is CEO of Climate Foods, furthering his mission to promote soil health, make delicious regenerative organic food products and absorb tons of carbon out of the atmosphere to minimize the impacts of climate change.
About Mark Retzloff
Mr. Retzloff is a pioneer in the natural organic and sustainable food and agriculture industry with a 51-year career starting and managing a number of successful companies. He is co-founder and former chairman and CEO of Alfalfa’s Markets and also co-founded Aurora Organic Dairy in 2003. He was the University of Michigan’s School for the Environment and Sustainability, (SEAS), Practitioner in Residence for 2014/2015 and 2015/2016, and serves on the Colorado State University School of Agriculture Dean’s Advisory Board. He is past Chairman of the Board of Natural Habitats Group, a Rotterdam, NL and Boulder-based, fully integrated leader in worldwide organic sustainable palm oil production, processing, and distribution. Mark currently mentors, counsels, consults and advises numerous leaders and companies in the Natural, Organic, Local and Sustainable food and agriculture sector. In 2019, Mark co-founded Flock LLC which is a dynamic movement aimed at fast-tracking regenerative agriculture for the preservation of the planet and people.
In 1990, Mr. Retzloff was chairman of the Organic Food Alliance which was instrumental in passing the federal 1990 Organic Food Production Act in Washington D.C, and went on to become the co-founder of Broomfield, CO.-based, Horizon Organic Dairy. He then became Chairman of Rudi’s Organic Bakery, a leading Colorado-based national organic brand, where he helped execute a successful turn-around. He lends his knowledge as a board member and advisor to emerging companies, which have included Blue Horizon Organic Seafood, BlueSun BioDiesel, Boulder Ice Cream, Crocs Footwear, Evol Burritos, Goddess Garden, Haystack Mtn. Goat Cheese, Sambazon Acai, Traditional Medicinals, Tempt Hemp Milk, and Uncle Matt’s Organic Juice. Mr. Retzloff is a founding partner at Greenmont Capital Partners, and founder and former Chairman of The Organic Center and he is a past 11-year board member of RSF Social Finance.
About Compass Coffee Talk™
Take a 30-minute virtual coffee break with Compass Coffee Talk™. Hosted by natural industry veterans Bill Capsalis and Steve Hoffman, Coffee Talk features lively interactive conversations with industry leaders and experts designed to help guide entrepreneurs and businesses of any size succeed in the market for natural, organic, regenerative, hemp-derived and other eco-friendly products.
Compass Coffee Talk™ is produced by Compass Natural Marketing, a leading PR, branding and business development agency serving the natural and organic products industry. Learn more.
VIEW OUR PAST COMPASS COFFEE TALK EPISODES ON YOUTUBE.
Nutrition Industry Up in Arms Over Proposed Dietary Supplements Listing Bill; Could it Be a Slippery Slope to FDA “Preapproval?”
This article originally appeared in Presence Marketing’s June 2022 Industry Newsletter.
“We fully trust FDA will make mischief. We don’t know how, but we do have 60 years of history of FDA authority trying to limit access to supplements.” – Michael McGuffin, President, American Herbal Products Association, in response to S. 4090, the Dietary Supplement Listing Act of 2022
By Steven Hoffman
On April 26, 2022, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), introduced a bipartisan bill co-sponsored by Sen. Mike Braun (R-IN), S. 4090, the Dietary Supplement Listing Act of 2022.
The proposed legislation, according to a statement from Durbin’s office, would require dietary supplement manufacturers to list their products with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), known as a mandatory product listing (MPL). In addition, companies would be required to “provide FDA with vital information about their products, including product names, a list of all ingredients, an electronic copy of the label, allergen statements, health and structure/function claims, and more. This information would then be made available to the public,” Durbin’s office said.
Introducing the bill, Durbin said, “70% of people in America take a dietary supplement, including me. I also believe that Americans who take vitamins, minerals, and herbs for their health and wellbeing have a right to know what’s in those supplements. Many people assume that if a product is sold in the United States of America, somebody has inspected it and it must be safe. Unfortunately, that’s not always true.”
