Natural Grocers Kicks Off Holiday Events
Natural Grocers is celebrating the holiday season with its annual in-store holiday food bank fundraiser and food drive. The campaign, which runs through December 31, will collect non-perishable food items at all 168 store locations and accept $1, $5, and $10 donations at registers for local food bank partners. "The holiday season is often a time of joy with friends and family, where food plays a central role," shared Raquel Isely, VP of Marketing at Natural Grocers. "However, it can also heighten stress for those facing financial hardships, forcing tough choices between food and other essentials. Collaborating with our local food bank partners is something we prioritize throughout the year with our 'Bring Your Own Bag' initiative and food rescue efforts. In 2022 we took the next logical step and added a fundraiser and food drive at every store. The enthusiastic response from our customers and the good4u Crew inspired us to make this an annual tradition. We encourage our customers to look for donation stations in each store or connect with a Crew member at the register to learn more."
Vidya Launches Rebranding Initiative
Manufacturer of premium, sustainable probiotics, herbal extracts, and innovative services, Vidya Herbs, is rebranding to "Vidya." “Our rebranding represents an important milestone in our journey as a company,” said Chandra Sekhar, Global VP at Vidya. “We wanted our name to resonate with our dedication to excellence in research and development, as well as our wider range of products and services tailored to meet our customers' needs.”
Vidya, which means science, learning, knowledge, and scholarship, represents the company's evolution beyond its initial offerings, its expanded focus, and growing expertise in the nutraceutical industry. As part of its rebranding initiative, the company is also introducing a new logo featuring natural blue and vibrant green colors reflecting the company's tagline, "Committed to Nature." Judah Fansler, Marketing Director at Vidya, shared the details behind the logo update, “The updated logo and our streamlined name embody our belief in the power of nature and science working together.”
NutriLeads Preps Showcase for FI Europe 2024
NutriLeads BV will be in attendance at this year's Food Ingredients Europe event taking place in Frankfurt, Germany from November 19 through 21. The company will be presenting the scientific advancements and product innovation opportunities within the gut and immune health space for its precision prebiotic, Benicaros. On November 19, at 14:30 CET, show guests can stop by the 1-2-Taste booth (3.0G95) to listen to a live presentation and engage with the brand's science and commercial teams and sample jellybeans formulated with Benicaros. “We are looking forward to discussing innovation opportunities with customers at FI Europe,” commented Boi Reuter, NutriLeads Sales Manager EMEA. “Benicaros is a unique upcycled, science-backed ingredient that also possesses an extraordinarily favorable formulation profile.”
NutriLeads Health and Nutrition Manager, Sue McKay, Ph.D, will join Reuter during the tradeshow to present findings on how Benicaros is able to deliver consistent gut health benefits while enabling faster, smarter, and stronger immune system response. With just a low daily serving, the dual-action mechanism opens up several innovation opportunities within the food, beverage, and dietary supplement space.
Brightseed Earns TIME's Best Inventions of 2024
Brightseed's proprietary AI platform, Forager, has been named as one of TIME magazine's Best Inventions of 2024 in the Food and Drink category. Award recipients undergo a rigorous process which includes evaluation of originality, efficacy, ambition, and impact. "On behalf of the entire Brightseed team, this recognition from TIME is a tremendous honor,” said Jim Flatt, PhD, Brightseed’s co-founder and CEO. “Forager marks a significant technical breakthrough, enhancing our ability to explore nature for insights and ingredients that transform our diet into targeted tools for health and longevity. Together with our customers and partners, we look forward to delivering a new class of powerful and sustainable health innovations for consumers worldwide.”
Forager was built to help companies and institutions within the food, health, and personal care space with the molecular insights required to promote innovation and fuel the development of Brightseed's bioactive ingredients for the B2B marketplace. The technology behind the AI program allows users to determine the connection between plant compounds and their potential benefits at a fraction of the standard research time and cost.
Life Extension Teams Up with Weston FC
Life Extension has agreed to a two-year partnership with Weston, Florida soccer club—Weston FC. Through the partnership, Life Extension will offer Weston FC parents complimentary access to its Premier Rewards program, access to exclusive sales on supplements, monthly publications, webinars feature Life Extension health experts, free consultations and nutrition and lifestyle advice from naturopaths, nurses, nutritionists, and other Wellness Specialists. “We’re proud to score a partnership with Weston FC and be part of this exemplary program,” said Rey Searles, Life Extension’s Chief Marketing Officer. “We are excited about sharing the science of a healthier life with Weston FC families.”
