Gourmet News September 2013

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Grains & Flours

Spices

SFF Wrap Up

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BUYERS GUIDE:

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Special Events Make Market Street a Destination Supermarket PAGE 19

GROCERY & DEPARTMENT STORES n

Kroger Purchases Rival Mid-Atlantic Supermarket Chain Harris Teeter PAGE 20

SPECIALTY DISTRIBUTORS & BROKERS n

US Foods Named Official Foodservice Provider to World Food Championships PAGE 21

SUPPLIER BUSINESS n

Robert Rothschild Farm Unveils Holiday Gift Line, Seasonal Specialties PAGE 22

News..............................................4 Ad Index .......................................43 Smorgasbord/Classifieds ..............43

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I N D U S T R Y

FDA Issues Official Rule Defining Gluten-Free Foods Energy Products

BY LUCAS WITMAN AND

SPECIALTY RETAILERS

F O R

JAZMINE WOODBERRY

In August, the Food and Drug Administration issued an official rule defining specifically what it means for a product to be glutenfree. According to the newly minted standard, any product labeled “gluten-free,” “without gluten,” “free of gluten” or “no gluten” must contain no more than 20 parts per million of wheat, rye, barley or any other ingredient derived from these grains that has not been processed to remove gluten.

“This standard ‘gluten-free’ definition will eliminate uncertainty about how food producers label their products and will assure people with celiac disease that

foods labeled ‘gluten-free’ meet a clear standard established and enforced by FDA,” said Michael R. Taylor, Deputy FDA Commissioner for Foods and Veterinary Medicine, in the official announcement from the FDA. Gluten, the protein that occurs naturally in many grains, is detrimental to the health of many Americans, especially those with celiac disease. Celiac disease, an autoimmune disorder, causes the body’s natural defense system to react to gluten by attacking the inner lining of the small intestine.

This can cause the body not to absorb necessary nutrients from the foods being consumed and can lead to nutritional deficiencies, osteoporosis, infertility, miscarriages,

short stature, intestinal cancer and other maladies. It is estimated that 3 million Americans suffer from celiac disease, with another 18 million experiencing some degree of gluten sensitivity.

In recent years, awareness of gluten sensitivity and intolerance has exploded, resulting in a subsequent eruptive growth in the market for gluten-free products.

According to market research firm, Packaged Facts, gluten-free product sales topped $4.2 billion last year. Thus, any change to the labeling standard for gluten-free products could have far-reaching industry-wide ramifications.

It is likely that most food

In April, Whole Foods Market made the announcement that it will work to label all genetically modifed organisms contained in the products offered in its U.S. and Canadian stores by 2018.

Most common with corn, soy, cotton, canola and sugar beets, but also appearing among a growing list of additional foodstuffs, such as radicchio, summer squash, alfalfa and wheat, genetically modified foods have recently garnered

a great deal of scrutiny from health- and environment-conscious consumers. This is despite the fact that both the Food and Drug Administration and Environmental Protection Agency have indicated that there is no safety concern when it comes to the consumption of these products.

Regardless of their healthfulness, many consumers have already demonstrated a definitive aversion to GMO foods. In a recent poll conducted by the Huffington Post,

BY JAZMINE WOODBERRY

82 percent of those surveyed stated that they believe food companies should be required to label all GMO ingredients included in their products. In the same poll, just 20 percent said that they believe that GMOs are safe to eat. It is this growing skepticism among today’s consumers that is driving companies like Whole Foods to dramatically change the way it markets products in its stores, even prior to

Can engrained visions of Red Bull giving you wings and a Food and Drug Administration investigation into energy drinks stop the energy products market from surging ahead—and straight onto gourmet retailers’ shelves?

Retailers are seeing beverage sales rise, and that rise is on the back of the power of the everwidening energy drink market.

Energy drinks raked in billions last year, up 14 percent from five years ago, and energy shots themselves saw a 168 percent sales increase in that time period, according to market research firm Packaged Facts.

“Caffeine is the legal drug of choice in the United States. It’s in medications, it’s in food, and because of the specialty coffee explosion with Starbucks, coffee is where you get your lift. Most people are habituated to it,” said Tom Pirko, President of Bevmark, a food and beverage consulting firm based in Santa Barbara, Calif.

“People have been drinking coffee and tea for caffeine forever and now people are reaching for

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Specialty Food Companies Clamor to Address Consumer Call for GMO Labels

BY LUCAS WITMAN

Market Wide Awake And Going Gourmet, Despite FDA Investigation

Retailers Must Navigate Olive Oil Slicksters in Seeking Out the Real Deal

BY LUCAS WITMAN

Few foods have reached the level of global ubiquity of extra virgin olive oil. Walk into any kitchen around the world, whether it be in a farmhouse in Genoa, a sleek Japanese apartment or a Texas ranch, and extra virgin olive oil is likely to be on the shelves.

The culinary minded throughout the world seem to have unanimously chosen this aromatic green-hued nectar as the ideal base for dishes prepared in any number of cuisines. As such, extra virgin olive oil has developed a certain mystique that

draws consumers back to it time after time, compelling them to open their wallets and pay often soaring prices for what they deem to be the highest quality offerings within the category.

There are several reasons for the diffuse popularity of extra virgin olive oil. First, the oil pressed from olives simply has a singular flavor profile that is unmatched by any other oil in the world. Ranging from mild, fruity and olive-forward to pungent and grassy, olive oil truly captures the palates of its devoted followers. The nutritional characteristics of the product are

also partially responsible for making it a favorite cooking ingredient, as it contains no cholesterol and offers polyphenols thought to reduce aging. Finally, as olive oil is especially versatile, it can be used in a number of different roles in the kitchen, from anchoring a vinaigrette to frying up an egg to supplying the necessary moistness for a unique olive oil cake.

As extra virgin olive oil has grown in popularity in the United States and across the globe, grocery store shelves have become packed with a diverse array of product options. This has led to a

new problem. With so many offerings to choose from, at least some are inevitably of lesser quality.

And, to the untrained eye, it can be difficult to discriminate a truly well-made olive oil from an imposter.

“When it comes to real Italian extra virgin olive oil, you know you have to read the label. The people who do fakery are very clever,” said food writer Bill Marsano. Marsano recently moderated the “Find the Fake” panel at the 2013 Summer Fancy Food Continued on PAGE 10

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GENERAL NEWS

GOURMET NEWS SEPTEMBER 2013 www.gourmetnews.com

General News Hershey Hosts Cocoa Summit to Restore Cocoa Farming in Mexico A little more than a year after announcing an initiative to restore Mexico’s beleaguered cocoa farming industry, on July 13, The Hershey Company, in collaboration with cocoa supplier Agroindustrias Unidas de Cacao SA de CV, held a Cocoa Summit in Tapachula, Chiapas. The summit brought together a wide range of stakeholders committed to saving Mexico’s cocoa industry.

The summit marked the next phase of “The Mexico Cocoa Project,” a 10-year, $2.8 million initiative to provide training in farm renovation and good agricultural practices, as well as to distribute hundreds of thousands of disease-tolerant cocoa trees. The Mexico Cocoa Project hopes to restore more than 1,000 hectares of cocoa farmland in the Chiapas region of Southern Mexico that have been devastated by tree disease. The effort intends to quadruple yields, substantially increase family incomes and contribute to the worldwide supply of sustainable cocoa.

Since the project began, Hershey and AMCO have built and maintained nurseries to grow disease-resistant tree stock. The area has been hard hit by Moniliasis, also

known as frosty pod rot, a disease that attacks the fruit of the cacao tree, causing its cocoa beans to become unusable. As a result, cocoa yields in the area have dropped by nearly half since 2005.

“This summit [was] a great opportunity after more than a year of hard work to share the great progress we have made with the producers, build on farmers’ commitment to restore their cocoa farms and regain pride for cocoa growing in the region,” said Tonathiu Acevedo, Director of AMCO. “A summit with so many important stakeholders demonstrates the power of what happens when all interested parties come together around a common cause with a goal of benefiting farm families, communities and consumers who love chocolate.”

The inaugural cocoa summit was designed to raise awareness about the work underway to return the Mexico cocoa industry to a thriving business. The program partners also hope to grow interest among young adults working in the cocoa industry.

“We have a strong and growing Hershey business here in Mexico serving

local consumers for more than 40 years and our employees in Mexico are very proud to be part of an effort to improve the livelihoods of local cocoa farmers,” said Hector de la Barreda, Vice President and General Manager for Hershey Mexico and Central America. “We are also very proud about the fact that today we are already using Chiapas cocoa in our chocolate in Mexico and we look forward to the opportunity to increase the use of this delicious, high-quality Mexican cocoa in our products.”

The Mexico Cocoa Project is one of The Hershey Company’s numerous cocoa sustainability programs around the world as part of its “21st Century Cocoa Plan.” The plan addresses an ongoing concern of the cocoa industry, which is supporting the long-term sustainability of the world’s cocoa supply. Last year, Hershey committed to using 100 percent certified cocoa in its products globally by 2020. Hershey’s percentage of certified cocoa will surpass 10 percent of its total cocoa volume this year and increase to between 40 and 50 percent by 2016. GN

With Brazilian Thirst for Java on the Rise, Experts Predict Rise in Global Coffee Prices As the leading coffee export market in the world, Brazil is no stranger to high quality coffee beans. However, until now, the country has sent its best beans overseas for international enjoyment. Today, new research from Mintel reveals that Brazilians are developing a taste for premium coffee, with a quarter of Brazilian coffee drinkers claiming they prefer premium over regular brands of coffee. And experts worry that this new interest in high quality coffee among Brazilian consumers could impact the price of coffee on a global scale.

Today, five in six Brazilian consumers report drinking coffee, with three in five drinking the product daily. This makes Brazil the second largest market for coffee in the world, with an estimated consumption of 1,230,000 tons of coffee in 2012. Only the United States beats this volume, with an estimated annual consumption last year of 1,454,000 tons.

The United States may not keep the lead in the coffee race for long, however, with market volume for coffee in Brazil currently growing faster than that of the United States. As consumption there rises, Brazil is set to take the number one spot in the next few years.

Still, while Brazilians have one of the

highest per capita volume consumption rates in the world, Mintel’s research reveals that Brazilian consumers actually spend very little on coffee ($18.17 per head in Brazil compared to $30.79 in the United States in 2012). This indicates that coffee has, at least until now, been seen as a cheap commodity in Brazil.

However, this attitude could be changing.

“As Brazilians get more demanding about their coffee, the country’s better quality Arabica beans will increasingly be used to service its burgeoning domestic market, rather than merely sent overseas,” said Jonny Forsyth, Global Drinks Analyst at Mintel. “The global supply of the best quality Arabica beans is hugely dependent on Brazil, and by reducing supply at a time of huge, and still rising, global demand, this could force a sharp rise in global coffee bean prices down the line.”

For American coffee companies, the rise in consumer desire for premium coffee among Brazilians is of interest not only because of the potential impact on global prices for the commodity, but also because of the emergence of a potentially valuable new market for these products.

Young adults in Brazil represent the greatest market in the country for premium coffee. Contrary to the normal at-

tributes of the category, with coffee in general having higher penetration among older consumers (93 percent of Brazilian consumers 55 and older claim they consume coffee, compared to 74 percent of those aged 16-24), the usage of higher value-added coffee is higher amongst younger consumers and decreases amongst older age groups. Only 12 percent of young Brazilians say they consume chilled specialty coffee, compared to 5 percent of consumers aged 45-54.

Overall, 7 percent of Brazilian consumers claim they drink this type of coffee.

“Considering that the long-term future of the category depends on the younger age groups of today, it is essential that the market successfully engages them now, with a view to long-term gains.

Products tailored to their tastes, such as mixing coffee with other ingredients and preferences, represents the key avenue for introducing young people to the category,” said Lucas Marangoni, Senior Drinks Analyst at Mintel Products.

“However, given the limited demand for such products in Brazil today, restricted to the higher socio-economic groups, the launch of ready-to-drink products in general should still be treated with some caution.” GN

BRIEFS Coffee Fest Headed to Seattle, October 4-6 On October 4-6, Coffee Fest Seattle will return to the Washington State Convention Center bringing fresh, new, innovative and relevant programming.

Coffee Fest’s organizers have planned a number of events, designed and provided to inspire attendees and help them grow their business.

More than 300 booths featuring everything found on either side of the counter (and including the counter itself) will be on the exhibition floor.

Whether you are a barista, a roaster or a coffee shop owner, collaboration is always inspiring and beneficial. Coffee Fest is the place to gather to meet talented, passionate professionals and respected industry experts and to reconnect with your friends in the industry. The Retailer Connection session and the Opening Night Reception are just two of the many times to network with your peers throughout the weekend. Visit coffeefest.com to view the complete lineup of events.

Kosherfest Celebrates 25th Anniversary Kosherfest 2013 will take place October 29 and 30 at the Meadowlands Exposition Center in Secaucus, N.J., and will feature special events and programs to mark its 25th anniversary as the largest annual meeting place and product resource for the kosher trade industry.

Kosherfest gives manufacturers, distributors and suppliers of kosher certified products and services the opportunity to reach thousands of mainstream and independent kosher trade buyers from across the globe. Kosherfest exhibitors receive exposure to high volume buyers, access to education sessions, media exposure, advertising opportunities and exhibitor-only entries to the Kosherfest New Product Competition.

Products at Kosherfest encompass kosher certified foods and beverages for retail sale and ingredients and prepared foods for foodservice, including wine and spirits. “No doubt, this is a show not to be missed by anyone looking to grow their kosher business,” said Yakov M. Yarmove, Ethnic Marketing and Specialty Foods for NAI/JEWEL-OSCO.

Almond Conference and Trade Show to Spotlight Important Crop this December The Almond Board of California’s 41st Almond Conference will take place December 3-5 in Sacramento. An industry trade show will run concurrently with the conference.

California’s Almond growers produce 84 percent of the world’s almond supply and 100 percent of the U.S. supply. It is the top specialty crop export in California. Industry members attending the 2012 Almond Conference represented more than 90 percent of the 2011-2012 almond crop.

The Almond Conference is the annual event where the Almond Board of California presents a multifaceted program of production and environmental research results, marketing activities and guest speakers on a variety of subjects of interest to almond growers and handlers. More than just education, The Almond Conference is a great social and networking event. Former Almond Conference featured entertainers include Penn & Teller, Roy Firestone and Bear Grylls.

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GENERAL NEWS

GOURMET NEWS SEPTEMBER 2013 www.gourmetnews.com

World Tea and Healthy Beverage Expos Draw 5,000 Attendees to Co-Located 2013 Event The passion and enthusiasm surrounding tea and the tea community was highly evident at 2013 World Tea Expo, which took place June 7-9 in Las Vegas at the Las Vegas Convention Center. As the most prominent annual event for the industry, World Tea Expo attracted nearly 5,000 attendees and top businesses from more than 50 countries for the combined conferences. The event featured a dynamic exposition floor with a total of 260 collective exhibitors offering the latest innovations and “what’s next” in tea. Delegates experienced hundreds of new products, sampled new and awardwinning teas and participated in three days of educational sessions and workshops.

“World Tea Expo is the event for the North American tea industry and beyond.

I was amazed at the year-over-year growth in attendance, the number of international attendees and the overall excitement over the ‘world’s most popular beverage,’” said Jack Groot, founder and creator of JP’s Coffee and Midwest Barista School. “Tea is on a fast track of growth and there is so much opportunity to be a part of it. Being

able to attend an event where some of the most tea-and-business savvy people share their experience and knowledge is worth its weight. Real-life understanding and success is the best teacher and that is what one gets at World Tea Expo. In fact, the Expo's New Business Boot Camp, a unique and singular opportunity for those entering the tea industry, was an excellent business-primer for those capitalizing on the tea ‘explosion.’”

This year, the World Tea Expo was co-located with the brand new Healthy Beverage Expo. Healthy beverages are booming in the marketplace, and as such, show organizers were excited to launch this new trade show that is dedicated to supporting and fueling the healthy drink segment of the beverage market.

“There was a high level of buyers and retailers who attended Healthy Beverage Expo,” said the show’s keynote presenter Phil Lempert. Lempert believes the expo reinforces the healthy food movement where nutrition meets taste: “Every retailer and beverage buyer needs to be connected to

Healthy Beverage Expo to meet with vendors, taste products, learn and, most importantly, to be ahead of the curve.”

“We’re very grateful to all those who participated and made the 11th annual World Tea Expo a big success, along with the newly launched Healthy Beverage Expo,” said George Jage, Director of World Tea Media, organizers of the World Tea and Healthy Beverage Expos. “The overall traffic of the co-located shows was excellent, and we received a significant amount of positive feedback from participants. Plus, the show was a hotbed of innovative new products and smart classroom-setting dialogues on industry topics.”

Jage added, “Now is an exciting time for tea and the beverage industry, and we can’t wait to see what develops as a result of all the innovations and industrywide discussions."

Next year’s World Tea and Healthy Beverage Expos will take place May 30June 1, 2014 in Las Vegas. Watch for details at www.WorldTeaExpo.com and www.HealthyBeverageExpo.com. GN

Jin+Ja Drink Chosen as Winner of Specialty Food Association Ad Contest The story of a patent attorney turned ginger drink maker has won the Specialty Food Association’s first-ever advertising contest for specialty food professionals to tell a compelling story about their passion for specialty food.

More than 70,000 votes were cast in the not-for-profit trade association’s “My Story, My Ad” contest to determine the Top 10 finalists. They were selected from 373 inspiring stories about family businesses, culinary breakthroughs, childhood memories, career changes and more.

The winning entry came from Reuben Canada of Philadelphia-based Canada Enterprises for Jin+Ja: The Spark of Inspiration. This is Jin+Ja’s second major honor of the summer. The ginger drink also recently won the Specialty Food Association’s 2013 sofi™ Award for Outstanding Beverage.

The prize in the ad contest is a free ad campaign and three-day trip to San Francisco, a $15,000 value. The ad will be featured in top specialty food trade magazines, online, and at the Winter Fancy Food Show in San Francisco, Jan. 19-21, 2014.

The award for runner-up was given to sisters Leah and Stephanie Melnik, partners at granola bar company, Awesome Bars. In honor of their runner-up selection, the duo are being given passes to the Winter Fancy Food Show, complimentary registration to the Association’s signature full-day workshop at the show and a marketing consultation with Association executives.

The “My Story, My Ad” contest is part of the Specialty Food Association’s recent launch of its new brand: Specialty Food.

Craft. Care. Joy. The contest was designed to highlight the people behind the small

businesses that fuel the $86 billion specialty food industry and the innovative foods and beverages they create and bring to market.

“The contest struck a chord,” says Ann Daw, President of the Specialty Food Association. “There are clearly so many wonderful stories to share about the joy and passion and hard work that go into making great food. Both Jin+Ja and Awesome Bars especially stood out for our panel.”

The judges for the contest include Amy Binder, CEO of RF Binder, Beth Snyder Bulik, reporter for Ad Age and co-owner of Park Street Pantry, Terry Frishman, Principal of Creative Marketing Workshops, Tracy Nieporent, Director of Marketing and Partner for The Myriad Restaurant Group, Denise Purcell, Editor of Specialty Food Media and Rick Roth, founder and CEO of Roth Partners. GN

Gluten-Free

gluten-free baked goods brand Lucy’s.

Lucy’s markets a variety of cookies and brownies, all gluten-free, vegan, non-GMO and all-natural. “The U.S. FDA limit is about authenticity. Consumers now know what the ‘gluten-free’ claim really means, and manufacturers are held responsible for meeting the standard.”

Greg Vetter, CEO at Tessemae’s, a producer of all-natural, gluten-free dressings, spreads and marinades, expressed his pleasure with the FDA announcement as well. “It makes it a little bit easier for the consumer to have more trust in the products they are buying with the new FDA regulations,” Vetter said.

Although both Lucy’s and Tessemae’s already voluntarily conform to the FDA’s new 20 ppm or less standard, the companies support the rule as necessary for protecting the health of U.S. consumers and ensuring

that those products with a gluten-free label are uniformly safe for consumption.

“When you are getting into all of these companies that are trying to create glutenfree products—cookies or pancakes— where things would historically have gluten in them, [it is important] that those people are doing what they need to be doing to protect those folks,” Vetter said.

“The new standard provides a definition, and it provides an expectation of accountability. Those two elements are reasonable when it comes to an important health matter for 21 million Americans,” Gibney said.

“When this many people are affected, and the standard is so reasonable to meet, regulation is a good move.”

The FDA’s official regulation was published on August 5, and companies will have one year from the publication date to bring their labels into compliance. GN

Continued from PAGE 1 companies that market gluten-free products will be largely unaffected by the FDA’s announcement, however, as the 20 ppm standard is already the unofficial one most companies currently employ. This is the figure most health officials agree upon as safe for those suffering from celiac disease, even for those who are severely sensitive to gluten. In fact, many gluten-free food producers actually adhere to an even stricter standard, ensuring that that their products contain no more than 10 ppm of gluten.

Still, the FDA estimates that five percent of gluten-free products currently on the market currently contain more than 20 ppm.

“This is great news for gluten-free consumers,” said Lucy Gibney, founder of

Experts Predict the Next Big Trend in Edible Oils: High Oleic Soybean Oil High oleic soybean oil, predicted to be the next big thing in edible oils, is already receiving substantial support from the soybean industry. High oleic soybean oils provide food companies increased functionality across multiple applications and meet the nutrition needs of today’s consumers. A relative newcomer to the edible oils market, high oleic soybean oil first became available commercially in 2011.

The United Soybean Board, in cooperation with QUALISOY®, pledged $60 million over the next five years to quickly expand seed production of high oleic soybean varieties across a wide geography and to market high oleic soybean oils to food companies and other stakeholders in order to promote success of the oils for the food industry. As a result, USB projects that 9 billion pounds of high oleic soybean oil will be available by 2023, enough to meet global demand.

Health professionals recommend reducing saturated fats in the diet to lower the risks of heart disease. Consumers today are actively seeking more health-conscious food options.

As a result, food companies are always looking for new healthy options to offer their customers. High oleic soybean oils offer an option that is transfat free and lower in saturated fats than conventional soybean oil.

High oleic soybean oils also offer desirable benefits for food companies and manufacturers themselves. High oleic soybean oils’ superior resistance to oxidation extends shelf life for baked goods and snack foods. The oils also feature a neutral taste, allowing the natural flavors of ingredients to stand out.

High oleic soybean oils perform longer than standard vegetable oils in high temperature and extended use applications because of the heat and oxidative stability of the oil. This, as well as reduced polymer buildup that lessens maintenance and cleaning, translates to cost savings for food service operations.

“Demand for products with zero grams trans fat and lower saturated fats continues to grow. High oleic soybean oil offers an economical and secure solution for food companies to meet that need, as well as enhance functionality to make their businesses more successful,” said Richard Galloway, oils expert for QUALISOY. “High oleic soybean oils deliver highly stable products without sacrificing flavor.”

Jim Stillman, soybean farmer and Chair of USB agrees: “This commitment to high oleic soybean oils is about meeting our customers’ needs. It not only helps build demand for U.S. soybeans and benefits our farmers, but offers a solution that fits the needs of the food industry very well.” GN

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GENERAL NEWS

Olive Oil Continued from PAGE 1 Show, sponsored by the Italian Trade Commission in New York, in which he and other experts instructed attendees on how to identify good quality olive oil.

According to Marsano, oil slicksters are hard at work making their lesser quality goods appear to be the real thing. For example, some companies package poor quality mass produced olive oil in small, designer-looking bottles, making it appear similar to authentic small-batch produced products. Labels can also be trickily worded to make a product seem like what it is not. For example, a consumer purchasing a bottle labeled “imported from Italy” may think that he or she is purchasing an authentic Italian olive oil, when in reality the product may be made from olives grown and pressed in Tunisia or Uruguay and then simply shipped from Italy. In addition, a company might work to obscure or entirely eliminate the age of the olive oil on the label. This can be especially problematic, as the flavor and aroma of good extra virgin olive oil dissipates over time.

Marsano pointed out one particularly insidious word retailers and consumers should look out for on a label when seeking out high quality olive oil: pomace. If a bottle describes its contents as “olive pomace oil,” this means that it has been pressed from the remnants (or what Marsano referred to as the “garbage”) at the bottom of the olive press. Pomace olive oil must be treated with chemicals in order to make it edible, and it is an extremely poor substitute for the authentic version. However, without looking carefully at the bottle, it might be easy for a shopper to walk away from a store with a bottle of this, thinking

GOURMET NEWS SEPTEMBER 2013 www.gourmetnews.com

that she or he is getting a fine product.

For a retailer hoping to offer consumers a carefully curated selection of artisanal domestic and imported olive oils, it is important to carefully investigate each product to ensure that what the store is merchandising is in fact a real, first press, reliable product and not a cleverly masked fake. This necessitates a little bit of research.

The first step in evaluating a bottle of extra virgin olive oil is to look over the label and the packaging. A good bottle will be made from glass, not plastic, and will be tinted green or brown to protect it from sunlight. There may be other hints in the packaging as to the oil’s authenticity. For example, the highly prized oils from Liguria, Italy, will always be wrapped from top to bottom in gold or silver foil.

If an olive oil is described as “light” or “diet,” this is another red flag that indicates it has added chemicals and is of inferior quality. If it is described as “enriched,” it is likely to contain other ingredients that consumers are unlikely to want. On the other hand, consumers should also look out for the beneficial phrase “cold pressed.” This is a positive indication that no heat was introduced during the crushing of the olives, making the oil less likely to contain any defects.

It can also be useful to consider the price on the label as well. If the cost of one extra virgin olive oil is significantly lower than the others on the shelf, it is safe to assume there is a reason for that. “Well-made extra virgin olive oil will never be dirt cheap,” said Fotis Kefalis, Export Sales Manager for Greek olive oil producer EVGE. “If an ‘extra virgin’ (or so it says) olive oil is much more affordable than the other ones on the shelf, that’s a red flag. Artisanship takes time and money, and high-quality olive oil producers have certain costs to cover before they can even start to make a profit.”

Trade Show Buzz

BY KRISTINA HARRIS

The 2013 Natural Products Expo East is quickly approaching. The event will be held September 25-28 at the Baltimore Convention Center in Maryland. This event is always highly anticipated by retailers and buyers alike, as it is the largest natural, organic and healthy products trade show on the East Coast.

“Unlike its West Coast counterpart, the Expo East is a more intimate experience for both buyers and sellers,” says Adam Andersen, Natural Products Group Show Director. “We are a great place for regional brands to get exposure, but we also have larger companies here. It’s ideal for networking.”

The main theme of this year’s show is conscious capitalism, a movement that calls for businesses to be driven by values based on social and personal responsibility in addition to the goal of becoming financially profitable. Raj Sisodia, Ph.D., author, businessman and a local and global leader of the conscious capitalism movement, will be speaking as the Expo’s keynote speaker on Friday, September 27.

Sisodia believes that his message is ex-

The second step in judging a good olive oil is to taste it. After tasting one oil at the “Find the Fake” seminar, Fulvio Genovese, consultant for UNAPROL, an Italian consortium of olive oil producers said, “Task masters have a very easy time telling that this olive oil is not Italian, because it has a very peculiar aroma.”

Genovese explained that a well-trained judge can tell a great deal about an olive oil simply by evaluating its aroma, flavor and mouthfeel. A good olive oil will have a distinct aroma, whether it be floral, herbaceous or fruity. It should have both bitterness and spiciness on the tongue.

And it should not leave your mouth feeling greasy.

There are, however, more scientific tests that can be conducted in order to definitively identify a product’s level of quality.

EVGE is one olive oil company that has demonstrated a profound commitment to scientific testing. Kefalis explained that his company conducts two separate types of tests in an effort to prove that its offerings are truly well made. Through chemical analysis, a laboratory determines the levels of beneficial polyphenols and oleic acid, two components of good olive oil.

Organoleptic analysis consists of professional aesthetic testing, in which tasters evaluate sense notes, including fruity, nutty, fresh grassy, peppery and others.

“EVGE’s philosophy and main concern is to ensure that extra virgin olive oil maintains its stable characteristics for the final consumer. This is the reason we make all the appropriate analyses (both chemical and organoleptic) throughout the whole process of its production,” Kefalis said.

Still, all the testing in the world is no substitute for a carefully cultivated, trustworthy brand name. There are certain brands that retailers can almost always feel

comfortable putting on their shelves knowing that these are going to be products of quality. One of the oldest extra virgin olive oil companies currently offering its product in this country, Colavita, for example, has worked hard over the past 35 years to cement its reputation for excellence.

In the 1970s, when Colavita first started offering olive oil in the American market, it was “kind of a niche, something that people didn’t know about,” said Andrea Colavita, owner and Director of Sales for Colavita. “Slowly over time, [consumers] got used to the brand. They had time to appreciate the quality…and the fact that we always focus on offering 100 percent Italian extra virgin olive oil.”

“I think consumers since 30 years, they have never been disappointed about their Colavita products, which the brand is offering in the U.S. market,” Colavita said.

“So they keep buying our brand and also trying the new offers we make.”

For a dedicated retailer looking to offer her or his customers some unique, smallbatch extra virgin olive oils produced by less well known brands, however, it can be productive to reach out to the producer for more information. By developing relationships with suppliers, retailers can feel safe that their customers will not be disappointed when they get home with their new acquisitions.

As consumers increasingly wise up to the dirty tricks some olive oil companies are attempting to play on them, the secret to future success in the industry is almost invariably sure to be transparency. “I think as in every sector, the secret is to be honest, to be clear and to let consumers understand the culture of the olive oil—not having misunderstandings about tricky words,” Colavita said. “The point is to be honest, to have nothing to hide, and to be clear on the labeling.” GN

Expo East Tackles Conscious Capitalism, Unveils Next Big Thing for Natural Industry

tremely pertinent to natural product companies. “In today’s rapidly evolving world, it matters greatly not only what we produce, but also how we run our businesses,” he says. “Conscious businesses are driven by a higher purpose, built on love and care rather than fear and stress.”

Expo East organizers hope to cultivate an intimate setting within which show attendees can discuss Sisodia’s message and exchange ideas about how their own companies can adopt strategies to not only succeed, but also build conscious business practices at the same time.

An exciting event planned for this year’s Expo East will be the unveiling of the NEXT Accelerator program, previously soft-launched at the Natural Products Expo West earlier this year. The NEXT Natural Products Industry Accelerator gives entrepreneurial brands searchable access to the information, tools, service providers and networking contacts they need to launch and grow their natural products businesses.

“Basically, it’s an online portal where members of the industry can connect with each other,” says Andersen. This is

the only “product-to-shelf workshop” program of its type in the natural market. It features fundraising, manufacturing, distribution, branding, sales and marketing topics.

There are also a number of highly valuable informational sessions planned for this year’s show that attendees will certainly want to take advantage of. According to Andersen, the planned retailer workshops are definitely educational, and are sure to be worth the time and money spent on them.

Finally, Anderson also urges those present at the show to attend one other special event: “Join us for our Community Celebration Event that precedes the Orioles Game on the 26th, from 5-7 p.m. at Camden Terrace.

It’s going to be a tailgate theme that will officially kick off the Expo East.” GN

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GENERAL NEWS

GMO Labeling Continued from PAGE 1 any definitive scientific evidence that this particular group of products poses real risks to those who consume them.

There is a somewhat arduous process a company must undergo in order to place a “Non GMO Project Verified” label on its products. Companies must work with the Non GMO Project to verify that all the ingredients they use are non-GMO. This involves extensive DNA testing. There are also inspections of production facilities as well as supplier inspections. In addition, a company must undergo regular audits to determine its continuing commitment to offering nonGMO products. The process can be a costly one, both financially and in terms of time.

Still, the potential rewards for a company that successfully navigates this process can be substantial. Perhaps most importantly, these companies are providing the additional level of clarity their label-conscious customers desire, making their products more marketable to this demographic.

“For a lot of people, especially in the natural, organic world, it is very important to know that they are eating non-genetically modified foods or foods that don’t use GMOs,” said Kasey Moss, Marketing Director for Enjoy Life Foods. Enjoy Life markets about 40 products, all gluten-free, nonGMO and free of the top eight food allergens. “Our target consumer is the person with food allergies or food intolerance or celiac disease. But then there’s this whole

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other market that also eats this non-GMO all-natural lifestyle. So it’s important for us.”

Moss did point out, however, that the process of becoming non-GMO-verified was not a seamless one for her company.

Her biggest complaint about the process was the amount of time it took to finally gain approval from the Non GMO Project.

From start to finish, Enjoy Life waited 17 months for approval. The time required to navigate the verification process, as well as the monetary costs involved are just part of the difficulty that companies considering going non-GMO will need to consider.

For example, companies should understand that there can be considerably heightened costs to consider for a food company that must switch to sourcing all non-GMO ingredients. Whether it be the honey in crackers or the soy emulsifiers in chocolate, the decision to switch to non-GMO ingredients can be an expensive one. And this cost will almost certainly need to be passed on to the consumer.

Even when price is not a major concern, limited supply can be. According to Errol Schweizer, Associate Global Grocery Coordinator for Whole Foods Market, this continues to be one of the biggest problems Whole Foods encounters as it makes the move toward becoming more GMO-conscious. “I think what we need to do is get back to supply. We need to increase the supply,” Schweizer said. “I’m actually really confident that if we get to the farming community and increase—double every year, maybe even triple—the amount of non-GMO and organic crops that are available, that’s going to really

help us with all the cost issues.”

Because the number of suppliers committed to providing specialty food companies with non-GMO-verified ingredients for their products continues to be quite limited, another significant issue inhibiting these companies from receiving their certification is their inability to continue sourcing the same high quality ingredients on which they have come to rely. For example, a pasta company that wants to go non-GMO may be required to switch to a different cheese supplier, or company that makes cooking sauces may no longer be able to work with the same local farm to get its produce. This can be an impassable roadblock to a specialty food brand that is defined by the quality of the ingredients it uses.

Finally, there is one other reason that some companies, even those with strong commitments to other certification programs like USDA Organic, are choosing not to pursue non-GMO verification: the desire not to mislead their customers. Many food products are already inherently non-GMO, by virtue of the fact that none of their ingredients are available in a genetically modified form. Thus, many see the act of putting a non-GMO label on these products as nothing more than a sneaky attempt to falsely woo customers.

Guittard Chocolate Company has not sought out a non-GMO certification, despite the fact that the company went out of its way to switch out the GMO soy lecithin in its products for non-GMO sunflower lecithin. For Amy Guittard, Marketing Manager at Guittard, this decision was

based off the fact that the company already sees its products as inherently non-GMO. “It’s one of those things that it’s a choice for us whether we want to do it,” Guittard said. “For consumers, the beautiful thing about certifications is that there’s brand recognition in the certifications in a sense.

In some ways they’re familiar with that.

And that works in your favor. But [for us] I don’t see a need to have a certification for something like non-GMO, because you turn over the box and it says cocoa beans, sunflower lecithin [and] cane sugar.”

Despite potential hurdles and a bevy of reasons not to pursue certification, many companies continue to be motivated to get their products non-GMO-verified. For Schweizer, it is important for Whole Foods to label GMOs in its products in order to let consumers make an intelligent choice about their food.

“It’s your choice whether or not you want [GMOs],” he said. “As a retailer, what we’re really saying here is we support the customer’s right to know, the right to choose what they eat. We’re not taking that position officially as a retailer—a value or scientific judgment on GMOs.” For those companies looking to start the certification process, Moss offers her words of wisdom: “If you want to do it, start now, because it takes a long time, especially if you have an abundance of products…Provide as much information up front as you possibly can. Don’t pick and choose. If you’re going to do your whole product line, do it systematically…And follow up in a timely fashion.” GN

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GENERAL NEWS

Energy Continued from PAGE 1 energy drinks as well. That’s not going to stop. And until retailers see the consumers saying ‘No we’re not going to consume these products,’ the retailers are going to push on selling them.”