Reaction to the bill among industry leaders and associations has been mixed, yet many in the nutrition industry are up in arms in that the bill proposes that all dietary supplements sold in the U.S. be listed in a federal database or registry. Opponents are concerned that it may infer that the FDA would end up gaining “pre-market approval” authority over dietary supplements, in that the bill states that upon receiving a company’s listing submission, FDA will “confirm” a “complete listing” and issue an identification number.
According to Nutritional Outlook, the questions dietary supplements companies are asking include: “What could cause FDA not to confirm a listing? Can products automatically go to market after submitting a listing, regardless of FDA’s response? Could FDA, in fact, use mandatory product listing as a premarket-approval lever to keep certain ingredients off the market?”
“This is purely premarket approval and anyone who tells you different is lying,” Daniel Fabricant , Ph.D., President and CEO of the Natural Products Association (NPA), told Nutritional Outlook. Based in Washington, D.C., NPA opposes the bill and has been galvanizing the dietary supplements industry to act quickly to send letters to voice their concerns to their legislators via a web page here.
“Senators Durbin and Braun are one step closer to creating pre-market approval for dietary supplements a reality. Their bill was recently tied to the FDA Safety and Landmark Advancement Act (FDASLA), creating new regulatory barriers and giving the FDA new authority to prevent health and wellness products from reaching millions of consumers. Sadly, Senators Braun and Durbin are using their dislike of the dietary supplement industry to misrepresent its excellent safety record. The FDASLA is intended for drugs, not supplements, and we cannot afford to allow critics to stifle the industry,” Fabricant said in an appeal to members.
NPA asserts that responsible natural products retailers and manufacturers already go to great lengths to ensure consumers have access to safe products. Operating under the framework of DSHEA, the Dietary Supplements Health and Education Act of 1994, “FDA has a robust regulatory framework to understand what dietary supplements are being sold and who is selling them,” NPA said.
“The FDA has several tools at its disposal, with associated penalties for failure to comply. Retailers and manufacturers also have strong market incentives to make safe products. The proposed language in the Dietary Supplement Listing Act of 2022 requires pre-market approval for dietary supplements, thus is more stringent than the NDI (New Dietary Ingredients) provision, which is a notification. The FDA already has access to information regarding who is making dietary supplements, where they are making them, what products are made at which facilities, when new ingredients are introduced into commerce, and whether any products are associated with serious adverse events,” the association added.
In a recent meeting of the U.S. Hemp Roundtable (USHR), representing CBD supplement companies, Michael McGuffin, President of the American Herbal Products Association (AHPA), said, “We oppose the bill because it is redundant, and we don’t think it is so perfectly written that it doesn’t drift into preapproval. I don’t see this as certain pre-market approval, but it says that FDA will confirm a submission that is complete, so what does ‘complete’ mean? FDA will interpret this as it sees fit. For example, you’re required to list all your claims, but they could say you didn’t list all your claims.”
One thing is certain, McGuffin said. “We fully trust FDA will make mischief. We don’t know how, but we do have 60 years of history of FDA authority trying to limit access to supplements,” he cautioned.
McGuffin added, “We like the word ‘listing’ vs. ‘registry,’ which sounds stronger, but Sen. Durbin said specifically ‘registration.’ Even though we all say listing because we agree not to whip people up over this, but the guy who wrote the bill, Sen. Durbin, said registration, Also, there is no exemption for retailers, so every white label brand also will have to register,” he noted.
“We understand there may be an inevitability here, and then we would switch our focus to how to make it least impactful,” McGuffin said, referring to the proposed legislation. “The details are going to be important, and there is a lot we don’t know in this bill.”
Megan Olsen, Senior VP and General Counsel for the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), told USHR attendees that CRN supports the proposed Dietary Supplement Listing Act. Referring to a product registry, she said, “This could give consumers and retailers a place to look to see if products are legitimate, continuing to ensure that there is transparency over the industry and enhancing consumer trust. However,” she added,” our position is that it cannot be pre-approval. If it looks like it’s going that way, that’s when we would push back very strongly.”
In speaking of the proposed dietary supplements legislation, Karen Farrell, Senior Director of Brand Management, Nutrition and Body Care for Presence Marketing, said, “I feel like the industry should keep its antennas high on this one. We already have existing policy in DSHEA; if something needs to be changed, it should be done under the existing structure of DSHEA rather than write separate legislation outside of what already exists. We still have some people who say the supplement industry is unregulated, and that’s just not true,” she said, adding that the proposed bill could also slow product innovation and launch times.