Established in 1998, the Weston FC Soccer club hosts the Weston Cup and Showcase, Florida's largest youth soccer tournament. Through its collaboration with Life Extension the non-profit will aim to continue promoting the development of young athletes through soccer, training and coaching, and providing their parents with the nutritional support needed to keep up with the challenges of the "soccer parent" lifestyle.
New Chapter Debuts Upcycled Certified Products
Certified B Corporation, New Chapter, announced it is bringing Upcycled Certified products including its fish oil line to market. The certification identifies products that have full nutritional value but would have been discarded for various reasons, by bringing one of the first upcycled certified fish oils to market with its Wholemega Wild Alaskan Salmon Fish Oil line, which was first debuted in 2009, the Vermont-based vitamin and supplement company is creating new, high-quality items that help reduce food waste and promote sustainable practices. "We are incredibly proud to be among the first vitamin brands to achieve Upcycled Certification," said New Chapter CEO Blaine Streisand. "Our commitment to sustainably harvested salmon has been a guiding principle since we began selling our Wholemega line in 2009, ensuring that not a single extra fish is caught in the process. The Upcycled Certification reaffirms our mission to harness the earth's finest ingredients and lead the way in creating a healthier, more sustainable world."
Starting next month, Wholemega Fish Oil, Wholemega Fish Oil for Moms, Wholemega Fish Oil Tiny Caps, and Wholemega Omega-3 Complex products will feature the Upcycled Certification.
HOWTIAN Celebrates 25 Years
HOWTIAN is celebrating its 25th anniversary with the announcement of several production, sustainability, and global service effort milestones:
- 30,000 Metric Tons of Stevia Produced: Over the last twenty five years, the company has produced over 30,000 metric tons of stevia, helping consumers save 23.2 trillion food calories or enough to replace 6 million tons of sugar in food and beverages across the globe.
- 100,000 Metric Tons of Inositol Produced: A vital nutrient in infant formula, metabolic health, reproductive health and more, the company has produced enough to nourish 300 million babies for an entire year.
- Environmental Impact: HOWTIAN saves 600,000 cubic meters of water per year, enough to supply up to 2,000 households in the US.
- 3 Million Kilowatt-Hours Saved: The company's conservation initiatives have saved 3 million kilowatt-hours of electricity per year, the same as the electricity used by more than 10,000 Beijing households in a year.
Since its inception, HOWTIAN has expanded into over 80 countries and has grown its product portfolio to include stevia, inositol, PQQ, baicalin, and other natural ingredients. “Our journey over the last 25 years has been one of commitment, innovation, and growth...We set out to provide natural solutions for everyone, and today, we stand as a global leader with a portfolio that spans key health-focused ingredients like stevia, inositol, and PQQ. We’re proud to share the positive impact we’ve made and to continue striving for a healthier, more sustainable future," shared Tom Fuzer, Vice President of Market Strategy at HOWTIAN.
Zooca and RYC Enter Chinese Market
Zooca and RYC (Ruoyuchen) are teaming up to bring Zooca Calanus Oil to the Chinese market. Under the new 10 year partnership, RYC will be the exclusive distributor of Zooca products in cross border marketplaces and platforms including mainland China, Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan. Derived from Calanus finmarchicus, Zooca Calanus Oil features naturally high antioxidant levels, including astaxanthin, making it a powerful defense against oxidative stress, benefiting cardiovascular, skin, and immune health. "We are thrilled to deepen our partnership with RYC, whose market expertise and commitment to health innovation align well with our company vision and flagship product, Zooca Calanus Oil, said Mr. Snorre Angell, CEO of Zooca (Calanus AS). "Together, we aim to redefine natural health supplements in China and elevate consumer health standards."
Lief Raws Expands Offerings with Help from Caldic North America
Performance-driven nutraceutical ingredients supplier, Lief Raws, has entered into a strategic partnership with manufacturer and distributor of innovative food and personal care ingredient solutions, Caldic North America. Through the partnership, Caldic becomes the exclusive distributor of Lief Raw's premium nutraceutical ingredients across North America. Noel Markle, Chief Commercial Officer at Caldic NA, shared the company's enthusiasm for the new deal, "We are tremendously excited to partner with Lief Raws, whose commitment to quality and ingredient innovation dovetails perfectly with Caldic's mission to deliver exceptional ingredient solutions to our clients across the F&B industry...Adding Lief Raws' exceptional brands to our nutrition portfolio will enhance our ability to provide customers with cutting-edge nutraceutical ingredients that meet the growing consumer demand for products that improve their wellbeing."
The list of Lief Raws brands includes Biozomal Caffeine, CeleVida celery powders, flolí excipient blends, Kocha Bucha kombucha powder and oatzi oatmilk powder products. Caldic will use its sales, distribution, and logistics network to showcase Lief Raws' products and introduce them to CPG and nutrition companies across North America.