Wells Fargo Securities Beverage Buzz survey reported an estimated 9 percent uptick for Monster Beverage Corporation in-store volumes during the second quarter of the year, after an already sustained 7 percent increase in the quarter before. Still, although big wigs like Monster, Red Bull and Rockstar sit handily atop the American markets, the success of these major brands has spurred the growth in availability of healthier, organic and gourmet energy drink products as well.

Campbell Soup Company, for example, produces the V-Fusion + Energy drink, featuring juice and green tea, and Starbucks’ new Refreshers line features pomegranate, strawberry and melon flavors enhanced with unroasted green coffee beans. Other specialty products within the larger energy drink market include natural energy drink Guru, Steaz Energy drinks (billed as “good for the mind, body and soul”) and all-natural fair trade energy drink brand Hiball Energy.

Somewhat surprisingly, all of this growth in the industry comes on the heels of Illinois Senator Dick Durbin calling for a Food and Drug Administration investigation into energy drinks. Durbin’s push began last year, after reports of five deaths allegedly linked to the consumption of Monster energy drinks, including the December 2011 death of 14-year-old Anais

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Fournier.

“Energy drinks with names like Monster Energy, Red Bull, Rockstar, Full Throttle and AMP are now common fixtures in grocery stores, vending machines, and convenience stores. These products target young people claiming to increase attention, stamina, performance, and weight loss,” Durbin wrote to the FDA Commissioner. “The glossy marketing tailored to youth has worked. Thirty to fifty percent of adolescents report consuming energy drinks…[However,] consuming large quantities of caffeine can have serious health consequences, including caffeine toxicity, stroke, anxiety, arrhythmia, and in some cases death.”

Others are joining the fight as well, bringing lawsuits against major energy drink companies. This includes a mother in California who is suing Monster, alleging that her son died after drinking 32 ounces of the drink a day before his death. Her claim is bolstered by research that links excessive caffeine intake to negative health consequences, particularly for kids and young adults.

The FDA’s current regulations on energy drinks limit caffeine to 0.02 percent or less of the product, about 71 milligrams in a 12-ounce drink. Some companies often eschew these limits, however, by marketing their products not as drinks, but rather as dietary supplements. The agency also places regulations on energy food products, such as Perky Jerky, high quality dried and cured turkey and beef jerky that, according to CEO Brian Levin, was first envisioned when a can of energy drink fell on a pack of jerky.

“It’s not considered any more of an energy product than a diet soda or a piece of chocolate,” said Perky Jerky CEO Brian Levin. “We created a gourmet, high quality product for active lifestyles and the ingredient we use for energy is a very small

amount essentially used for flavoring…It’s frustrating to be lumped into these products that have more of a desire to jump on this energy craze when if anything we are going away from it.”

Perky Jerky is sold in a broad spectrum of retail environments, including at Whole Foods in the southwestern United States and in the Dean and DeLuca catalog. The company’s growing popularity is enabling it to expand. Soon, Perky Jerky plans to roll out a line of gluten free products as well as more flavors and turkey alternatives.

“This is kind of a higher end product that’s within reach,” Levin said.

Although the FDA investigation into energy foods and drinks does not immediately appear to have far reaching ramifications for the gourmet industry, in fact the energy product market has become so pervasive that there is a growing segment of specialty food and drink companies like Perky Jerky, marketing their offerings as “energy products.” In addition, more and more gourmet retailers are stocking these kinds of products.

According to Pirko, there is definitely room in the gourmet marketplace for speciality energy food and drink products. “The breakthroughs could come if [a company] can authentically make some claims if there really is an ingredient that catches the public’s fancy,” Pirko said. He acknowledged, however, that the ongoing FDA investigation might affect those who are attempting to market less-proven energy products, because retailers themselves could be more hesitant to stock their shelves with an unknown commodity in an ever-changing market.

Still, this uncertainty is not stopping many gourmet companies from stepping up to that challenge. This includes companies like Turbo Truffle, a caffeine-infused gourmet chocolate brand, and

ENERGMAX, a line of natural gourmet energy bars.

LoAdebar, a company which makes loaded energy bars, is clearly making an effort to differentiate itself from the larger energy food and drink market and show that the arena has room for more options than just Rockstar and Red Bull. This month, LoAdebar is bringing its products to Natural Products Expo East, the premier marketplace for natural, organic and healthy gourmet products.

“There is definitely a place for natural healthy energy food, and that is not just for people with busy active lifestyles,” said Norma Maloney, owner of LoAdebar.

Maloney noted that these products can be practical supplements for those on-the-go.

“Most of the energy bars in the marketplace are not tasty, they are not simple and have too many fillers. My goal with LoAdebar has been to complement the healthy lifestyle choices with a snack that combines great taste and good nutrition.”

Maloney said that at times people “expect magic” from energy products and that this is the place where the FDA could help to give consumers more realistic expectations from their products. At venues such as Expo East, Maloney works to highlight her company’s products, letting retailers and consumers know LoAdebar can serve as a good tasting, good for you product that is also a good energy boost.

Still, even though he does not see the market itself closing any time soon, Pirko argues that the more ingrained the big dogs are in consumers’ minds, the harder it will be for smaller companies to make inroads. “If you are going to try and take on Red Bull and Monster, you are going to need a big trust fund,” he said, “It’s probably going to be a little trust fund when you are done.” GN

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GENERAL NEWS

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Gourmet Bar Mixers Gain Trendspotters Identify Top Market Momentum with More Five Food Trends at 2013 Crafting Cocktails at Home Summer Fancy Food Show Tracking the growth trend in spirits and the rise of cocktail culture, mixers used in the preparation of cocktails and mixed drinks in restaurants and bars is on a solid growth trajectory. This is according to The OnPremise Bar Mixer Marketplace report recently released by market research firm Technomic.

Technomic defines the mixer category as non-alcoholic beverage ingredients used in spirits-based mixed drinks and cocktails.

This includes prepared mixes, juices, carbonated soft drinks, syrups and flavorings, purees, tonic waters and energy drinks. Mixers reached 130 million finished gallons in 2012, a 2.5 percent increase compared with 2011. The category is expected to continue on a steady growth trend in 2013 and 2014.

“Several factors are supporting the growth of mixers in the on-premise channel,” said Donna Hood Crecca, Senior Director at Technomic. “The continued growth of spirits and cocktails in bars and restaurants, combined with flavor and product innovation on the part of mixer suppliers is creating momentum in the category. And consumers are increasingly interested in the mixers used in their drinks.”

One-third of consumers say they pay more attention to mixers when ordering drinks at bars and restaurants now than they did two years ago, according to the study. Young adult consumers are the group most in tune with the trend. Forty-five percent of millennials report paying more attention to the mixers used in drinks today.

In addition, the majority of bartenders sur-

veyed (85 percent) report their guests are more interested in the mixer component of their drinks.

Flavor is the mixer attribute of most interest to consumers, and it is an important area of product innovation among leading mixer suppliers. Strawberry, lime, exotic fruits, sweet-spicy and other blends are trending flavors. Brand is also important to consumers, particularly for drinks involving spirits and carbonated soft drinks, such as rum and cola. Three-quarters of consumers specify the preferred brand of carbonated soft drink when ordering these mixed drinks.

“Following a 5.6 percent increase in sales in the onpremise channel in 2012, spirits are projected to continue growing in dollars and volume in restaurants, bars, lounges, nightclubs and other onpremise locations,” said Crecca. “The cocktail culture is now well-established, and millennials are very much engaged in it, driving trends in new drinks and flavors. As a result, the vibrant and diverse mixer market is expected to enjoy ongoing expansion.”

The On-Premise Bar Mixer Marketplace report provides in-depth national volume information on mixer categories, including leading brands, as well as bartender, on-premise operator and consumer insights, all presented with expert analysis and forecasting. To purchase or learn more about On-Premise Bar Mixer Marketplace, as well as other industry reports and services for adult beverage suppliers, visit Technomic online at www.technomic.com. GN

Move over bacon. Make way for kale pops, chia pods and simmer sauces from around the globe. These are examples of the top five food trends for the coming year as chosen by a panel of trendspotters at the 59th Summer Fancy Food Show in New York.

The 2013 Summer Fancy Food show was held June 30-July 2 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. The annual event is the largest marketplace in North America for specialty foods and beverages, with 180,000 products from more than 2,400 food manufacturers, importers and entrepreneurs on display, including the latest artisanal cheeses, chocolates, vinegars, grilling sauces and natural and organic products.

The first food trend chosen by the show’s trendspotters is the reinvention of frozen treats.

Several exhibitors stand out as emblematic of this phenomenon, including Life Ice, maker of Freeze & Eat Bite-Sized Ices, and DeeBee’s Organics, whose Tea Pops introduce the refreshing flavors of tea to a frozen treat.

The second trend is the clever introduction of grains and seeds to new product categories. Seattle Chocolate Co., for example, is using both grains and seeds in their jcoco Agave Quinoa Sesame Milk Chocolate Bar. And La Pasta, Inc., an innovative pasta and sauce company, has found a new way to use quinoa in their Sweet Potato, Quinoa and Kale Ravioli.

Global meal starters represent a third important trend identified by the experts at the show. Saffron Road, for example, offers unique international meal starters

like Harissa, Korean Stir Fry and Thai Red Curry Simmer Sauces. Meanwhile, another show exhibitor, Kitchens of Africa, offers Maffé Peanut and Yassa Onion Simmer Sauces.

The fourth trend consumers can expect to see at their local specialty food shop this year is the movement to redesign and perfect retro dishes. Companies already reimagining classics include City Bakery, which is tackling hot chocolate, and Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams, which has completely re-envisioned the ice cream sandwich.

Finally, the trendspotters identified one predominant trend when it comes to beverages: at-home mixology. A number of exhibitors at this year’s show, including Sociale, Hella Bitter, Luke’s Heirloom Tomato Juice and Emily Rose Syrups, presented their delicious, gourmet cocktail mixers.

The expert trendspotters who chose this list included Rachel Hofstetter, Author of “Cooking Up a Business,” Sara Moulton of Sara’s Weeknight Meals, Kara Nielsen of CCD Innovation, Charles Passy of The Wall Street Journal Digital Network, Denise Purcell of Specialty Food Media, Lauren Purcell and Dana Bowen of Everyday with Rachel Ray, Regina Ragone of Family Circle Magazine, Beverly Stephen of Food Arts and Susie Timm of Girl Meets Fork.

Additional trends identified by this panel of experts include single-serve snacks with calorie counts, Vietnamese flavors, chickpea and seaweed snacks, maple products, sweet and savory cookies, coconut, salted caramel and innovations in gluten-free foods. GN

Survey Reveals Drivers behind Parents’ Purchases for their Children A recent survey conducted by Cargill, an international producer and marketer of food, agricultural, financial and industrial products and services, reveals the key drivers behind parents’ food and beverage purchases for their children. According to the survey, Parents are more likely to seek foods and beverages that appeal to the whole family rather than products and meals that are just for kids. The survey also shows that parents are generally unsatisfied with the healthfulness of current options across key categories of foods and beverages that are popular with kids. As such, parents tend to seek positive attributes such as whole grains and fiber rather than specifically avoiding the things they perceive to be unhealthy, such as fat, sugar and sodium.

“We know it’s important to meet the nutrition and budget expectations of parents, while also satisfying kids on the taste di-

mension,” said DeeAnn Roullier, Marketing Research Manager for Cargill. “Our research provides a more specific understanding of gatekeeper purchase drivers in categories heavily consumed by kids. This helps us collaborate with customers to develop healthier foods that really resonate.”

According to the survey, only onethird of parents said they “often prepare separate adult and kid meals,” and 81 percent of parents said it is important for the foods they purchase to appeal to the entire family. When looking to determine whether it was the kids or the parents who compromise on the kinds of foods they eat, it was most often the kids. Most parents, 89 percent in fact, said they ask their kids to broaden their tastes, and 69 percent said they ask their kids to try more adult food. Importantly, millennial parents are more likely to say that family appeal is im-

portant compared to older parents. This suggests young consumers moving into parenthood are likely to adopt a family approach.

The Cargill study looked across nine food and beverage categories that are popular with children to determine the key attributes that resonate most with parents.

Compared to the general population, parents show a low level of satisfaction with the healthfulness of most of these categories. This low satisfaction drives high purchase intent for healthier products.

Cargill’s results indicate a high level of intent to purchase healthier products in eight of nine categories and highlight opportunity gaps for each category.

In addition, the Cargill survey revealed that parents are more likely to seek positive attributes in food and beverage products, as opposed to working to avoid what they perceive to be unhealthy. More than three-

quarters of those surveyed say they check the nutrition information on unfamiliar products, with 65 percent saying that they regularly check nutrition highlights on the front of the package.

“Pressures on food and beverage companies to formulate more nutritious products for kids are coming from all angles—consumers, NGOs and government as well as many customers’ own internal nutrition targets,” Roullier said. “Those pressures are typically focused on limiting nutrients that are perceived to be less healthy, especially fat, sodium and sugar. Our research suggests that consumers are largely interested in positive nutrition.”

This research was conducted as part of Cargill’s childhood nutrition initiative which aims to help food and beverage manufacturers and foodservice operators formulate products that improve the nutrition profile of products targeted to children. GN

GIFTWARE

GOURMET NEWS SEPTEMBER 2013 www.gourmetnews.com

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Giftware

The Spill Spoiler and Spill Spoiler Sport The Spill Spoiler and Spill Spoiler Sport are ecofriendly, reusable solutions that will help you save time, spills and money, while being fueled up with healthy drinks right at your fingertips. Spill Spoiler Sport caps fit various sports drink bottles, while Spill Spoiler fits other standard-size baby bottles and pediatric nutrition drinks. The Spill Spoiler and Spill Spoiler Sport caps are free of BPA, PVC and Phthalates, and if the straw is removed from the cap, the valve seals the straw opening to prevent spills. Use this fantastic reusable solution daily. Put the Spill Spoiler caps in your car console and in the bag you use daily. They are great for daily vending machine drinks anywhere and work well for adults at the gym.

Both the Spill Spoiler and Spill Spoiler Sport retail for an SRP of $6.99 for a three-pack. Check out the caps at the company’s website: www.Spillspoiler.com.

Sales Pop with New Jelly Belly Popcorn Box LunchBlox Kids Rubbermaid® introduces LunchBlox™ Kids, an easy way for parents to pack healthy lunches for their kids this school year. LunchBlox Kids is an expansion of the popular LunchBlox line of reusable food storage products Rubbermaid introduced in 2012. The LunchBlox containers have a unique “blox” design that snap to each other or to Blue Ice chill packs. LunchBlox help save space and keep lunch bags organized, making it easier for parents to pack an assortment of healthy, delicious foods and snacks.

LunchBlox Kids incorporates the same elements of the LunchBlox containers, but now includes added features just for kids. The containers come in vibrant, kid-friendly colors and are leak-proof, yet easy for little hands to open. And the Blue Ice Chill Packs keep lunches chilled all day without refrigeration, meaning parents can feel comfortable knowing their child’s lunch will remain fresh hours after sending them to school.

For more information about LunchBlox and LunchBlox Kids, visit www.rubbermaid.com.

Keep Wine Cold in the Summer with VinOice The VinOice is the latest innovation from Cork Pops that is billed as the fastest and easiest way to chill, serve and pour wine, eliminating the need for an ice bucket, gel bottle sleeve, drip collar and non-drip pourer. The concept behind VinOice is simple: A rod containing a food safe gel that freezes in 30 minutes is encased in stainless steel and comes with a sleek drip-free pour spout. The VinOice is simply chilled in the freezer until required, when it is then inserted into the neck of the wine bottle in order to ensure that white wine maintains its just chilled freshness for up to an hour outside of the fridge. This eliminates the need for an ice bucket. VinOice includes an innovative pourer, which eliminates the need for the chilling rod to be taken out of the wine bottle every time a glass is poured. The use of the pourer prevents condensation from forming on the rod when it is removed and as a result, eliminates any dilution of the wine. Competing products merely feature a chill rod that must be removed and reinserted each time wine is poured.

The vinOice is attractively priced at $28 and is available at major retailers throughout North America and online at www.CorkPops.com.

Beechwood Measuring Spoons from Talisman Designs Talisman Designs’ solid beechwood measuring spoon set is handcrafted out of a solid piece of beechwood sourced from a responsibly managed forest. Designed to be hardworking and durable, these spoons are finished with a natural FDA approved oil. However, what sets these beautiful utensils apart is the lightly laser etched design that will last as long as the utensil. They are available in a choice of two delightful patterns: Nature or Woodland. Made of natural wood, they will vary in color, making each piece unique. The largest spoon measures up to 5.6 inches long.

The set includes 1 tablespoon, 1 teaspoon, ½ teaspoon and ¼ teaspoon measurers. Hand washing is recommended.

For more information, visit Talisman Designs online at www.talismandesigns.com.

Buttered Popcorn flavor Jelly Belly® jelly beans are a best seller at retail. Now, Jelly Belly offers retailers the opportunity to capture impulse sales with the legendary flavor in a new singleserving 1.75-oz. Jelly Belly Popcorn Box, ideal for check out. Reminiscent of a trip to the theater, the Jelly Belly Popcorn Box is a nostalgic red and white striped stand-up box filled with the perennial favorite. No Jelly Belly Buttered Popcorn fan can resist the sweet and savory treat, which is why the size and appealing price point makes this box a perfect fit near the cash register. The novelty look is a fitting addition to movie nights and big game celebrations, and it makes a fun party favor. The boxes also work well in custom gift baskets and as stocking stuffers for the holidays.Jelly Belly beans contain four calories per bean, and the treats are fat free, peanut free, dairy free, gluten free, vegetarian and OU Kosher certified.

For additional information, retailers may contact Jelly Belly Candy customer service at 800.323.9380. Connect with the company on Facebook at www.facebook.com/JellyBelly and on Pinterest at www.pinterest.com/JellyBelly.

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EDITORIAL

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GOURMET NEWS

®

FROM THE EDITOR

WWW.GOURMETNEWS.COM PUBLISHER

I don’t know how or when precisely it happened, but the worlds of food and travel media appear to have unofficially merged.

On television’s iconic Food Network, accomplished chefs like Bobby Flay and Mario Batali now plate up recipes alongside foodie tourists like Guy Fieri, who regularly takes his viewers on culinary road trips to America’s favorite “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.” Meanwhile, nearly every program on sister network The Travel Channel contains some gastronomic element. Most top food magazines today contain a travel section, directing readers where to find the best barbecue in Memphis or the best beignets in New Orleans. And popular chef/authors like Anthony Bourdain and Peter Mayle have developed widespread followings for books that take their readers on edible vacations to exotic locales.

I for one could not be happier about this merger of food and travel into a single media entity. Like many travel lovers today, food plays a very important role in my vacation plans. I tend to choose travel destinations at least in part based on places where I am interested in sam-

pling the local cuisine. And when sketching out my itinerary, a list of probable destination restaurants always appears right alongside the museums and monuments I plan to visit. At the same time, I also love to travel through food, perhaps planning a spicy Indian palak paneer to liven up a dull workday or whisking away dinner guests to an impromptu night out in the South of France with a tuna salad Niçoise and a dry Provençal rosé.

The specialty food industry is, of course, no stranger to the coalescence of food and travel in popular culture. Stepping into a gourmet store or wine shop today can be a truly transportive experience. The shopper may be at once presented with a selection of rice noodles from China, imported amaretti cookies from Italy and authentic Canadian maple syrup. Filling up your basket can be like choosing where you want to be carried away to as you prepare your purchases in upcoming meals.

For me, there is certainly an element of figurative travel involved in putting together the pages of Gourmet News. In recent months, I have spoken to food professionals from France, Great Britain, Italy and Greece in developing stories for

this publication. I love chatting about food trends around the world and bringing geographically diverse stories to the readers. And it is always a pleasure learning about and trying unique foods from across the globe as I consider which ones to include in these pages.

In this issue, there are a number of stories and product features that will take you on a journey from Switzerland to the Dead Sea. In my cover story on the complex contemporary market for imported olive oils, I delve into the sometimes inexplicably strange path that extra virgin olive takes on its way from distant olive groves to a retail shelf in the United States. In our Supplier Profile, Hannah Hollins writes about Harney & Sons, whose new Ambessa tea line takes the drinker on a trip from Kenya to Harlem by way of Europe. In addition, we profile an eclectic array of international food products this month, including items from everywhere from Hawaii to West Virginia to New Zealand to Germany.

Flip through these pages, and take a trip on us! GN

Lee M. Oser ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER

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SPECIALTY RETAILERS

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Specialty Retailers BRIEFS Manhattan Fruitier Expands with Online Specialty Food Store Manhattan Fruitier, with its elegant fresh fruit baskets and gourmet gift baskets that have been favorites of U.S. presidents, celebrities and discerning clientele for more than 25 years, has expanded its business with the Pantry, a new line of artisanal foods that customers purchase for self-consumption, rather than gift-giving.

The Pantry consists of unique gourmet and artisanal foods that are handcrafted by independent producers across the United States and worldwide. The primary purpose of the Pantry is to provide customers access to interesting offerings that may not be available to them locally.

“Our Pantry represents a whole new way to shop at Manhattan Fruitier. We want our customers to treat themselves for a change,” said Jehv Gold, company owner.

To coincide with the launch of the Pantry, Manhattan Fruitier has also completely redesigned its website. The Pantry section on the website allows visitors to browse through the foods available that can be ordered online.

Each item is represented with a photo of the product and a detailed description.

The company has created a niche by providing top-quality elegant fruit gift baskets that are hand-delivered across Manhattan and shipped across the nation.

To view what the Pantry is currently offering, visit www.manhattanfruitier.com/category/pantry.

Natural Grocers Expands Across Oklahoma Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage® opened its newest location in Tulsa, Okla. The Tulsa store at 9137 E. 71st St., is the company’s second in Oklahoma, joining an existing store in Norman.

Based in Colorado, Natural Grocers offers only natural and organic products on its shelves.

Shoppers will find only USDA-certified organic produce, meats from animals raised naturally without the use of antibiotics or hormones, as well as other delicious organic and natural groceries free of artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners and hydrogenated oils. The grocery chain also offers an extensive natural dietary supplement and body care department, as well as a large selection of gluten-free and other special dietary need products.

For more than 55 years, Natural Grocers has honored the Isely family’s founding principles to provide the highest ingredient standards at everyday affordable prices. Natural Grocers will not sell any foods that contain artificial ingredients. Today, the awareness of the benefits of eating natural foods is higher than ever and continues to grow, helping Natural Grocers expand into 13 states with more than 65 stores.

Started as a single family-run store, Natural Grocers has grown into a successful national chain with locations across Colorado, Texas, Utah, Wyoming, Oklahoma, Missouri, New Mexico, Montana, Kansas, Idaho, Nebraska, Arizona and Oregon.

Special Events Make Market Street a Destination Supermarket

BY LORRIE BAUMANN

Just in case Texans did not have enough reasons to be proud of their state already, Market Street takes July of every year as an opportunity to add to those with a Best of Texas expo that helps Texans get better acquainted with the food and beverage bounty produced in the Lone Star State.

This year’s Best of Texas expo featured products ranging from Beanitos chips, Rhythm Kale Chips and Mrs. Renfro’s Salsa for the appetizer course to Scoops Ice Cream and Sticky Toffee Pudding along with about three dozen other brands and product categories that all originated in Texas.

“We do three or four of those kinds of events through the year. Best of Texas may be everyone’s favorite because our guests expect us to feature local products and provide them with local products,” said Eddie Owens, Director of Communications and Public Relations for United Supermarkets, LLC., the parent company of Market Street, which is coming up on its 10th anniversary in the Dallas-Fort Worth market.

United now has 57 stores in Texas under four brands: United Supermarkets (36 stores), Market Street (11 stores), Amigos (three stores) and United Express (seven free-standing convenience stores and 18 other fuel stations with walk-in kiosks). A new United Supermarkets location and another Market Street store are under construction, and a new Amigos store, a brand designed for Hispanic communities, is scheduled to be built next year.

Market Street, the company’s specialty foods retail chain, is known in north and west Texas for three annual month-long expos: Best of Texas, Healthy New You, which focuses on health and wellness and

is held in January, and Entertaining Made Easy, which takes place each November.

Healthy New You includes some regular vendors, especially those who make health and body care products. Health screenings are also offered through nonprofit partners like American Diabetes Association. The Best of Texas expo is a sampling event with stations located throughout the stores. “We featured at least one product from every department of the store each weekend. If you came in the first weekend in July, you would not see the same products that you would see the second weekend,” Owens said.

The showcase for Texas products meets a need for Market Street guests, who, along with many other Americans, are increasingly more concerned about food safety and ethics. “There is a growing urgency for folks who want to know where their products are coming from. They want to buy close to home,” Owens said. “We’re trying to meet that need. We’re hoping that once they’re exposed to those products, guests will keep coming back to purchase them.”

Customers are also encouraged to keep coming back by a vigorous social media effort along with Market Street’s weekly newspaper advertising. The expo events are marketed in the weekly ads as well as in runof-press ads in the same editions of the newspapers during the weeks in which the expo is happening. Notices are also pushed out on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter and Instagram.

The expos are celebrated with occasional radio remotes as well. “The whole point is to generate some excitement,” Owens said.

In addition to the events that take place in all 11 Market Street stores, there are two Market Streets in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex that include cooking schools.

Both of those stores are larger than the other nine Market Street stores, which range from 65,000 to 71,000 square feet. These stores include larger kitchenware departments as well as classrooms and demonstration areas large enough for hands-on classes taught by the company’s corporate chef and other chefs from the community.

The classes are staffed by Market Street team members who handle registrations, clean-up and all the other tasks associated with running a successful culinary education program.

“On the other end of the scale, there’s a new store under construction in Flower Mound that’s downsized to only 55,000 square feet,” Owens said. He noted that United has been seeking to enter the Flower Mound market for several years, and the store will face heavy competition from other grocery chains that operate 16 competitive stores within five miles of the new Market Street location. “We think that this store is going to be our prototype for new stores for the foreseeable future. We think we can compete better with this size store,” he said. GN

Online Retailer OpenSky Launches Open Marketplace for Small Merchants OpenSky.com, a website where users can discover, share, shop and grow the world’s most exciting emerging brands, recently launched an open social marketplace where small merchants can apply to open and manage their own stores within the company’s network of nearly 3 million members.

“Operating exclusively as an online retailer for the last two years, we built pioneering tools for social commerce,” said John Caplan, Founder and CEO of OpenSky. “Today, we’re handing these easy-to-use tools over to thousands of small businesses in a platform they can leverage to reach new customers and build their business.”

As with all social networks OpenSky users design their own experience by con-

necting to other people. The launch of OpenSky’s marketplace offers them the ability to connect, interact and share with thousands of small merchants from around the country as well. The marketplace will enhance the ever-changing assortment of goods for users to discover, shop and share with friends both within the network and outside.

“There is a growing appetite to discover products that are unique and different, not mass produced,” Caplan said. “The OpenSky marketplace is the social platform that connects people with extraordinary things and the small businesses who make them.”

For small merchants, connecting directly to OpenSky users, including many industry

insiders, celebrities and experts who use the network, offers a unique opportunity for their brand and products to spread virally within a community focused on shopping. As members discover and interact with new products, their activities are shared socially among their OpenSky connections, creating a ripple-effect of discovery within the network.

For merchants, opening a store on OpenSky is free. The site takes a commission on products sold to OpenSky members with the exception of any sales made to those members a merchant brings into the network when they open their shop. Potential merchants can apply by visiting www.opensky.com/merchant. GN

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GROCERY & DEPARTMENT STORES

GOURMET NEWS SEPTEMBER 2013 www.gourmetnews.com

Grocery & Department Stores Kroger Purchases Rival Mid-Atlantic Supermarket Chain Harris Teeter In July, The Kroger Co. and Harris Teeter Supermarkets, Inc. announced a definitive merger agreement under which Kroger will purchase all outstanding shares of Harris Teeter for $49.38 per share in cash.

Harris Teeter brings to Kroger a well known brand along with its base of 212 stores in the southeastern and mid-Atlantic markets, including the Washington, D.C.area. Harris Teeter stores are largely located in high-growth markets in North Carolina, Virginia, South Carolina, Maryland, Tennessee, Delaware, Florida, Georgia and the District of Columbia. Harris Teeter also operates distribution centers for grocery, frozen and perishable foods in Greensboro, N.C. and Indian Trail, N.C. and a dairy facility in High Point, N.C. Harris Teeter had

revenues of approximately $4.5 billion for fiscal year 2012.

“We are excited to welcome Harris Teeter to the Kroger family,” said David B. Dillon, Kroger’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “Harris Teeter is an exceptional company with a great brand, friendly and talented associates and attractive store formats in vibrant markets run by a first-class management team. They share our customer-centric approach to everything we do, from store format and merchandising to innovative loyalty programs.”

“This is a financially and strategically compelling transaction and a unique opportunity for our shareholders and associates,” Dillon continued. “We look forward to bringing together the best of Kroger and

Harris Teeter while continuing to operate and grow the Harris Teeter brands. Together, we can continue to deepen our connections with customers across all of our markets.”

Thomas W. Dickson, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Harris Teeter, said about the merger, “Harris Teeter has a long track record of creating shareholder value and this merger is the culmination of those efforts over many years. We are excited about becoming part of The Kroger Co., one of the best food retailers in the U.S., while maintaining the Harris Teeter banner, our management teams, our new store growth plan, our distribution and manufacturing facilities in North Carolina as well as our headquarters in Matthews, N.C.” GN

Trader Joe’s is Consumers’ Favorite Grocery Chain, According to Market Force Study Trader Joe’s is North America’s favorite grocery store based on customer satisfaction.

This is according to a new study of 6,600 consumers conducted by Market Force Information, a worldwide leader in customer intelligence solutions. Publix Super Markets and Whole Foods Market rounded out the top three. All three received high marks for courteous staff, inviting atmosphere and high-quality produce.

Market Force’s grocery retailer study was designed to uncover where consumers prefer to shop, as well as why they favor one grocer over another. When asked to rate their satisfaction with their most recent grocery store experience, consumers scored Trader Joe’s above all others. Publix, Whole Foods, Wegmans

and ALDI also ranked high, indicating both their customers’ overall satisfaction and the likelihood that their customers will recommend the grocers to friends and family in the future.

The Market Force survey found generally high overall satisfaction among consumers with their preferred grocery stores. This can make it difficult for one store to woo customers away from another.

“With most consumers satisfied with their grocery-shopping experiences, it makes for a very competitive playing field for grocers looking to distinguish themselves from the masses,” said Janet EdenHarris, Chief Marketing Officer for Market Force. “We start to see the greatest opportunities for differentiation in operations-re-

lated attributes such as fast check-outs, gracious staff and atmosphere.”

Both Trader Joe’s and Publix performed well in the operational excellence attributes, with Trader Joe’s ranking first for its atmosphere and quick checkout process, and second in the other three categories.

Publix was tops among shoppers for its cleanliness and courteous staff, and second to Trader Joe’s in atmosphere. Hy-Vee and H-E-B also fared consistently well in key categories.

The survey was conducted in May across the United States and Canada. Respondents’ ages ranged from 19 to over 65. Approximately 73 percent were women and 27 percent were men. Half of respondents have children at home. GN

New Product Opens Supermarket Doors to Special-Needs Shoppers During her early years, Caroline Long fit comfortably in the child seat installed in traditional grocery carts. However, she eventually outgrew those seats, putting her mother Drew Ann Long in a bind. Caroline has Rett’s Syndrome, a nervous system disorder that has left her unable to walk, talk or use her hands. Drew Ann, who also has two typical children, soon realized that she needed an original solution to her groceryshopping problem. Neither hiring a babysitter nor pushing Caroline in a wheelchair while maneuvering a grocery cart were practical, so Long was driven to design a custom cart that would allow her to shop with all of her children freely.

Caroline’s Cart is a state-of-the-art product that will provide families of specialneeds children new freedom of mobility.

Officially launched July 18, a number of retailers have already begun ordering Caroline’s Carts for their establishments.

Technibilt, member of the Wanzl Group, the world’s largest producer of grocery carts, began production on a line of Caroline’s Carts on August 1.

“Technibilt is thrilled to be a part of this amazing grocery cart for children with disabilities. It is going to provide families the opportunity to shop with their child with a disability, with the same ease as a typical child,” said David Orfinik, Vice President

of Sales and Marketing for Technibilt.

Caroline’s Cart was honored as an innovative contribution to special-needs individuals with the prestigious 2013 Da Vinci Award for Transportation and Mobility. In 2012, Caroline Long was named a National Youth Ambassador for Easter Seals, an opportunity that gave a greater platform for her story and the cart that bears her name. Easter Seals is so enthusiastic about the cart that it will be the first product emblazoned with the organization's iconic lily logo.

For Information on Caroline’s Cart, visit www.technibilt.com or www .carolinescart.com. GN

BRIEFS Stop & Shop Bringing Customers Local Flavor The Stop & Shop Supermarket Company LLC re-launched its Local Route program in all of its stores to guide customers to fresh, locally grown produce while they shop. Each week, Stop & Shop’s produce departments will highlight local farms and feature fresh items from those farms.

Stop & Shop has been a leader in the buy local movement for many years, supporting local farmers and suppliers. Customers can find local products in Stop & Shop stores throughout the year. Especially during the summer months, many “in season” produce items have come right from the ground in a nearby town or county.

Stop & Shop invites customers to visit www.stopandshop.com for more details on the store’s Local Route program and to find recipes for fresh new ideas to lighten up summer meals with locally grown produce.

Food 4 Less Working to Reduce Hunger Supermarket chain Food 4 Less raised $154,559 to assist hunger relief efforts. The funds were raised through the supermarket company’s annual Bringing Hope to the Table campaign.

Monies raised through this year’s Bringing Hope to the Table campaign will benefit food banks that are members of Feeding America, the nation’s largest hunger-relief organization.

Since 2006, Food 4 Less has contributed more than $1.5 million in food and funds to local food banks through the annual Bringing Hope to the Table campaign.

“We are grateful to our customers and vendors who chose to make a difference in the lives of hungry families,” said Bryan Kaltenbach, President of Food 4 Less. “Thanks to their generosity, Feeding America food banks in the communities served by our stores will be even better positioned to provide food and resources to the hungry.”

United Supermarkets Introduces TortillaMaking Machines United Supermarkets is officially in the tortillamaking business—and in a big way. Requiring five staff members to operate, the chain’s new tortilla machines now produce two distinctly different products. “The ‘Mi Pueblo’ recipe is your basic table tortilla but with superior quality,” said Scott Nettles, Senior Director of Perishables for United Supermarkets. The second, “Tejano Style,” represents an improvement over a homestyle product.

“We’ve tried to improve the quality of both products by limiting the preservatives,” Nettles explained. “The Mi Pueblo tortilla has a 21- to 30-day shelf life at retail, while the Tejano product will have very little preservatives and a seven-day shelf life.

From the two recipes, United will be able to control not only the per-package tortilla count, but also the size of the tortillas, giving store guests a wide variety of products from which to choose.

GOURMET NEWS SEPTEMBER 2013 www.gourmetnews.com

SPECIALTY DISTRIBUTORS & BROKERS

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Specialty Distributors & Brokers BRIEFS KeHE Reveals New Enterprise Branding President and CEO Brandon Barnholt unveiled new branding for KeHE Distributors, LLC. “This new branding signals an important step in our continuing quest to be the preferred supply chain partner in natural, specialty and fresh retail products,” Barnholt said. “We are embarking on an exciting new phase in our company’s journey to make on-trend easy for our suppliers and retail customers.”