“Dietary supplement manufacturers are already playing by the rules; they are jumping through all the regulatory hoops and have made a commitment to quality. I’ve been reviewing new products and brands for 10 years at Presence, and I think I only ever saw one brand that I had questions about, and we addressed it right away. FDA already has authority to regulate and send warning letters, etc. I don’t think we need this bill; DSHEA works, Farrell added.
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Rediscovered Ingredients that Built an Empire
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.
Golden Berry Powder
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
Ukraine Invasion Leads to Spike in World Food Prices, Disruption of Conventional and Organic Farming
Ukraine Invasion Leads to Spike in World Food Prices, Disruption of Conventional and Organic Farming
This article originally appeared in Presence Marketing’s May 2022 Industry Newsletter
By Steven Hoffman
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February has become a costly war not only in terms of the devastating loss of lives, but, also, as Ukraine – known as the “world’s breadbasket” – is a major producer of conventional and organic crops such as wheat, barley, sunflower oil and more, it also has resulted in major disruptions to agriculture and trade, and now, the highest food prices the world has ever seen.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in April warned that food prices could rise by up to 20% as a result of the conflict in Ukraine, raising the risk of increased malnutrition around the world, as well as social unrest. Tracking the world’s most-traded food commodities, FAO reported that food prices are at their highest since record-keeping began 60 years ago, jumping 13% in March, following February’s record rise.
According to the U.N.’s Food Prices Index, the prices for vegetable oils have risen 23%, while cereals were up 17%. Sugar rose 7%, meat was up 5%, while dairy, which has been less affected by the war, climbed 3%. Food commodity prices were already at a 10-year high before the war in Ukraine because of global harvest issues, the U.N reported.
Russia and Ukraine alone account for 30% of the world’s trade in wheat, 32% of barley, 17% of corn, and over 50% of the world’s market for sunflower oil and seeds. In fact, Ukraine’s flag in part represents blue skies over fields of wheat. And, as the war has choked off supplies from Ukraine, the world’s biggest exporter of sunflower oil, that also means the costs of alternatives have climbed.
Ukraine Planting Season Disrupted
As the war drags into Spring, and with Russia’s ongoing campaign targeting agricultural zones to the east, there’s a concern about whether Ukrainian farmers can plant much of anything this year. And if they do get their crops in the ground, production could be limited due to scarcity of seed, fertilizer, fuel and other inputs, much of which comes in from port cities including Mariupol, which are under siege. Ukraine alone exported more than $27 billion in agricultural products to the world in 2021, NPR reported.
According to Jörg-Simon Immerz, head of the grain trading at BayWA, Germany’s largest agricultural trading group, “Zero grain is currently being exported from the ports of Ukraine—nothing is leaving the country at all.” In addition, Deutsche Welle TV reported that since the invasion began, up to 300 ships have been stopped by Russian forces from departing the Black Sea, “leaving one of the key global trade routes for grain virtually blocked.”
The longer the war goes on, the more the impact on food exports will affect the world’s poorest countries. Many nations in Africa and the Middle East are largely dependent upon wheat imports from Russia and Ukraine; Lebanon gets 80% of its wheat from Ukraine, while Egypt gets 80% of its wheat from Ukraine and Russia. Somalia and Benin are 100% reliant upon wheat from these two nations currently at war. Deutsche Welle TV reported that the wheat shortages from Ukraine are being especially felt in eastern Africa where the price of bread and sunflower oil have more than doubled since the war began.
War Drives Food Inflation; Low Income Households Disproportionately Affected
Lower income households throughout the world, including the U.S., are being disproportionately affected by the drastic rise in food prices, triggered by two years of economic and supply chain disruptions resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and exacerbated today by the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
According to Consumer Price Index data released in April by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, food-at-home prices rose 10% over the past year – the fastest pace since March 1981. Food and energy costs drove inflation to 8.5% in March compared to the same month a year ago, marking the highest rate in more than 40 years as consumers continue to feel the pinch of higher prices.
Meanwhile, grocers have tried to keep price increases from reaching consumers on such staple items as bread, meat and eggs, however, that strategy is becoming increasingly difficult, reports Food Dive. As a result, many consumers are opting for cheaper products over brand loyalty.
