Natural Grocers Partners with Rodale Institute
Natural Grocers is continuing its celebration of Organic Month by announcing its latest partnership with Rodale Institute, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit focused on growing the regenerative organic agricultural movement through strict research, farmer training, and education.
During the month of September, Natural Grocers will aim to raise $100,000 for Rodale through:
- The donation of $1.00 to Rodale Institute for every limited-edition Organic Month reusable shopping bag sold (retail $1.99).
- $2 donation for every Ladybug Zip Pouch sold (retail $2.99).
- Giving customers the opportunity to make contributions to Rodale Institute ($1, $5 or $10) upon checkout at any one of Natural Grocers' 169 store locations nationwide.
"We are thrilled to partner with Rodale Institute," shared Vice President of Marketing at Natural Grocers, Raquel Isely. "This highly esteemed organization has been putting science behind the best practices in organic agriculture for more than 75 years, proving that healthy soil leads to healthy food, healthy people and a healthier planet. Its groundbreaking science and direct farmer-support programs serve as a catalyst for change in farming and food production worldwide. We couldn't be more pleased to dedicate this year's Organic Month Fundraiser Campaign to Rodale Institute, the leading voice in developing solutions for the regenerative organic movement."
CRN Debuts Awareness Campaign
The Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), is launching "Responsible. It's Our Middle Name." The four-month long celebration will recognize the association's work within the self-regulation space of the dietary supplement industry. "With so many Americans safely using supplements, we hope to increase awareness among the general public on how self-regulation has bolstered the quality and safety of the industry with tailored safeguards that address our products' unique aspects, ensuring quality and consistency. While it does not replace FDA oversight, it complements and reinforces regulatory frameworks and our members are proud to uphold these practices in their daily work," shared CRN President and CEO Steve Mister.
The initiative will highlight many of CRN's existing voluntary self-policing programs while raising awareness on the importance of self-regulation to keep and improve consumer confidence. Also on display will be CRN's self-regulatory initiatives that included a Code of Ethics, The Supplement OWL (Online Wellness Library), a library of Voluntary Guidelines and Best Practices, the development of a Standardized Information on Dietary Ingredients (SIDI) Protocol and related guidelines, and a program to increase monitoring of dietary supplement advertising in partnership with the National Advertising Division of the Council of the Better Business Bureaus.
With a recent increase in lack of awareness by some healthcare professionals and mainstream media regarding dietary supplement regulation, CRN said its members felt the need to observe voluntary programs that provide evidence of a well-regulated industry focused on its consumers. As of Labor Day 2024 until the end of the year, all of CRN's social media outlets, website, member newsletters, bylines, and podcasts will highlight responsible industry practices and help make self-regulatory information more accessible for all. CRN Board Chair Tara Martin of Nutrawise shared her thoughts on the initiatives;: “I am very proud of the self-regulatory initiatives we have created at CRN. It's important for companies to come together—companies of different sizes, some focused on ingredients, others on finished products—and align on guidelines and standards that protect consumers and our industry's reputation. It's important work, and I'm delighted to be personally involved with it."
iHerb Hosts Anniversary Sales Event
Online vitamins, minerals, supplements, and other health and wellness products retailers, iHerb, is celebrating its 28th anniversary with a September sales event. Customers can take advantage of daily deals and weekly 28% discounts off of specific brands and product categories including beauty, sports nutrition, and personal care. "Our September Anniversary Sale has become an annual tradition that honors our humble beginnings and relentless commitment to offering the best selection of health and wellness products at the best possible value, delivered with the most convenient experience," said Neil Folgate, SVP of Global Marketing at iHerb.
Founded in 1996, iHerb began as a small business in California. Today the company offers over 50,000 product items and boasts seven temperature-controlled state-of-the-art logistics operations across Asia and the US with plans to open a facility in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Baker Dillon CEO Attending Hi Japan Show
Baker Dillon Group LLC Chief Executive Officer Sheldon Baker will be a featured speaker at Hi Japan—the nutraceutical ingredients trade show taking place on October 23rd in Tokyo, Japan. During the show, Baker will share insights on strategies and guidelines to enter or expand into the US Nutraceutical industry. Prior to his engagement with Hi Japan, Baker will stopping by the Comprehensive Support Group for Management & Technology (SGMT) on October 22nd where he will be discussing US public relation tactics.
2024 Shelfie Awards Winners
The winners of Startup CPG's 2024 Shelfie Awards have been announced. The annual awards recognize small emerging CPG brands offering products with tremendous potential based on taste, innovation, branding, and bettering the goods system. From over 1,500 products, 32 winners were selected this year with some categories featuring two winners sharing the honors. Some of this year's prize winners include:
- Supplements: Microjoy
- Skincare: RĒJINS
- Hygiene: Bim Bam Boo
- Bodycare: Protéger
- Haircare: SWAIR
A full list of this year's winners can found here.
Prinova Research Shows Influencers of Consumer Decisions
The latest research from Prinova shows health claims have a significant influence over the food and beverage purchasing decisions of consumers, especially the younger demographic shoppers. The recent online study took place in June 2024 and surveyed over 1,500 adults in France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the UK, and the US. Results showed 72% of participants were more likely to buy food and beverage products that featured packaging with a health benefit claim, when broken down by age group—87% of consumers between the ages of 18 to 24 and 80% of shoppers between the ages of 25 to 34 were influenced by health claims advertised on products.
The health concerns that ranked amongst the most influential for participants were gut health, healthy aging, and fatigue. The claims that showed to be most persuasive were:
- low-sugar or sugar-free
- weight management
- energy support
The ingredients that proved to be the most crucial were:
- probiotics
- vitamins
- minerals
- fibre
“There’s a long-term trend towards more proactive approaches to wellbeing, with dietary changes a key element of consumers’ strategies for living better. As a result, they’re increasingly seeking out food and beverage products with health benefits. Our research demonstrates the value of well communicated health claims, especially in key areas like gut health and energy support. While they resonate powerfully across all demographics, our research provides new evidence that Zoomers and Millennials are particularly likely to focus on wellness when choosing between products," shared James Street, Global Marketing Director at Prinova. A copy of the report is available here.
Orgenetics B.V. Gets EU Organic Certification
Orgenetics wholly owned Dutch subsidiary, Orgenetics B.V., has achieved EU Organic Certification. This allows European customers to purchase Orgen brand Certified Organic viatms and minerals within the EU and EEA markets. "This milestone achievement of EU Organic Certification for our Dutch subsidiary shows our enduring commitment to our European customers and partners," said Dolly Maheshvari, Global CEO of Orgenetics.
EU and EEA customers will have quick, local, and affordable access to Orgenetics Organic ingredients due the company's Certified Organic warehousing located in Waddinxveen, Netherlands.