“The past few years brought a great deal of change to our industry and KeHE has grown and added products and expertise to meet the needs of today’s marketplace. The KeHE brand name along with the new one earth logo effectively capture the scope of sales, marketing, product assortment, and supply chain expertise we bring to every channel of business we serve,” Barnholt continued.

Based in Romeoville, Ill., KeHE Distributors provides natural and organic, specialty and gourmet, international and multicultural and fresh products to more than 30,000 retail customers in the chain grocery, independent grocery, natural food store, and niche specialty retail channels throughout North America.

Michael Foods Subsidiary To Purchase Primera Foods Business M.G. Waldbaum Company, a subsidiary of Michael Foods, Inc., has entered into an agreement to acquire the assets of Primera Foods Corporation. Included in the transaction will be Primera’s manufacturing assets located in Britt, Iowa, and Altura, Minn., where Primera produces value-added egg products.

“The purchase of the Primera business is an important decision for our company,” said Jim Dwyer, Chairman and CEO of Michael Foods.

“The two businesses are complementary, and the acquisition will allow the Michael Foods family of companies to extend its capacity and manufacturing capabilities.” Dwyer said the initial focus of the acquisition will be ensuring a seamless transition for Primera customers.

Michael Foods is headquartered in Minnetonka, Minn. The company employs approximately 3,500 people and serves customers across North America, Europe and Asia.

Inventure Foods Top Executive Named 2013 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year Inventure Foods, Inc., a specialty food marketer and manufacturer, announced that its President and CEO, Terry McDaniel, has been honored with an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® Award in the Mountain Desert region.

McDaniel received the top honor in the turnaround category.

The Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year award recognizes outstanding high-growth entrepreneurs who demonstrate excellence and extraordinary success in such areas as innovation, financial performance and personal commitment to their businesses and communities. The finalists and winners were selected by an independent panel of judges and honored at a gala event at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts on June 20.

US Foods Named Official Foodservice Provider to World Food Championships US Foods, an innovative food company and leading distributor, will become the Official Foodservice Provider to the 2013 World Food Championships, according to Trybe Targeting. The World Food Championships will take place Nov. 7-10 in Las Vegas.

The second annual World Food Championships will bring almost 500 competitors from the biggest and best food competitions around the world, including online recipe contests, into an ultimate food fight for fame and fortune. Following a tournament-style format across seven iconic food categories, the WFC will culminate with a Final Table showdown where category champions will face potential elimination in front of a live audience and

a discerning panel of culinary celebrities.

“At US Foods, we’re passionate about food and love seeing that same passion among the World Food Championships competitors,” said Pietro Satriano, Chief Merchandising Officer for US Foods. “We make it our mission to provide chefs and restaurateurs with unique and innovative products that help them showcase their culinary talent, and we are thrilled to be a part of this event and help this year’s competitors develop their winning dishes and celebrate their success.”

As the Official Foodservice Provider, US Foods will provide competition finalists in seven categories with a fully stocked pantry for their use during the final rounds of com-

petition. US Foods will also provide WFC attendees and competitors with an exclusive sneak peek into its product innovation process with main-stage cooking demonstrations by finalists in the Next Top Product contest, the company’s annual competition to discover the latest trends and developments in the food service industry.

“The stakes, the rewards, the impact is all getting bigger and bigger,” said Mike McCloud, President and CEO of Trybe Targeting, the company that produces the four-day event. “US Foods is one of the most respected companies in the food industry, and we're thrilled to have them on board with the World Food Championships.” GN

Ascendant Spirits Partners with Southern Wine & Spirits for Calif. Distribution Ascendant Spirits recently announced that it has formed an exclusive partnership with Southern Wine & Spirits for statewide distribution in California.

Southern Wine and Spirits of America is the largest wine and spirits distributor in the United States with operations in 35 states. Southern was one of the first companies to have state-wide distribution in California, which is now the company’s largest market.

As part of its partnership with Southern, Ascendant Spirits will participate in the distributor’s Artisanal Group, a collection of craft brands from within the larger Southern catalog. Ascendant Spirits’ Breaker Bourbon, American Star Vodka and Silver Lightning Moonshine will be featured products, soon to be followed by

American Star Caviar Lime Vodka, American Star Strawberry Vodka and Pink Lightning Moonshine.

Southern represents approximately 1,600 wine, spirits, beer and beverage suppliers from around the world. The distributor markets, promotes, merchandises and distributes over 5,000 brands. The company employs more than 11,000 people. During a working week, Southern sales, delivery and support staff collectively call on or service over 200,000 different chain and independent retail and restaurant customers across the country.

The team at Ascendant Spirits has expressed their delight at being a member of Southern’s Artisanal Group. With this directed product line, Southern has been able to form strong relationships with contem-

porary mixologists, savvy buyers and adventuresome restaurateurs, providing them with unique hand-crafted spirits from around the globe.

Interested retailers and restaurateurs can look now to find Ascendant Spirits products in the Artisanal Group product catalog.

Organized in Santa Barbara with friends and family by Stephen Gertman in late 2011, Ascendant Spirits is the first craft distillery in Santa Barbara County, Calif., one of the premier fruit and wine grape growing regions in the United States. Ascendant Spirits uses the best American grains and the best local organic produce as key ingredients for its distinctive handcrafted vodka, gin and Whisky products. GN

Korean Organic Fruit Distributor Seoree Set to Launch in United States Seoree (pronounced “sah-ree”), a premium Korea-based produce distributor, is making its official debut into U.S. markets.

“I am excited by the opportunities that will be open to Seoree by operating within the American market,” said Sung-Jin Kong, CEO of Seoree. “Our fruits, like premium apples and pears, are sourced from more than 150,000 orchards and farms around Korea. We have instituted a rigorous quality-assurance process that ensures only the best pieces of fruit—those with the proper sugar levels and the best texture—bear the Seoree label. We are confident that American consumers will also see and taste the great quality of our products.”

The brand launch is supported by two

Korea-based organizations: the Korea Fruit Agricultural Company Federation and the Kim Chang Joon Future U.S.-Korea Foundation, led by former U.S. Representative Jay Kim, the first Korean-American to serve in the U.S. Congress.

Seoree’s entrance into the U.S. market was made possible in part by the newly minted free-trade agreement between South Korean and the United States. The agreement facilitates the sharing of products and goods between nations, fostering freer markets and broader cultural understanding.

“I am highly gratified to help Seoree succeed here in the United States,” said Rep. Kim in a statement. “My position in both

the United States and Korea allows me to encourage economic development between our nations, and the new free-trade agreement lets companies like Seoree flourish in new markets.”

Seoree is one of the top professional distributors of organic premium fruit in Korea.

The company supplies schools in the capital city of Seoul with fruit bars and healthy snacks for Korean children. It also has contracted with the Korean government to franchise fruit cafes across the country at public institutions, and it donates high-quality produce to Korean families in need. Across Korea, Seoree is recognized as a trusted vendor of premium produce. Visit www .seoreefruit.com for more information. GN

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SUPPLIER BUSINESS

GOURMET NEWS SEPTEMBER 2013 www.gourmetnews.com

Supplier Business Robert Rothschild Farm Unveils Holiday Gift Line, Seasonal Specialties Robert Rothschild Farm added of a new holiday gift collection to its product portfolio, as well as a variety of new preserves, cheese dips, baking mixes and seasonal items.

Just in time for the holidays, Robert Rothschild Farm has created four new seasonal gourmet products. These festive items include Dark Chocolate Peppermint Sauce, Gourmet Cranberry Sauce, Maple Brown Sugar Ham Glaze and Pumpkin Curd. The company is also introducing a series of new holiday gift items. The new holiday gift line features high quality gifts at key price points that are in fresh and sophisticated packaging. The retail prices of the gifts range from $5 to $25, making the products ideal for a stocking stuffer, gift exchange or hostess gift.

In addition to the company’s new holiday gifts and seasonal options, Robert Rothschild Farm is also adding a number of other products to its expansive portfolio.

First, the company is adding seven brand new flavors to its preserves line. New offerings include Hatch Chile Jalapeño Jam,

Heirloom Tomato Watermelon Jam, Hot Pepper Sour Cherry Ginger Preserves, Mixed Berry Preserves, Pear Ginger Preserves, Red Raspberry Preserves and Stone Fruit Preserves.

Robert Rothschild Farm’s innovation continues with three new cheese dips. The company incorporated the classic pairings of cheese with wine or beer to create its Italian Herb & Wine Mascarpone Cheese Dip, Peppadew & Lager Cheese Dip and Pub Style Beer & Mustard Cheese Dip. The company is also adding a new gourmet salsa to its product portfolio: Sweet & Spicy Corn Relish.

In January 2013, Robert Rothschild Farm introduced a complete line of baking mixes. Now, the company is adding three new mixes to this delicious line: Classic Shortbread Cookie Mix, Double Chocolate Fudge Brownie Mix and Pub Style Pretzel Bread Mix. The mixes appeal to consumers who love to bake high-quality, delicious treats but do not have the time to make them from scratch.

“We have gone back to our roots to cre-

ate innovative products with unbeatable taste,” said Jim Gordon, President of Robert Rothschild Farm. “We are experts in taking bold, unique, on-trend ingredients and skillfully blending them to create products that are truly special. Our heritage is rooted in preserves, so we’ve revitalized our preserves line along with updating our current preserves to a larger size jar while keeping them at the same price. Our consumers will enjoy gourmet preserves at an unbelievable value. We also have an outstanding new line of holiday gifts that are perfect for any gift-giving occasion.”

Based in Urbana, Ohio, Robert Rothschild Farm is the manufacturer of awardwinning specialty foods including dips, preserves, mustards, salsas, gourmet sauces, spreads, condiments, dry mixes, syrups, oils, vinegars, fruit spreads, coffees and dessert toppings. Robert Rothschild Farm products are available in more than 5,000 specialty food stores nationwide and at www.robertrothschild.com or by phone at 800.356.8933. GN

From Humble Beginnings, Harney & Sons Has Grown into a National Presence

BY HANNAH HOLLINS

Thirty years ago, John Harney decided to take his 13 years of experience with tea and start a business of his own. After starting the business in the basement of the family home, Harney & Sons eventually moved into the garage of a 19th century house and then into a remodeled auto repair garage.

Ten years ago, Harney & Sons expanded into a 90,000 square foot factory, where

company operations currently stand.

Today, Harney & Sons continues to be a family affair. John Harney comes to work each day alongside his sons, Paul and Mike, who have divided up the major tasks of the business. Mike heads business and finance and travels around the world sourcing quality teas, and Paul manages the factory production and sales. Mike’s wife Brigitte is the head of retail. Michael's sons Alex and Emeric are also very active in the company. Alex runs the cafe at the Millerton Shop and Emeric runs the SoHo shop, and they are also involved in the marketing and branding for the company.

Mike's work sourcing the teas takes him around the world. “We go over to Asia to establish contacts, and we bring back lots of samples,” he says.

After the tea is ordered, it is shipped from abroad in 60-pound boxes to the Harney & Sons factory, located in Millerton, N.Y. There, it is processed and repackaged into tea bags for Harney & Sons’ distinctive tins and boxes.

Harney & Sons recently announced its latest product, The Ambessa Tea Collection, a unique custom tea line created with celebrity

Chef Marcus Samuelsson. The four teas of the Ambessa collection represent the four different phases in Samuelsson’s life. The Safari Breakfast tea reflects his Ethiopian roots: it is made from Kenyan black teas, sourced from the tea-growing country near his birthplace. The second tea, Lingonberry Green, is reminiscent of his Scandinavian upbringing. The third tea, Choco Nut Blend, is a black tea blend with warm chocolate notes, representing Samuelsson's culinary training in Switzerland. The fourth and final tea of the Ambessa tea collection is the Earl of Harlem, nodding to Samuelsson's Red Rooster Harlem restaurant.

Harney & Sons teas and products are available for purchase at its shops in SoHo and Millerton, as well as online and at a number of retailers nationwide, including Barnes & Noble, Whole Foods, WilliamsSonoma, Hannaford and A Southern Season in Charleston, S.C. The teas can also be found on Delta Airlines in first class, business class and international cabins, as well as at the Hilton hotels, the Waldorf-Astoria and in many restaurants.

For more information, contact Harney & Sons on the web at www.harney.com/, on facebook at www.facebook.com/pages/Harney-Sons-Fine-Teas/49697304292, or on twitter at @HarneyTea. GN

BRIEFS Vanns Spices Expands Production and Warehouse Facilities Vanns Spices, a provider of premium level spices began major expansion plans to its physical facilities and its customer target market. Company executives say that the company’s growth is being accelerated based on the strength of new capabilities gained from the company’s enterprise resource planning software provider, SYSPRO U.S. Vanns has experienced increasing profitability since the deployment of SYSPRO ERP in 2009, and has been moving steadily upmarket to support larger customers including grocery and restaurant chains and food manufacturers.

With 350 different products that span the spectrum of fine spices, herbs, rubs and exotic extracts, Vanns Spices is known throughout the North American food industry as the tastemaker for private label spice needs by the most selective retailers and restaurants.

The company is projecting a 15 percent profit increase throughout the next 12 months.

More information about the company is available at www.vannspices.com.

Stonewall Kitchen Launches More Than 40 New Products Stonewall Kitchen launched more than 40 new products, including five new oils and vinegars, three dessert toppings and one condiment spread. All three categories are dominated by one main flavor profile: fig.

“We are excited to introduce this product launch,” said Natalie King, Executive Vice President. “Our new White Fig Spread and White Chocolate Fig Sauce feature a blend of Adriatic and Calimyrna Figs. Rich, nutty and full of flavor, the White Fig Spread tastes great on top of delicious hard cheese and the White Chocolate Fig Sauce pairs well with ice cream, breads and pastries. Our Balsamic Fig Vinegar is made from California Mission Figs and can be used as a flavorful marinade or dressing.”

Stonewall Kitchen is known for its innovative product development, beautiful packaging, extraordinary retail spaces and exceptional customer service. For more information, visit www.stonewallkitchen.com.

Blue Heron French Cheese Company Acquires Riverhouse Food Products The Blue Heron French Cheese Company, a family-owned wine, cheese and specialty food tasting room in Tillamook, Ore., has acquired Pacific City, Ore.-based Riverhouse Food Products from Steven and Joy Neufeld.

Riverhouse Food Products produces a line of salad dressings that are unique blends of oil, vinegar and spices, with generous amounts of real cheeses. The dressings, which are all-natural and contain no preservatives, are available in five flavors: Honey Dijon, Parmesan Herb, Greek Feta, Cheddar & Chive and Blue Cheese.

Housed in a 1930s Dutch Colonial barn, the Blue Heron offers cheese and wine tasting, samples of gourmet foods, an award-winning deli and a petting farm.

SEPTEMBER 2013

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SPECIAL SHOW ISSUE

KETTLEPOP CONTINUES TO STRIVE TO BE THE ‘WORLD’S BEST POPCORN’

WONDERFULLY RAW CREATES ALL-NATURAL BITE-SIZE TREATS

CRUNCHIES GOES LOONEY TUNES WITH NEW CERTIFIED ORGANIC KIDS’ LINE

An interview with Jeff Schletewitz, Principal Populator, KettlePop.

An interview with Sequoia Cheney, CEO of Wonderfully Raw Gourmet.

JS: At KettlePop our main line of business is premium organic popped popcorn. Our customers tell us KettlePop is the World’s Best Popcorn. We pioneered

SC: Wonderfully Raw creates a series of organic, all-natural and delicious snacks, treats, and bitesize morsels, which include Coco-Roons, Snip Chips and

In a deal that’s sure to animate the kids’ health food industry, Crunchies Food Company, LLC — the leading producer of allnatural freeze-dried fruits and vegetables — has joined with Warner Bros. Consumer Products (WBCP) to create a new line of better-for-you snacks for kids: Little Organic Crunchies®. The decision to have every kid-sized piece of freeze-dried fruit be 100 percent organic sprang

Continued on Page 58

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GN: Tell readers about KettlePop. What’s your main line of business?

GN: Tell our readers about your company.

What's your main line of business?

GONATURALLY/GO ORGANIC: NEW SKUS, NEW BRANDING, NEW CERTIFICATION

TWO RESPECTED BRANDS, ONE FAMILY COMPANY—GLORYBEE FOODS

100TH MONKEY MUSHROOM FARM ‘GROWS’ OUT ON A LIMB

GoNaturally/GoOrganic Organic Hard Candy was created in response to the consumer demand for naturally healthy products with no preservatives, no colors, no high fructose corn syrup, or additives. Hillside Candy, LLC, a family-owned business, prides itself in producing premium products, made only from the finest ingredients. Hillside Candy offers three very distinct product lines, all made in the USA.

Back in the early days, the deep freeze doubled as a sales counter and honey was farmed from the backyard. In 1975, Dick and Pat Turanski started their company in their garage with a dream of providing natural, healthy ingredients for the people of their town. The name GloryBee came to life in 1978 because of Dick’s faith and fascination with bees. The Aunt Patty’s brand was inspired in 1983 from Pat’s pursuit of healthy alternatives to

An interview with Heather Ralston, mushroom farmer and co-owner of 100th Monkey Mushroom Farm.

HR: Co-owner James Stack and I are two authentic mushroom farmers who are passionate about teaching folks how

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GN: Tell me a little bit about the 100th Monkey Mushroom Farm.

GARDEN SPOT DISTRIBUTES ORGANIC, ALL-NATURAL SPECIALTY FOODS

FREEKEH FOODS BRINGS ANCIENT GRAIN INTO THE MODERN DAY

GFCO ENSURES PRODUCTS MEET STRINGENT STANDARDS

An Interview with John Clough, Owner, Garden Spot Distributors.

An interview with Troy DeSmet, President of Freekeh Foods.

An interview with Cynthia Kupper, Executive Director of the Gluten Intolerance Group.

GN: Tell our readers about your company.

GN: What is freekeh?

GN: Who is GFCO?

JC: Garden Spot Distributors is a full-service, wholesale distributor of the highest quality organic, all-natural and specialty food products.

With more than 30 years experience in the specialty health

TD: It's a delicious roasted grain that is smoky, nutty and has a unique texture. Freekeh is prepared like rice, and is versatile for a variety of cooking applications.

CK: GFCO is the Gluten-Free Certification Organization, a program of the Gluten Intolerance Group, which certifies gluten-free retail and industrial

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MISO MASTER ORGANIC MISO, A DELICIOUS BOWL FULL OF HEALTH FROM GREAT EASTERN SUN

Since early times, miso has enjoyed a reputation among folk healers as one of nature's most healing foods— and today, it is being confirmed by modern medical science. Miso Master® Organic Miso not only adds flavor to food, it has some pretty powerful health benefits as well. Miso Master Organic Miso is a “live” food, providing living lactobacillus cultures and enzymes that aid digestion and food assimilation. It is loaded with geninstein

and other plant isoflavones and is rich in antioxidants which scavenge free radicals that cause cell damage.

Miso is a superior source of usable whole protein because it contains all eight essential amino acids. This is largely due to the fact that the production of miso combines beans and grains. The proteins of these two ingredients complement each other, resulting in a protein level that is higher than the protein of each of the individual foods.

THE HEALTHY JUICER: A GREAT FIT FOR A FIT LIFESTYLE WITH JUICY PROFITS Looking to add some juicy profits this year?

Don’t pass by the Healthy Juicer!

Healthy Juicer produces two of the world’s best juicers. They aren’t your regular type of juicers though: they stand out because of the way they juice. They are able to juice wheatgrass (which cannot be done on a normal juicer on the market) using a masticating process, and they preserve the nutrients by using a low rotation speed with no heat-build up.

With one manual hand-crank version and one electric (full multi-purpose unit), there

is something for everyone.

Everyone in the company is fit and into the lifestyle and this company-wide commitment serves to show that the juicers are actually of high quality. The fact that these juicers are a breeze to clean might also speak to the reason why so many company employees use the product themselves. It literally can take you five minutes to get a wonderful shot of wheatgrass, from set-up, juicing to cleaning!

The Electric Healthy Juicer doesn’t just juice everything under the sun––it also

Miso has been best known as a base for soup. However, its salty taste, buttery texture and unique nutritional profile make it a versatile ingredient for a host of additional applications. It is simple to use and can enhance every course from hors d'oeuvres to desserts, from basic macrobiotic cooking to gourmet fare, adding flavor and nutrition to salad dressings, marinades, sauces, gravies and dips, and of course, soups!

Miso Master Organic Miso is unpasteurized, non-GMO verified, certified organic, and certified kosher. It is naturally aged in giant, four-ton, hand-crafted cypress, redwood, or fir vats. Like fine wines aged in wooden casks which are used for many Continued on Page 54

makes frozen fruit sorbets, soy milk, baby food, and three types of pasta! And it has a 50-year warranty on the motor, as if the rest wasn’t already enough!

The Manual Healthy Juicer is king on wheatgrass and leafy greens. Small, compact and portable, this little guy makes juicing fun. The price is right at $49.99. Clean-up on this unit is a cinch as well.

For more information about Healthy Juicer and other Healthy Juicer Products check out the website for product demo videos at www.healthyjuicer.com or call 877-539-3611 for more information.

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A SPECIAL SHOW ISSUE OF GOURMET NEWS

Publisher Lee M. Oser Senior Associate Publishers Lyle Sapp Account Managers Lynn Hilton Ryan Harter David Lopez Editorial Director Lorrie Baumann Associate Editors Jazmine Woodberry Hannah Hollins Editor - Gourmet News Lucas Witman Graphic Designer Yasmine Brown Traffic Managers Ruth Haltiwanger Margarite Marquez Gourmet News is published by Oser Communications Group ©2013.

All rights reserved.

Publishing office: 1877 N. Kolb Road, Tucson, AZ 85715 520-721-1300/Fax: 520-721-6300 Subscriber services: Gourmet News P.O. Box 30520 Tucson, AZ 85751

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ESSIAC TRADITIONAL HERBAL REMEDY FOR IMMUNE SUPPORT

Made only in Canada, ESSIAC® is the original proprietary herbal formula from René M. Caisse, RN, a Canadian nurse renowned for her significant contributions to the field of natural health. From 1922 to 1978, Caisse used her herbal remedy to help restore wellness to many people. And since 1922, ESSIAC has become known worldwide as a trusted herbal supplement, recommended by healthcare practitioners, health and wellness centers, and pharmacies.

All-natural, gluten-free, drug-free, and safe and effective when taken as suggested, ESSIAC From Canada is a traditional herbal remedy which helps support the immune system, promote energy levels and facilitate detoxification.

It is non-toxic when taken in combination with any vitamin or nutritional supplement.

A formulation of premium-quality herbs, ESSIAC From Canada is produced in cGMP

compliant facilities. It is conveniently available in a powder formula, a liquid extract, and in pure vegetable capsules which contain no animal products.

Before she passed away in 1978, Nurse Caisse signed her formula over to Resperin Canada in a notarized agreement known as ESSIAC Canada International. For years ESSIAC has been approved in writing by the FDA, with no medical claims, and is currently one of only a few companies approved for a Natural Product Number (NPN) by Health Canada, Health Protection Branch. Email maloney@essiacfromcanada.com for more information on how their products can help you improve your patients’ health and well-being.

For more information about Essiac From Canada call 561-585-7111 or email maloney@essiacfromcanada.com.

BASS BRUSHES: HIGH QUALITY FOR HIGH END RETAILERS, SALONS Ron Weinstein has been a hairdresser to the stars, ran a thriving salon business, and juggled all parts of sales for brushes – from being a sales rep, to brush design, to helping with manufacturing and marketing a few decades ago.

Now Weinstein is the founder of The Hair Doc Co., the exclusive representative of his Bass Brushes line, and spends his days from the root to the tip of the business. You can find him doing product research and devel-

opment some days, heading up marketing efforts others and getting hands-on with manufacturing as well.

Known for high quality, Bass Brushes have stock in many high-end salons and retailers, beating out other competitors. And Weinstein sees people parting with decadesold, tried and true brushes more often and switching to Bass Brushes – a product which is now sold in more than 15 countries.

SELINA NATURALLY REMAINS HOME OF THE CELTIC SEA SALT BRAND

By Stephanie Tomatis of Celtic Sea Salt

Celtic Sea Salt® culinary salts have their seal of identity, like vintage wines. Selina Naturally® is home of the Celtic Sea Salt Brand, a family-owned business since 1976 founded

by Dr. Jacques De Langre.

Celtic Sea Salt Brand is the most recognized and recommended brand of natural sea salt in the world. Selina DeLangre, President and CEO of Selina Naturally and owner of Celtic Sea Salt Brand, has continued the

quest for quality sea salts from around the world.

Located in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina, Selina Naturally is committed to keeping Jacques Delangre’s practices and maintaining his highest standard for their Celtic Sea Salt brand name.

Why the name Celtic? The term Celtic was chosen by founder Jacques De Langre for Celtic Sea Salt brand salts that are authentic, unprocessed, gourmet, whole crystal

BRYNN’S OFFERS GRANOLAS, BAKING MIXES YOU AND YOUR BODY LOVE

By Brynn Waite, Owner, Brynn’s Good Karma Foods

When I started a food and gift business with a friend in 2010 we didn’t give up our day jobs. Now, three years later, my family and I run a growing health foods business on the Outer Banks of North Carolina.

Our mission at Brynn’s is to make all-natural granolas and baked goods that are both delicious and healthy at the same time.

Everything we sell is handmade and always will be. We’ve made a commitment to our

community to provide employment opportunities, and our products will never be produced by a co-packer. Every bag is made fresh for you!

Have you ever thought that granola (that supposedly natural and healthy cereal), was awfully sweet and high in fat? How can that be healthy? At Brynn’s Good Karma Foods, our granolas are all-natural, vegan, chock full of fruits and seeds, and low in sugar. In fact, our Orange Sunrise Granola has no sugar added at all! It’s sweetened with orange juice and local, organic sweet potatoes, and has the

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BELLA LUCIA AND BETTER BATTER: ‘YOU’LL NEVER KNOW THEY’RE GLUTEN-FREE’

Bella Lucia/Better Batter Gluten Free Brands will be debuting at Natural Products Expo East. You can find the company on the upper level at booth #8427.

Bella Lucia, along with Better Batter, has an exciting line of featured product just for Expo East made right here in the United States. Bella Lucia will be introducing two new items: Gluten-Free Pizzelle Mix and Gluten-Free Sweet Crumbs Pie Crust Mix. Other flavors of the regular GF Pizzelles will now be available for wholesale, on demand.

Make sure to stop by the booth to sample Bella Lucia Pizzelles in all four flavors: Anise, Vanilla, Cinnamon, and Lemon, as well as Better Batter brownies At first Weinstein was selling part-time on the side of his work being a hairdresser at a salon, while also dabbling in styling for television studios. But eventually, juggling a booming brush business and spending so much time styling at the studios was spreading Weinstein too thin.

“It was becoming too difficult to try and do both well,” Weinstein said. “I moved everything into a little office in my home and went out all day selling.”

But Weinstein never strays far from his roots as a hairdresser and salon owner, always placing a premium on quality from the 1980s to today. raw salts which include a spectrum of naturally occurring essential minerals from nature. And the salt is hand harvested after being dried by the sun and the wind, retaining the ocean’s moisture and locking in a vast array of vital trace elements. The team at Selina Naturally prides itself on the fact that there is absolutely nothing added or removed from the salt that would alter it.

“The Celtic Sea Salt Brand is the one I use,” testifies Dr. David Brownstein. “It has a long track record with me. This is what I recommend for my patients.”

Use Celtic Sea Salt® Brand salts for all your cooking and seasoning needs. Enrich the taste of your foods, all while adding vital fresh taste of fresh, organic orange zest. Our Banana Krunch Granola goes one step further—it has no added sugar or oil. Just organic oats, fresh organic bananas, walnuts, chia and flax seeds, ginger, and mesquite powder. Try all five of our yummy granola flavors and find out what the fuss is about!

But that’s not all! We also have a line of vegan baking mixes, and I promise you won’t miss the eggs, milk, and butter. Three of our mixes contain all the goodness of our original Karma Krunch Granola: yes, all the oats, seeds, nuts, and fruits are right in the bag, along with organic whole wheat flour. Pancakes with all that healthy stuff inside deserve the nickname “Power Pancakes”! Our granola cookie mix is definitely not your ordinary cookie (and the kids will never notice the

and dessert items.

Bella Lucia/Better Batter targets a large array of markets. Better Batter’s easy-touse mixes are a great asset to any coffee/bake Shoppe. Bella Lucia GF Pizzelles are one of a kind. Remember, if you want GF Pizzelles, Bella Lucia is your only option.

So whether you’re a gourmet / specialty shop or a distributo,r Bella Lucia and Better Batter can fit your needs because “you’ll never know they’re gluten-free.”

For more information on Bella Lucia/Better Batter at the show stop by booth #8427.

After the show head to www.bellaluciaglutenfree.com or call 814-201-2222.

“One of our largest milestones came in 1980 when we started making brushes with and for other companies, including big names like Vidal Sassoon. Private-label work is now a big part of our business, but we got our start with companies like Vidal Sassoon and Nexxus,” Weinstein said. “[The Bass Brush brand] started with one or two brushes and expanded from there. I would take a certain brush that I knew would sell in salons and we’d improve the quality and sell it.”

For more information on Bass Brushes www.bassbrushes.net or www.thehair doccompany.com—or stop by booth #2917.

nutrients to your diet.

The company’s team seeks to pursue environmentally sound business practices that stretch past its sustainable harvesting of its salts, while at the same time committing their financial resources to supporting earth-friendly causes, such as The Wild Dolphin Project.

View the current line of wholesome products like, Light Grey Celtic, Fine Ground, Flower of the Ocean® and more at booth #1829. To learn more about the company and its sea salts head to www.selinanaturally.com, call wholesale 888.353.0030 or email wholesale@selinanaturally.com.

healthy seeds, nuts and fruits). Muffin mixes are moist and fruity, and come with separate topping mixes to ensure a nice crunchy top.

This fall we’re pleased to launch our new “grab and go” granola snacks, so that you can take a nutritious, sugar-free snack with you anywhere. In our popular Orange Sunrise and Banana Krunch flavors, these crunchy “bites” will give you the boost you need, without the sugar, fat and preservatives you find in so many granola bars.

Try “Power Pancakes” in Brynn’s booth, #1632 at Expo East, so you can taste for yourself how delicious “healthy” can be.

For more information head to www.brynns foods.com, call 252-261-3589 or email info@brynnsfoods.com.

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DRINK HEALTHY WITH ADAM TEA Green and black Ceylon teas are chock full of flavonoids and other healthy goodies— and ADAM’s line of pure green and black Ceylon teas blended with specially selected local herbs, fruits, vegetables and spices ensure that, like nutritionists agree, tea is good and good for you.

Nutritionists also recommend brewed teas over bottled to avoid extra calories from sweeteners and loss of nutritional benefits in the bottling process. Enjoy unlimited natural drink recipe potentials with just a few ADAM products at hand.

New Supreme blends and Exotic Masala blends with 18 luxury pyramids in limited quantity collectible tins have arrived. These blends are wonderful as either a gift or a self-indulgent treat. ADAM brand teas only use the top 10 percent of 200 grades of tea.

These magnificent blends are housed in luxury pyramids then kept fresh in a resealable plastic bag that is packed into a premium collectable tin with gold embellishing and logo embossing. This natural super drink’s stellar profits are as healthy as its ingredients.

BACK TO NATURE EXPANDING ITS NON-GMO OFFERING TO INCLUDE GRANOLA, SOUPS

By Erin Brown, Brand Ambassador at Back to Nature

Back to Nature, well-known for its wholesome and delicious crackers, cookies, granola, nuts and trail mixes, is expanding its offering to include Non-GMO Project Verified products in the granola and soup categories. As the momentum for Non-GMO and other “free-from” products continues to grow, the latest offerings build on the midsummer launch of Back to Nature Juice, its first non-GMO product.

The company is preparing to launch a line of clustered granola featuring exciting ingredients like coconut, tangerine, apples and ba-

nanas. These new granola products fill a void in the category for Back to Nature, which currently offers a line of traditional, loose breakfast granola.

“Granola has become a snack food, not just a breakfast food,” described Mark Eisenacher, Director of Marketing at Back to Nature. “Breakfast and snack-time are overwhelmed by sugar; instead, we developed granola clusters featuring unique fruit inclusions that offer natural sweetness and healthy benefits like fiber and antioxidants.”

The brand has been very successful over the years with taking familiar and conventional product concepts and “un-junking” them. Their entry into the soup category

100TH MONKEY MUSHROOM FARM CREATES KITS FOR THE HOME GROWER When the team at 100th Monkey Mushroom Farm started telling people that they could use the mushroom kits to create their own mushroom gardens at home, they couldn’t believe it. A mushroom garden at home?

Grow organic gourmet mushrooms all year round? Grow mushrooms just as easily on an urban balcony as on a rural farm? People were wild about the idea, and the word spread. Soon enough 100th Monkey Mushroom Farm was featured in Edible Austin, written up in the Austin American Statesman, included in the documentary How Mushrooms Can Save the Planet, and so on.

From the hundreds of stories the Mushroom Farm team has heard from happy mushroom-growing fans and a tremendous

amount of repeat business from loyal customers, it is clear to see that people love using the kits to grow mushrooms at home.

One of the reasons for 100th Monkey Mushroom Farms’ popularity is that the company offers a selection of mushroom kits so that there is a kit for everyone's tastes.

For those who prefer to grow mushrooms on the kitchen counter with an easy, readyto-grow kit, the Indoor Mushroom Kit includes everything needed to start growing delicious elm oyster mushrooms right away.

What makes the Indoor Mushroom Kit unique is that people can use their spent kit to inoculate coffee grounds and create three more kits, and each of those kits can potentially produce three more kits. Because peo-

BROWNIE CRUNCH: THE BEST PART OF THE BROWNIE MADE WITH THE BEST INGREDIENTS Imagine the best part of the brownie – the crispy edges that form around baking pan that people clamor for. Now imagine this indulgence is an all-natural snack that’s only 120 calories per 1-ounce serving.

It’s real. It’s Seth Greenberg’s Authentic New York Brownie Crunch.

Now, imagine the flavor of rich chocolate

with the spicy taste of jalapeño, chile, and chipotle peppers just like the confections leading chocolatiers are creating. Inspired by the way chocolate and spices from all over the world are being melded into sumptuous flavors, the new Southwest Brownie Crunch line brings together the sweet and the spicy with the piquant tastes of jalapeño, chile pep-

Hot in the winter, cold in the summer.

Brew great tea every time with ADAM! With a story as rich as our teas, ADAM procures exquisite Ceylon tea then blends, flavors, packs and exports consistent high quality tea internationally. Perfect humidity, cool breezes, and ideal rainfall provide a climate that fosters a choice production of the highest quality teas in the world.

The Sri Lanka Tea Board protects the integrity of its most precious commodity by awarding only its finest teas with the coveted Lion Seal. ADAM only uses pure Lion Seal Ceylon tea rather than the common diluted hybrid found most everywhere in the United States.

follows the same rationale and builds on another trend: ancient grains. “We looked at the category and saw an opportunity to develop nutritious, simple recipes that consumers understand,” explained Vincent Fantegrossi, President and CEO at Back to Nature Foods Company. Rather than launch another Chicken Noodle, Back to Nature developed Chicken and Quinoa, applying the same logic for Beef and Barley, Minestrone with Faro and other options available for sampling at its booth (629) at Natural Products Expo East. “A hearty soup is meant to be healthy. By limiting sodium and replacing conventional white rice and pasta with ancient grains, we developed soups that are delicious and wholesome. That’s the core of Back to Nature.”