Analysts at Bank of America on April 21 predicted the impact of the Russia-Ukrainian conflict has yet to be fully felt in grocery stores. “Looking ahead, we think that consumers will continue to feel the pinch of elevated food inflation,” the analysts wrote. “While there has been a lot of attention on the shock from the Russia-Ukraine conflict, we believe that it is too early to see the impact at the grocery store…rather, it should lead to sustained price increases later this year.”
The Bank of America analysts reported that they expect U.S. food inflation to reach 9% by the end of 2022.
Fortune Magazine reported that Bank of America’s analysts noted that farmers, too, are dealing with spikes in the cost of inputs including fertilizers and pesticides, which have increased 50% in the past year alone, based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Producer Price Indexes. Russia was one of the world’s leading exporters of fertilizers in 2020, including urea and potash, according to the Observatory of Economic Complexity, and fertilizer prices have also been fueled by higher costs of natural gas, used in the production of nitrogen-based fertilizers.
“There are signs that companies are passing through higher costs,” the Bank of America team said, according to Fortune. “Margins look to be growing on both the wholesale and retail level, suggesting that companies have regained pricing power and are comfortable letting the consumer eat higher costs instead of them.”
Ukraine’s Organic Farming Regions Are Under Occupation
Ukraine is one of the world’s leading producers of organic crops. According to the European Commission, the country was the largest exporter of organic products to the EU in 2019, and the second leading exporter of organic products in the world, out of 123 countries.
In 2020, there were 462,225 hectares (1.1 million acres) of organic land in Ukraine, reported Organic Info Ukraine. However, much of the land under organic production is in areas where there are currently hostilities or occupation. “Since 24 February 2022 (the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine) the organic sector as well as the entire agrarian industry have been suffering from aggression. The biggest problem in many regions is access to land.” The Kherson region, for example, which is Ukraine’s largest organic region, is almost completely occupied by Russian troops, the organization noted.
Exports notwithstanding, humanitarian concerns also revolve around Ukraine’s farmers and the country’s ability to feed itself during the war. “Ukraine is a leading global supplier of agricultural products and exports a large amount of organic produce to different countries in Europe,” the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (fiBL), based in Switzerland, said in a statement issued in mid-April.
“At the moment, FiBL and its partners (Organics International, Helvetas, and IFOAM Organics International) are looking into how they can adjust their project activities in Ukraine to meet the current needs of the Ukrainian organic sector. This is important to ensure that people of Ukraine have access to healthy nutritious food grown sustainably and that (organic) farmers do not lose their livelihoods. We are currently working with Ukrainian organic stakeholders and partners to ensure they can continue to grow and supply food and feed – now and in the future,” fiBL said.
The international organic food and agriculture community, including fiBL, IFOAM Organics International and others, is calling on its constituents to support the organic farming sector in Ukraine. Organic Info Ukraine published a “Statement on the Situation in the Ukrainian Organic Sector,” along with information on how to support organic producers and organic stakeholders in Ukraine during these critical times. Learn more and take action here.
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Steven Hoffman is Managing Director of Compass Natural, providing brand marketing, PR, social media, and strategic business development services to natural, organic, sustainable and hemp/CBD products businesses. Compass Natural serves in PR and programming for NoCo Hemp Expo and Southern Hemp Expo, and Hoffman serves as Editor of the weekly Let’s Talk Hemp Newsletter, published by We are for Better Alternatives. Contact steve@compassnaturalmarketing.com.
Compass Coffee Talk Episode 24 - David Bronner Leads Conversation on Sustainable Supply Chains, Psychedelics, and Hemp
David Bronner Leads Conversation on Sustainable Supply Chains, Psychedelics, and Hemp
Popular podcast Compass Coffee Talk focuses on Dr. Bronner’s “All-One” legacy, the company’s commitment to regenerative organic agriculture, and the potential of psychedelics.
Wednesday, May 18, 12:00pm – 12:30pm EST
Zoom, Admission is Free
David Bronner, Cosmic Engagement Officer (CEO), Dr. Bronner's
David Bronner, the Cosmic Engagement Officer (CEO) of Dr. Bronner's, North America’s top-selling natural brand of soaps and creators of organic body care and food products, joins Compass Coffee Talk on May 18 for a conversation about legacy, sustainability, and successfully pushing the boundaries in business.
