Vori Teams Up with Good Stuff Distributor
Grocery industry B2B operating system Vori is teaming up with Northern California grocery product distributor, Good Stuff Distributor, to help independent grocers take advantage of shopper trends and navigate through the challenges of inflation. By combining Good Stuff's extensive distribution network with VoriOS, Vori's all-encompassing POS platform, grocers will have access to free educational content to understand and implement best practices and data insights including product merchandising and mix analysis, shelf price and margin management strategies, digital advertising tactics, and advice on establishing new locations, typically used by big box retailers. “Vori’s partnership with Good Stuff is monumental. This collaboration is a catalyst for independent grocers to reclaim their power, brighten their futures, and ensure their family legacies,” said Brandon Hill, CEO and co-founder of Vori.
Because Good Stuff is a fully integrated supplier on VoriOS, it allows them to inject their data into all VoriOS tools used in grocery stores. That integration allows for streamlined inventory reordering, new product discovery, and the ability to process invoices directly. “My family has been in the business for over 30 years. For the first time, Good Stuff’s grocery customers now have access to tools that allow them to manage cost changes and discounts that are passed onto them from all the brand partners we represent,” shared Ahmed Cheade, COO and son of Good Stuff Distributor founder.
Natural Grocers Celebrates 69th Anniversary
Natural Grocers is celebrating its 69th birthday and customers of the organic and natural grocery retailer can join in on the three-day festivities from August 15-17. Shoppers can take advantage of up to 53% off over 500 products including body care, Coconut Waters, Siete Grain Free Tortilla Chips, Soaps & Lotions, a variety of supplements from trusted brands, free Snow Cones, and sign up for an anniversary giveaway for a Tesla Model Y (or $47,000 cash). "As we celebrate our 69th Anniversary, we'd like to remember the person who first instilled in us the tenacity to remain true to our Founding Principles—Margaret Isely. Mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, her wisdom, integrity and compassion were wrapped in her bright red lip-sticked smile, warm hug and hearty laugh," commented Raquel Isely, Vice President of Marketing at Natural Grocers.
Vitaquest Joins the IPA
Vitaquest International has become a member of the International Probiotics Association (IPA). Currently, Vitaquest produces over 50 million retail units of finished probiotic products a year. As members of the IPA, the company will look to provide its technical expertise and guidance for creating probiotic products that meet or surpass the standards of cutting-edge supplements and help push forward the non-profit's initiative of promoting the safety of probiotics throughout the world. “We are proud to join the International Probiotics Association, where we can voice our opinions to a targeted national and global scientific community, as well as consumer associations. As new IPA members, we can influence and communicate existing regulations to better address industry challenges by leveraging insights and analysis related to legislative issues,” said Patrick Brueggman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Vitaquest.
SourceOne Global Partners to Deliver Omega-3 Solutions
SourceOne Global Partners and Qualitas Health, Inc. have joined forces to launch the first commercially available, U.S.-produced microalgae omega-3 ingredient, AlmegaPL. The product is a byproduct of Qualitas Health microalgae production and clinical research expertise combined with SourceOne's sales, marketing, and distribution infrastructure. “Our new partnership with Qualitas Health marks a significant milestone in the omega-3 industry, allowing us to offer our valued customers substantial differentiation through patented and clinically proven AlmegaPL solutions across a broad range of product applications," commented Jesse Lopez, CEO and Founder of SourceOne. AlmegaPL is currently available as a lipid-based ingredient and full turnkey softgel solution that can be marketed for cardiovascular health, cognitive function, eye health, prenatal health, metabolic health, and joint health.
Finzelberg Debuts Brain Health Support Product
Global supplier of active botanical extracts for pharmaceuticals and dietary supplements, Finzelberg, has debuted CONCENTAL, a branded ingredient created for brain health and cognitive function support in high-stress situations. CONCENTAL acts as a non-stimulant brain booster, regulating cerebral blood flow and modulating the brain's serotonin, noradrenaline, and dopamine levels for consumers concerned with declining cognitive health and looking for faster reaction speeds, reduced error rates, and rapid information processing during high-pressure situations and environments. "At Finzelberg, we focus on developing botanical extract solutions that offer additional value for brands and meet modern consumer demands," shared Martin Felkner, Senior Expert Branded Ingredients.