The company expects to begin shipping soup in January 2014.

The strategy is working well for Back to Nature. They began shipping three flavors of ple can enjoy up to 13 kits from one Indoor Mushroom Kit, they recognize and appreciate the tremendous value in the products and quickly become loyal, repeat customers.

And, for those who want to grow a personal mushroom garden, there are two options. First, the Mushroom Straw Garden Kit can be used indoors, outdoors, and year round to create an elm oyster mushroom garden in just about anything that holds straw: buckets, garden pots, laundry baskets, hanging baskets, burlap bags, cooking pots, strainers, and of course, garden beds – even in a pair of old sneakers.

Gardeners also enjoy using shiitake Mushroom Log Kit to create an outdoor mushroom garden from hardwood logs or stumps.

People love the idea of using wood from their yard to create a shiitake mushroom garden that requires a small amount of up-front work and virtually no maintenance afterwards. Although mushrooms grown on logs per and smoky chipotle and the very best part of the all-American brownie in a sweet, spicy, crispy treat made with the best ingredients.

Brownie Crunch’s toffee chips are made for them by a small Midwestern toffee specialist from the finest local ingredients with a recipe tailored to their specifications for flavor and piece size as well as its ability to withstand the baking process.

Of course, it’s a delicious, all-ages treat paired with a cold glass of milk. But it’s also ideal for an uncommon adult treat paired with a microbrew like a malty dopplebock or dry barrel-aged stout. Imagine a footed bowl of festive peppermint ice cream topped with the

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ADAM has been spearheading Sri Lanka’s tea industry by providing superior teas and courteous service for 60 years after planting hopeful roots in sunny California 25 years ago.

ADAM Tea is diligent in its pursuit of delivering the perfect cup of tea. All Adam teas are specially selected estate teas that promise to deliver in aroma and taste – and the team at ADAM even varies its blends to suit local water and bring out the full flavor of the Ceylon teas.

For more information call 888-725-0365, email GourmetNews@AdamTea.com or head online to www.AdamTea.com.

All-Natural, Non-GMO Project Verified Juice to Whole Foods Market in July. Available in eight-count cartons of 6-ounce pouches, the juice is made from real fruit concentrate, naturally sweetened and contains no added sugar. Like all Back to Nature products, it contains no artificial preservatives, flavors or colors.

As the company expands into new categories, the brand is fully embracing NonGMO Project Verification. By January 2014, Back to Nature will be distributing NonGMO Project Verified products across multiple categories. “We are working on verification for all Back to Nature products,” said CEO Vincent Fantegrossi. “We know it’s important to be transparent about our ingredients, it’s the right thing to do.”

For more information head to www.backtonaturefoods.com, call 239-260-3204 or email meisenacher@backtonaturefoods.com – or head to booth #629. can take an average of six to eight months to start producing, they continue to produce for years to come! That’s a no brainer.

100th Monkey Mushroom Farm is proud to be the first mushroom farmers in the country to introduce to retail stores a variety of mushroom garden kits for people to grow mushrooms anywhere, anytime. The company’s mission is to create mushroom kits that make gourmet mushrooms affordable and accessible to everyone. Although the Monkey Mushroom Farm team has taken a large step toward accomplishing this goal, it will continue to work on developing other kits to reach an even greater audience. So, stay tuned… and happy growing from the team at 100th Monkey Mushroom Farm!

For more information visit www.100th MonkeyMushrooms.com, email info@100th MonkeyMushrooms.com, call 512-8200001—or head to booth #8209.

rich crunch of Mint Chocolate Chip Brownie Crunch – a perfect ending to any meal.

In addition to being 100 percent all natural, Seth Greenberg’s Authentic Brownie Crunch is a certified kosher treat that’s made in the United States. The new Southwest Brownie Crunch line melds the flavor of rich chocolate with the spicy taste of jalapeño, chile, and chipotle. Brownie Crunch is also available in Chocolate Chip, Mint Chocolate Chip, Toffee Caramel, Orange, and Cinnamon Cappuccino. Seth Greenburg’s Brownie Crunch: The brownie reinvented!

Learn more at www.browniecrunch.com.

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ACME SMOKED FISH REFINES NEW PACKAGING Acme Smoked Fish Corporation, the largest smoked seafood producer in the United States, is pleased to bring back the most popular features of its classic Smoked Salmon packaging.

The evolution melds the most loved features of Acme’s 2012 package design with familiar aspects valued in its classic original. This refinement comes in response to strong demand

from Acme’s long-term, loyal customers.

Shoppers can now easily distinguish their favorite smoked salmon on the shelf simply by picking out the packaging with its classic black motif.

“Our loyal customers spoke and we listened,” explained Gabriel Viteri, Vice President of Strategy and Business Development

CAPE COD SELECT PROVIDES PREMIUM, FARM FRESH CRANBERRY PRODUCTS Fueled by her entrepreneurial spirit and 70 years of family ownership and tradition, Cindy Rhodes launched Cape Cod Select in 2009 with a vision to popularize cranberry consumption by making innovative products that would be easy for consumers to find, easy to eat, and listed at an affordable price.

Today, Cape Cod Select offers retailers a line of premium, farm fresh, and recipe-ready healthy cranberry products that are ideal for baking, making sauces or chutneys, as a topping, or for making delicious smoothies.

Cape Cod Select’s fresh frozen cranberries

are packed in 16-ounce and 10-ounce bottom-gusseted stand-up bags for consumer convenience. Consumers can also purchase Cape Cod Select’s new Cranberries Plus Blueberries and Cranberries Plus Apples packed in 16-ounce bags.

Cranberries are one of only three commercially grown fruits that are native to North America and are tart, tangy berries high in antioxidants and vitamin C. Cape Cod Select’s new premium Cranberries Plus Blueberries and Cranberries Plus Apples really packs a solid punch of powerful

NIBMOR: WHERE DOING GOOD AND NIBBLING MORE CAN STRENGTHEN THE BOTTOM LINE

When Heather Terry and Jennifer Love teamed up in 2009 to create NibMor Chocolate, they knew one thing for sure: they had to meet the consumer where they were.

“Consumers want a great tasting product, first and foremost,” Love said. “'Then they'll look at the package,” chimes in Terry with a wink and smile.

In fact, that's what these two chocolate gals are banking on, that they can offer a great product, educate consumers about food and save the world one chocolate bar at a time.

“When a customer picks up our products, no matter how bad their day, a few things happen. First, they can afford it—so they can have the pleasure of a high quality product

at the right price. Second, they know they are doing something good for themselves because dark chocolate is good for you in moderation –plus we offer it gluten-free, vegan, with no refined sugar and no GMOs,” Love states. “And finally, they are contributing to the greater good because their purchase of a NibMor product means they are buying something ethically traded, where farmers have been paid and are using sustainable practices.”

“When you can give that to customers, they will keep coming back,” Terry said.

“Because really, if you can't give the consumer all those things, they're going to find someone who will, and that's us. Suddenly they are looking for the non-GMO label or

GOORGANIC: A CANDY TREAT WITH A SIMPLE AND SHORT INGREDIENT LIST GoNaturally/GoOrganic was created in response to consumer demand for natural, healthy products with no preservatives, no colors, no high fructose corn syrup or additives. Hillside Candy, LLC, a family-owned business, continues to pride itself in producing premium products, made only from the finest ingredients. Hillside Candy offers three very distinct product lines, all made in the USA. Each product brand enjoys widespread distribution throughout the United States and internationally.

Hillside Candy, LLC has been manufacturing its organic candies under two brands: GoNaturally in the United States and GoOrganic overseas. With the growing awareness

in the marketplace over the difference between natural and organic, we feel it is now time to start re-branding and go forward with the brand that best fits the product line.

GoOrganic has the same leaf logo, although all new packages will have a green leaf and the non-GMO certified logo. Since its creation, GoOrganic has been organic certified.

The company is committed to its consumers, and certifying its products as organic but also non-GMO verified gives them a peace of mind and simplifies the buying decision. The GoOrganic logo clarifies and cements the company’s direction with this product line.

GoOrganic offers consumers a range of 10 different options: Apple, Pomegranate,

at Acme Smoked Fish Corporation. “The refined Smoked Salmon packaging appeals equally to both our newest fans and our longtime, loyal patrons.” While the package has been refined, the product remains the same.

Consumers and retailers can now see this change in retail shelves for Acme Smoked Salmon packed in 4-ounce, 8-ounce, 12ounce, and 16-ounce pouches. The company’s fresh new look features its classic black border and generous window to display the product’s freshness. The look carries forward Acme’s Brooklyn classic theme, new logo

health benefits as the fruits work together to provide consumers with a double dose of antioxidants.

Cape Cod Select has embarked on an aggressive, sustainable program that allows it the ability to trace its cranberries directly from their bogs to consumer tables.

As part of their initiatives, Cape Cod Select has built a new state-of-the-art processing facility on its family farm, Edgewood Bogs. The new facility is the centerpiece of Cape Cod Select’s green initiative, powered by a solar system that saves 7,803 trees and that will reduce the farm's carbon footprint by 660,000 pounds over the next decade.

Cape Cod Select’s premium cranberry products are distributed by KeHe/Tree of

the Rainforest Alliance frog on other products. Then the community wins and that customer becomes a part of something bigger than themselves.”

This is how the NibMor gals have gained their momentum and how they will continue to forge on. Love has been aggressive in her sales strategy, pulling out stops in advertisements and promotions where other companies their size would never have dreamed.

“It's great to get into a store but no good if it doesn't move,” Love said. “The more our product moves, the more we grow and the better each and every store we're in does.

We're in the business of providing an amazing product to our vendors and growing along with them.”

Terry, however, has focused on the product quality and development, supply chain and operations. “We make sure our farmers are getting taken care of overseas. We make sure our ingredients are top notch- we're not interested in the junk larger companies are putting out there, and we do our production Honey, Honey Lemon, Ginger, Cherry, Iced Mint Mango, Blood Orange, Ginger Xtreme, and Ginger Chews. They are available in consumer friendly 3.5-ounce gusseted peg bags, family/club size 30-ounce gusseted bags, and in bulk. GoOrganic products are made with all-natural flavors, no added colors, and are naturally sweetened. The honey candies, for example, are made with organic evaporated cane juice, organic brown rice syrup, and organic honey.

They are simple and easy to understand and best of all they taste great. Whether you are consuming them as an ageless treat, to soothe your throat (try the honey or honey lemon) or alleviate your nausea (with three ginger candies), GoOrganic products give you the peace of mind that good does not have to be complicated. These hand-made treats are gluten, cholesterol, trans fat, and dairy-free, as well

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and fonts, and its signature recipes introduced in 2012. “Our package refinement continues in our commitment to ensuring exceptional customer satisfaction,” Viteri said.

Visit the company’s brand new website to access more information about its products, its people, and its tradition. Connect and converse with Acme Smoked Fish Corporation and participate in the continued dialogue on any of its social media channels.

For more information www.acmesmokedfish.com.

visit

Life, UNFI, Bozzuto’s, DPI, Shelterwood Naturals, and Associated Buyers and are brokered by Source One. Cape Cod Select cranberry products can be found at fine retailers nationwide.

Cape Cod Select’s premium cranberry products are all natural, fresh frozen, have no additives or preservatives, and are an excellent source of antioxidants and vitamin C – not to mention they are non-GMO and kosher certified.

For more information regarding Cape Cod Select, contact Cindy Rhodes by phone at 508-866-1149 or email at crhodes@capecodselect.com, or just visit Expo East booth #1438. in the United States, providing Americans with much needed labor jobs,” Terry said.

But for all their hard lines and passion about the industry and how they do business, these ladies have a soft spot.

At booth 2406, the ladies are featuring the ‘Positivi-tree,’ a teaching device used by one of the organizations near and dear to their hearts the last four years, Dr. Oz's Health Corps, tasked with putting an end to childhood obesity. Attendees who come to their booth will have the opportunity to write down their health commitment for the rest of the year, hang it on the Positivi-tree and get a reminder of it via email prior to the holiday season.

“It seems like such a small thing – but it’s big,” Terry said. “Health Corps is teaching students that when they make a promise to themselves and put it out there, they and their peers can hold them accountable—kind of like what we've done with our business.”

For more information see Nibmor at booth #2406. as non-GMO, kosher, and QAI Organic Certified.

Continuing their commitment of offering confections for a healthier lifestyle, GoOrganic packages, both gusseted bags and twist film, are recyclable. This product range offers a good-for-you line of treats that are refreshing and clean. The brand’s commitment to green business practices has both allowed these products to remain locally made and to uphold local and sustainable sourcing efforts.

The GoOrganic team invites attendees to check out products, enjoy samples and get more information on Hillside Candy offerings at Expo East booth #2618.

For more information visit the GoNaturally/GoOrganic Booth #2618. After the show head to www.hillsidecandy.com, email info@hillsidecandy.com or call 800-524-1304.

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DESIGN ESSENTIALS NATURAL: PREMIUM, NATURAL HAIR CARE FOR EVERY HAIR TEXTURE

As the natural trend in hair care continues to explode, women of all hair types are embracing their individual textures and curls, while seeking hair care options that support and reinforce a naturally healthy lifestyle. Women want accessible, high-quality products with (and without) the right ingredients that allow them to achieve their ideal style with minimal time and effort.

Design Essentials® Natural is that solution for the natural consumer. From

McBride Research Labs, Design Essentials Natural is a premium collection of luxurious, expertly created formulas, infused with the highest quality natural butters, oils, and botanicals to maintain and style loose-wavy to tightly-coiled hair textures.

With five-star favorites and award-winning formulas, the Design Essentials Natural collection includes paraben-free, paraffin-free, mineral oil-free, petrolatumfree and silicone-free offerings that meet

BUM BOOSA: GOOD PRODUCTS THAT ARE GOOD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT Navigating the enormous terrain of chemical names is not easy for the average person.

Bum Boosa® began as concerned mothers who found a need in the market for safer baby products. When the company set out to create them, the Bum Boosa team insisted that it be made with certain gentler ingredients – and now are fortunate to have found and work with suppliers that listened to concerns and helped to create the Bum Boosa vision.

Bum Boosa supports the reduction of harsh chemicals and preservatives in skin care. Its better for you and your family and healthier for the planet. Whatever you put on skin is likely to be absorbed into the blood stream with the potential to cause damage over time. Whatever is thrown into the landfill or flushed down

your toilet has the potential to accumulate and contaminate water supplies and oceans which can then become concentrated in the food chain.

You might say that manufacturers have taken the easy way out for years by using cheap ingredients to turn a bigger profit and harsh preservatives to ensure a product’s shelf life throughout an increasingly growing supply chain.

There is good news though: Consumers have been educating themselves and voting for safer and higher quality products with their dollars. The more consumers show their concern by buying safer and more natural products, the more common it will become to see ingredients lists with safer ingredients.

Furthermore, just because you have trouble pronouncing an ingredient, does not

ENJOY LIFE FOODS BOLSTERS FAST-GROWING ‘FREE FROM’ CATEGORY While “free from” has been a widely-used term in the U.K., Enjoy Life has been instrumental in introducing the concept into the U.S. market. There is no question that it is a category that should not be ignored. Estimated to be a $12 billion market by 2020 according to a 2012 industry analysis, Enjoy Life has helped to educate retailers on the need for “free from” sets as well as the leading manufacturer of “free from” products with more than 40 products across eight different categories.

The company defines “free from” as products that are certified gluten-free and free from an additional top eight allergens: wheat, dairy, peanuts, tree nuts, egg, soy, fish and shellfish).

Enjoy Life’s Chief Sales and Marketing Officer, Joel Warady said that “free from” will become a large retailer focus in the next two to three years, surpassing the focus on the gluten-free category.

“The fact is, there are 25 million Americans who seek out gluten-free products due to Celiac

MIRACELL PRODUCTS PROMOTE HEALTHY LIPS AND SKIN WITH NATURAL INGREDIENT SUPPORT

What do glycerin-free hand lotion and Stevia-infused lip balm have in common?

Both are products that result from a commitment to create natural products that benefit your body.

So why isn't glycerin a good ingredient?

Many skin care companies use glycerin because it makes the skin feel moist and is a great humectant. In “A Consumer's Dictionary of Cosmetic Ingredients,” Ruth Winter, M.S., notes, “Glycerin ab-

sorbs moisture from the air and, therefore, helps keep moisture in creams and other products” This sounds promising, however, Ruth also explains, “[glycerin] draws moisture from inside the skin, and holds it on the surface for a better ‘feel.’ Dries skin from the inside out.”

In other words, glycerin makes your skin feel moist but instead of actually moisturizing your skin, it dries it out. This

the daily styling needs of discerning naturalistas and allow them to explore a new world of curl possibilities.

"Comprised of trusted ingredients such as Shea and Almond Butter, Jojoba and Olive Oil, the Design Essentials Natural line is designed to enable consumers to consistently create salon-quality results in between salon visits," says President of McBride Research Laboratories Cornell McBride, Jr. "Products used in the salon must deliver superior formulations, expert craftsmanship, and a gold standard in quality and function. We are thrilled to extend this standard by offering Design Essentials® Natural beyond salon doors as a response to the demands of our growing customers."

This fall, Design Essentials Natural is mean it is dangerous. A Washington-based organization called Skin Deep has made it easy to calculate your risk of exposure to potentially harmful substances through the personal care products you use for yourself or your baby. Its rating system offers a means of quantifying the risks posed.

Bum Boosa® has voluntarily signed its Compact for Safe Cosmetics, and in doing so has pledged to not only make its products safe, but to provide transparency to consumers. The Bum Boosa team has also submitted laboratory testing results that show that our baby wipes do not contain dioxane 1, 4, formaldehyde, chlorine, or BPAs (bisphenol a).

Using rapidly renewable bamboo and also employing a lower impact method to process this raw material into fiber, each individually wrapped Bum Boosa bathroom tissue roll is and superior 100 percent non-wood virgin tissue that is 100 percent fragrance-free, 100 disease or gluten intolerance,” Warady said.

“However there are another 75 million Americans who are looking for products that are ‘free from’ due to food allergies and intolerances.”

Since launching in 2002, Enjoy Life has maintained the brand promise of producing products that are certified gluten-free and free from the top eight allergens. Over the years, the company has proven to be an innovator in providing great-tasting, quality products that are chosen by hundreds of thousands of families as solutions for their dietary needs.

Offering a complete product line that includes cookies, granola, cereal, snack bars, seed and fruit mixes, chocolate bars, baking chocolate, and better-for-you lentil-based salty tends to addict the skin to glycerin— ever notice people compulsively using their hand lotion?

Hand and Foot Support Cream, by MiraCell avoids glycerin and instead uses aloe vera, jojoba, and 27 other natural plant extracts that truly moisturize your skin.

The MiraCell team believes your skin care should help your skin, not addict it to external products. MiraCell's Hand and Foot Support Cream provides powerful nutrients that support your skin, accompanied by a great citrus scent from orange peel extract. It's great for dry, cracked heels and elbows.

The same principles went into creating Miracell’s SPF 15 Lip Calm. Made with Ste-

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expanding the collection to include botanical-based styling and conditioning musthaves, including: Almond and Avocado Detangling Leave-In Conditioner that penetrates quickly to instantly soften and detangle the hair; Honey CurlForming Custard for curl definition, elongation, and lasting hold—even on curly and coily textures; and Honey and Shea Edge Tamer that smooths the hairline with longer, stronger hold that can last all day. All new items will be available late 2013.

For more information on the Design Essentials Natural collection visit www.designessentialsnatural.com or call 800-535-8683 – or just stop by booth #4607 at Natural Products Expo East.

percent dye-free, 100 percent BPAfree, and 100 percent elemental chlorine-free, with 220/3 ply sheets per roll. The bathroom tissue has been independently tested and breaks down quickly, despite being three-ply. Each ply is extremely thin to maintain the smoothness of bamboo that has been pulped using the thermo-mechanical processing.

But that’s not all. The Bum Boosa customers asked for a more disposable diaper options and the company delivered with the incredibly soft and breathable as well as 100 percent bamboo viscose flushable diaper liners. No more rinsing out messy cloth diapers! Make life easier on yourself with soft bamboo—not tree pulp or synthetic fiber.

Like all Bum Boosa products, each sheet is hypoallergenic, dye-free, fragrance-free, chlorine-free and tree-free.

For more information head to www.safecosmetics.org. At the show head to booth #8403. snacks, Enjoy Life products are sold in natural food stores, conventional supermarkets, and mass retailers throughout the U.S. and Canada.

All Enjoy Life products are certified kosher, Halal certified, and verified non-GMO by the Non-GMO Project. To ensure safety, all products are produced in a dedicated nut-free and certified gluten-free facility. Enjoy Life has a comprehensive line of products for the ingredient-conscious consumer that allows them to eat freely and enjoy fully.

See all of Enjoy Life’s free from products at booth #806. For more information after the show head to www.enjoylifefoods.com, call 847260-0300 or email info@enjoylifefoods.com.

via, allantoin, and nine other ingredients, Lip Calm temporarily protects and supports your lips.

Why Stevia? Stevia is a healthy, natural sweetener. In order to taste the flavors, a sweetener must be added. Stevia enhances the natural flavors in Lip Calm. Lip Calm has just enough Stevia to bring out the natural flavors of Mint, Berry, and Pina Colada with no Stevia after taste. For those who don't want sunscreens, try unflavored Natural Lip Calm.

For more information and free samples of our products stop by booth #4526, visit www.miracell.com, call 800-748-5040, or email us at sales@miracell.com.

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SET THE TABLE FOR FALL WITH FIRE & FLAVOR GOURMET TURKEY KIT & ROASTING GLAZE

Fire & Flavor is welcoming fall with its newest products, the Gourmet Turkey Kit and Pomegranate Citrus Roasting Glaze. The blend of sweet and savory flavors is sure to transform a typical turkey into the star of the Thanksgiving feast. The kit and glaze are available for shipment in September and can be purchased separately.

"I wanted to make brining easy for the athome cook, so we created the perfect kit for everyday use,” said Gena Knox, co-founder of Fire & Flavor. “The gourmet turkey brine is easy to prepare, comes with a delicious rub

to season the skin and combines my favorite fall flavors together – maple, orange, and holiday spices.”

Based in Athens, Ga., Fire & Flavor is a leading marketer and producer of innovative products and concepts for preparing fresh, flavorful food. Founded by husbandand-wife team Davis and Gena Knox, Fire & Flavor offers unique and easy-to-use products for at-home cooking. Products are currently throughout the United States and beyond. Fire & Flavor products are always all natural.

FRONTIER SOUPS OFFERS AN ARRAY OF ALL-NATURAL GOURMET SOUP MIXES Frontier Soups line of 34 all-natural, gourmet soup mixes gives nutrition-conscious home cooks a healthier, family-pleasing option for getting dinner on the table quickly with little hands-on preparation.

All of the soup, stew, chili and chowder mixes have no added salt, preservatives or processed ingredients, MSG, or trans fat— just plenty of healthful goodness with simple additions of fresh meat and vegetables, says Trisha Anderson, company founder.

Those simple grocery additions not only give home cooks a shortcut to healthy meals and homemade taste, but offer retailers the opportunity for incremental sales by cross-merchandising the mixes in the meat or produce departments and with the canned broths.

The soups are designed to satisfy a broad range of dietary choices with 28 mixes that are certified gluten-free by the Celiac Sprue Association®, including the

HOWARD STERN’S FAVORITE DEODORANT NOW AVAILABLE IN STICK Last summer, Shock Jock Howard Stern took to the airwaves of Howard 100 to rave about Crystal Rock Deodorant™ Body Spray for men. Stern received the four-range collection of Rock spray but was apprehensive to test out the “hippy” deodorant. While on vacation with his wife, Stern decided, after much speculation, to test one of his Rock samples.

“I went around all day and night – I didn’t shower till the next morning – I didn’t sweat, I didn’t stink, it didn’t stick, I had exercised a little...I was like could this f*****g be true?” Stern said on his show.

Now Howard has something else to rave about. Crystal Rock Deodorant is now available in a 3.5-ounce fragrance-free stick. A single stick promises male consumers a full year of daily use.

Created by the makers of award winning Crystal®, Crystal Rock Deodorant was de-

signed for men who place a high value on natural ingredients as well as a product that works without all the unwanted chemicals.

“Howard articulated exactly what an increasing number of men are thinking today: it’s time for natural products that deliver on a personal care promise. Crystal Rock is the natural alternative to Axe, Old Spice and other commercial deodorants which use propylene glycol and synthetic fragrances,” says Jerry Rosenblatt, Founder and President of Crystal Rock’s creator, French Transit, Ltd. based in Burlingame, Calif.

Crystal Rock Deodorant is made with natural mineral salts which prevent body odor naturally. The mineral salts create an invisible barrier that inhibits the growth of odor causing bacteria. For men who prefer a fragrance-free option, this new stick provides the perfect solution.

THREE WORDS FOR GIOVANNI FOODS: SIMPLE, NATURAL AND PREMIUM When the DeMent family left Naples, Italy, bound for America in 1895 no one could have imagined the members would be cooking up sauces to be sold in stores stateside.

Yet, nearly 120 years later, that’s exactly what’s happening.

The Giovanni Food Company, a DeMent family business, manufactures many private label products that can be found on the shelves of grocery and specialty stores across

the country.

Their newest brand, Greenview Kitchen, is a premium line of sauces that offers consumers natural and organic sauces that truly stand above all other brands available today. This newly developed brand consists of four all-natural pasta sauces and three organic pasta sauces, each with a unique, sweet and flavorful taste appeal that is sure to please

The Turkey Kit adds deliciousness in three simple steps: brine, rub and cook.

Contents include the maple citrus brine mix, maple brown sugar rub and a zip-top brining bag large enough for a turkey up to 24 pounds. The maple citrus brine combines fall flavors of maple sugar, orange zest, rosemary and sage that infuse the bird with savory moisture, creating a juicy, tender turkey every time. The all-natural, gluten-free rub is the perfect way to flavor the skin, with the maple sugar promoting browning and the citrus and herb notes highlighting the brine.

The Pomegranate Citrus Roasting Glaze is the perfect complement to many different meats, including ham, salmon, lamb, venison and wild game. Brushed on during the final stages of cooking to promote caramelization and browning, the glaze adds a flavor-packed

best selling Illinois Prairie Corn Chowder and Frontier Soups’ newly introduced Arizona Sunset Enchilada Soup.

Eleven soups are vegetarian as prepared or have easy vegetarian variations on the package like the California Gold Rush White Bean Chili, which substitutes diced sweet potato for ground turkey in the recipe.

“The soups also work with popular eating plans like the Atkins™ and South Beach Diet® low carbohydrate plans and the Volumetrics® approach on which the Jenny Craig diet plan is based,” Anderson said. “The ma-

But Crystal Rock Deodorant Body Sprays are also available in three bold, all-natural scents: Onyx Storm, which uses hints of bourbon, sandalwood and cedar wood; Cobalt Sky, infused with West Indian Sandalwood, citrus and vanilla; and Granite Rain, which has hints of bergamot, citrus and sage.

“Men are increasingly concerned about what they’re putting into and onto their bodies,” Rosenblatt said. “Commercial deodorants and body sprays often contain aluminum zirconium or aluminum chlorohydrate, which are pore-cloggers or they contain musk which is synthetic. Crystal Rock Deodorant contains only natural ingredients.”

According to Rosenblatt, the company has dedicated the last five years to perfecting the Crystal Rock Deodorant product line and he is as excited about its launch as he was when the company first launched the mineral salt deodorant category 29 years ago. Rosenblatt confirms that the company has made its largest marketing investment ever in the any crowd.

The company’s organic bruschetta topping and pizza sauce have just been introduced to the market and are now being distributed by UNFI. Both products should be staples in any kitchen where gourmet masterpieces are created, but where convenience is key. The products are versatile for cooks; the bruschetta topping can be used to make an amazing appetizer by simply placing the topping on toasted slices of Italian bread and finishing off with some freshly grated cheese. The end result is an appetizer that is truly gourmet but takes only a few

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finish. The gourmet glaze is made from Oregon pomegranates, fresh orange juice and a medley of spices.

"Glazing during the last few minutes of roasting creates beautiful, golden skin with flavors of pomegranate and citrus,” Knox adds. “Growing up, my mom always glazed our turkeys and I remember everyone always fighting over the delicious, crispy skin.”

Used together or individually, Fire & Flavor’s Gourmet Turkey Kit and Pomegranate Citrus Roasting Glaze add outstanding flavor to any kitchen creation. Both items deliver exceptional results when prepared with lean pork chops, wild turkey or fresh salmon.

For more information on how to purchase the Gourmet Turkey Kit, Pomegranate Citrus Roasting Glaze or additional Fire & Flavor products visit fireandflavor.com.

jority of our soups have less than 230 calories per serving, and home cooks control the type of pantry and fresh items added, including low sodium and lower calorie options.”

Frontier Soups offers two lines of soups, the Homemade-in Minutes™ line, which cooks up four to five servings in about 30 minutes, and Hearty Meal™ soups, which have longer cooking times and produce enough soup to feed from six to 12.

More information is available by calling 800-300-SOUP (7687) or online at www.FrontierSoups.com.

Crystal Rock launch, which includes radio and magazine advertising as well as a major Coupons.com program and event sponsorship, sampling and word of mouth efforts.

He said, “We’re putting Crystal Rock on the map in a big way!”

Crystal Rock Deodorant Body Spray is currently on shelves at Sprouts, Rite Aid, Duane Reade, Wegmans, ShopRite, Raley’s and select Whole Foods stores. The company expects the new stick offering to be a huge success due to its superior packaging and unmatched consumer value.

“It’s an unbelievable product. Thank you, thank you, thank you.” Stern said on his radio show.

For more information about Crystal Rock Deodorant, retailers and distributors are invited to visit booth #3412 or visit the company online www.rockdeo.com or www.facebook.com/RockDeo, or call 800829-ROCK(7625).

minutes to prepare.

All Greenview Kitchen products are allnatural, kosher, gluten-free, and 100 percent of the electricity used to manufacture these products is offset with certified renewable energy, allowing the products to be part of the Green E Marketplace and bear the Green E Logo.

To learn more about these new Greenview Kitchen products visit the Giovanni Food Company website at www.giovannifoods.com . Stop by booth #238 at the Natural Product Expo East and sample some of these products.

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FORD’S IS TALKIN’ SERIOUS: 20 YEARS OF BONE SUCKIN’ SAUCE In 1987, Phil Ford made the first batch of Bone Suckin’ Sauce while he was trying to recreate his mother’s recipe. The sauce grew to be a hit with family and friends, so much that everyone told him he should bottle it and sell it. Phil’s brother Lynn Ford and his sister-in-law, Sandi Ford, partnered up with him and helped him brand and sell his sauce.

Sandi Ford coined the name “Bone Suckin’ Sauce” and the sauce was official in October 1992. Lynn and Sandi already owned two specialty food stores, a warehouse store and a large mail order catalog business in Raleigh, N.C., and had experience in the gourmet food industry. Bone Suckin’ Sauce

is a Western North Carolina tomato-based sauce sweetened with honey and molasses, with spices and an irresistible flavor that is all-natural, no preservatives, gluten-free, certified kosher and pareve.

This year Ford’s Gourmet Foods is excited to be celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Bone Suckin’ Sauce.

“We can now say that some of our younger customers really have grown up on our products,” said Sandi Ford, President of Ford’s Gourmet Foods, “We’re proud of our product lines and really enjoy the challenges of developing new items and improving older ones.”

A new label for Bone Suckin’ Sauce – showing that it is non-GMO – is due out this fall. The Bone Suckin’ products are gluten-free, all-natural, kosher, no HFCS, no canola oil, no added MSG and are currently sold in more than 60 countries.

The Bone Suckin’ line also includes seasonings and rubs in Original, Hot, Poultry and the new Steak and Seafood. The steak seasoning is the perfect combination of seasonings and spices. It’s all you need to bring out the great flavor in your favorite steak. Turn your home into a steak house tonight! Bone Suckin’ Seafood Seasoning is born on the North Carolina coast and it’s all you need to add great flavor to your favorite seafood. All of the Bone Suckin’ seasonings and rubs are non-irradiated.

In addition to the Bone Suckin’ Sauce and Seasonings, the Bone Suckin’ line has mus-

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tards, salsas, yaki, habanero sauce, beef jerky and the Slop Mop. Of those, the best-selling Bone Suckin’ yaki is now kosher certified and gluten-free like the rest of the Bone Suckin’ line. The yaki is richer in flavor than traditional teriyaki and is made with real Italian balsamic vinegar and extra virgin olive oil. It’s also produced with Tamari soy sauce and is lower in salt than most teriyaki sauces making a healthier sauce and marinade. It’s the perfect blend of organic and all-natural ingredients with a hint of garlic—’nuff said!

Ford's Gourmet Foods is a fourth generation, Raleigh, North Carolina-based family business that creates some of the world's greatest tasting all-natural, gluten-free foods including Wine Nuts, Fire Dancer, Earth Family Foods, Southern Yum and the internationally acclaimed Bone Suckin' Sauces.

For mouthwatering recipes and information visit www.BoneSuckin.com. To order please call 919-833-7647 or email at Sales@BoneSuckin.com. Stop by booth #246 at the show to learn more.

ESSENERGY: VITACLAY SMART ORGANIC MULTICOOKER TACKLES RICE AND YOGURT WITH EASE When was the last time you made a truly nutritious home-cooked whole meal for your family? Always thought it would be great to make your own yummy, nutritious yogurt at home but feel a little intimidated? Think you’d need to hire a personal chef? Think again! Let VitaClay create hearty, nutritious meals or healthy snacks while you work, sleep, or take a walk— talk about multi-tasking!

Cook grains, soup or economy cuts of meat to perfection without effort, hassle or expense. VitaClay’s got dinner tonight! The award-winning VitaClay® Smart Organic Multi-cooker is now updated with a yogurt maker on top of the original design: a slow cooker, a rice cooker, and a steamer plus a bonus yogurt maker. With the yogurt maker feature built in, this delicious treat has never been easier. And now you'll have enough creamy probiotic-rich Greek yogurt to add to all of your recipes – from tzaziki to smoothies, yogurt sauce to breakfast cereal, or a snack after a workout to keep you in shape: good health has never been so convenient and affordable!

Tired of non-stick coating? Looking for perfect rice, grains, steel oats, broth, beans and stew every time? Discover the wonder of clay: no need for added water or oil, the clay naturally preserves texture, flavor, vitamins and taste. Whether cooking for a few or the whole crew, your nutritious, whole meal is just minutes away with VitaClay. The possibilities are endless!

For more information, visit www.vitaclaychef.com or email sales@essenergy.com. You can also call 888-880-0912.

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EZ SQUEEZEES: FILL, SQUEEZE, EAT, REPEAT

By Jordan Takas, Co-Founder & Managing Partner, EZ Squeezees LLC

As a health-conscious adult, eating well is a choice that I make every day, at every meal, with every bite. Food advertisements are shouted at us every time we turn the corner; from a hot-dog stand to fast food ads on a passing bus. Throwing in the towel and eating that $1.99, 1,000 calorie meal is so easy and tempting. What stops most adults from doing it on a daily basis? Habits and education.

Looking at my 2-year-old during meal-

time, I realize that I have an obligation to educate her about food choices and eating habits. The same diligence I exercise in teaching her to look both ways before crossing the street or teaching her proper pool safety I also need to use to protect her from the danger of poor eating habits. With obesity and diabetes skyrocketing, parents should be just as afraid of losing their children to morbid obesity and sedentary lifestyles as they are to a stranger at the local mall.

This is why I felt the need to introduce EZ

QUINOA NON-DAIRY BEVERAGE NEW FROM GOOD GROCERIES’ SUZIES BRAND

Good Groceries Company, 98 4th St., Suite 414 Brooklyn, NY 11231, under its popular SUZIES Brand, is launching its categorychanging line of healthy quinoa products.