Under David’s guidance, the company is driven by six cosmic principles inspired by founder Emanuel’s “All-One” philosophy: “Work hard and grow; do right by customers; treat employees like family; be fair to suppliers; treat the earth like home; and fund & fight for what’s right!”
David led sustainability in the natural products industry by making Dr. Bronner’s one of the first body-care brands to formulate with hemp seed oil in 1999. Dr. Bronner’s continues to push the hemp industry forward as a purchaser of hemp seed oil grown in North America.
Today, David is a champion of the Regenerative Organic Certified™ standard that addresses soil health, animal welfare and fair labor practices to advance sustainable and ecological alternatives to industrial agriculture. Dr. Bronner’s donates at least ⅓ of profits annually in support of charitable and activist projects around the world with a focus on their core causes: Regenerative Organic Agriculture, Animal Advocacy, Community Betterment, Criminal Justice Reform, Drug Policy Reform, and Fair Pay & Fair Trade.
About David Bronner
David Bronner is Cosmic Engagement Officer (CEO) of Dr. Bronner’s, the top-selling natural brand of soap in North America and producer of a range of organic body care and food products. Under David’s leadership, Dr. Bronner’s holds the status of second highest scoring B Corp in the world among companies dedicated to positive social and environmental impact over the profit motive. David was born in Los Angeles, California in 1973 and earned an undergraduate degree in biology from Harvard University. He is a dedicated vegan and enjoys surfing and dancing late into the night. He currently lives in Encinitas, California.
About Compass Coffee Talk™
Take a 30-minute virtual coffee break with Compass Coffee Talk™. Hosted by natural industry veterans Bill Capsalis and Steve Hoffman, Coffee Talk features lively interactive conversations with industry leaders and experts designed to help guide entrepreneurs and businesses of any size succeed in the market for natural, organic, regenerative, hemp-derived and other eco-friendly products.
Compass Coffee Talk™ is produced by Compass Natural Marketing, a leading PR, branding and business development agency serving the natural and organic products industry. Learn more.
VIEW OUR PAST COMPASS COFFEE TALK EPISODES ON YOUTUBE.
The Lost Treasure of the Incas isn’t Gold… it’s Legumes
The Lost Treasure of the Incas isn’t Gold… it’s Legumes
By AWA Nutrition
Ancient Andean people may have revered gold to create glittering temples and adorn their leaders, but when it came to fueling the largest empire ever known to the Americas, legumes were key — specifically Andean Lupine seeds. Also known as chocho, tarwi and pearl lupine where it is native to the Andean Highlands in South America, Andean Lupine seeds pack nutritional power worthy of an Incan warrior with its nutrient-dense 50% protein content.
Archeologists have found evidence of cultivated Andean Lupine seeds dating back 5,000 years. Since colonial times, however, the plant has been devalued as a crop. It was derided as “Indian food,” or “poor man’s food,” and consumption shriveled like a bean pod in the sun. Today, advocates for indigenous culture and food sovereignty are working to revive the ultra-nutritious, super-sustainable crop.
And now, one Ecuadorian company dedicated to healthy lifestyles and plant-based nutrition, AWÁ Nutrition, is using Andean Lupine as a key ingredient in its premium line of plant-based protein smoothie blends to power people with active lifestyles and elite athletes striving for peak performance.
“Foods such as Andean Lupine, which has the highest amount of protein of any legume, and quinoa, which is also native to the Andes region, have long provided highly digestible, plant-based protein sources for people,” says AWÁ Nutrition Founder and CEO Felipe Guevara, whose experience in the food industry includes directing business and brand development for leading companies worldwide.
“Combined with the benefits of antioxidant-rich 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.”