Wisdom Natural Brands Acquires Drizzle Honey
Wisdom Natural Brands has acquired Canadian-based Drizzle Honey. The SweetLeaf brand parent company, acquired the manufacturer of sustainably sourced raw and superfood honey products with the intent of extending its reach into the U.S. market. "Honey fits perfectly into our line of natural sweeteners, and Drizzle Honey adds bonus wellness and environmental benefits by providing raw honey that retains more of its natural nutrients, line extensions with health-boosting superfoods, and sustainable beekeeping practices that are critical to maintaining pollinator populations," said Michael May, CEO of Wisdom Natural Brands. "It's an ideal addition to the options we offer to consumers looking for natural ways to sweeten their food."
Drizzle Honey is a Certified B Corporation, female-founded producer of 100% pure, unprocessed, bee-friendly honey. Its product line includes allergen free, added sugar free, preservative free, artificial ingredients and GMO free, white raw and golden raw honeys; raw honey infused with organic superfoods such as ginger, turmeric, cacao and berries; and craft products such as cinnamon-spiced honey and hot honey infused with spicy crushed chilies. Currently, consumers can purchase products from 1,200 retail stores across Canada and through the company's website. Wisdom Natural Brands acquisition will bring the brand to over 11,000 Whole Foods, Sprouts, Kroger, Safeway, Walmart, Publix, Amazon and other locations that already carry SweetLeaf stevia, monk fruit and other natural sweeteners.
Arla Foods Launches New Whey Protein
Arla Foods' new hydrolysed whey protein ingredient, Lacprodan DI-3092, allows 10g of high-quality single-source protein to be packed into 100ml – significantly higher than the market standard of 6-7g per 100 ml, and was designed to be better tasting than other comparable ingredients for peptide-based medical nutrition. Mads Dyrvig, Head of Sales Development, Specialized Nutrition at Arla Foods Ingredients, spoke on the challenges that come with creating such a product, “Whey protein hydrolysates are essential for peptide-based medical nutrition but there are three key challenges in the category. The first is to improve taste and texture, which is important to ensure patient compliance. The second is to go higher in protein, and the third is to do that using a high-quality protein source. Lacprodan DI-3092 – our best-tasting whey protein hydrolysate yet – overcomes all three challenges.”
Lacprodan DI-3092 is UHT-stable, offers a high degree of hydrolysis (16-22%), low lactose content, and is suitable for both direct and indirect heat treatment. To showcase its new product, the company created two new prototypes—a ready-to-drink beverage and a ready-to-mix powder, both containing 10g protein/100 ml, with low viscosity, a mild taste, and 200Kcal.
Alianza Team Opens First U.S. Facility
Global supplier of tailor-made lipids, fats, and oils solutions, Alianza Team, broke ground in Goldsboro, North Carolina for its first U.S. based facility. The new blending and finishing site is strategically located to nearby railroads and interstates for accessible delivery options across the country. With construction scheduled to being immediately, President and CEO Luis Alberto Botero, shared his thoughts regarding the company's objectives with its new facility, “We’re thrilled to announce this investment that represents Alianza Team’s commitment to entering the U.S. market and being an active part of job creation and the business community in the region,” said Luis Alberto Botero, president and CEO, Alianza Team USA. “We will continue working toward a successful venture that brings prosperity to our stakeholders while honoring our higher purpose of Nurturing a Better Tomorrow.”
Christian Dior Collaborates with Avantium on Packaging
Parfums Christian Dior is partnering with renewable and circular materials developer, Avantium, to offer a new, 100% plant-based, and recyclable plastic alternative primary packaging. Dior will be the first company in the cosmetics industry to implement Releaf, Avantium's polymer PEF (plyethylene furanoate), in its packaging. "LVMH Recherche is thrilled to have collaborated with Avantium on the development of PEF, a game-changing material that promises to reshape the cosmetics packaging industry in the coming years," shared Karl Pays, Director of Research at LVMH Recherche. "Releaf perfectly aligns with Dior’s commitment to reducing its environmental footprint and offering more eco-designed products.” Véronique COURTOIS, President and CEO of PARFUMS CHRISTIAN DIOR, comments: “For Parfums Christian Dior, this launch represents a major milestone in its commitment to incorporating sustainable materials into its products, all while upholding the House’s renowned standards of excellence and sophistication. This partnership with Avantium marks a significant step forward in our journey towards more sustainable practices.”
The collaboration between the company's underlines their commitment to a sustainable future and shows how Releaf can be used to transform the cosmetics industry by helping companies offer consumers a high-quality product that is environmentally responsible and makes a positive impact on the planet.