The Food and Agricultural Organiza-

tion of the United Nations (FAO) has officially declared that the year 2013 be recognized as "The International Year of the Quinoa” and Good Groceries Company is proud to provide unique and deli-

HEALTH MATTERS AMERICA DISTRIBUTES NUTRITIONAL AND WELLNESS PRODUCTS

Health Matters America is a certified organic distributor of nutritional, anti-aging and wellness products. From raw, gluten-free superfoods to whole-food supplementation, the Master Amino Acid Pattern™, unique Peruvian herbal extracts and Ayurvedic teas, Health Matters America is committed to offering strategies for prevention, regeneration and longevity.

The Health Matters America eco-mission is to source organic, wildcrafted and ethically grown ingredients and to only represent brands that share this core value. Health Matters America distributes brands such as Organic Traditions Superfoods, Uhtco Peruvian Herbal Tinctures, the Master Amino Acid Pattern™, Pukka Organic Herbal Teas and Frenchtop Hair Color and Care products such as Henna Plus and Hair Wonder.

Health Matters America introduces Organic Traditions certified organic Ceremo-

nial Matcha and Premium Matcha Tea, the healthiest and most delicious green tea from Japan. Available in two grades, Organic Tradition teas work for the ultimate green tea experience and for everyday culinary and smoothie applications. Using traditional methods, Organic Traditions Ceremonial Matcha offers shade-grown Tencha spring-harvested leaves, slowly ground into the highest quality jade-colored green tea powder, packaged in protective Miron glass.

Health Matters America introduces Organic Traditions Ultra Premium Raw Cold Pressed Coconut Oil made from certified organic Thai coconuts. A rapid harvest-to-oil process ensures the freshest and most delicious mild coconut taste while retaining vitamins, minerals, medium-chain fatty acids and other beneficial compounds. Organic Traditions Raw Coconut oil is available in 3

NEW TAPAZ2GO MINI MEALS

BY MEDITERRANEAN SNACKS

By Lonnie Williard, Vice President, Marketing, Mediterranean Snacks

It’s no secret that gluten-free products have seen a recent surge in consumer demand, or that desire for healthier snacking is becoming a more important part of daily food consumption.

Mediterranean Snacks recognized these developments months ago when they began developing new tapaz2go. This innovative offering, which is a convenient, gluten-free

certified, mini-meal solution, combines a single serve pouch of protein-rich Mediterranean Snacks Lentil Crackers along with a substantial portion of Roasted Garlic, Red Pepper or Classic hummus in one portable package for healthy on-the-go snacking.

New tapaz2go captures key consumer trends, like increased snacking occasions, eating small meals and the popularity of tapas.

It also leverages the known benefits of a legume-rich diet, as medical studies now confirm that a Mediterranean Diet greatly re-

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Squeezees Refillable Food Pouches into the market. EZ Squeezees are an alternative to the prefilled puree pouches that most parents are held hostage to during feeding time. They are everywhere from entire aisles in your grocery store, to the checkout line at Starbucks. Admittedly, they are simple and unbelievably convenient. The downside is that they are expensive, often loaded with sugars and preservatives, and filling up our landfills at an alarming rate.

EZ Squeezees pouches allow you to unzip the side opening, fill your pouch with whatever foods you want, either home made treats or store bought items like applesauce and yogurt. Once you suck down the pouch, simply unzip the side again and rinse and reuse. Each EZ Squeezees 3-pack can save at least 90 of

the typical 3.2-ounce prefilled pouches from being tossed in our landfills. EZ Squeezees are BPA and phthalate-free, dishwasher as well as freezer safe, and come with either large safety caps or small caps (for adults) making them a great choice for any age.

Simple changes in your daily food intake can make a huge difference in how you feel on a day-to-day basis. Teaching your children to appreciate the taste of real fruits and veggies and not the taste of sugar filled foods posing as healthy options can change and extend their life.

We hope EZ Squeezees can help you create good habits that will allow you child to live at their healthiest.

cious products that are also healthy and nutrient-rich.

SUZIES Quinoa Milk is a shelf stable, gluten-free, vegan, dairy/lactose-free milk beverage alternative that is perfect by itself or with cereal. It is made with pure quinoa—not blended with other grains—so you get the pure, sweet, nutty taste of quinoa and all its amazing health benefits.

SUZIES Quinoa Milk is being initially of-

fered in three flavors: original unsweetened, vanilla unsweetened and vanilla sweetened.

SUZIES Quinoa Milk is soy, rice and nut-free and made without GMOs.

sizes: 230ml, 500ml and 1000ml in glass.

Other new superfood additions to the Organic Traditions line include organic whole, hand-shelled Cashews, Aronia Berries, Moringa Leaf Powder and the Ultimate Superfood Trail Mix featuring Omega-3 rich seeds such as chia and hemp along with a blend of six other nutrient dense superfoods.

There are no added sweeteners, juice concentrates, vegetable oils, flavors or additives, just 8 delicious superfoods, making the perfect snack.

Other Health Matters America products include the Purple Corn C3G® Liquid Extract from Uhtco Peruvian Botanicals. Purple Corn C3G® Liquid Extract is made from a 10:1 concentration of the purple, antioxidant rich pigments that are found in the cob of purple corn. Using a proprietary cold process with fermentation, Purple Corn C3G® is the most potent purple corn concentrate available offering incredible results for free radical protection.

Health Matters America launches three new certified organic black teas from Pukka, a line of award-winning Ayurvedic tea blends. Gorgeous Grey is a whole leaf Earl Grey tea with a hint of lavender. Perduces risk of heart disease, as reported recently in The New England Journal of Medicine. With 250 calories or less per serving and 7 grams of protein, they also address the growing desire for natural, high protein, satiating snacks that is becoming more prevalent in consumer attitudes.

Protein is a major benefit of legume-based snacks. As consumers become more aware of the health impact of their food, protein is becoming increasingly important, in addition to being trans-fat free and calorically smart.

From providing energy, to building and repairing muscle, protein is an essential part of a balanced diet. Mediterranean Snacks Baked Lentil Chips® have 4 grams of protein per 22 chip serving, plus are a good source of fiber

For more information head to booth #2907.

For more information about SUZIES Quinoa Milk or any other SUZIES products head to www.good-groceries.com, email info@good-groceries.com or call 718768- 0821—or stop by booth #1531.

fect Day is a whole leaf Nam Lanh tea with ginseng, licorice and maca root and Good Morning is a whole leaf Nam Lanh English Breakfast tea.

In the personal care division, Health Matters America launches Hair Wonder, the new line of hair color and care products by Frenchtop. Hair Wonder is the first ammonia, PPD and paraben-free permanent hair color enriched with nine certified organic ingredients. Hairwonder Color & Care colors, protects, nourishes and strengthens the hair in one treatment.

Nine certified organic ingredients protect the hair structure and provide optimal care and brilliant shine. Hairwonder Color & Care offers superior color protection and helps to protect hair color against UV radiation. organic Argan oil, phytokeratin and provitamin B5 strengthen and hydrate the hair, making it silky soft. Hairwonder Color & Care provides excellent grey coverage that lasts six to eight weeks and is available in 12 natural shades.

Visit Health Matters America in booth #1320 to learn more and for free superfood samples.

with a really pleasing crunch. Their Lentil Crackers have 5 grams of protein per serving and tapaz2go has 7, so they are truly a good source of protein and a delicious combination of crackers and hummus flavors.

What’s more, since tapaz2go is shelf stable and can be stored at room temperature, it is a perfect on-the-go snack solution for people who want to fit healthy, smart snacking into busy lives. The individual package size is 3.6-ounce at a suggested retail price of $2.99, with shelf life of 300 days.

For more information head to www.mediterraneansnackfoods.com, call 973.402.2644 or email sales@mediterraneansnackfoods.com.

At the show head to booth #740.

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ESUTRAS ORGANICS SUPPLIES ORGANIC, SPECIALTY FOODS eSutras Organics is a Chicago-based manufacturer of specialty health foods and herbal medicinal teas.

At the downtown Chicago-based USDA certified organic and FDA inspected facility, eSutras manufactures professionally and in small batches, a carefully nurtured line of exquisite products. The offerings are unique and not like most commercial food company’s products seen in chain grocery store aisles.

eSutras Organics manufactures gourmet healthy sweeteners (enriched agaves, jaggery, and raw whole cane juice powder), delicious herbal medicinal teas and also carries Cocoa Cravings hot chocolate beverages.

Exciting new ethnic flavors are everywhere in the array of eSutras spices and spice blends that are fair trade, family-farmed and minimally processed.

These products are perfect for any shop whose

HERBALOGIC MAKES ANCIENT HERBAL WISDOM NEW AGAIN WITH DEBUT AT EXPO EAST

Chinese herbal medicine has a documented history going back more than 2,000 years, but it took a disruptive idea from a group of modern day acupuncturists in Austin, Texas, to introduce the practice to a whole new generation of consumers.

That idea was simple: embrace the blended-herb concept of Chinese herbalism, but not its sometimes inscrutable jargon and strange ingredients. With this approach in mind, Third Coast Herb Company, Inc. was formed in 2007 and soon after began making a consumer-friendly line of herbal tinctures

under the name Herbalogic.

“We started off small and moved slowly,” said Jeanine Adinaro, the company's President and co-founder. “Our first goal was to make an exceptional product. But we also needed to learn the ropes of manufacturing and distribution, so we decided to let the business grow organically.”

In what would turn out to be a mutually beneficial strategy, the company turned to the acupuncture community to get the products in front of consumers.

“We were running our own clinics while

MISHIMA: ‘ONLY THE BEST TO MAKE THE BEST’ “Only the best to make the best” is the statement behind Mishima Foods USA’s mission, which is to provide a means to minimize food preparation, while consistently using superior ingredients that meet the strict quality control standards.

At Natural Products Expo East 2013, Mishima Foods USA is thrilled to present new savory, all-natural stick shaped sushi ginger. Mishima sushi ginger is all-natural.

Also, the ginger is uniquely shaped like a stick instead of the usual thinly sliced shape, which provides nice crunch in the mouth. It has perfect combination of sweetness and spiciness. It is great to eat with sushi or any

Asian fish dishes. It can be used for nice accent to salads and sandwiches, or simply serve as is to enjoy the crunch and natural spice of ginger.

Mishima is also proud to introduce Japanese Style Whole Wheat Panko Breadcrumbs. Japanese Style Panko Breadcrumbs have a crispier, lighter texture than most types of breading found in Western cuisine. Mishima’s whole wheat panko has the same greatness and deliciousness as the regular panko. However, it is a healthier option with more than double the fiber than regular white breadcrumbs. In addition, it has 0 grams of trans fat. Just like

PACIFIC RESOURCES BRINGS HIGHQUALITY MANUKA HONEY STATESIDE An interview with David Noll, Director, Pacific Resources International.

Pacific Resources International (PRI) is an exclusive importer of high quality products from New Zealand. PRI sources the best that New Zealand produces, directly from the primary producers, to avoid unnecessary processing and ensure highest quality.

PRI has seen dramatic increases in the sales of Manuka Honey, known as the healing honey. This success is based on the fact that the Manuka is working for thousands of people around the world as a simple sweet answer for their everyday good health. Research continues to pour in for the many uses of Manuka honey as a digestive aid, for

wound treatment and immune building. Professor Basel Al Ramadi, the lead researcher and head of the Microbiology and Immunology Department at UAE University, recently discovered that Manuka honey can be used to inhibit the growth of several types of cancer cells.

This is the first time that a study has been made to investigate Manuka honey's potency in the treatment of cancer. Researchers have discovered that regular consumption of even very small amounts of Manuka honey can actually stop the growth of cancer cells.

As the first to introduce Manuka Honey to the United States, PRI will continue to spread the word this year and into 2014 in the social media arena and traditional adver-

customers demand great quality and value for their money. eSutras has special discounts for bulk food ingredients such as, nuts, seeds, flours, sugar, herbs, spices and repacks too.

Visit the eSutras business-to-business website ES Wholesale, www.eSWholesale.com, and you will find all registered retailers have easy access to ordering for products.

But eSutras is also a wholesale supplier of organic culinary herbs, spices, and oils. As a supplier for TC Bauer Co., eSutras helps the company offer free tasting samples with orders as well as point of sale highlights.

Products are offered certified organic, natural (grown without chemicals) and options are

we built the herb company,” said David Jones, Third Coast's other co-founder and an acupuncturist with a healthy obsession for plant-based medicine. “Most acupuncturists are one-person operations with very loyal patients and very little time. We thought if they had ready-made herbal formulas for the most common complaints, that would solve a problem for them.”

And it did. Rather than drive to an herbal pharmacy and wait for a prescription to be filled, patients received an effective formula on the spot. In turn, practitioners found a new revenue stream, and Herbalogic gained a network of professional advocates. While all the company's formulas earned high praise from the acupuncture community, one stood out, attracting the attention of retailers. The product was Easy Breather, the company’s herbal answer to

other Mishima products, it has no artificial flavors, no artificial colors and no preservatives. It is perfect for cutlets and to make a crunchy top for macaroni and cheese, casserole dishes, and fish. When mixed with ground beef or turkey, it helps to make hamburgers and meatballs tender and moist.

Another great item to be introduced at the show is “yakiimo,” which means simply roasted sweet potatoes in Japanese. Snacks made of sweet potatoes have been quite popular in Japan for many years. Roasted sweet potatoes are one of the best known and most enjoyed sweet potato snacks for all ages. In order to make the Mishima “yakiimo” special, only Japanese sweet potatoes are used.

They are naturally sweet and rich in flavor.

It is a healthy snack option for kids and will also be a fantastic side dish or breakfast.

tising with the latest medical research and new products available for those that believe that nature still has some of the best answers for our everyday good health.

With the worldwide demand still on the increase Manuka prices continue to climb but are still comparable to the cost of medical visits and treatment. Unfortunately, with the increasing prices, there are many unscrupulous companies that are taking advantage of the Manuka sales. Some of these companies will advertise Manuka on their label, but only list honey in the ingredients, not Manuka honey. This is a sure sign that it is a blend. Others will claim (some even from New Zealand) that have no hives of their own, buy honey off the spot market, and blend their honey from many different sources, that they contain a certain activity but do not have the test results to back the claim. PRI only works directly with New Zealand bee keepers that take pride in pro-

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available for retail, food service and bulk.

Bring these products to the forefront of your display and your customers will notice!

The free sampling with orders policy that TC Bauer Co. offers creates an easy way to create continued sales and provides tasty dialogue with your customers in an experience they will relish!

Stylish new packaging, generous portion sizes and small minimum orders ensure eSutras Organics and Cocoa Cravings products will fit the new and niche marketplace.

For more information call eSutras today at 773-583-4850.

nasty pollen that causes what Texans have dubbed “Cedar Fever.”

“You could say our company is built on great big piles of tree pollen,” Adinaro said.

“Many, many people suffer when the winter junipers release thick clouds of pollen. Time after time we're told Easy Breather saves the day, and that got people talking.”

The talk landed Herbalogic products in independent natural health stores in Texas and eventually Whole Foods Markets across the southwest. The line has just been picked up

by Whole Foods as well as a few boutique health stores in the Northeast.

“It’s an exciting time,” Jones said. “And it’s just beginning.”

For more information visit herbalogic.com, call 512.895.9595, email info@herbalogic .com – or stop by booth #6031.

Mishima will also offer Japanese style royal milk tea, cocoa, and Café Latte at the show. Japanese royal milk tea may be unknown to many consumers here in the United States, but its rich flavor of earl grey and perfect amount of sweetness have made it a beloved treat in Japan for years.

It gives nice refreshing aftertaste as well.

Mishima drinks are packed in a milk carton and ready to serve so they can be enjoyed anywhere!

Many wonderful and innovative Asian food items for retailers and foodservices are available to taste, so visit Mishima at booth 1050 and taste amazingly delicious products.

For more information, please contact Mishima Foods USA at 310-787-1533 or visit www.mishima.com. At the show visit booth #1050.

ducing the highest quality products by testing and careful manufacturing practices. The consumer can be assured that with any of the PRI imported items, they meet the highest New Zealand standards and will be effective for the conditions that they are used for.

Beware of lower prices. If the prices are low, it is a sure indicator that some of the testing processes have not been properly followed.

As more and more consumers find success with the use of Manuka honey, sales will continue to grow. PRI will continue to endeavor to bring the highest quality Manuka honey to American consumers, as it has done for the last 17 years.

For more information visit www.shoppri.com, call 805-684-0624, email info@pri-nz.com – or stop by #booth 1234.

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MAMALICIOUS BY BLISS CREATES PRENATAL PROTEIN FOR WOMEN Bliss Nutritional Sciences, Inc. is dedicated to making epigenetically advantaged functional foods and supplements for women and the people they love. Mamalicious®, the company’s flagship product line, offers women of childbearing years novel nutritional supplements. These products are specifically formulated by Aimee Rickabus and her mother, clinical pharmacist Dr. Sharon Roddan. These products were created in direct response to the market need for superior pre-and post-natal supplements and premium functional foods for women because “Mothers are the Ultimate Body Builders!®” Dr. Roddan was born with Spina Bifida, thought to be caused by a lack of adequate folic acid (a B vitamin) in her mother’s diet. Women who have had Spina Bifida

are at greater risk of having a future affected pregnancy. Healthful diets with adequate folate may reduce a woman’s risk of having a child with a brain or spinal cord defect.

Mamalicious® Prenatal Protein is a oneof-a kind powder for moms and mom-to-be.

High in protein and prenatal vitamins, it is easily added to smoothies, shakes or baked goods. It features protein from either whey or vegan sources. It also includes vitamins like folic acid, A, B, C, D, E and K, calcium, trace mineral and super foods. Also, it contains proprietary blends of EpiFactors®, FloraFactors®, DigestFactors®, and many other nutritious ingredients. Mamalicious® taken in conjunction with a healthy diet supports fetal and maternal health.

‘OHANA HARBOR BRINGS FRUITS OF HAWAII TO THE MAINLAND ONE COFFEE AT A TIME

Nothing is quite as colorful and natural as Hawaii. That mixed with family and sustainability is ‘Ohana Harbor’s driving force. More and more specialty retailers are offering ‘Ohana Harbor Coffee to satisfy their customers’ cravings, for natural, American-grown products. ‘Ohana Harbor Coffee Company offers a variety of Hawaiian Island-inspired Kona Coffees that will provide you and your

customers a vacation for your palates.

‘Ohana Harbor Coffee Company’s 100 percent Kona coffee is grown exclusively in the Kailua-Kona region on the Big Island of Hawaii, where rich volcanic soil and an ideal climate produce a unique and robust coffee cherry. Harvested from September through February, ‘Ohana’s 100 percent Kona coffee is award winning. It has earned

THE SPICE LAB: A SINGLE SOURCE OF SALTS FROM AROUND THE GLOBE An interview with Brett Cramer, Founder of The Spice Lab.

GN: Tell our readers about your company.

What is your main line of business?

BC: The Spice Lab offers the largest selection of gourmet sea salts from a single source. We carry more than 180 different salts from around the globe. We have expanded our product line to include many spices in addition to our jarred sea salts, our award winning Gourmet Sea Salt Collections, peppercorns and spice mixes. Other offerings include grinders, salt plates, glasses, stones and lamps, salt cellars, spoons, jars and bath salts.

GN: What particular products will you be showcasing at Natural Products Expo East?

BC: We are introducing The Chef’s Collection, premium 12-tube selections of sea salts or spices displayed in a wooden base crafted from sustainable bamboo. We also have a new 11-tube Sea Salt Collection called The Mixologist, which is one of my favorites. It is a selection of spirits and flavor blended sea salts that I personally curated with some of the most colorful and interesting infused salts that we have discovered.

GN: Why are your Sea Salt Collections now displayed in wooden bases made of beetle pine or bamboo?

BC: When we started, we easily could find enough scrap lumber to build the bases for our Sea Salt Collections. As we have grown, we needed to find a way to keep the natural beauty of a wooden base and its one-of-a-

VINTAGE BEE ENSURES THAT LIFE IS SWEET Fashioning Vintage Bee Creamed Honey is a meticulous and precise process well worth the wait. The team at Vintage Bee slowly spins honey until it is extra smooth and creamy.

Then, just at the peak of creaminess, whole fruit and spices are added to make a rich and delectable delight for the taste buds! Never pas-

teurized, the pure, raw, creamed honey is an extraordinary and flavorful treat you must taste to believe! Never made with syrups or artificial ingredients, it's the best of raw honey and the highest quality fruit and spices we can find.

The versatility of Vintage Bee Creamed Honey is only limited by the imagination. It’s

About the Science Mamalicious harnesses the science behind nutrigenomics. In plain words, we know that what a mom eats before and during pregnancy can affect the lifelong health of her children and even her grandchildren! The DNA in our bodies is fixed for life. But wrapped around the DNA is a structure is called the epigenome. This epigenome changes in response to environmental factors - like diet. So, a healthy diet is extremely important for healthy mommies and their yetto-be-born-babies. Food choices really do matter. Dr. Sharon Roddan says “By leveraging the science of nutrigenomics, we can help moms and babies lead healthier lives.”

This is where Mamalicious can make a difference—by boosting nutrition during this most important time for both women and the “Cream of the Crop” designation for six consecutive years.

A favorite among coffee aficionados for its low acidity and full-bodied flavor, ‘Ohana’s 100 percent Kona coffee is offered in medium and dark roasts. The company’s most popular Kona coffee is Ali’i Premium, a hand-picked, sun-dried, single-origin Kona coffee that is small batch roasted to bring out its sugars while preserving the nutty flavors for which Kona coffees are traditionally known.

While ‘Ohana Harbor specializes in 100 percent Kona Coffee, the company also offers small, batch-roasted, hand-crafted Kona blends that fit into any budget. Whether a seasonal product or a faithful stand by, kind uniqueness and stay ecofriendly. Reclaimed beetle pine and sustainable bamboo were the perfect solution.

The pine beetle has created serious destruction in Colorado forests, killing trees and creating dangerous fire hazards. Fortunately there are companies like ours who can use this blue-veined lumber in a non-traditional way and turn a conservation problem into attractive and functional kitchenware. We now get beetle pine by the trailer load.

Bamboo grows so quickly that using it for The Chef Collections’ wooden bases is a sustainable choice and it makes a beautiful presentation.

GN: What are some of the year’s highlights for The Spice Lab?

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their unborn children. “I used to make Mamalicious just for myself, but so many other moms asked me to make it for them that I decided to make it for all women…pre-pregnant, pregnant, breastfeeding, and those who just want more energy,” says Aimee Rickabus, co-founder of Bliss Nutritional Sciences. She continues “Since my own mom is a pharmacist, she worked with me to create a very delicious, very easy to use, nutritional beverage.”

Additional Bliss Nutritional Sciences' products, which include supplements providing nutritional support for fathers and children, will be released in 2014.

For more information visit http://mymamalicious.com, email aimee@MyMamalicious.com, call 855-3MY-MAMA or head over to booth #8100.

‘Ohana Harbor offers island-inspired packaging and taste that is guaranteed to be fresh and smooth.

Founded on traditional values and sustainability, ‘Ohana Harbor is a family-owned operation emphasizing traditional Hawaiian culture, fairness and environmentally mindful practices. ‘Ohana does this by staying involved with its coffee “from tree to cup.” ‘Ohana Harbor is honored to offer the great-tasting coffee from the company’s ‘Ohana to yours. ‘‘Ohana” means family, and ‘Ohana Harbor invites you to make its coffee part of yours.

For more information visit www.ohana harbor.com. outgrew our previous space in less than two years and have doubled our capacity to stay up with the demand.

We have added retail packaging for our Himalayan Salt Cooking Plate & Serving Tray and our Himalayan Salt Tequila Shot Glasses continue to be a bestseller – especially for kitchen and barware retailers.

Our salt and pepper grinders are another popular new addition this year. Our large, hefty one-pound jar of Himalayan Coarse Pink Salt has a built in ceramic salt grinder, ideal for use in industrial kitchens, restaurants and by home chefs seeking value and convenience. The small grinders hold 100ml of Himalayan Dark Pink Salt or Black Malabar Peppercorns – each with a premium ceramic grinder mechanism.

BC: We have just moved into a 15,000 square foot building, tripling our space. We now have two packing lines, a research and development lab and a full showroom. We

For more information head online to www.thespicelab.com, call 954-275-4478 or email sales@thespicelab.com. At the show just head to booth #1735.

perfect on toast, sandwiches, bagels, and in oatmeal. You can’t beat it as a topping for pancakes or waffles and it’s a healthy sweetener for coffee or tea. It’s great for baking and cooking, and is outstanding on seafood or as a marinade for vegetables or meats. Eat it right out of the jar as an afternoon pick-me-up. There really is no wrong way to spread the honey!

What began as a beekeeping hobby in 1985 has birthed a celebrated honey brand.

Van and Laura Tapp, after a series of life altering events launched Vintage Bee, Inc.

with Van’s father Jack. Now a three-generation family business.

The signature line of creamed honeys began with three fruits. Now it rounds out at 12 fruits and spices each with their own distinct character.

For more information on Vintage Bee Inc., located at 14460 New Falls of Neuse Rd., Suite 149, Raleigh, N.C., 27614, call 919-6996788 or head online to www.vintagebee.com.

At the show visit booth #954.

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NAKED INFUSIONS: HEALTHY SALSA MADE WITH PASSION

By Selene Kepila of Naked Infusions

My recipe for the perfect salsa: one part obsession with healthful living, one part passion for authenticity.

Life itself is always our best teacher.

Growing up in a tight-knit farming community in Kansas, I learned firsthand about the inherent beauty of food that comes from nature. It was there that I also discovered a salsa made by migrant farmers that was so fresh, so natural, so alive with flavor and goodness, that it inspired a lifelong devotion to better living through better food.

For the past two decades, I’ve traveled the world in pursuit of healthful living and

wellness. It’s not just a way of life, but also my life’s work. Along the way, I’ve visited culinary capitals on four continents, studying how different cultures express their love for food through traditionally unique flavor combinations. And while I’ve savored many wonderful meals along the way, equaling the memory of the salsa that originally inspired my journey has always eluded me. Until now.

With Naked Infusions, I’ve finally recreated the salsa of my youth. And while it’s taken two years in my kitchen to rebuild these recipes, I certainly don’t do any of this alone. In fact, my most important ingredient comes in the form of care and attention from

WOODSTOCK FARMS FUELS PRIVATE LABEL BOOM The time is ripe for private label and Woodstock Farms Manufacturing is ready to harvest. Last year, industry-wide annual revenue for private label products reached a record high of $108 billion. Since 2009, private label brands have seen a significant growth rate over national brands. 2012 saw another year of record growth for store brands, reaching more than 2.9 percent.

PLMA reports the trend “is driven by store brand quality continuing to improve across most of the categories covered in our research and store brands are likely to continue to gain share in many product categories.”

Woodstock Farms Manufacturing, a division of UNFI, allows stores to build a brand under their own name, one that takes advantage of the quality of natural

and organic ingredients. Woodstock Farms offers a broad range of healthy snack alternatives, from traditional nuts, dried fruits, and trail mixes, to exotic wasabi green peas, crunchy green beans, or yogurt-covered pretzels.

Customers have begun to recognize store brands and private labels as viable alternatives to the quality traditionally associated with national brands. Woodstock Farms delivers unparalleled quality through responsible sourcing and a rigorous quality assurance program. Customers who may turn to store brands for economic reasons often like what they find and become repeat customers, building brand and store loyalty.

Such robust growth in private label sales, coupled with the exploding popularity of

SARATOGA CHIPS: THE REBIRTH OF AMERICA’S FIRST POTATO CHIP Saratoga Chips are being reintroduced to America based on two principles: the tradition as America’s first potato chip, created in Saratoga Springs, New York more than 160 years ago, plus the insights learned from consumers on what they expect with snack foods for their families today.

America’s love for potato chips started in 1853 at Moon’s Lake Restaurant in Saratoga Springs, New York by a chef

named George Crum. A restaurant patron had ordered fried potatoes and was unhappy that the potatoes were cut too thick and sent them back. Chef Crum, having an ornery disposition, was angry and decided to slice the potatoes paper thin, fry them in scalding oil, and salt them. The patron loved the new potatoes and started sharing his story around the area. Within a few years, Saratoga Chips were known across

WHITE COFFEE GOES NATURAL AND ORGANIC WITH NEW COFFEE LINES White Coffee Corporation, the venerable Long Island, N.Y. importer and roaster, hits the national market with a line of truly innovative coffee products: Natural and Organic.

These coffee varieties will be available in 12-ounce packages, and, for the first time, in a “single cup brew” packaged in a recyclable container compatible with the Keurig® system and similar coffee makers.

The distinctive single cup brew announces itself as soon as the box is opened. The new single serve cups are designed in a new style

utilizing recyclable filters. The coffee is dispensed through the sides, not just through a punch hole in the bottom of the plastic cup.

The consumer experiences the sight and smell of fresh ground coffee as they prepare the brew.

And what a brew White Coffee delivers! The specialized package honors White Coffee’s introduction of its “Natural and Organic” lines. Eight single cup brews will be offered in a recyclable cardboard box.

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local farmers. Their efforts provide the rich, smooth, clean, authentic flavors that are the hallmark of Naked Infusions, anchored by our Signature Ripe Tomato blend, the original recipe from which all of our other flavors are infused. Our Rustic Blue Cheese, Fire Roasted Garlic and California Burnt Sage follow traditional savory flavor designs, while the dark sweetness of our Black Silk Espresso and Oaxaca White Chocolate are inspired by the global flavor combinations discovered during my many travels.

All Naked Infusions flavors come in both all-natural and certified organic recipes.

What started as my own personal quest has grown into something much bigger.

We’re a hit at local farmer’s markets where loyal followers and new friends alike seek us out, commenting on how we’re the freshest salsa they’ve ever tasted. We’ve attracted the attention of local foragers from Whole Foods

and will start appearing on their shelves in Southern California during the third quarter of this year. We have national distribution with the TJX Companies through Homegoods, TJ Maxx and Marshalls stores. From our Fullerton, Calif., co-packing facility, we’re poised to expand with a scalability model that will continue to support local farmers, spreading the fruits of their labor into new markets, literally and figuratively.

Maybe most importantly, Naked Infusions does more than taste better than any salsa – it also inspires you to live better, and to do better. Which is why we donate a portion of every Naked Infusions sale to OrphanedArtists.org, helping artists in need to make our world more beautiful.

I hope you enjoy Naked Infusions as much as we enjoy bringing them to you.

natural and organic foods, makes it one of the best times ever for stores to establish their own brands, or build on those they have. Organic food sales are expected to grow 50 percent in the next five years.

Private label packaging is ideal for retailers. Each package Woodstock Farms produces acts as a unique, cost-free advertisement for the store brand.

By putting a company’s logo and design in a customer’s pantry, it helps keep the store in at the forefront of the customer’s mind, while the quality product it contains fosters store loyalty. The association of quality to the brand can help build confidence in the store as a whole.

Woodstock Farms makes creating the ideal customized packaging easy. A variety of packaging styles and sizes, including pil-

low bags, gusset bags, and square and round tubs, from bulk to single serving, allows stores the flexibility to find the packaging solution that works best.

Stores can also take advantage of Woodstock Farms’ in-house graphic design team to help create a unique, eye-catching label.

Additionally, without promotional and advertising costs, which are built into the price of national brans, a private label allows retailers to both increase profit margins and share savings with the consumer, further incentivizing repeat purchases.

Private label organic and natural snack food from Woodstock Farms is an essential way to elevate a store brand and grow sales.

the East Coast and they were the standard for potato chips until the 1920s when Herman Lay automated the peeling and cooking process renaming the products as potato chips. The team at Saratoga Chips feels that it’s time to welcome America’s first potato chip back to the market.

It has also been found that in evaluating consumers’ needs with snacks today, they wanted to please their families with great tasting snacks however still have concerns about the overall nutrition issues surrounding potato chips. With these insights, Saratoga Chips have developed the new Saratoga Chips that are all-natural, preserWhite Coffee Corporation is based in Long Island City, N.Y. and is a third-generation, family-owned coffee importing and roasting business in operation since 1939. As a core part of its coffee offerings, White Coffee is proud to feature the finest licensed brands like these new lines.

Four naturally flavored coffees comprise the Natural offerings in 12-ounce bags: Naturally Flavored Hazelnut, French Vanilla, Sea Salt Caramel and Chocolate Morsel. Organic by White Coffee consists of six varieties, each completely allergen-free, gluten-free, and non-genetically modified (Non-GMO). French Roast, Full City Roast, Rainforest Blend, Breakfast Blend, Mexican High Grown and Peruvian options, available

For more information head to booth #8520.

For more information visit booth 1227, or find more information, including a complete product listing, at woodstockfarmsmfg.com.

vative-free, allergen-free, non-GMO, gluten-free and kosher approved with 0 trans fats or cholesterol. Today, Saratoga Chips feature a “clean” ingredient label with just potatoes, sunflower oil and sea salt.

Not only do we deliver for the consumer, we are bringing new consumer support to the brand to build new volume for our trade partners and have created an attractive new range of merchandising materials to help build instore volumes.

For more information head online to www.originalsaratogachips.com

in 12-ounce bags and single cup brews, demonstrate the breadth of White Coffee buying and roasting expertise.

The 12-ounce packaging features the White Coffee roaster logo on a clean, green and white bag with a suggested retail price of $7.99-$9.99, and will be available in retail outlets nationwide. These lines will complement the already existing specialty coffees, organic, Fair Trade and teas that White Coffee offers in a variety of sizes and packaging.

These items are available in retail outlets throughout the United States, online at www.whitecoffee.com or call 800-221-0140 for more information.

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VANNS EXPANDS ITS RANGE OF ORGANIC SPICES Vanns Spices understands that the demand for organic products, including organic spices, is on the rise. That's why they are constantly adding new varieties to their already sizable range of organic spices.

According to recent reports, sales of organic food sales have grown by 20 percent annually and represent more than 3.5 percent

of total U.S. food sales. From a culinary perspective, and for retailers and manufacturers to keep up with the demand for new and engaging organic flavor experiences, a ready supply of high integrity and consistently flavorful organic spices and spice blends is essential.

"Retailers and home cooks are clamoring

UNCLE BUNK’S KEEPS APPALACHIAN TRADITIONS ALIVE IN WEST VIRGINIA

By Stacey Young Kasun, Co-Founder and Director of Business Operations, Uncle Bunk’s LLC

Uncle Bunk’s is keeping Appalachian recipes alive and preserving the art of canning in West Virginia. Nine years ago, Larry (Bunk) Young’s Mustard Relish – Hot won an amateur Scovie Award and Uncle Bunk’s LLC was born using the old family recipes that Bunk learned growing

up on his family farm.

Canning and preserving had become a lifelong hobby, and after he retired from more than 30 years of working in the chemical industry Bunk’s “hobby” turned into a new career!

All of the products are still made in the same way that generations have canned these West Virginia favorites. Fresh produce, hand packing, and small kettle cooked batches are what keep the flavors fresh and true to

TRINITY SCHOOL ENCOMPASSES MIND, BODY AND SPIRITUAL HEALTH Trinity School of Natural Health offers programs that encompass the mind, body, and spirit. Trinity strives to teach traditional, noninvasive and natural ways to achieve optimum health, while preserving the benefits of a healthy lifestyle. Courses are designed to build a solid foundation for students to grow and thrive on a personal and professional level. Whether students enroll in programs for individual growth and knowledge, or plan to apply what they have learned professionally, Trinity’s diverse programs allow for both.