A Plant-based Protein Powerhouse
A natural nutrient powerhouse, Andean Lupine makes other beans, like soybeans, pale in comparison. Andean Lupine is:
Protein packed — 50% protein — more than three times the protein of quinoa
Easily digestible — Unlike other legumes, none of the compounds that cause gas and bloating
Zero net carbohydrates — Paleo friendly
Low glycemic — Keto friendly
High fiber — Three times more fiber than oats
Highly satiating — Helps reduce food cravings and maintain a healthy weight
Good source of lysine — This essential amino acid is critical for collagen production and healthy skin and bones
High in antioxidants
High in iron
Fueling Today’s Indigenous Cultures
After researching the properties of Andean Lupine, the Ecuadorian government developed national policies to promote expanding its cultivation as a way to improve the health and nutritional status of marginalized populations. The crop can be cultivated 7,800-11,400 feet above sea-level, which can make it a critical food source in the mountains, where Ecuadorians with the highest levels of nutritional deficiency live.
Ecologically, the Andean Lupine is incredibly efficient — and regenerative. By stabilizing atmospheric nitrogen, it enriches the land, making it more productive and profitable to the farmers who grow it. International agencies such as the Sustainable Development Goals Fund created by the United Nations have invested in promoting Andean Lupine cultivation to nourish the bodies and economies of Ecuadorians living in the mountains. The plant also plays an important role in Andean culture. In addition to food, people use its purple flower to dye alpaca and sheep fiber, helping color the vibrant textiles for which the region is well known.
Fueling Active People
In pre-colonial times, Incan women soaked the seeds of Andean Lupine in rivers for up to eight days to remove the alkaloids — bitterly flavored chemical compounds contained in the seeds. This lengthy preparation process was another reason the beans nearly disappeared from dinner plates. However, recent technological advances in processing led by AWÁ Nutrition have made Andean Lupine more readily available.
To deliver a complete essential amino acid profile in its products, AWÁ Nutrition combines Andean Lupine with quinoa and pea protein in a proprietary blend that provides easy-to-digest, complete protein nutrition. The protein blend is then mixed with concentrates of tropical super fruits including naranjilla, golden berry, wild Andean blueberry, passion fruit, bananas, cacao and coconut to create delicious smoothie mixes and single serving packs high in antioxidants, minerals and essential micro-nutrients.
Ideal for meal replacement, breakfast, snack, post-workout recovery or any time you need an energy boost, AWÁ Nutrition supplements are available in two product lines, High Performance and Lifestyle Active, all with healthy protein, carbs, fats (omega 3, 6 and 9) and antioxidants — and no artificial flavors or ingredients.
Free from gluten, soy, GMO and dairy, all AWÁ Nutrition products are vegan and have no added sugar. Browse products here and experience this Incan nutritional treasure. Andean Lupine is poised to conquer the plant-based food market — and usher in a delicious new era of eating.
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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
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
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Compass Coffee Talk Episode 23 - The Rodale Family’s Organic Legacy
The Rodale Family’s Organic Legacy
Compass Coffee Talk welcomes Maria Rodale, trailblazing author, publisher, organic lifestyle advocate and former CEO of Rodale Inc., a global health and wellness media company.
Wednesday, April 20, 11:30 am – Noon EDT
Zoom, Admission is Free
Maria Rodale, Organic Advocate and Former Chair and CEO of Rodale Inc
As the third generation of leadership, Maria Rodale imprinted her own legacy on a family of publishing and organic agriculture pioneers who founded the internationally acclaimed Rodale Press, publisher of such renowned titles as Prevention Magazine, Men’s Health, Women’s Health, Runner’s World, Organic Gardening and more.
Maria’s grandfather, J.I. Rodale, founder of Rodale Press, was the first to popularize the term “organic” for food grown without the use of toxic, synthetic chemicals; and her father, Robert Rodale, coined the term “regenerative agriculture,” for practices beyond organic that sequester carbon into rebuilding healthy, sustainable soils.
Building on her family’s work, Maria’s career in organic and publishing has expanded awareness of better agricultural, nutrition, wellness and organic lifestyle practices worldwide. Maria is the author of numerous books, including The Organic Manifesto and Scratch, a collection of recipes from her former blog, Maria’s Farm Country Kitchen. Recently retired as Co-chair of the nonprofit Rodale Institute for agriculture research in eastern Pennsylvania, Maria remains an active board member. Located on 300 acres in Kutztown, PA, the Rodale Institute is known worldwide as a leader in organic and regenerative agriculture research.