Burroughs Family Farms Receives New Certification
Fifth-generation, family-owned, Burroughs Family Farms, has achieved Regenified Certification. The producers of almonds, almond butters, walnuts, olive oil, organic pastured eggs, lamb, and beef use a systematic approach on their 2.031 acres, incorporating nature, to minimize the effects of climate change while rebuilding the health of the land. "We have to move more farmland into regenerative practices if we're going to make a real impact for our world at scale. This is an urgent situation and we want other farms to know that regardless of the status of your land, whether you're conventional, organic, or somewhere in between, there's a way to start your journey today," shared Benina Montes, managing partner of Burroughs Family Farms.
To determine certification qualification, Regenified's soil scientists evaluated the farms using their proprietary 6-3-4 Verification Standard to analyze key indicators: the six principles of soil health, three rules of adaptives stewardship, and four ecosystem processes. Regenified Certification is the latest addition to the company's credentials which also include USDA Organic, the Real Organic Project, and the Regenerative Organic Alliance.
New Study Shows TruCBN Aids Sleep
Pharmaceuticals journal has published a new peer-reviewed study on TruCBN, FloraWorks' proprietary ultra-pure Cannabinol (CBN). Over 1,000 candidates participated in the double-blind, placebo-controlled study conducted by Radicle Science to determine the product's effect on sleep quality improvement. Key findings from the research showed:
- 50mg of TruCBN significantly improved sleep quality compared to a placebo
- Study participants found no significant differences in side effects compared to placebo
- TruCBN, at a 50mg dose, outperformed a standard dose of melatonin
- TruCBN is both safe and effective for those looking to improve their sleep quality
Principal investigator and Chief Research Officer at Radicle Science, Dr. Emily K. Pauli, shared her thoughts on the significance of the study, "This research represents a significant advancement in sleep science. Our findings suggest that TruCBN can effectively enhance sleep quality, providing a natural and safe alternative for those struggling with sleep disturbances and, importantly, an effective alternative to melatonin."
The full scope and results of the study can be found here.
PhytoGaia Selected as Finalist
PhytoGaia has been selected as a finalist for the NutraIngredients-Asia Start-up Award 2024. With its selection, PhytoGaia has become the first palm phytonutrient company to be named as a finalist for the award, which recognizes start up companies that showcase strong potential, innovation, and impact. The company also hopes to become the first Malaysian/ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) winner of the coveted award. "This nomination is a testament to our innovative approach and the groundbreaking work we are doing in the industry. We remain committed to pushing the boundaries of science and technology to deliver the best science-driven products to our customers", shared VP of PhytoGaia, Bryan See.
IFT Takes Part in Rule 204 Webinar
The FDA's Food Traceability Rule, FSMA Rule 204, compliance deadline is January 20, 2026. To help food and beverage companies incorporate traceability programs that meet the new requirements and avoid penalties IFT will be presenting the "What Best Practices Developed by Industry for Industry Can Do For You" webinar hosted by GS1. Blake Harris, Technical Director at IFT's Global Food Traceability Center will lead the discussion and share tools, resources, and insights on how companies can better understand the impacts of Rule 204 and how they can implement traceability practices to create efficient, resilient, and effective supply chains.
"The upcoming implementation of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Food Traceability Rule is complex and will have far-reaching impacts across the supply chains for many food and beverage companies. This webinar series is a vital part to not only understanding those impacts, but discovering what traceability best practices they can incorporate to increase the efficiency, resilience, and effectiveness of their supply chain,” said Harris.
The session will take place on Wednesday, August 14 from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM EST. Additional event details and information on how to register, can be found here.