The founder of Trinity, Dr. Wendell Whit-

man, created an institution of integrity and diversity in the natural health field. The educational programs offered at Trinity include Doctor of Naturopathy (N.D.), Master Herbalist (M.H.), Master Iridologist (M.I.), Certificate of Nutritional Counseling (C.N.C.), Certified Health Specialist (C.H.S.) and an Associate Degree in Biblical Studies (A.B.S.). Each program is designed to bring a level of fulfillment and understanding that will enrich the lives of the students and those around them.

Course work is completed on an individ-

MADE IN MONTANA COMES TO EXPO EAST You’ll see a lot more Rocky Mountain flair at Natural Products Expo East this year. Several producers from Montana have banded together to show off their wares.

“Montana offers many great products, and this is our chance to feature some of them,” says Lonie Stimac, Marketing Officer with the Made in Montana and Grown in Montana programs. “Not only are these products great for the domestic market, most are ‘export ready’

for international sale.”

There are several natural and organic products featured in Booth #447 at Expo East hosted by the Montana Department of Agriculture at the Montana Department of Commerce with the Made/Grown in Montana program: Tipu's Chai, Inc. brings authentic Indian Chai tea, available in both quick and slow brews, made with high quality Indian tea, or-

QUICKSPICE’S SEA VEGGIES: A HIGH PROTEIN SNACK WITH A SALTY CRUNCH For many Westerners, their only encounter with edible seaweed is the wrapper on their sushi. But with natural health going mainstream, this Asian staple has arrived in a convenient new form for American shores—and American stores.

Made of 100 percent natural ingredients, Sea Veggies are available in classic Sea Salt, Hot Chili and Black Pepper flavors. With no

preservatives, artificial colors or flavors or MSG, the flavor variety comes only from natural oils, preserving seaweed’s qualities of no cholesterol, no saturated fats or trans fats.

Sea Veggies are also superior within the category: made from best quality Korean seaweed, grown in clean oceans and harvested during the prime season of December through February. While most seafood

for reliable, highquality organic flavor experiences from the spices they buy," says Mick Whitlock, President of Vanns Spices.

"Fortunately, we have great relationships with organic farmers around the world and have been able to maintain and expand the variety of organic spices in our inventory."

Bunk’s family recipes.

Uncle Bunk’s signature products include Mustard Relish, Rustic Pepper Sauce, 14 Day Sweet Pickles and Hot Sweet Pickles.

That same sweet and spicy Mustard Relish is now the most awarded product in West Virginia and has even won a coveted sofi™ Silver—so no wonder it’s our best seller!

Uncle Bunk’s Rustic Pepper Sauce – which also placed at those long ago amateur Scovie Awards – is a unique product best described as a cross between a salsa and a spicy ketchup. Uncle Bunk's 14 Day Sweet Pickles are the crispiest pickle you will ever eat.

Country Living Magazine called them the best regional pickle in 2010 and once you

ual basis via correspondence, allowing the student optimal scheduling, flexibility, and the convenience of studying at home or on the go. Each course builds upon the next, supporting the integration of mind, body, and spirit so the student will obtain a well-rounded base that is needed to fulfill a naturally balanced and healthy lifestyle.

Trinity School of Natural Health is a nondenominational, non-profit, and non-discriminatory educational organization that is accredited and recognized by the American Naturopathic Medical Accreditation Board.

They also have courses and programs available in Spanish. Trinity has been enriching lives and educating the public about natural

ganic ground spices. Great Northern Pasta Co. offers up organic and gluten free fresh pastas. Montana Grow brings natural fertilizer beneficial plant amendment. Timeless Seeds Inc. is organic pulse crops and specialty grains. Montana Specialty Mills, LLC has oilseed and processed oilseed products as well as mustard, canola, flaxseed, safflower, coriander, and caraway. Amaltheia Organic Dairy LLC provides organic goat cheese, ricotta and feta. Gluten-Free Prairie has gluten-free oats, groats, toasted oat flour, granola bites and cookies. Last but not least Olivelle brings infused extra virgin olive oils, infused balsamic

snacks are roasted only once, Sea Veggies are twice-roasted at high temperatures for extra crispness and flavor.

With Sea Veggies, U.S. consumers may benefit from the Asian tradition, where there is little or no barrier between food and medicine. With more protein than meat and more calcium than milk, rich in stress-fighting vitamins B and K, and minerals like magnesium and manganese, seaweed is a good addition to today’s healthful diets, meatless or not. Its high iodine content helps balance the thyroid; significant antiinflammatory properties help reduce painful

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Whether you are looking for specific organic spices, or wish to formulate organic spice blends from proprietary recipes, Vanns has everything you'll need.

Buyers are invited to visit Vanns Spices at the Natural Products Expo East in Baltimore, booth #646. Alternatively, contact Vanns by email: orders@vannsspices.com or call us at 800.583.1693.

taste this pickle made from a more than 100year-old recipe, I think you'll agree. We also kicked the sweet pickles up with hot peppers to create our 14 Day Hot Sweet Pickles, another 1st place Scovie Award winner and a 2013 Fiery Food Challenge Winner.

Uncle Bunk’s is still family run – Bunk heads up production, his wife Rose handles all things office and their daughter tackles sales, marketing, and business development.

Our Appalachian products are truly unique and worth a try!

Give us a call at 304-652-1920, email bunk@unclebunks.com, or check out www.unclebunks.com to find out more. alternatives since 1991.

Today’s busy lifestyles, hectic schedules, and technological advancements have caused people to lose touch with what is pure, natural and spiritually fulfilling in life. Trinity enables people to grab hold and embrace education in a way that satisfies the basic needs of the mind, body and spirit to emulate into a lifestyle that encompasses natural health and its ideals.

For more information on the Trinity School of Natural Health go online to www.trinityschool.org, call 800-428-0408 or 800-9792392 or email info@trinityschool.org or informacion@trinityschool.org. At the show head to booth #4501. vinegars, custom dried herb blends with rubs, dippers and seasoning mixes.

Stop by to experience the products yourself and scan your badge for an entry to win a Made in Montana products gift basket.

For more information on products you will find at Montana’s booth #447, contact Angelyn DeYoung, Montana Department of Agriculture at 406-444-5424 or adeyoung@mt.gov. For more information on Made in Montana products visit the Facebook page “Made in Montana.”

swollen joints. It is also anti-fungal, antibacterial, anti-viral, and high in antioxidants, with antiseptic properties.

Consumers have many fun ways to enjoy all this nutrition: as a healthy snack for kids or a bar snack with beer, as protein in a macrobiotic diet, in a California roll with favorite ingredients, or to add flavor and texture to cooked rice or cold salads.

To try Sea Veggies for yourself and for details of their comprehensive retail support, visit them at Expo East booth #1050. For info and recipes, visit www.sea-veggies.com.

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LIZBETH LANE BRINGS OVER THE TOP FLAVOR WITH ITS ALL-NATURAL SAUCES

There is an ever-growing wealth of new convenience foods hitting the store shelves on a daily basis. They cut prep time, create new and unique flavors within certain food categories and provide “quick solutions” for people on the go.

When Michael Dernoga and Rid Francisco created Lizbeth Lane Cuisine in 2010, their mission was to provide the same conven-

ience and ease of preparation without cutting corners and costs by using artificial flavors, additives or preservatives. Their line of gourmet quality simmer sauces and new pizza sauces had to be over the top in terms of taste and proudly display all-natural and glutenfree labeling. So they took their homemade recipes and transformed them into superb sauces for the gourmet market.

GREAT GRAPES! CRUNCHIES ADDS FRUITS, EXPANDS VEGGIES IN ITS FREEZE-DRIED FAVORITES

Been waiting to hear exciting health food product news through the grapevine? If so, Crunchies® — the leading producer of all-natural freeze-dried vegetable and fruit snacks in the country — has a tasty announcement: the addition this September of all-natural Red Grapes to its popular Grab-n-Go fruit line. Delectable grapes, long a favorite of young and old alike, are now easily packed into even the fullest backpack, whether for school, play, sports or a hike.

Sugar Snap Peas, Buttered Power Veggies and Herbed Spiced Power Veggies will also make their debut this September, joining Buttered Sweet Corn and BBQ Roasted Veggies, which were introduced to Crunchies’ Grab-n-Go family in June.

Both Power Veggies feature flavorful blends of corn, edamame, peas and carrots seasoned with natural spices, flavorings and sea salt. With such a palette-pleasing variety sure to match every taste, consumers can now crunch all their favorite

PARTNERS REVOLUTIONIZES GLUTEN-FREE SNACKING Why settle for gluten-free, flavor-free, empty calorie snacks? It’s time to Free Your Taste Buds of those lack luster gluten-free alternatives and experience what gluten-free snacking can be, delicious for all to enjoy.

PARTNERS, A Tasteful Choice Company, maker of all-natural, wholesome, and delicious crackers, cookies and granola, is launching its first gluten-free line, Free for All Kitchen. Since 1992, founder Marian Harris has taken great care to create and perfect every one of her recipes and the new gluten-free additions are no exception.

Three years ago, Marian and the PARTNERS family recognized the importance of

producing a gluten-free line and have been diligently working ever since. Why so long?

It takes time to develop a delicious glutenfree alternative that doesn't compromise on taste, nutrition or quality.

While many companies push out products that are heavily processed or rely on empty calorie rice fillers to create gluten-free alternatives, Marian focused on finding high quality, all-natural ingredients to create her crackers. Three years in the baking, Marian’s new gluten-free crackers are made from a five ancient grain blend of amaranth, quinoa, millet, sorghum and teff.

These ancient grain crackers are avail-

ROHAN MARLEY ON MARLEY COFFEE, ITAL AND ORGANIC

By Rohan Marley, Marley Coffee

My father always said he would return to farming one day. In the farmland of Nine Mile, Jamaica, he learned a deep respect for nature and humanity that helped guide his life…and mine. It was his dream to return to it one day. With Marley Coffee, I’m fulfilling that dream in honor of my father.

We’ve established Marley Coffee as an international gourmet coffee company sourcing beans from around the world, including Ethiopia, Central America and Jamaica. The beans from Jamaica are from our 52-acre private estate that sits atop the Blue Mountains in Chepstowe, Portland, Jamaica, long

revered as the region with the world's most desirable coffee beans. From our farm in Jamaica, to partner farms in Africa, Central America and other coffee-growing regions worldwide, Marley Coffee strives to support communities and the environment through organic, sustainable and ethical practices.

We monitor our sources using the highest ethical standard, “ITAL.” In this way, we promote the sustainable efforts of small farmers in the poorest rural communities. The ITAL seal is how we denote our commitment to these principles. In Rastafari parlance, the initial syllable of a word is often replaced with the letter "I" as a way to express the self-determination of the human race. Thus, eternity

Each sauce has homemade texture, mouthfeel, and flavors that cooks can actually be proud to serve— all without using “unnatural” ingredients.

Their simmer sauces include: Lemon Piccata, Roasted Red Pepper & Basil Cream, Marsala and Tarragon and a Mediterranean Tomato. By adding these sauces to sautéed poultry or seafood during their last few minutes of cooking, the convenience factor is accomplished with ease. As a premium line of sauces, they cost more but are worth every cent.

The same holds true with their pizza sauces.

The unique flavors that Lizbeth Lane Cuisine

vegetables in single snacks every bit as healthy and convenient as they are delicious. Grab-n-Go bags range from 1ounce to 3.25-ounces.

Like all Crunchies’ fruit products, Red Grapes Grab-n-Go is made in the United States through a unique freeze-drying process in which individually frozen grapes are placed in a refrigerated vacuum chamber that removes up to 97 percent of the moisture. This special process gives Crunchies their namesake crunchy texture and allows them to retain a high percentage of the nutritious enzymes that are invariably lost through traditional heat drying.

Veggie Crunchies are not only incredibly wholesome, but are also rich in fiber, protein and isoflavones. Each delicious flavor contains relatively little fat while providing a nu-

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has created is standing the pizza sauce world on its head, too. None of their three new sauces are your typical red sauce. Lizbeth Lane’s pizza sauce flavors include: Roasted Vegetable, Tomatillo Cilantro and Tomato, Pepper & Basil. These open up a whole new world of pizza making possibilities.

When it comes to healthy and convenient, Lizbeth Lane Cuisine has figured out how to make them work together beautifully.

For more information on Lizbeth Lane email contactus@lizbethlanecuisine.com, call 215480-2710 or head online to www.Lizbeth LaneCuisine.com.

tritional burst of energy that’s available anywhere, anytime, thanks to Crunchies’ convenient re-sealable pouches.

“The tasty new additions to Crunchies’ best-selling Grab-n-Go lines represent an integral facet of the company’s 2013 product expansion,” said Jim Lacey, President and CEO of Crunchies Food Company.

Having enjoyed a tripling of sales nationwide over the past year, Crunchies is in the midst of its greatest period of growth to date in terms of new product launches, expanded distribution, new strategic alliances and widespread event sponsorships.

For more information, visit www.crunchiesfood.com or call 888-9971866. Stop by the Crunchies booth #220 to try the newest flavors!

able in three of PARTNERS most popular flavors: Roasted Garlic & Rosemary, Olive Oil & Sea Salt, and Olive Oil & Herb. The family recognized the need for a great entertaining style cracker in the gluten-free category and decided to release their new recipes in a hors d’oeuvre style cut. With Free for All Kitchen crackers, retailers now have an elegant, delicious, worry-free option to showcase their favorite cheeses and consumers have an elegant, delicious, worry free option to serve to all of their guests.

Look for Free for All Kitchen Gluten-Free Crackers in 5-ounce cartons and cellophane wrapped deli trays. The PARTNERS team applied the same care and attention to creating elegant, attractive packaging that showcases the high quality taste and ingredients that everyone can enjoy.

Since 1992, PARTNERS, A Tasteful Choice Company, has created delicious gourmet products using all-natural ingredients while supporting the sustainability of the environment and fostering an atmosphere of family, integrity, trust, and compassion in the community. All PARTNERS products are certified kosher and contained no hydrogenated oils, artificial flavors or preservatives. PARTNERS is also certified as a women-owned business enterprise by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC).

becomes iternity, creation begets iration, and from vital comes ital. We developed the ITAL seal as our own promise and guarantee Marley Coffee will fight for what's Pure, True, and Vital. From the biodiversity of our own farm to the ethical treatment of our farm's workers, we pride ourselves on knowing where and whom our beans come from, and how they are grown, harvested, and roasted.

We view the relationship between ITAL and “Organic” as complementary; our new line of Marley Coffee Organic Ground, for example, is certified USDA Organic while also meeting the high standards of ITAL. However, one thing many people do not take into consideration when buying products labeled Fair Trade Certified or Certified Organic is that the process of certification can be prohibitively expensive for smaller farmers. To be fair to farms of all sizes, Marley Coffee monitors its sources using ITAL as our primary benchmark.

It is our hope that the Marley Coffee farm in Jamaica will inspire other farmers to join the organic movement, by showing them that sustainable farming can be profitable. And in fact, be more affordable than conventional farming. Biodiversity and organic farming methods make for healthier soil, prevent water contamination, provide habitat for dozens of species of migratory birds, and form a critical component of Marley Coffee's exceptional flavor. Providing a living wage to farmers is not only the humane thing to do, it also is one of the critical factors for creating and continuing sustainable farming practices.

By investing in our farmers' continued wellbeing, we are also investing in the continued well-being of our precious planet.

For more information about PARTNERS, A Tasteful Choice Company call 847-5567511, or email gwilks@savoragency.com.

You may also find PARTNERS on the web at www.partnerscrackers.com or at facebook.com/partnerscrackers.

Learn more at www.MarleyCoffee.com.

Email: sales@marleycoffee.com. Phone: 323-556-0746.

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NuGo PRESENTS A LOW-SUGAR, DARK CHOCOLATE-COATED PROTEIN BAR NuGo Nutrition, the company that uses real dark chocolate to deliciously enrobe protein bars, has launched a landmark product.

NuGo Slim is the first low-sugar, high protein bar made without maltitol or artificial sweeteners. Goodness comes naturally with only 2 grams of sugar from real dark chocolate, all-natural top-quality ingredients, and three scrumptious flavors: Brownie Crunch, Roasted Peanut, and Raspberry Truffle.

NuGo Slim is diabetic-friendly, certified gluten-free by the Gluten-Free Certification Organization (GFCO), and OU kosher certified by the Orthodox Union.

NuGo Slim contains 180 calories, 17 grams of protein, and 7 grams of soluble

fiber from chicory root. Insoluble fiber moves through the digestive track quickly, acting as a natural laxative. However, the soluble (prebiotic) fiber in NuGo Slim slows digestion, making you feel full longer without adding calories. Research indicates that soluble fiber controls blood sugar levels in addition to helping lower bad cholesterol.

Furthermore, eating a diet high in soluble fiber aids in weight loss and can reduce the risk of heart disease and diabetes.

Artificial sweeteners and sugar alcohols, like maltitol, typically found in low sugar and sugar-free bars, can taste awful and cause gastric distress such as bloating, stomach cramps, and other pain. While other

NEW ENGLAND NATURAL BAKERS LAUNCHES ‘ORGANIC SELECT’ LINE New England Natural Bakers recently announced the launch of its new “Organic Select” line: three new granola products that are all organic and non-GMO project verified with unique flavor profiles. Two of the options are unsweetened in response to consumers who were avoiding the granola category because the offerings often contained added sugars.

“We realize that our success is contingent on producing unique and quality products.

So, we developed the ‘Selects’ in response to

consumers looking for lower sugar content and also gluten-free products,” said Vice President of Sales and Marketing Pam Clark.

“We are excited that we were able to get these to market quickly and the early response has been positive.”

The new item launch by New England Natural Bakers, which became 100 percent employee-owned in January 2013, marks an aggressive strategy to increase brand presence and coincides with the brand’s recent non-GMO verification. The Organic Selects

ALO DRINK LAUNCHES ALOTONE, REPACKAGES FULL DRINK LINE-UP ALO Drink―a leading aloe vera drink in the natural category― repackaged all eight of its original aloe vera juice and pulp drinks, complementing its repackaging of their ALO COCO Exposed, aloe vera and coconut drinks.

ALOtones, music for your mind, mixed

for each flavor, can be easily unlocked from any bottle (via QR-code or TXT) in over 30 countries, and can be easily shared on Facebook and Twitter.

At the end of the day, everyone comes back to our drinks because of the positive ex-

sugar-free bars use fake chocolate flavored palm oil coatings sweetened with maltitol, NuGo Nutrition uses real dark chocolate as the coating on NuGo Slim to produce a truly delicious bar with no bad aftertaste.

Real dark chocolate has many health benefits, is an antioxidant-rich superfood, and lowers bad cholesterol while raising good cholesterol. It tastes delicious because it’s made from only cocoa beans (cocoa butter and non-fat cocoa solids). The smooth, creamy texture of cocoa butter allows the rich natural chocolate flavor to melt in your mouth, exploding with flavor.

Fake chocolate substitutes vegetable fats, usually palm oil, for cocoa butter, which raises the melting temperature, so it doesn’t melt in your mouth. This results in a waxy texture and overly sweet flavor that destroys the rich, natural flavor. The vegetable fat in fake chocolate is an unhealthy saturated fat line features three new SKUs: Organic Unsweetened Cinnamon Raisin Muesli, Organic Gluten Free Unsweetened Berry Coconut Granola and Organic Cranberry Almond Granola Clusters.

Since 1977, New England Natural Bakers have been producing exciting and nutritious all-natural and organic products while contributing to environmental and social improvement initiatives. Located in the foothills of The Berkshire Mountains of western New England, New England Natural Bakers is a 100 percent employeeowned company that employs more than 40 people full time. In addition to an extensive assortment of bulk products, they offer a popular line of pouch granola that includes perience they take away. They know ALO tastes great and it’s a healthier alternative to soft drinks. What we’re doing is adding value and building relationships with consumers through an enhanced drinking experience for the body and mind.” says Henry Chen, Founder, ALO Drink.

ALO customers are also incentivized to enter in their bottle’s UPC code to unlock more tracks―allowing them to musically sample and download another flavor’s ALO-

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which raises bad cholesterol. Unlike other protein bar manufacturers, NuGo never uses waxy vegetable fat compounds in place of real, antioxidant-rich dark chocolate. NuGo bars are naturally low in fat because the principal ingredient is protein. They do not contain high-fructose corn syrup, hydrogenated oils or trans fats.

NuGo Nutrition makes 28 bars to fit many lifestyles: vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free, kosher pareve, organic, and low sugar. Whether consumers are craving chocolate covered pretzels, peanut butter cups, chocolate mint cookies, chocolate chips, brownies, or chocolate covered nuts or fruit, NuGo protein bars are a healthy indulgence for the entire family.

Discover the delicious taste of real dark chocolate protein bars by purchasing NuGo at retail stores nationwide or ordering sample packs from www.NuGonutrition.com.

both organic and conventional formulations that are created with the health of the consumer in mind. In addition to brand products, New England Natural Bakers has a strong private label presence and is a copacker of choice among discerning manufactures and retailers.

The new Organic Selects can be found in Whole Foods, Fairway, Harmon’s, and Mrs. Greens and many natural food stores nationally.

New England Natural Bakers can be found online at www.newenglandnaturalbakers.com or contact Larry Cornick lcornick@nenb.com. At the show head to booth 1726 to learn more. tone track.

Adding music as a key ingredient is unlike anything we’ve seen in the beverage industry, and we think it’s right on par with our mission. It takes our leader-brand into the mainstream, right where we want it to be,” Chen said.

For wholesale information, visit alodrink.com or contact Brian Choi at 800223-4438 x231.

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AN EXCITING NEW SOURCE OF OMEGA-3 EPA AND DHA: ANTARCTIC KRILL Superba™ Krill Oil provides the body’s best source of long-chain Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), known specifically as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). EPA and DHA support cardiovascular health as well as cognitive, visual, immune, and reproductive system functions. There are also indications that they provide health benefits supporting healthy triglyceride and cholesterol blood levels, healthy arteries and mental acuity.

Krill oil is rich in phospholipid EPA and DHA, providing clinically proven superior bio-efficiency. When compared with triglyceride Omega-3s found in typical marine oils, we see that less phospholipid Omega-3s are required to reach equal bioavailability in the body’s cells and organs.

Phospholipid-bound Omega-3 fatty acids are water dispersible, making them gentle on the stomach and more readily absorbed by the body. Smaller dosing requirements lead to smaller capsules which are easy to swallow, easy to digest (no more fishy burps!), and easily used by the body.

Superba Krill Oil is extracted exclusively from Euphausia superba, an Antarctic krill species rich with the natural antioxidant astaxanthin, which results in krill oil’s deep red color. Recognized for the health-promoting suppression of free radicals, astaxanthin keeps Superba Krill Oil fresh, protecting the Omega-3 fatty acids. No additives are necessary to maintain Superba Krill’s long-term stability.

The human body is limited in its ability to produce EPA and DHA, and these fatty acids

NATURE’S YOKE ADDS ORGANIC, PASTURE-RAISED EGGS TO ALL-NATURAL LINEUP

The mission of Nature’s Yoke is to bring to your table the freshest eggs from Amish country in Lancaster County, Penn. Available to you are organic, cage-free, and pastureraised eggs, all produced on small family farms and packed by hand in the Nature’s Yoke packing plant. They are then shipped and sent to grocery stores throughout the American Northeast region, putting these exceptional eggs right at your fingertips!

George Weaver III represents the third generation of his family in the egg industry. More

than 50 years ago his grandfather, George Weaver Sr., began producing and selling eggs on his family’s farm, building a successful business from scratch. It didn’t take long until he began working with other local farmers in order to be able to produce the quantity of eggs the supermarkets needed.

His son, George Jr., was the brave entrepreneur who ventured into the premium egg business. He wanted a higher quality egg and was willing to work for it, buying better feed and improving the housing for his chickens.

JANE CARTER SOLUTION ‘GROWS GREAT HAIR’ For two decades, The Jane Carter Solution has been providing all-natural and naturally derived hair care products for all hair types and textures. Jane Carter products address the causes of dandruff, dry scalp and breakage—not just the symptoms. The team at Jane Carter uses organic butters, pure essential oils, and vitamins providing hydration and heat protection for today’s hair styles.

GFCO (Cont’d. from p. 1)

packaged goods as being gluten-free to a standard of 10ppm gluten or less, which is twice as strict as the FDA ruling for gluten-free labeling.

GN: How many products are currently certified by GFCO?

CK: GFCO currently certifies 16,000 products by 600 companies in 22 countries around the world. This number increases almost daily!

GN: What is the cost for certification?

CK: The certification costs are based on a number of factors including inspection

And they really work!

Whether kinky, curly, wavy, or straight hair, no matter if it's color-treated or natural, our products protect, nourish, condition and strengthen hair. The seventeen products in the Jane Carter Solution, combine to create a hair care system that address the needs of your entire family.

With a million baby boomers turning 60 time and the amount of testing required to ensure safe products. These costs will vary depending on the risk profile of the manufacturing environment and the complexity (number of ingredients and products) of the plant. Ultimately, the certification cost relative to total manufacturing costs should be minimal— a small fraction of total manufacturing costs. The net benefit (increased consumer confidence in their products) to manufacturers proves to be far greater than the cost.

GN: So explain a little bit more about the fees involved.

CK: There are no application or desk audit fees. An audit fee is a flat rate associated with each plant producing certified gluten-

therefore must be augmented through the diet. Omega-3 fatty acids can be obtained through the consumption of seafood, but dietary supplements are a reliable alternative.

The phospholipid form of Omega-3s is better utilized by the body to promote cellular structure and function than triglyceride Omega-3s, which are primarily used for energy consumption.

The physical characteristics of triglycerides differ from phospholipids and this affects how they are tolerated by the body. One clear difference is that triglycerides don’t disperse in fluids and have a tendency to float on top of stomach fluids, which can result in the fishy burps often associated with fish oil supplements. In contrast, phospholipid Omega-3s do disperse in water and are easily blended in the stomach fluids, so with krill oil there is no fishy aftertaste.

Aker BioMarine Antarctic is the only krill fishery to date to earn Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification. Adhering to the highest environmental standards in all as-

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pects of operations, Aker BioMarine Antarctic’s corporate philosophy and policy is to operate in a manner which emphasizes sustainable harvesting practices and minimizes environmental impact. The aim is to responsibly utilize the valuable marine resources harvested to their fullest potential. Aker BioMarine Antarctic’s proprietary Eco-Harvesting™ system allows krill to be captured beneath the surface in a submerged net and remain in the sea until they are gently siphoned onboard. Eco-Harvesting’s trawl module effectively prevents accidental bycatch of fish, birds, and marine mammals, causing minimal environmental impact.

Numerous clinical studies have shown that EPA and DHA are essential for maintaining a healthy body, but what the typical western diet provides is far short of what the body needs. Let Superba Krill Oil supplements bridge the gap for you.

To learn more about Aker BioMarine, visit www.akerbiomarine.com.

His organic egg project followed and his production was soon in full swing.

George Weaver III introduced the brand name: Nature’s Yoke. His first requirement for all his farmers is that the hens are absolutely cage-free. Also, that there is no use of added hormones, antibiotics, or animal by-products. His goal is an egg that is 100 percent natural and 100 percent healthy.

This is true of all Nature’s Yoke eggs—100 percent natural. Nature’s Yoke uses three main types – organic, cage-free, and pasture-raised.

Nature’s Yoke cage-free and organic eggs are now certified humane, a change that was recently implemented. The pasture-raised egg was introduced a few years ago, produced by hens from multiple small flocks kept on abundant grassy pastures. Being grass-fed, these eggs promise more nutrients than ever.

Most recently, Nature’s Yoke has added organic pasture-raised eggs to the product line.

The Nature’s Yoke team is excited about this item and glad to be able to offer this combination. These hens are fed 100 percent organic grains, supplementing their rich diet of grass and all the insects they can find. They roam the fields under a wide blue sky and are kept there during the day when the weather is genial, and they are moved to shelter only at night and when storms or cold weather move in. Happy chickens, delicious eggs.

Nature’s Yoke is committed to sustainable agriculture and the support of local family farms and dedicated to its customers, farmers, employees—and hens.

each year, the Jane Carter Solution is introducing HY*DRATE and RE*STORE, products for anti-aging hair. These are cleansing, styling and finishing products. Moisture Mist and Quench make hair hold more moisture, while Seal & Shine and Creamy Leave-In Styling Smoother add vitamins and botanicals to strengthen hair.

Grow Great Hair does just what it says, it grows great hair by lengthening the anagen stage of hair growth, while anchoring the hair to the papilla to help grow hair in cases of alopecia, menopause and chemical reaction hair loss.

Jane Carter provides “how-to”s and great hair care information that truly makes a difference for your customers. The affiliate page, as well as a new phone app, will also help you to prescribe and sell the right products to keep your customers coming back again and again.

free products. This rate may be reduced for companies with multiple plants. The audit fee in the United States is $500.

There are also auditor travel expenses but GFCO auditors group schedule multiple audits in one trip to help reduce costs to companies, and when applicable, will combine them with other audits such as HACCP, GFSI, GMO, organic and so on.

There’s also a licensing and certification fee which encompasses an annual flat rate charged for certification, based on risk, number of plants, and private labels. It is not based on the number of SKUs or brand sales. GFCO does however have a small business offer for very small companies with five or less products that want to be certified but this is the only situation when a ‘per SKU’ pricing matrix is used.

For more information on Nature’s Yoke head to booth #1134.

You can reach the Jane Carter Solution by calling toll free at 877-HAIR CARE or 877424-7227. Check out our Hair Care prescriptions on www.janecartersolution.com where you can identify and prescribe the perfect products for your customers.

GN: How does gluten-free certification benefit manufacturers?

CK: Gluten-free certification benefits the manufacturers because it gives them the credibility and recognition that they are producing a gluten-free product that meets strict standards. Inspections conducted by the GFCO auditors also verify that the company is providing and meeting high standards in producing their product.

Manufacturers save valuable time and resources that would have been spent answering questions regarding the gluten-free status of their products.

For more information visit www.gfco.org, call 253-218-2956 or email admin@gluten.net— or just stop by booth #308.

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SKINNY POP ALLOWS GUILT FREE INDULGENCE IN GOOD-FOR-YOU POPCORN In 2010, Pam Netzky and Andy Friedman were running a retail popcorn business in Chicago. They had an idea, and with it, they uncovered a tremendous opportunity in the better-for-you, ready-to-eat popcorn space.

They pursued their idea with hard work and determination and, as a result, SkinnyPop Popcorn was born.

Three years later, you can find their creation in most major food retailers nationwide.

Currently, SkinnyPop is available in two flavors – Original and Black Pepper, and in several different sizes (including individual

bags that are great for on-the-go, portion control, lunches, etc.). Look out for new flavors set to launch this January.

SkinnyPop is proud to be an all-natural, allergen-free snack (peanut-free, tree nutfree, gluten-free and dairy-free) that is nonGMO and, most importantly, always fresh and delicious.

Indulge, guilt free!

For more information head to www.SkinnyPop.com, email jessica@SkinnyPop.com, call 847-982-9800 – or at the show head to booth #1061.

GREEN MOUNTAIN GRINGO SALSA AND TORTILLA STRIPS FROM TW GARNER Back in 1989, the first jar of Green Mountain Gringo® Salsa was produced in the kitchen of Christine and Dave Hume. The salsa, created at their Chester, Vermont farm, used fresh ingredients, chopped by hand, cooked with care and ladled into jars. Today, Green Mountain Gringo® is part of the TW Garner Food Company, a family-owned business in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, which has been dedicated to the commitment of producing quality products since 1929.

A lot has changed since 1989 but what hasn’t is the product. Green Mountain Gringo Salsa continues to be made with the

freshest veggies picked at the peak of ripeness and as a result, the team at TW Garner Food Company continues to produce some of the freshest jarred salsa on the market. All of the company’s salsas and tortilla strips are lower in salt, gluten-free, allergens and preservatives as well as certified non-GMO.

For more information on Green Mountain Gringo Salsa or the TW Garner Food Company see the team at booth #508. After the show, just call 336-661-1550 or head online to www.greenmountaingringo.com.

BRAD’S ORGANIC PASTA AND SAUCES MAKE FOR WHOLESOME, TASTY MEALS Prepare yourself the healthy, wholesome meal of your life with Brad’s Organic semolina, tricolor or omega-3 rich whole wheat pasta cuts–all straight from Italy.

With a variety of Organic Pasta Sauces you’ll be making your own meals more often without getting too repetitive in the kitchen. Also try the surprisingly delicious tasting low-fat and lowsodium versions.

Are you a vodka sauce lover? Brad’s Organic has got a reduced-fat vodka sauce that you are sure to love.

If you’re into making your own sauce, try

Brad’s high-quality canned tomatoes and make the sauce only you know how to make.

All of Brad’s Organic Foods’ superior quality and affordable products are certified USDA organic and taste great because the team at Brad’s does it the right way–the Brad’s way.

Find the company’s products in the organic section of your local food market or at www.bradsorganic.com. Bon appetit!

To learn more about Brad’s Organic foods, visit booth #2707, visit www.bradsorganic.com, or call email sales@bradsorganic.com.

SOHGAVE: A SINGULAR TYPE OF AGAVE There are more than 168 varieties of agave in the world, but only one Blue Weber agave, and only one is Sohgave. Blue Weber agave is grown almost exclusively in Guadalajara, Mexico.

Sohgave is a pure, unrefined, low glycemic sweetener–lower on the glycemic scale than sugar, honey, maple syrup and other sweeteners. Still, it is approximately 30 percent sweeter than sugar, so you’ll use less. For this reason, it is an appealing sweetener for people who monitor their glucose intake. Sohgave.

Nectar is nature’s subtle concentrated sweetener, and remarkably, its flavor is neutral and adaptable for baking, cooking and

grilling. It will not crystallize like honey and it dissolves quickly in hot or cold. Even better, this all-purpose sweetener is a good economical alternative to sweeteners.

Why Sohgave? The low glycemic agave, tested at 17 GI labs in Toronto, is USDA organic certified and kosher – so it’s trustworthy. It’s also a trendy brand,with a BPA free re-useable and recyclable bottle. It has been tasted and trusted as well, as it’s been endorsed by chef and author Ania Catalano who wrote “Baking with Agave Nectar.”

For more information, visit www.sohgave.com or head to booth #2815.

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SAY GOODBYE TO BUTTER, SAY HELLO TO MELT

By Meg Carlson, President & CEO, Prosperity Organic Foods, Inc.

Butter lovers rejoice! Melt® Organic is a line of luscious, all-natural spreads for butter lovers seeking a healthier alternative. Each variety of Melt is rich and creamy because it is made with virgin coconut oil—the healthiest unprocessed saturated fat—in a perfect blend of fruit- and plant-based oils. Together, the natural and pure ingredients combine perfectly.

Even better, Melt spreads sizzle, drizzle, sauté and bake beautifully just like butter, but with half the saturated fat and fewer calories.

Melt Organic is North America’s first

“Butter 2.0™” – a new form of buttery spread that is truly good for you. In addition to supporting healthy weight, the blend of oils in Melt supports thyroid function and metabolism, gastro-intestinal health, optimal nutrient absorption and heart health.

Available in original and honey flavors, Melt features the perfect blend of the healthiest organic oils: virgin coconut, flaxseed, hioleic sunflower, palm fruit and canola. Each variety of Melt is certified organic, kosher and made with non-GMO, eco-social and fair trade ingredients that are ethically sourced. Both Melt and Honey Melt® are the first spreads in North America to be Non-

GMO Project Verified. Rich & Creamy Melt® and Honey Melt were each rated a HIT! by the Supermarket Guru in 2010 and 2013, respectively.