About Maria Rodale
Maria Rodale is an author and former CEO and Chairman of Rodale Inc, publisher of books such as Al Gore’s Inconvenient Truth, Howard Schultz’s Onward, and classics like The South Beach Diet. She also published the magazines Men’s Health, Women’s Health, Prevention and Organic Gardening,among others. She is the author of Organic Manifesto, How Organic Farming Can Heal Our Planet, Feed the World and Keep Us Safe, and Scratch, Home Cooking for Everyone Made Simple, Fun and Totally Delicious. She has also been involved as a board member and co-chairman of the Rodale Institute, an independent scientific research and education non-profit which studies regenerative organic vs. chemical agriculture. She was Co-Chair from 2007 to 2017 and still sits on the board.
From 2003 to 2011 she was on the board of Bette Midler’s New York Restoration Project. From 2014 to 2017 she served on the Pennsylvania Federal Reserve Advisory council. She served on the board of the Lehigh Valley Health Network.
She has received awards for her lifetime of service and activism, including the National Audubon Rachel Carson Award in 2004, United Nations Population Fund’s Award for the Health and Dignity of Woman Everywhere in 2007, and The Auburn University International Quality of Life Award in 2014. And in 2017 she received an honorary Doctorate Degree from Delaware Valley University. In 1985 she graduated from Muhlenberg College in Allentown, PA with a dual major in Communications and Art.
About Compass Coffee Talk™
Take a 30-minute virtual coffee break with Compass Coffee Talk™. Hosted by natural industry veterans Bill Capsalis and Steve Hoffman, Coffee Talk features lively interactive conversations with industry leaders and experts designed to help guide entrepreneurs and businesses of any size succeed in the market for natural, organic, regenerative, hemp-derived and other eco-friendly products.
Compass Coffee Talk™ is produced by Compass Natural Marketing, a leading PR, branding and business development agency serving the natural and organic products industry. Learn more.
VIEW OUR PAST COMPASS COFFEE TALK EPISODES ON YOUTUBE.
Moving Beyond Plastic: National Co+op Grocers Program at Expo West Explores Packaging Alternatives
This article originally appeared in Presence Marketing’s April 2022 Industry Newsletter
By Steven Hoffman
What are the pain points, and where have manufacturers, distributors and retailers made progress in finding sustainable alternatives to a world awash in non-biodegradable plastic packaging waste? That was the topic of conversation at a recent panel held on March 10, 2022, at Natural Products Expo West in Anaheim CA, co-hosted by National Co+op Grocers (NCG) and Presence Marketing.
The natural products channel, like most, has embraced plastic over the years for its obvious benefits: it’s durable, lightweight, versatile, cost effective and helps lengthen shelf life and ensure food safety, among other attributes.
However, much plastic packaging is designed for single use, and as such, according to data collected by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 69% of plastic packaging ends up in landfills or the ocean. The rate of recycling of PET bottles and jars was 29% in 2018. Same for HDPE containers – only 29.3% of these containers were recycled. In the U.S., plastic products generation increased by 4.3 million tons from 2010-2018, due in large part to an increase in plastic packaging production. After food, plastics are the second-most-common type of materials to be sent to a landfill, according to the EPA. The issue is of such concern that National Geographic warned that the amount of plastic trash in our oceans is expected to nearly triple to 29 million metric tons by 2040, unless society takes drastic action.
In striving to take the lead and set a positive example, NCG identified a number of advocacy initiatives for the organization and its members, including promoting waste reduction and alternative packaging at the manufacturer and distributor level. In particular, NCG works with industry partners to research and provide the most environmentally friendly options possible in NCG programs and services, including tangible items such as branded packaging, to help reduce plastic packaging in the waste stream, according to the co-op organization’s website.
In this panel, hosted by Heidi Traore, Supplier Relationship Development Manager for NCG, and Milton Zimmerman, EVP of Presence Marketing, and moderated by Steven Hoffman of brand marketing and PR agency Compass Natural, the following industry leaders offered their insights, and highlights of their responses are below.
Alyssa Harding, Packaging Collaborative Director, One Step Closer, and Senior Consultant, Anthesis Group
Blair Kellison, CEO, Traditional Medicinals
Ricardo Perdigao, CFO/COO, Sambazon
Dave Pirazzini, Director of R&D, REBBL
Q: Where do you believe the pain points are for most brands in terms of their packaging?