Prosperity Organic Foods, makers of Melt Organic spreads, debuts new Chocolate Melt® Organic this year. Chocolate Melt is a velvety spread made with Melt’s signature blend combined with the rich tastes of organic cocoa and wildflower honey. It is a delectable spread for graham crackers or croissants, a delightful dip for strawberries, or the perfect addition to favorite brownie or cookie recipes. Each serving contains just one gram of sugar versus the 10-gram equivalent in its hazelnut spread competitors.

All Melt Organic spreads are also trans-fat free, gluten-free, dairy- or lactose-free, and soy-free with no artificial colors, flavors or additives. Only Melt uses Virgin Coconut Oil

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that is certified Fair for Life Fair Trade. The Melt line is also the first to be sold in innovative, eco-friendly square packages for easy storage and sustainability. It’s Hip to Be Square!© Melt founder Cygnia Rapp, an avid home chef, developed Melt after digestive challenges meant giving up butter. Unhappy with existing alternatives, Rapp set out to create a natural and tasty organic butter replacement in her kitchen. She uncovered a wealth of little-known information about healthful saturated fats (the ‘good fats’) and their influence on health and well-being. After much experimentation, Rapp created the original recipe for Melt Organic based on two key organic oils: virgin coconut and flaxseed.

Rich & Creamy Melt Organic and Honey Melt Organic are sold in 13-ounce packages with MSRP of $4.99 in more than 3,700 natural-organic, specialty gourmet and conventional retail stores throughout the United States and Canada.

For more information about Melt® Organic, visit Prosperity Organic Foods at booth #2030 at Natural Products Expo East or visit www.MeltButterySpread.com.

After the show contact John Horne, Vice President of Sales at 208-639-6918 or john@prosperityorganicfoods.com.

VANILLA BEAN UNIQUE COOKIES: NATURAL IS THE ONLY WAY They say natural is the only way! The days where shelf lives lasted several months or were even a year long are slowly fading. The idea of natural foods with no synthetic preservatives is becoming a growing trend and Vanilla Bean cookies represent that concept.

The team at Vanilla Bean Unique Cookies has created a line of cookies made with pure vanilla extract, fresh citrus zest, real butter, and cocoa powder, as well as many other natural ingredients.

The company’s Lemon Ricotta cookie is a perfect example of fresh ingredients wrapped up in a perfect little package. A soft cookie with a cake like texture, sweet with a hint of tart lemon and garnished with a creamy lemon glaze. This cookie exemplifies the trend of natural, fresh and pure and is only one of six cookies in the product line. The Margarita and Clementine Sandwich Cookies, Chocolate Chilean, Chocolate Toffee Chip and Cherry Chip Cordial complete Vanilla Bean’s unique line of cookies.

The founders of Vanilla Bean Unique Cookies have also chosen packaging that represents a natural theme and style. Classic beauty, clean lines, pin stripe boxes, and labels with soft colors that match each cookie, all creating an inviting and beautiful presentation.

So when choosing cookies for your gourmet gift baskets, corporate gifts and online retail outlets, consider our cookies the perfect natural alternative.

For information regarding our products contact Debbie Smith at 260-415-4652 or vbchefs@vanillabeanuniquecookies.com.

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BASS BRUSHES USES GREEN BRUSH LINE, TALKS EXPANSION OF COMPANY An interview with Ron Weinstein, Founder of The Hair Doc, Representative of Bass Brushes

GN: Tell our readers about your company.

How did The Hair Doc and Bass Brushes start?

RW: I founded The Hair Doc after graduating from cosmetology school and working in salons in Beverly Hills, Calif. As a new hairdresser, I had a lot of spare time on my hands, so between appointments I would sell brushes to other salons throughout southern California. As the brush business grew rapidly I set up my own company, naming it The Hair Doc Co. GN: What was your first major success?

RW: One of our largest milestones came in 1980 when we started making brushes with

and for other companies, including big names like Vidal Sassoon. Private-label work is now a big part of our business, but we got our start with companies like Vidal Sassoon and Nexxus.

GN: So how did you make the jump to working on the brush business full-time?

RW: I was still operating my brush business part-time at that point, but it kept expanding. Eventually I became a distributor. My agreement was that I would only sell direct to salons and stay out of beauty supplies. During that time I was a hairdresser in the studios working for various movie production companies and television programs. I was juggling television work and the salon, which was fine at first, but eventually the salon got tired of me being out on the set for weeks at a time. And since televi-

GLUTEN-FREE CERTIFICATION ORGANIZATION REMAINS A TRUSTED AUTHORITY IN THE INDUSTRY Interview with Channon Quinn, Director of Industry Programs for Gluten Intolerance Group GN: Who is GFCO?

CQ: GFCO is the Gluten-Free Certification Organization, a program of the Gluten Intolerance Group, which certifies gluten-free retail and industrial packaged goods as being gluten-free to a standard of 10ppm gluten or less, which is twice as strict as the Food and Drug Administration ruling for gluten-free labeling. The Gluten Intolerance Group is a 39-year-old non–profit organization supporting those with gluten sensitivities, including Celiac Disease. GFCO was established in 2005 based on a consumer need for verification of gluten-free products in grocery stores.

Freekeh Foods (Cont’d. from p. 1)

GN: Is it an ancient grain?

TD: Yes! Freekeh's origins are from the Middle East dating back nearly 2,000 years.

It is made by roasting immature green wheat. The word freekeh means "to rub" in Arabic.

GN: How does it compare to quinoa or brown rice in protein and fiber?

TD: Freekeh is comparable in protein to Great Eastern Sun (Cont’d. from p. 4)

years, miso absorbs subtle flavor influences from the wood. Great Eastern Sun uses only the finest certified organic ingredients, producing a rich, hearty miso that gives a wonderful flavor to a wide va-

GN: How does GFCO’s certification differ from your competitors?

CQ: GFCO was the first gluten-free certification in the US. Without a ruling by the FDA on gluten-free standards, based on scientific research and other government regulation, we determined that a stricter standard should be set while still maintaining the affordability of testing. GFCO does not charge an application fee for any applicant. All charges are known prior to the company incurring any charges. GFCO is the largest and most widely known glutenfree certification, certifying more than 16,000 products in 22 countries around the world, with distribution of those products even farther around the globe.

GN: Why should a company certify quinoa, and has nearly three times more protein than brown rice! Freekeh has more fiber than brown rice, and according to the American Nutrition and Dietetics Association, is low glycemic and a good source of antioxidants.

sion work didn’t involve any haircutting—just styling—I grew tired of never being able to show what I could do, so I went back to the salon.

I got more and more involved in the brush business, doing trade shows around the country and developing our own Bass Brushes brand. It started with one or two brushes and expanded from there. I would take a certain brush that I knew would sell in salons and we’d improve the quality and sell it under the Bass brand. As the brush business grew, the need for scheduling flexibility became even more important so I opened a one-chair salon next to a television studio. My customers were NBC PR people, cameramen and editors. Eventually I had to make a choice between haircutting – which I loved – and my brush business.

It was becoming too difficult to try and do both well. I moved everything into a little office in my home and went out all day selling. We also expanded beyond salons and into retailers since we were mainly representing our own line.

GN: So we’ve heard how the brushes began.

with GFCO?

CQ: GFCO is the trusted authority for gluten-free certification in the United States, Canada, and we are growing quickly in the European Union. Consumers avidly seek out the GFCO logo on gluten-free labeled products. With the gluten-free market growing so quickly still, GFCO will remain the gluten-free certification that consumers seek and trust.

GN: What type of process must companies have in place to meet GFCO requirements?

CQ: GFCO reviews the manufacturer’s SOPs related to ingredients, production, cleaning, allergens, training, recall program, packaging of gluten-free products, etc.

GFCO reviews GMPs, HACCP, and GFSI programs, as well as other auditor reviews.

Based on the review of these programs, the site audit and other factors, GFCO may identify requirements that must be implemented before certification will be issued. GFCO defor food service as well as industrial ingredient buyers. We offer both organic and commercial freekeh, and supply cracked, whole berry freekeh, and freekeh flour.

GN: What are your goals for the show?

TD: Freekeh Foods manufactures organic freekeh in partnership with North American Farmers. We offer three retail packages of organic freekeh, and supply freekeh in bulk

TD: We are introducing and sharing our passion for Freekeh with those who have not experienced it before. We want to begin to develop enduring relationships with customers who are committed to promoting Freekeh as a means to ecological sustainability, improved health, and to experience

riety of dishes.

Miso Master Organic Miso has been artisanally produced by Great Eastern Sun for more than 30 years, using ancient traditional Japanese techniques. Making miso is a very complex art, much like wine or cheese making, and the results de-

pend upon the quality of the ingredients and the methods used. Just as you can taste the difference between a fine wine and a cheap wine, you can readily taste and appreciate the quality and subtle balanced flavors produced by the great care, high quality organic ingredients, and nat-

GN: Where does Freekeh Foods grow its freekeh?

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But how did they get the name Bass?

RW: Well this is a funny story. Originally, we put The Hair Doc on the handle of the hair brushes. But when we started showing them at trade shows, hairdressers would pick them up and think the handle read “Hair Dog” because of the print style.

We even received mail at the office adressed to The Hair Dog Co., the Dog Hair Co., the Hair Dog Co. I’m not kidding. My heart sank every time. One day we were having a Sunday family dinner and I turned to my former father-in-law who was a big executive with Seagram’s liquors, and I told him what was happening. I admitted that I thought we needed to change the name on the hairbrushes so I jokingly asked him, “Which do you think sounds better: Weinstein Brushes or Bass Brushes?” Bass was my wife’s maiden name.

As I expected, he said, “I think Bass has a better ring to it.”

For more information on Bass Brushes www.bassbrushes.net or www.thehair doccompany.com—or stop by booth #2917.

fines minimum product, equipment and raw material testing requirements.

GFCO standards are that finished products and all ingredients must test at 10 ppm or less gluten. GFCO identifies and assesses a risk factor on all raw materials, which is determined by potential risk of the raw material being cross-contaminated, type of ingredient, history with supplier, testing and other documentation. The risk factor assigned determines the frequency of testing of raw materials before it can be used in production.

Frequency or need for equipment testing is determined by factors such as, but not limited to, risk of cross contamination, type and validation of cleaning processes, and type of equipment and production. Finished product testing is always required. Frequency is determined by production frequency, product, facility and ingredient risks. GFCO will perform audits at least annually if not more frequently and they may be unannounced.

For more information head to www.gfco.org, call 253-218-2956 or email admin@gluten .net—or just stop by booth #308. a deliciously unique and diverse grain.

GN: Do you think it's too trendy or will it stand the test of time?

TD: The more consumers learn about freekeh – and that it's nutrient dense, drought tolerant, requires less water to grow than rice, and that it's delicious, versatile, and easy to make – the more we believe that freekeh will continue to grow in popularity!

For more information visit Freekeh Foods in booth #2808 in the Organic Pavillion. ural aging of Miso Master Organic Miso.

For more information on Great Eastern Sun Trading Company head to www.great-eastern-sun.com, call 828-665-7790 or email customersvc@great-eastern-sun.com – or just stop by booth #2713.

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DON’T MISS OUT ON THE JUICING CRAZE! HEALTHY PROFITS WITH THE HEALTHY JUICER!

Healthy Juicer provides two juicing options: one manually operated wheatgrass and leafy green juicer (with a retail price of $49.99) and a multi-purpose electric version (with a retail price of $189.99). Both juicers preserve nutrients by using a masticating juicing Crunchies (Cont’d. from p. 1)

from discussions with two very important audiences: moms, and natural foods retailers. It is clear that parents and retailers alike want Crunchies’ new line for children from ages one and up to be pesticide-free, and USDA certified- organic. As always, Crunchies listens to its customers!

Being introduced this September at Natural Products Expo East and on shelves nationwide this fall, the Little Organic Crunchies line will feature four freeze-dried fruit flavors — Strawberries, Strawberries & Bananas, Apples & Bananas, and Strawberries & Mangoes — each featuring a distinct Looney Tunes 100th Monkey Mushroom’s (Cont’d. from p. 1)

to create their own mushroom gardens at home, so that everyone has the chance to enjoy freshly harvested gourmet mushrooms.

Because buying gourmet mushrooms on a regular basis is cost prohibitive for many people, we developed grow-your-own kits to make gourmet mushrooms accessible and affordable for everyone. As an added benefit, growing mushrooms is fun and informative, and our customers quickly become as enthusiastic about mushrooms as we are!

Our vision is to create a large scale awareness of sustainable growing techniques, the extraordinary health benefits of mushrooms, and the increasing role fungi plays in the healing of our ecosystem.

GN: What is 100th Monkey Mushroom’s product line?

HR: We created a product line which allows Garden Spot (Cont’d. from p. 1)

food industry, Garden Spot prides itself on being a reliable and trustworthy partner to retailers and specialty food brands. Our story begins in 1942 when a small community in western New York was established called Shiloh Farms. My father was a founding member of the community and was an integral part of the success and growth of Shiloh Farms. As a means of support, the Shiloh Farms community opened a bakery of healthy, wholesome and all-natural products. The bakery was a great success and quickly grew to be distributed to the surrounding communities. By the 1950s, communities outside the western New York region began to request Shiloh Farms products. Over the years, distribution grew and Garden Spot Distributors was established in New Holland, Penn. Today, we are a successful distributor of gluten-free, organic, dairy-free and all-natural products throughout the northeast.

process. Instead of high speeds and blades, the juicers use low rotation speeds and use a pressing action.

The manually operated Healthy Juicer is by far the most popular on the market due to its light weight of only 3 pounds, compact character, including Bugs Bunny, Tweety, Daffy Duck and Taz. A fun, tasty and irresistible way to introduce nutritious fruits into a young person’s diet, Little Organic Crunchies live up to their name by featuring little pieces, perfectly sized for the small hands and mouths of kids. While children will invariably be drawn to Little Organic Crunchies’ colorful and creative packaging featuring their favorite Looney Tunes characters, parents will appreciate the new line’s powerhouse nutrients, 100 percent organic fruit, and convenient re-sealable 1 oz. packages – perfect for lunch boxes, family outings and afternoon snacks.

Like all Crunchies products, Little Or-

the customer to grow gourmet mushrooms at home, indoors and out.

Our indoor/outdoor Mushroom Straw Garden Kit rapidly produces gourmet oyster mushrooms when mixed with pasteurized straw. The mushrooms can be harvested year-round and they can be grown anywhere: in pots on an apartment patio, in a garden bed, or inside the house in baskets or burlap bags.

Our outdoor shiitake Mushroom Log Kit makes it possible to grow the world’s most popular mushroom simply by inserting a mycelium-covered plug into a hardwood log. While these mushrooms take longer to colonize than the straw kits, they can produce coveted shiitake mushrooms for years.

Finally, our ready-made indoor Mushroom Kit is easy and convenient. With a little daily misting, the delicious elm oyster mushrooms are ready to harvest in as little as one week.

GN: What is the outlook, in general, for

GN: What would you say makes your company unique?

JC: We like to focus our energy on independently owned specialty food businesses including retailers and brands. We like having the ability and the resources to help great brands grow, so health-focused consumers across the nation can access even small companies and brands. We are a people-oriented company, both for the small businesses we help distribute, and the retailers and customers that buy our products.

GN: What types of products do you carry?

JC: We are really well-known for our variety of gluten-free and organic products. We also distribute vegan, dairy-free, kosher and other specialty brands. Our most over-arching requirement in products we carry is that they need to be all-natural.

GN: Why are you in this industry?

design and 30-second cleanup.

With only three main parts and no internal screen, clean up is a cinch. And since it is a specialized juicer meant for wheatgrass and leafy greens, the manually-operated juicer fits in where most common juicers are unable to go.

The electric juicer is a full multi-purpose unit and is able to effectively juice carrots and other vegetables as well as wheatgrass and leafy greens. The unit comes with two ganic Crunchies’ freeze-dried fruits are allnatural with no added sugars or preservatives. gluten-free, kosher, vegan and non-GMO, Crunchies’ products provide an incomparable blend of taste and nutrition.

Commenting on the partnership with Warner Bros. Consumer Products, Crunchies’ President and CEO Jim Lacey said, “We are thrilled to join with such beloved and timeless Looney Tunes characters to help young people discover the fun and appeal of healthier eating. Given the widespread popularity of Bugs Bunny and the Looney Tunes family, we feel confident Little Organic Crunchies will quickly become one of the most successful product launches in Crunchies’ history.” your products?

HR: Excellent! The year 2012 saw the highest mushroom sales on record, and 2013 is already 6 percent higher in the first quarter. Media coverage has greatly increased consumer awareness of the latest scientific findings that establish the extensive health-promoting qualities of mushrooms, and people across the country are realizing all of the benefits that come with growing their own mushrooms. 100th Monkey Mushroom Farm is at the forefront of the at-home mushroom production sector, and as we expand within the $30 billion per year do-it-yourself lawn and garden retail industry, we are prepared for tremendous growth.

GN: What differentiates your company from the competition?

HR: James and I provide customers a

JC: Since the beginning of Shiloh Farms, I have been committed to bringing all-natural and wholesome food to customers’ tables.

We strive to make wholesome food widely available, and we serve a pivotal role for smaller brands to launch within the space.

We also strongly support small retailers, giving them the opportunity to bring glutenfree, organic and all-natural products to their health-conscious consumers.

GN: What do you anticipate to be your biggest problem in the year ahead?

JC: We are concerned about the nation’s position on disclosing genetically modified organisms in the food we eat. We are committed to all-natural, organic, healthy food. Current legislation is keeping this information away from consumers, and this poses a threat to people’s right to choose what to consume. We think this will be a challenge within the health food industry, because these modified species

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specialized juicing augers built for each. It also comes with attachments to make homemade pasta!

Also make homemade baby food and frozen fruit sorbets. Users also enjoy a 50-year warranty on the motor on top of all the other benefits the electric juicer provides.

For more information and product demo videos, check them out on their website: www.HealthyJuicer.com or call 877-5393611 for more information.

“Whether it’s the classic Looney Tunes shorts that moms and dads know and love or today’s popular The Looney Tunes Show on Cartoon Network, which is introducing a new generation to the antics of Bugs Bunny and his gang, we know these characters are relevant to the entire family. We are proud to be partnering with Crunchies to bring the ingredient of fun to these healthier snacks,” said Karen McTier, executive vice president of Worldwide Marketing and Domestic Licensing, Warner Bros. Consumer Products.

For more information, call 888-997-1866 or visit www.crunchiesfood.com. Swing by the Crunchies Booth #220 to give the newest line a try!

variety of ways to grow their own mushrooms at home, so there is an option that works for every level of time and motivation.

Because this is a very new market, there needs to be an educational component to demonstrate how simple and straightforward the process is. A unique benefit we provide is a series of free online videos that walk the grower through the process, while answering common questions, offering tips, and guiding them towards the greatest success in their growing experience. We’ve found that a little time spent on education creates happy customers who trust in our products and become loyal, repeat customers.

For more information on100th Monkey Mushroom Farm visit www.100thmonkeymushrooms.com, info@100thmonkeymushrooms.com, call 512-820-0001—or stop by booth #8209.

became part of nature and spread, infecting natural crops.

GN: In a nutshell, why is your company successful?

JC: Garden Spot Distributors is a faithbased company, so I’m sure that plays a role in our success. I also think our success comes from our genuine dedication to bringing good products to good people. This dedication was literally the catalyst for our original business. We feel honored to have the ability to close the gap between healthy foods and healthy people. We are also strongly dedicated to offering our customers―both brands and retailers―the very best in customer service. We see ourselves as a true extension of their companies.

For more information head to www. gardenspotdist.com, call 717-354-4936 or email info@gardenspotdist.com – or head to booth #417 at Natural Products Expo East.

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KettlePop (Cont’d. from p. 1)

popping fresh kettle corn live on-site at outdoor events. Today we capture this experience in a bag so you can enjoy it at anytime from your local natural foods retailer.

GN: What would you say makes KettlePop unique?

JS: Definitely our process and commitment to quality. Our patented popping process produces a different quality of popcorn you can taste. All our ingredients are certified organic, non-GMO, kosher and are whole grain council certified. We only use real, non-artificial ingredients in our organic popcorn. Because we use a simple recipe with only a few ingredients, it is extremely important that those ingredients be of the highest quality and are produced sustainably.

Wonderfully Raw (Cont’d. from p. 1)

Brussel Bytes. Our products appeal to all consumers who value the exceptional ingredients and great taste that are the heart of Wonderfully Raw. GN: What would you say makes your company unique?

SC: As a former patient with Type II Diabetes, I recognize the importance of good health and sound nutrition. My cure is not in a medicine cabinet, a pharmacy, or a laboratory; it is instead in my kitchen where Wonderfully Raw traces its origins.

By creating the foods I enjoy, I can say that Wonderfully Raw is just that: a wonderfully raw approach to producing the snacks, treats and bite-size morsels people love. And, thanks to the efforts of my son and partner Eric Hara, who is an acclaimed chef, I have an amazing team—a Hillside Candy (Cont’d. from p. 1)

Each product brand enjoys widespread distribution throughout the United States and Internationally. GoLightly is a sugarfree product line, sweetened with Splenda®, available in peg bags and bulk.

Hillside Sweets is a sugar based hard candy line. GoNaturally/GoOrganic is a USDA-Certified Organic, non-GMO certified candy line.

Hillside Candy, LLC has been manufacturing its organic candies under two brands: GoNaturally in the United States, and GoOrganic overseas. With the growing awareness in the marketplace over the difference between natural and organic, the Hillside Candy team feels that now is the time to GloryBee (Cont’d. from p. 1)

refined white sugar for her baking recipes – all with the intention to bring quality honey, sweeteners, oils and spices to you.

Dick puts it this way, “I believe I have a responsibility to pass on what I can to help our customers discover more about healthy living and what we can do to preserve the health of bees. When I was 14, I was diagnosed with Myasthenia Gravis. I didn’t really know what it was, but I knew I could die or live a life of physical difficulties. Fortunately, God

www.gourmetnews.com

GN: What products do you see as being hottest this year?

JS: KettlePop Organic Kettle Corn of course! We’ve been popping kettle corn since 1999 and think we’re pretty darn good at it! Although, as we speak, our test kitchen is busy working on some revolutionary new flavors. Our process allows our popcorn to provide an amazing canvass for a wide array of flavor profiles.

KettlePop will be launching some very exciting, never before seen in the industry flavors in 2014 and beyond.

GN: Who would you say is your target customer or demographic?

JS: The target KettlePop customers are those that are passionate about healthy lifestyle and supporting a sustainably conscious product. Our customers want a fresh, organic, hand made quality snack at a reasonable price. KettlePop attracts these types of customers and they are the ones who help our popcorn fly off the shelf.

GN: Where can KettlePop products be found?

GN: Can you shed some light on what these flavors may be?

JS: KettlePop organic popcorn can be found at many gourmet and natural food stores throughout the country, especially on the West Coast. We are constantly seeking new retail partners and distribution avenues across the United States and beyond. If you’re inter-

family, in the literal sense of the word— that inspires me to succeed.

pany's success?

JS: I would tell the readers to come on down to booth #250 at the Natural Products Expo East in Baltimore to find out!

GN: Describe your company's current marketing strategy.

SC: In a word: sincerity. Wonderfully Raw is about great health and delicious taste.

There is no tradeoff between the two, and my life story—including my (successful) battle with Type II Diabetes—proves the point that, with creative flair and insight about nutrition, you can—and we do—create remarkable snacks, treats and bite-size morsels. So, while our success is an outgrowth of my journey as well as my son's (and his family's) physical travels from the non-stop energy of New York City to the holistic atmosphere of Santa Cruz, Calif., where we run Wonderfully Raw, we have a story that resonates with consumers on a profoundly emotional level.

SC: We directly engage consumers in a oneon-one conversation with additional outreach to specific journalists who write about food, nutrition and organic products. Indeed, we believe the most effective form of marketing is also the most authentic—to answer every letter, reply to each message, and respond to any individual who wants to learn more about our brand. Marketing to me is not about promotions and advertising.

Rather, marketing is all about sincere communications and a reflection of the time I spend writing to every consumer who has a comment, suggestion, or words of praise for Wonderfully Raw.

GN: How can readers find out more about your company?

start re-branding and go forward with the brand that best fits our product line. GoOrganic has the same leaf logo, although all new packages will have a green leaf and the non-GMO certified logo. The GoOrganic logo clarifies and cements the company’s direction with this product line.

In addition to this exciting package rebranding, new skus are being introduced at the Expo. GoOrganic offers customers a range of 10 refreshing flavors that include Apple, Pomegranate, Honey, Honey Lemon, Ginger, Cherry, Iced Mint Mango, Blood Orange, and our two newest: Ginger Xtreme and Ginger Chews. This product line is available in consumer friendly 3.5-ounce gusseted peg bags, family and club size 30-ounce gusseted bags, and in bulk. These

products are made with all-natural flavors and no added colors. Naturally sweetened with Organic Evaporated Cane Juice and Organic Brown Rice Syrup, GoOrganic has a less-processed and healthier composition form when compared to the traditional use of corn syrup and sugar. These hand-made treats are gluten, cholesterol, trans fats and dairy free as well as non-GMO, kosher and QAI Organic certified.

Hillside Candy, LLC is also in the process of becoming SQF Level 2 certified. SQF Certification is supported by an increasing number of U.S. and international retailers and food service providers. The brand’s commitment to its customers has led to this very important process. Hillside Candy understands that customers and consumers

granted me good health today, but I never take it for granted! I credit natural and organic foods for my well-being and consider it my mission to help others discover the nutritional and sometimes curative benefits of bee pollen, Propolis, royal jelly and honey.”

GloryBee believes in natural ingredients for a healthier way of life and about maintaining sustainable practices. From reusing bulk containers and drums to recycling paper products and composting organic waste, GloryBee is committed to making sure it does its part to lessen the impact on

the environment.

Today, GloryBee offers more than 3,000 products to customers across the continent.

They continue to introduce unique, new ingredients such as delicious Raw Montana honey, fair trade extra virgin coconut oil, low glycemic agave powder, and varietal honeys sweetened by the flower blossoms themselves. GloryBee offers a wide variety of bulk, foodservice, and retail sizes bringing your customers additional savings.

The entire GloryBee family and employees feel so strongly about health and helping

GN: To what do you attribute your com-

SC: Our website, www.mycocoroons.com,

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GOURMET NEWS

ested in carrying KettlePop, please stop by booth #250 at Expo East. If you’re having a KettlePop craving and need help finding us, please just visit www.kettlepop.com.

GN: What are some of your goals at Expo East this year?

JS: Our goals are to continue the march for KettlePop toward becoming America’s most POPular popcorn, to inform our existing retail partners about the exciting new products KettlePop will be introducing, as well as sign up new retail partners to help KettlePop continue to POPulate the natural foods retail landscape!

For more information head to www.kettle pop.com, call 707.747.6773 or email packaging@kettlepop.com – or just head to booth #250 during the show.

has a wealth of information about our products, the organic ingredients we use, the distinctive and delicious flavors we offer, as well as background about my life and the journey responsible for the birth of Wonderfully Raw. I would like to conclude with a personal reflection about what this brand means to me. I am, and I write these words with total humility, a survivor: diagnosed and suffering from Type II Diabetes.

I could have continued taking medication and resigned myself to being another statistic in the long catalog of victims stricken with this disease. But with resolution and some setbacks too, I persevered. Wonderfully Raw is a gift both for me and from me because everything else is a surplus of happiness. Truly.

For more information email sequoia@ mycocoroons.com, call 831-786-8773 or head online to www.mycocoroons.com. At the show just stop by booth #2423.

alike want and deserve quality, which has been and continues to be a keystone goal.

In continuing with the commitment of offering Confections for a Healthier Lifestyle, GoOrganic packaging, both gusseted bags and twist film, are recyclable. This product range offers a good-for-you line of treats that are refreshing and overall clean. The Hillside Candy team’s commitment to green business practices have led to keeping products locally made and using local and sustainable sourcing efforts in the company’s products.

For more information visit the GoNaturally/GoOrganic team at Booth #2618. After the show head online to www.hillside candy.com, email info@hillsidecandy.com or call 800-524-1304. others that they established two initiatives in 2012 for “Save the Bee” and “Food Fight 101.” They give 1 percent of retail sales to these initiatives, which is adding up to tens of thousands of dollars already!

Join GloryBee as they celebrate the 30th anniversary of Aunt Patty’s and look to the future of bringing more natural and organic ingredients to you.

To learn more about GloryBee and Aunt Patty’s, visit www.glorybee.com, call 800456-7923 and visit booth #210.

Conroy Foods

Robert Rothschild Farm

eSutras

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Seasonings & Spices update

I N D U S T R Y

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GOURMET NEWS SEPTEMBER 2013 www.gourmetnews.com

Innovative Seasonings Companies Shaking Up the Spice Rack

BY LUCAS WITMAN

In the world of specialty food, it is possible that no subcategory of the industry is as well-established as the spices and seasonings market. In fact, one could look at the centuries-old spice trade as an embryonic enterprise that would later develop into a global fascination with gourmet edibles. Today, while each kitchen pantry is unique in the groceries it contains, nearly every one contains a requisite spice rack, most often replete with the same standardized selection of herbs and seasonings. As such, it can be a difficult task to break into and innovative an industry that has been so firmly established over its lengthy history.

For companies hoping to shake up the seasonings market and compel consumers to introduce something new to their spice racks, it is important to find a way to stand out from the crowd and catch shoppers’ attentions.

Perhaps the best way for a seasonings and spices company to mark its products as truly innovative is to offer something that is not available anywhere else. This is the strategy employed by The Spice Lab, which has over 200 different salts in its product portfolio, in addition to 24 spices.

The Spice Lab goes out of its way to source unique products from all over the world, some of which have never before been available commercially.

“All of the salts, we source them from artisanal producers around the world,” said Brett Kramer, owner of The Spice Lab. “A couple companies out there, they have a couple dozen salts and that’s it— the same couple dozen salts for five-sixseven-eight years. We go out there, and we find the guy literally in Nowhere, Africa or Nowhere, Japan or Nowhere, Kauai…

By doing that, you end up with stuff that’s not cheap, but it’s…phenomenal.”

According to Kramer, it is important that The Spice Lab fosters an identity as a high-end brand within the larger seasonings market. “We go out and find the best stuff. We’re by no means the cheapest guy on the shelf. We’re probably up there with one of the more expensive bottles on the shelf. When people buy the product, they know that they get what they’re paying for,” he said.

The Spice Lab is also working to stay competitive in the industry through presenting its products in creative packaging.

“The packaging is innovative,” said Kramer. “The way we do the kits and the practicality of what we’re doing—We’re making not just a great product, but a great looking product.”

For some companies, finding success in today’s specialty seasonings and spices industry can mean reaching out to a new

market. Popular brand Kernel Seasons has done this by marketing its diverse portfolio of popcorn seasonings in movie theaters. Kernel Seasons offers its seasonings in an array of creative flavors, both sweet and savory. The seasonings are great on popcorn, but also serve as a terrific addition to pasta, pizza, potatoes, vegetables, eggs and more. Brian Taylor, founder of Kernel Seasons, attributes his company’s success to finding its niche.

“The thing that really sets us apart is our presence in the movie theaters and the fact that we really pin our seasonings to popcorn,” said Taylor. “I think we’re innovative in terms of the types of flavors that we offer, the quality that we offer, the look and feel of the packaging…It’s a really fun look and feel for a really fun type of seasoning.”

As in all facets of the larger specialty food industry, in the world of seasonings and spices, successful companies are always in touch with what is trending among consumers. This can mean paying particular attention to cuisines, flavors and cooking techniques, but also to trends in consumer lifestyles.

“To remain competitive, we need to have our hand on the pulse of the industry,” said Ron Ratz, Director of Protein Development for Wixon. Wixon is a technology-focused company that has developed over 7,000 flavors that keep customers excited about food.

For Ratz, one of the main food trends to

which Wixon is currently responding is the omnipresent consumer desire to go gluten-free. The company is also reaching out to globalized eaters with what he calls: “more adventurous frequent flyer palates.” This means developing more international seasonings and bold flavors.

Kernel Seasons also makes a concerted effort to stay in touch with what is trending. “There’s a real trend toward playability with food. Kids love to create their own,” said Taylor. He argues that today’s consumer wants to have fun with his or her food, and Kernel Seasons is actively courting this type of eater. “We have really fun flavors. We’re a fun brand. We’re probably the most fun brand of seasoning out there,” he said.

One trend cited by both Ratz and Taylor as influencing the way their companies do business is the growing move toward athome food preparation and a back-to-basics lifestyle.

“Foodservice has been struggling. People are eating at home. When preparing meals at home, people want delicious meals but also value added meals,” said Ratz. “If they’re going to trade down in price they want to add value with flavor.”

“There’s been kind of a back-to-theearth [trend],” said Taylor. “People like popcorn because it’s the only snack that you can really make yourself, and Kernel Seasons fits right into that family process, that family tradition of making popcorn at home.” GN

Salty Wahine Brings Hawaiian Flavor to the World Award-winning Salty Wahine Gourmet Hawaiian Sea Salts is a new Hawaiian company that specializes in Hawaiian Sea Salts, flavored seasonings and Hawaiigrown cane sugars infused with fruits, like guava, mango, passion fruit, lychee, coconut and pineapple. Busy customers love the unique colors, tropical flavors and convenience of cooking a gourmet meal with Salty Wahine products.

Salty Wahine’s emphasis is on eating healthy. The company stresses the positive medicinal values of Hawaiian Sea Salts. Coupled with tropical flavors, Salty Wahine products make eating healthy fun.

Herb and Flower Crystals from Fresh Origins Give Chefs a New Palette Fresh Origins, producer of microgreens and edible flowers, recently introduced Herb Crystals® and Flower Crystals® at the 2013 Summer Fancy Food show. With dazzling, all-natural colors and the flavors of fresh flowers and herbs, the crystals are perfect ingredients for adding a distinctive finishing touch to any culinary creation.

Carefully hand-harvested at the peak of flavor and color, fresh herbs and edible flowers are combined with pure cane sugar to create vibrant, flavorful crystals.

Their crispy texture and concentrated flavor brighten up salads, pair well with savory dishes and add crunch to baked goods and desserts. The crystals can even be tossed into a cocktail for a surprise of color at the bottom of the glass, whose flavor will be savored in the last sip.

Herb Crystals are available in basil and mint, and flower crystals are available in fennel and rose. Mini Herb and Flower Crystals—available in the same flavors but with a finer grain—are also available, per-

Salty Wahine started in 2008 and has since grown into an international company. The company’s products are used by five star chefs worldwide. Salty Wahine salts, seasonings and sugars are sold at craft fairs, farmers markets and high-end retail stores in Hawaii, Alaska, the continental United States, Canada, Germany and Saipan.

Contact Salty Wahine Gourmet Hawaiian Sea Salts by mail at P.O. Box 828, Hanapepe, Hawaii, 96716, by phone at 808.346.2942, by fax at 808.442.1230 or by email at info@saltywahine.com. Also visit the company online at www.saltywahine.com. fect for rimming the glasses of creative drinks and cocktails.

All Fresh Origins products are kosher certified and have no added flavorings or colors. For more information, visit the company online at www.freshorigins.com.

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Cracked Pepper Parmesan Vegetable Dip from Rabbit Creek Products New from Rabbit Creek Products is the Cracked Pepper Parmesan Vegetable Dip. Evoking images of a cabin surrounded by serene mountains, a brook burbling in the background and horses tied up to the hitching post, Cracked Pepper Parmesan is perfect for any season. This dip is light enough for hot weather, hearty enough for chillier months and perfect for everything in between.

Rabbit Creek Products’ Cracked Pepper Parmesan Dip features the pungent familiarity of aged parmesan cheese finishing with a little black pepper bite. This dip is fantastic for the centerpiece of a party

platter, or it can serve as a fantastic accompaniment to grilled vegetables. Try it on roasted ears of corn.