- Alyssa Harding: “Companies are successfully reducing the amounts used for their product packaging, but rather than reinvesting the saved money on further R&D, many are keeping the money as profit. It is important for longer term profitability and sustainability to take your saved money and reinvest it back into research to find sustainable packaging solutions.”
- Blair Kellison: Everything in life is possible, and we need to focus our resources on sustainable packaging. However, to the extent that ultimately economics is going to be a factor in driving this movement.”
- Ricardo Perdigao: “Reducing waste and solving the current issues in product packaging cannot be corrected with just one solution, but the combination of many solutions across the supply chain. Changing the established manufacturing system and concept is one of the biggest challenges. As business leaders, you believe in something and you go after it. Our beliefs lead us to sustainable packaging.”
- Dave Pirazzini: “Manufacturing lines are full, so it can be difficult to find manufacturers to take the time and work with you on a perfect sustainable solution. Additionally, companies have confusion on the best materials, what is most recyclable, etc. For example, Tetra packaging is a solution, but only 55% of facilities in the U.S. can recycle it.”
Q: How is your company researching and making packaging materials reductions?
- Alyssa Harding: “There are opportunities to use less materials and remove unnecessary parts of your packaging while still being effective and appealing to consumers.”
- Blair Kellison: “Traditional Medicinals has been working on a sustainable packaging overwrap for the past six years. This is still in progress. Once completed, the company will begin using compostable overwrap.”
- Dave Pirazzini: “Control what you can. REBBL reduced the amount of corrugate in its packaging with no negative effects to its product packaging or presentation.”
- Ricardo Perdigao: “If we can make things from plants, and turn them back into plants, that is a promising solution we are exploring.”
Q: What has been a success in your packaging journey?
- Alyssa Harding: “The opportunity through One Step Closer to offer sustainable packaging expertise and counsel tailored to a number of mission-based natural products companies.”
- Blair Kellison: “Recycling aside, let’s just not produce waste to begin with. Last year in 2021, Traditional Medicinals got zero waste certified.”
- Ricardo Perdigao: “First, set an objective, track progress, and work toward that objective. In its bowl products, Sambazon successfully converted its packaging to paper and plant fiber. The company is ahead of schedule on achieving ‘zero waste’, and 70% of its products are recyclable.”
- Dave Pirazzini: “REBBL changed its practice to shipping flattened empty bottles to our manufacturing plant, therefore reducing having to ship amounts of the larger, empty blown bottles. We started blowing the bottles on our own manufacturing lines; blowing bottles is when the plastic bottle shape is formed to be ready to fill.”
Q: What can retailers do to help?
- Alyssa Harding: “Cut out waste in the deli and bulk section, and reduce/eliminate single-sized plastics available in the store. Run an analysis of your store and locate your largest materials of consumption and begin your project right there. Start with your own footprint, and then move to helping the brands that are carried in your retail store.”
Blair Kellison: “If we have lost the business of our co-ops, we have lost our business model. We must work together to make progress on such a significant issue.” – Blair Kellison
- Ricardo Perdigao: “Consult with your business partners, express your objectives, and work together to succeed with sustainable packaging for your brand.”
- Dave Pirazzini: “If we are all truly mission driven and strive for sustainable packaging to better the industry, we should share our successes and help each other to succeed in this movement.”
Q: Closing comments
- Alyssa Harding: “Your company can be philanthropic, while also being profitable.”
- Blair Kellison: “We don’t just talk the talk; we want to walk the sustainable walk. To be a truly responsible business, we manage and measure our environmental impact and strive to minimize our footprint. The old adage ‘You can’t manage what you don’t measure’ is really true in our experience.”
- Ricardo Perdigao: “The most powerful marketing is your people. Hire a staff with similar values. Have your whole company telling people about the importance of sustainable packaging. Word of mouth is important.
- Dave Pirazzini: “As manufacturers, retailers and industry members, this is an important conversation in which we all must engage. I feel like I got as much out of this panel as the audience. It was great for me to learn about what other companies are doing with their sustainability initiatives.”
Resources: Learn more
One Step Closer to Zero Waste: https://osc2.org/zerowaste/
National Co+op Grocers Advocacy Initiatives: https://www.ncg.coop/advocacy-activities-national-coop-grocers
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