The minimum order is only 12 dips, and Rabbit Creek still continues to allow customers to mix and match flavors to make a full case. Drilled for ease of display, the dips from Rabbit Creek Products can be merchandised by hanging, or they can fit perfectly in berry baskets to be set on a shelf. Contact Rabbit Creek by phone at 800.837.3073 or by email at rcreek@mokancomm.net, or visit the company’s website at www .rabbitcreekgourmet.com.

Vanns Expands Its Range of Organic Spices Vanns Spices understands that the demand for organic products, including organic spices, is on the rise. That is why they are constantly adding new varieties to their already sizable range of organic spices. According to recent reports, sales of organic food have grown by 20 percent annually and represent more than 3.5 percent of total U.S. food sales.

From a culinary perspective, and in order for retailers and manufacturers to keep up with the demand for new and engaging organic flavor experiences, a ready supply of high integrity and consistently flavorful organic spices and spice blends is essential.

“Retailers and home cooks are clamor-

ing for reliable, high-quality organic flavor experiences from the spices they buy,” says Mick Whitlock, President of Vanns Spices. “Fortunately, we have great relationships with organic farmers around the world and have been able to maintain and expand the variety of organic spices in our inventory.”

Whether you are looking for specific organic spices or wish to formulate organic spice blends from proprietary recipes, Vanns has everything you will need. Buyers are invited to visit Vanns Spices at the Natural Products Expo East in Baltimore, Booth #646. Alternately, contact Vanns by email at orders@vannsspices.com or by phone at 800.583.1693.

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GOURMET NEWS SEPTEMBER 2013 www.gourmetnews.com

New Zealand Pacific Sea Salt from Pacific Resources International

Beano’s Sandwich Shakers: “Live, Love, Get Sauced” New from Conroy Foods, the producer of Beano’s Deli Condiments™ and Sauces comes Beano’s Sandwich Shakers with Roasted Garlic and Parmesan Cheese.

Beano’s has not been this excited about launching a new product to America’s Delis since the introduction of Beano’s Original Submarine Dressing™ back in 1989.

Beano’s Sandwich Shakers™ introduces a totally new concept that will enhance the flavor of food without adding fat, cholesterol or carbohydrates. “Just Shake the Taste”™ onto your favorite creations.

In addition to sandwiches, Beano’s Sandwich Shakers can be added to oil to make a dipping oil, or they can be used as a rub for chicken or fish. The possibilities

are endless. Other suggested uses include sprinkling on baked potatoes, garden salads, pasta salads, french fries, chicken, pizza, seafood, wings or soups. One can even mix Sandwich Shakers with cream cheese to make a delicious spread for a toasted bagel.

Beano’s website, www.conroy foods.com, provides a quick and easy reference point to see all of the varieties of Beano’s condiments and sauces. You can also follow Beano’s on Facebook, Youtube, Pinterest and Twitter. For more information, contact Conroy Foods at 800.317.8316. Remember: “Beano’s Makes It Better!” “Live, Love, Get Sauced!” with Beano’s Deli Condiments.

According to Matthew 5:13, “You are the salt of the earth.” In fact, your tears and your blood contain the same balance of salt and trace elements as found in sea salt that has been naturally dried for 13 to 22 months. New Zealand Pacific Sea Salt is harvested from the clean southern seas surrounding New Zealand. It contains no anti-caking or free flowing agents, and it contains all the natural trace elements that your body requires in a perfect balance.

Pacific Resources is an exclusive importer of this high quality sea salt from New Zealand. It is packaged in several convenient sizes from 4 ounces to 26 ounces. In addition, the product comes in two styles: fine and coarse kosher and 16ounce organic/kosher. The 2.2-pound bags can also be used as a very special rejuvenating bath salt A new addition to the Pacific Resources

family is Mesquite Pacific Smoked Sea Salt in coarse or fine, a great addition to any meal that requires a down-home country barbecue flavor.

Also, the company’s new 4- and 16-ounce salt grinders work great for a fresh grind every time.

For more information, contact Pacific Resources phone at by 805.684.0624 or by email at info@pri-nz.com, or visit the company online at www.shoppri.com.

Busha Browne’s Jerk Seasonings Create Authentic Jamaican Taste Busha Browne is most famous for an allpurpose jerk seasoning rub made from a selection of crushed herbs and spices, comprised predominantly of escellion (spring onion), Scotch bonnet peppers and pimento (allspice) berries.

Jerk is the authentic Jamaican method of cooking.

The term refers to a method of grilling meats using a combination of highly spiced seasonings. The meat is then cooked over a pimento wood fire. The process is a slow and savory one that traps all the spice and juices inside the meat, resulting in an aromatic smoked flavor. Oven-baked jerk is the newest

method and is currently taking hold in North America. For oven-based jerk, you simply season your favorite meats with Busha Browne’s Authentic Jamaican Jerk Seasoning, add some cooking oil, and bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit until done.

Busha Browne’s Authentic Jamaican Jerk Seasoning is the traditional hot and spicy seasoning paste specially compounded for jerk meat, fish, vegetables or tofu. Used prudently prior to cooking, this seasoning will provide the most pungent flavor and an absolutely irresistible aroma.

For more information head online to www.bushabrowne.com.

Fire & Flavor’s John Wayne Spice Rub Fire & Flavor has created the perfect gift for grillers with the new John Wayne Spice Rub gift set. The set includes four all-natural rubs, including barbecue, beef, pork and chicken seasoning. Like all Fire & Flavor products, the spices are made from the highest quality ingredients and are glutenfree and kosher. The rubs complement a variety of cooking methods, such as

grilling, smoking and roasting. To use the rubs, simply brush your favorite meat with olive oil, season generously with the rub of choice and allow meat to absorb flavor for an hour or overnight in the refrigerator.

For more information and details on ordering, visit www.fireandflavor.com.

For questions or assistance, call 866.728.8332.

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See Smell Taste from Viola Imports Available from Viola Imports, See Smell Taste is an extensive line of premium spices, salts, blends and ingredients for molecular gastronomy. See Smell Taste was conceived from the desire to provide only the most exclusive choice of ingredients and tools to those with a discriminating appetite for culinary excellence.

See Smell Taste offers the world’s highest quality herbs and spices achieved through research into how each spice seed should be planted, harvested and processed. Location of best soil and weather are taken into account when looking for the right grower, and only a few growers meet these high standards. Drying, grinding and sorting equipment are monitored to achieve the best results. A comprehensive categorization system based on the intrinsic characteristics of each spice catego-

rizes the spices into seven groups: seeds and pods, flowers, leaves and berries, roots and barks, chilies, peppers, salts and finally blends.

Expand your palette with the revered spices from Viola Imports. Some of the company’s popular products include Black Pepper Malabar, Pangasinan Sea Salts, Tahitian Grand Cru Vanilla Beans, Piment d’Espelette, Pimenton de la Vera Dulce and Iranian Saffron. Favored blends made on site and to order include Golden Vadouvan and Harissa Mix, Garam Masala, Shichimi Togarashi, Madras Curry, Ras el Hanout and more.

Viola Imports’ spices are available in 32-ounce jars and one-gallon containers for foodservice and in mini containers for retail. For more information, contact Viola Imports at 847.690.0790, or visit the company online at www .violaimports.com.

Spice Things Up with Robert Rothschild Farm’s Gourmet Rubs Seasonings and spices are one of the simplest ways to boost the flavor of an appetizer or meal, and Robert Rothschild Farm excellently blends spices in their two specialty rubs.

The Chop House Steak & Beef Rub is a savory blend of sea salt, onions, garlic and lots of spices. Steak drizzled with olive oil and spread with a coating of Chop House Steak & Beef Rub is sure to be a crowdpleaser at a barbecue. This rub also makes exquisite meatballs and adds instant flavor to green beans and tomatoes.

The possibilities are virtually endless!

Another delicious rub featuring beautifully blended spices is the Limon Pep-

per Meat, Fish & Poultry Rub. This rub perfectly pairs tart lemon with zesty black pepper, providing a kick of flavor.

Not only is this spice blend delectable on meat, fish and poultry, but it is equally delicious on grilled zucchini and other vegetables.

Add zesty flavor to any dish with Robert Rothschild Farm’s gourmet rubs. For more information about Robert Rothschild Farm products or for additional recipe ideas, call 800.356.8933, e-mail info@robertrothschild.com, or visit the company’s website at www.robertrothschild.com. You can also find Robert Rothschild Farm on Facebook and Pinterest.

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GOURMET NEWS SEPTEMBER 2013 www.gourmetnews.com

Naked Sea Salt Naked Sea Salt’s mission is to introduce the world to gourmet salt from the Dead Sea that is an all-natural, lowsodium and mineral-rich alternative to artificially refined salt. Founded by environmental activist Ari Leon Fruchter, the company encourages regional cooperation by working with a Palestinian company that specializes in harvesting salt from the Dead Sea’s healing waters by using traditional chemical-free methods that preserve the water’s unique mineral content.

Each of Naked Sea Salt’s 15 flavors has

been blended with organic herbs and spices to create a salt of bold, creative taste and unparalleled nutrition. “Each blend is a modern twist on an ancient classic,” Fruchter said. “Salt and spice in one—as easy as twist and serve.”

With its dedication to environmental and economic concerns, part of the company’s mission is to serve as a model of sustainable, ethical practice for private manufacturing companies in the region.

For more information, visit www.noor email madigo.com/nakedseasalt ari@nakedseasalt.com.

MarDona Balsamic Glazes Gourmands will love finishing off their desserts with the exquisite balsamic glazes from MarDona. These sweet and tangy glazes are the perfect accompaniment to a gourmet dessert or end-of-meal cheese plate. MarDona offers eight different varieties of balsamic glazes, including original balsamic, white balsamic, peach, red apple, raspberry, fig, cherry and black truffle. Also offered by MarDona is a truly

unique White Truffle Honey, made with Tupelo honey, pieces of Italian white truffles and Italian white truffle flavoring. Pair White Truffle Honey with fruit and cheese for a terrific sweet bite at the end of any great meal.

For more information about Wild Forest Products, visit http://truffleoilsandmore .com/wildforestproducts.html, or call 855.645.7772.

eSutras Organic Spice Blends and Rubs eSutras Organics spice blends and rubs are inspired by flavors from around the world. Varieties including Garam Masala, Herb and Spice Rub, French Four Spice and Pumpkin Pie Spice are all manufactured in an organic facility in Chicago.

Artisan-made in small batches to retain their unique quality and ethnicity, each blend is based on a familiar classic, made with a twist to create new flavor combinations. All of eSutras’ spice blends are the company’s own formulations—some derived from traditional

family recipes—guaranteeing individuality on your store shelves. Distinctive and USDA organic, you can be sure your customers have not experienced these spice blends anywhere else. eSutras also carries numerous organic single spices as well.

Available to purchase in small case sizes and beautifully packaged, it is simple to place an order with eSutras Organics. To place an order, go to www.eswholesale.com, or call 773.583.4850. Order today!

Visionary Vinegars from Bakto Flavors Bakto Flavors recently introduced Visionary Vinegars, six delicious balsamic vinegars blended with perfectly matched natural flavors. Choose from blood orange, vanilla, raspberry, strawberry, chocolate and peach, with more flavor variations on the way. All Bakto Flavors’ vinegars are allnatural, kosher, non-GMO, gluten-free and contain no added color or sugar.

Visionary Vinegars are made from the best available kosher balsamic vinegar around. Historically made in Italy from white grapes, Bakto takes an old tradition and puts a new spin on it by introducing a variety of excellent flavors. Finally, your salad dressing is healthy, low in calories

and tastier than ever.

Visionary Vinegars from Bakto Flavors are available in 375-milliliter attractive glass bottles for retailers and in 1-gallon bottles for foodservice. The vinegars are sold in boxes of 12 with the option of custom flavor choices. A bottle of Visionary Vinegar is great as a gift on its own, or present someone with a set of all six. Perfect as a dip, marinade, dressing or sauce, this is sure to be a new essential in your kitchen.

Learn more about Bakto Flavors at www.BaktoFlavors.com. Contact the company for free samples at info@baktoflavors.com, or call 732.354.4492.

Busha Browne

Viola Imports

Lizbeth Lane

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SEE PAGE 34

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SUPPLEMENT TO

SEPTEMBER 2013

GOURMET NEWS

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Summer Fancy wrap Food up

I N D U S T R Y

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GOURMET NEWS SEPTEMBER 2013 www.gourmetnews.com

Record Setting 2013 SFF Show Brings the Buyers Back to NY

BY LUCAS WITMAN

Returning to New York City’s renovated Jacob K. Javits Convention Center this year after a two-year stint in Washington, D.C., the 2013 Summer Fancy Food Show exceeded all expectations, breaking records both for exhibit space and the number of attendees. The 59th Summer Fancy Food Show featured 2,500 exhibitors from the United States and around the world, presenting more than 180,000 specialty foods and beverages.

“It’s a great show for us,” said Lonnie Williard, Vice President of Marketing for Mediterranean Snacks. “I think that the amount of traffic was very strong. There was a solid flow of interested buyers and conversations throughout the couple days. It was a very productive show.”

At this year’s show, Mediterranean Snacks unveiled its new tapaz2go line, a collection of healthy, convenient, glutenfree, shelf stable and ready-to-eat mini meals in three varieties: classic hummus, roasted garlic and red pepper. Each tapaz2go package includes the company’s popular Lentil Crackers along with a substantial portion of hummus. Williard expressed her delight at how strongly the new product line was received at the show.

“We were just inundated with interest in

tapaz2go mini meal solution. I think it’s because it’s shelf stable and doesn’t require the cost of a refrigerated supply chain,” Williard said. “The interest that we saw was from a very broad range.”

In addition to generally driving up interest in tapaz2go, the show and the conversations that took place during it were also productive for Mediterranean Snacks in helping the company think about how it will market the product line going forward.

According to Williard, these conversations brought up marketing possibilities the company had not previously considered.

She said, “[The show] definitely confirmed some of the ideas, and then on top of that it gave us some new ideas of where [tapaz2go] could be very well in demand—for instance in vending machines.

We hadn’t thought of that. There’s a lot of entrepreneurial spirit here that takes it even further.”

Mary Waldner, founder of Mary’s Gone Crackers, expressed relief that the 2013 Summer Fancy Food Show was so well attended, apparently signaling a return to form after the brief economic downturn she has observed over the past few years.

“I thought it was really good. I know last year things really picked up from the slump in the industry. I thought this year

Summer Fancy Food Yields Successful Results for Brownie Crunch The 2013 Summer Fancy Food Show took over the Jacob Javits Center along New York’s 11th Avenue, and hometown favorite Seth Greenberg’s Authentic New York Brownie Crunch was there. This year, attendees from all over the country and all over the world came to see the latest, most delicious consumer food products available. Folks from as far away as Switzerland and Panama popped by the

Brownie Crunch booth. In addition, American food professionals, including everyone from representatives for Kroger and Chicago’s Treasure Island to noted distributors, stopped by to sample the very best part of the brownie: the crispy edges.

Everyone who visited the Brownie Crunch booth enjoyed the all-natural snack that is only 120 calories per 1-ounce serving.

At this year’s show, the company show-

Sticky Fingers Scones and Spreads Put together the perfect holiday food gift with Sticky Fingers scones and spreads.

Whether you need a quick gift for a neighbor or you are looking for something fun and festive for friends and family, Sticky Fingers Bakeries has got you covered this holiday season. The com-

pany’s extensive line of all-natural scone mixes and spreads makes putting together the perfect gift easy.

“You can match scone mixes with our Northwest jams or English curds to create all sorts of fun combinations,” said Tom Owens, CEO of Sticky Fingers

Lindsay Farms Specializes in the South Lindsay Farms Specialties is a family owned business committed to creating high quality and unique Southern Gourmet specialty items that are rich in tradition, naturally nutritious and utterly delicious. Since 1985, Lindsay Farms has been creating southern delicacies in small batches from traditional family recipes.

Lindsay Farms products feature the finest ingredients available, including the internationally famous Vidalia onion of southern Georgia, as well as many other

vegetables and spices indigenous to the South. All Lindsay Farms products are inspired by beloved, time-honored recipes, reflecting the special ambiance of a bygone age. However, the products have been adapted for today’s gourmet contemporary cooks to form exceptional tastes that are as distinctive as is Lindsay Farms colorful packaging.

Some of Lindsay Farms’ unique best sellers include salsas (blackeye pea, mango lime, strawberry, tropical pineapple,

really maintained that same energy and certainly had a high attendance,” she said.

Mary’s Gone Crackers offers a wide range of crackers, cookies, pretzels and crumbs—all organic, vegan and glutenfree. At this year’s show, the company unveiled two new cracker varieties: Super Seed and Hot’n Spicy Jalapeño. Waldner said that when she founded her company over a decade ago it was difficult to draw interest in the product line, but at this year’s show she saw an unprecedented reaction to her company from buyers.

“When we first started, there wasn’t much interest in organic or certainly gluten-free but now both of those categories are really huge,” Waldner said.

With companies like Mary’s Gone Crackers and Mediterranean Snacks so pleased with the reaction they received from attendees at this year’s Summer Fancy Food Show, it was inevitable that brands which did not exhibit might regret the decision. That was certainly the case for Bhakti Chai, maker of gourmet chai tea and chai tea concentrate. The team at Bhakti Chai has been experiencing unprecedented interest in their company since receiving a 2013 sofi Gold Award at this year’s show, despite making the decision not to exhibit.

“We were all really taken off guard about the award,” said Allison Salvati, Marketing and Sales Director for Bhakti Chai. “It’s been fantastic. From a foodservice standpoint, we have people calling and saying hey you won this award can we get some free samples…It’s a great feather in our cap.”

Salvati continued, “We think we have an award-winning product. This is a huge accolade. We know we have a worthy enough product for an award like this. It’s a huge acknowledgment from the industry. We’re really thrilled. It helps our distribution so much.”

Bhakti Chai is a regular exhibitor at Winter Fancy Food on the West Coast, but does not exhibit at Summer Fancy Food, because they are not yet distributed on the East Coast. That could change, however, as the company’s distribution continues to spread across the country.

For many of the exhibitors who were present at the 2013 Summer Fancy Food Show in New York, there is little time to rest, as many are likely already making preliminary preparations for the upcoming 2014 Winter Fancy Food Show, to be held January 19-21 in San Francicso. In addition, the 2014 Summer Fancy Food Show has already been scheduled for June 29July 1 in New York. GN

cased its new Southwest Brownie Crunch, which brings together the flavor of rich chocolate with the spicy taste of peppers— just like the confections leading chocolatiers are creating. Greenberg enjoyed chatting with attendees about how Brownie Crunch is delicious paired with a glass of milk, but it also works well in more grown up flavor pairings. At the booth, the jalapeño Brownie Crunch was paired with a pinot noir, chile pepper with a zinfandel and chipotle with a cabernet. All three flavors were also tried with small-batch bourbon. The wines were chosen for their strong varietal identity. This was one of the hits of the show for the com-

pany, as the pairings wowed attendees.

Many responded: “I’ve never thought of this kind of pairing.” In fact, many were so intrigued that they returned several times, trying different wine pairings and experiencing the bourbon pairing as well.

Seth Greenberg’s Authentic Brownie Crunch is 100 percent all-natural, kosher and made in the United States. The product is available in a variety of tempting flavors, including chocolate chip, mint chocolate chip, toffee caramel, orange and cinnamon cappuccino. To learn more, visit www.browniecrunch.com. Brownie Crunch: “It’s the brownie reinvented!”

Bakeries. “There is definitely something for everyone.”

The company’s holiday line-up includes Pumpkin Spice, Pumpkin Cranberry, Peppermint Chocolate Chip and Spiced Egg Nog scone mixes. The festive scones pair perfectly with a fruit butter such as Pumpkin Spice or the Cranberry Orange Curd, creating a gift that will delight anyone.

The best part about Sticky Fingers Bak-

eries’ products is that they are all-natural and free of any artificial colors or flavors, preservatives and trans and saturated fats.

From the real fruit pieces in the just-add water scone mixes to the fresh eggs (not frozen) in the fruit curds, Sticky Finger Bakeries uses only the best ingredients.

You know what you are giving is quality.

For more information call 800.458.5826 or head to www.stickyfingersbakeries.com.

wild Maine blueberry, raspberry chipotle, Georgia peach, mandarin orange and spicy Alabama peach), preserves (backyard blackberry, wild Maine blueberry, Georgia peach, Moon Glow pear, muscadine, mayhaw, key lime curd, fig, cantaloupe, praline pecan and peach), butters (pumpkin, sweet potato, apple, peach, praline pecan apple, cantaloupe and cherry apple), appetizer jellies (Raz’Berry Jalapeño, blackberry jalapeño, red pepper jalapeño, green jalapeño and peach jalapeño), relishes (Vidalia onion chow-chow, green tomato chow-chow, Vidalia onion relish, pear relish, and Vidalia onion corn relish) and bar-

becue sauces (Vidalia onion, Georgia peach and mountain apple).

“What a wonderful time we had at the Summer 2013 Fancy Food Show in New York,” said Joe Winton, owner of Lindsay Farms. “We enjoyed meeting many of our competitors and loyal retailers. It was a joy to see old friends and make some new ones. We hope you had a chance to stop by booth 4278 and say hello.”

If you did not have a chance to visit Lindsay Farms’ booth at this year’s Summer Fancy Food Show, give the company a call at 800.243.4608, or check the company out online at www.lindsayfarms.com.

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GOURMET NEWS SEPTEMBER 2013 www.gourmetnews.com

Jelly Belly Introduces 2013 Holiday Sweets and Gifts A host of new gifts and time-honored gourmet confections from Jelly Belly Candy Company are ready to bring merriment to the holidays, all designed with the specialty retailer in mind.

The new Classic Jelly Belly® Glass Jar was designed with contemporary lines and a timeless design and is filled with 14.5 ounces of Jelly Belly jelly beans. The glass jar is an elegant and generous gift for corporate giving, family, friends and just about anyone on the holiday list—all at an excellent price point. The Jelly Belly Classic Jar includes a hangtag to guide fans through their discovery of all 49 flavors packed inside.

Also debuting this season is the whimsical Jelly Belly Countdown to Christmas Calendar, filled with Jelly Belly jelly beans in the flavors kids love most, packed into 24 small bags, one for each day leading up to Christmas. The generous 14.5-inch tall Advent calendar is poised to be a very popular gift for the holidays.

Jelly Belly also makes a large array of gourmet confections specifically for the holiday season, available in bulk or packaged in beautiful shimmering gift bags.

New Gummi Christmas Lights, for example, are reminiscent of old-fashioned tree lights. The shape alone makes these gummies stand out among other holiday can-

Hammond’s Brings Fresh Flavors to Gourmet Chocolates Hammond’s Candies is expanding its line of award-winning gourmet chocolate bars with six new flavors that range from rich and classic to fun and quirky. Double Chocolate Truffle, Red Velvet Cake, Chocolate Crisp, The Cookie Jar, Caramel Mocha and the uniquely sweet and salty Pigs N’ Taters will join such flavors as Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich Milk Chocolate Bar—named Most Innovative New Product of the Year in 2012 by the

National Confectioner’s Association.

“We’re seeing extraordinary growth in the popularity of this line of chocolate bars,” said Andrew Schuman, Hammond’s President and CEO. “The flavors hit a nostalgic note, but address a modern appetite. And they’re packaged beautifully so the candy experience encompasses taste, smell and sight. They’re designed to be a genuine sensory treat for any chocolate lover.”

Hammond’s built its reputation on the

Bakto Flavors Keeping Vanilla Growing with Vanilla 2013 Symposium While you may know Bakto Flavor for its delicious flavors and other baking essentials, you may not know that the company is a science-based organization that is passionate about spreading knowledge to make the world a more flavorful place.

Join Bakto Flavors November 5-6 for Vanilla 2013, the company’s seventh international symposium focused on the miracle orchid, vanilla. This meeting will address

the economic situation of vanilla in different growing areas and the latest developments in vanilla research. The conference will be a meeting place for people involved in all aspects of the vanilla world, including academia, the food and flavor industry, brokers, vanilla producers and others.

Vanilla production is vulnerable to many threats, including diseases, low prices to the producers and low demand by buyers.

dies. Gummi Christmas Lights come in a mix of four fun flavors: blueberry, cherry, green apple and orange. The colorful confections will brighten parties and holiday gifts this winter.

Additional seasonal sweets from Jelly Belly include Reindeer Corn, a seasonal take on traditional candy corn, one of the most popular confections in the line, as well as the highly sought-after Sugar Plums, plump and chewy jells made in an elegant and fragrant plum flavor. Also, Sour Gummi Santas have the perfect blend of sweet and tangy cherry flavor.

The perfect gifting options, seasonal confections from Jelly Belly are packaged in Christmas Gift Bags, and Jelly Belly beans are packaged in holiday wrap that brings Christmas pizzazz to the 10-Flavor, 20-Flavor and 40-Flavor Gift Boxes. The gift boxes even include a space to write a

personal greeting.

And don’t forget to hit all the Christmas bases with stocking stuffers from Jelly Belly. These small gifts have been top seasonal sellers for the company for the last few years. The Jelly Belly TABASCO ® Jelly Bean Bottles are the perfect way for customers to add a kick to stockings come Christmas morning and the new Jelly Belly Buttered Popcorn Jelly Bean Box makes filling stockings a breeze.

Jelly Belly Candy Company makes more than 100 flavors of Jelly Belly jelly beans, the largest selection on the market, plus 70 other gourmet candies, including jells, gummies, chocolate-covered treats and seasonal sweets for major holidays. For additional information, contact Jelly Belly Candy Customer Service at 800.323.9380, or email specialty.sales@jellybelly.com.

creation of stunning, hand-pulled candy canes and lollipops. Its diverse line of delicious milk and dark chocolate bars was launched in 2012 and carries on the Hammond’s tradition of respect for candy’s very special appeal.

The new chocolate bar flavors are made to the company’s exacting standards, featuring all-natural ingredients, pure cane sugar, real milk, cream and naturally sourced flavors. Double Chocolate Truffle and Red Velvet Cake include rich ganache, capturing their signature flavors. Chocolate Crisp is made with crispy rice for a satisfying crunch, while The Cookie Jar takes a twist on a classic

with cookie bits of all kinds in white chocolate. Caramel Mocha softens sweetness and adds depth with a hint of coffee, and Pigs N’ Taters provides a sinful mix of chocolate, potato chips and crispy kosher bacon bits. All are beautifully presented in Hammond’s awardwinning packaging, making them perfect for gifts and special treats.

More information is available at www.hammondscandies.com or by calling 800.CANDY.99 (800.226.3999).

Follow Hammond’s Candies on Facebook at www.facebook.com/hammonds candies and now on Pinterest at www .pinterest.com/hammondscandies/.

Vanilla 2013 will focus on what is currently being done and what researchers and the vanilla industry need to initiate now to sustain production of the world’s most popular flavor.

The price of vanilla has recently gone up 10-20 percent, rattling vanilla experts and growers. However, the price has been historically low, and sustainability has been hard to maintain. Farmers need to be paid more in order to sustain their farms and maintain their businesses.

The Vanilla 2013 conference will also focus on understanding how the vanilla pod can accumulate such high levels of flavor

compounds, which has so far eluded researchers. Richard Dixon’s group has recently generated very large gene sequence data sets from developing vanilla pods, and their interrogation throws light on many aspects of vanilla metabolism. Furthermore, at Rutgers University, Dr. Belanger’s lab is examining the sequences from different developmental stages of the pod for genes involved in vanillin biosynthesis. Through this process, the “hunt” for the vanillin pathway genes is making huge strides.

For more information on Vanilla 2013, or to register to attend, visit www.vanilla2013.com.

The History of Busha Browne In 1836, Howe Peter Browne, 2nd Marquess of Sligo, returned to Westport, Ireland, taking with him memories of the spicy and exotic dishes he had been served during his governorship of Jamaica. Known as “The Emancipator of Slaves,” the noble Marquess had earned himself a renowned place in Jamaican history for his two-year term of office. His had been the unenviable task of supervising the first stage of Emancipation, which was unpopular with the reactionary planters. In desperation, many of these planters subsequently sold their vast estates to the local managers who were known as “Bushas.”

The Marquess himself was among the first to free his slaves on his Jamaican estate, Kelly’s and Cocoa Walks Estates, which he had inherited from his ancestors, the Kellys and Brownes of Ireland, Jamaican settlers from the late 1600s. The Brownes became wealthy and were among the respected members of the plantocracy. They were fa-

mous for their entertaining and the variety of food they served.

A descendant of the family Sligo, Charles Adolphus Thorburn Browne, familiarly known as Charlie Browne, has spent most of his 75 years “cooking up a storm.” He whiled away many hours of his boyhood days in the kitchen of his family home, Tryall Estate in Hanover, Western Jamaica. Later, cooking became a hobby, and he retrieved from his family archives recipes for authentic Jamaican sauces, jams, pickles and condiments, made from the great variety of exotic Jamaican fruits and vegetables, all unique, spicy and delicious. Specially selected recipes from his treasure trove are now being prepared and bottled for Busha Browne’s Company in Jamaica, to be enjoyed today as much as they were more than 200 years ago.

For more information, visit www.bushabrowne.com. Busha Browne’s: “Fresh ingredients, artisan quality, Jamaican tradition preserved.”

GOURMET NEWS SEPTEMBER 2013

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Fire & Flavor Liquid Brines Based in Athens, Ga., Fire and Flavor is a leading marketer and producer of innovative products and concepts for preparing fresh, flavorful food. Founded by husbandand-wife team Davis and Gena Knox, Fire and Flavor offers unique and easy-to-use products for at-home cooking.

Fire & Flavor is putting a gourmet spin on gluten-free with a new line of liquid brines that make standing over a hot stove a thing of the past. Three new flavors of brine concentrates are available to add flavor and juiciness to meats and seafood in a short period of time. Fire & Flavor’s brines consist of salts, sugars, spices and herbs that create mouthwatering combinations without any harmful preservatives. Each of the chicken,

beef and pork brines can be used on multiple proteins for deliciously tender results.

Cooking with these brines is effortless.

Simply add water and allow the meat to brine for the listed amount of time.

Whether roasting, smoking or grilling, enjoy healthy and convenient meals at home with Fire & Flavor’s all-natural, gluten-free liquid brines. In addition, Fire & Flavor’s liquid brines are a great complement to the John Wayne grilling sets the company introduced earlier this year.

Fire & Flavor products are currently available throughout the United States and beyond. The company’s products are always all-natural. For more information, visit the company online at www.fireandflavor.com.

MarDona Black Truffle Marinara Sauce MarDona Specialty Foods has a great addition to the array of Italian foods it offers: the Black Truffle Marinara Sauce. MarDona uses only pure, natural ingredients in the making of gourmet sauce. The company uses the best crushed tomatoes, fresh spices, pure truffle infused olive oil and the finest black truffles. Then that sauce is slow-cooked over a low heat for hours to give the sauce its well-balanced thickness and great taste. MarDona also keeps the

sodium and calorie levels as low as possible. And it is, of course, gluten-free.

MarDona prides itself on having the finest gourmet products and providing them at affordable prices. The team at MarDona is certain that your gift basket will be a hit when you add the new MarDona Black Truffle Marinara sauce today.

For more information, visit www. mardonaspecialtyfoods.com or www .mardonausa.com.

Looking to Spice Things Up? Vanns Has It All When it comes to fragrant, flavorful and consistently performing spices, spice blends, flavors and extracts, you will find everything you need from Vanns Spices.

Professional chefs and home cooks alike rely upon Vanns for their encyclopedic selection of flavorful ingredients that add unmistakable appeal to their recipes, culinary creations and packaged products.

While Vanns enjoys an enduring reputation for consistency, integrity and quality, it is also recognized for its incredible depth and variety of spice and flavor options.

While pantry standards such kosher salt, black Tellicherry peppercorns, onion and garlic are available, Vanns offers dozens of salt varieties and peppercorns, as well as numerous configurations of both garlic and onion from which to choose.

If that is not enough, you will also find a dizzying assortment of exotic spices and spice blends from Vanns. Some of the more intriguing include Ultimate French Fry Seasoning, Urfa Chili Pepper, Zahtar, African Bird Pepper, Trim Tabb’s Pig Powder and Espresso Rub. Vanns also works with su-

permarkets and specialty food retailers, helping them develop proprietary spice assortments and house-branded private label offerings. In these situations, brand owners have the opportunity to enhance brand image and offer spices that rival national brands in terms of flavor, performance and overall quality, delivering ultimate value.

“It’s all about value and performance,” says Mick Whitlock, President of Vanns Spices. “With your own spice brand, the equity and trust that has been established with customers in other parts of the store can be reinforced on the spice shelf.”

Packaging also plays an enormous role in the success of Vanns’ private label solutions. From glass and plastic to folding cartons and self-contained grinders, the number and variety of appealing packaging considerations is significant.

For additional information, buyers are invited to visit Vanns Spices at the Natural Products Expo East in Baltimore, Booth 646. Alternatively, contact Vanns by email at orders@vannsspices.com or by phone at 800.583.1693.

Wind & Willow Cider Mixes Be ready for the changing seasons with Wind & Willow Cider Mixes. With three flavors to choose from, each mix will make you feel like it is Christmas morning.

Wind & Willow’s Original Mulled Cider Mix will take you back to your childhood.

Sugar, cinnamon, cloves and other natural flavors make this the perfect treat to share as you snuggle in front of the fireplace. Caramel Apple Cider Mix combines two fall favorites: caramel apples and cider. Try topping it with whipped cream and caramel to create a new favorite autumn tradition. Finally, English Wassail Cider Mix is a balanced blend of

cinnamon and spices with a hint of orange, the perfect component of a Christmas gift basket.

Making these mixes even more versatile, each box has an alternate recipe printed on the back. Try delicious Orange Spice Cookies, Incredible Apple Cake or a Caramel Apple Smoothie. The simplicity of the recipes and the decadent results produced make Wind & Willow mixes a must for any kitchen pantry.

For more information on these and other products from Wind & Willow, contact 888.427.3235, or visit www .windandwillow.com.

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GOURMET NEWS SEPTEMBER 2013 www.gourmetnews.com

Viola Imports: Authentic Foods, Uncompromised Quality Located in the Puglia region of Italy, and dating back to the year 1600, De Carlo is one oldest and most established producers of premium extra virgin olive oil. The De Carlo family has received many prestigious awards—dating back as far back as 1900. Most recently, the company was awarded “The Best Oil in the World” by Flos Olei 2013. Viola Imports is proud to bring a fantastic selection of some of the finest products from the De Carlo family to

the U.S. market.

In addition to their extra virgin olive oil, the De Carlo family produces an exquisite line of preserved vegetables using only fresh raw ingredients and their extra virgin olive oil. The entire line of preserved vegetables is prepared on site, and all within a maximum of 24 hours of harvesting in order to maintain the freshness and flavor of each product.

Among the selection of preserved vegeta-

Unique Uncle Bunk’s Condiments Are Sure To Delight Do you want to entice both new and returning customers with a great product line? Try Uncle Bunk’s award-winning condiments. Crafted in small batches using locally grown produce and old-fashioned Appalachian recipes, these products are handmade in West Virginia by

Uncle Bunk himself. Once customers sample Uncle Bunk’s, they will clamor for more “Condiments with a Kick.”

Uncle Bunk’s Mustard Relish, available in medium and hot, is a sweet and spicy mustard, better known in West Virginia as Hot Pepper Butter. This product was a

Sensational Sweets Introduces Mini Pizzas at SFF The buzz at the Sensational Sweets booth at this year’s Summer Fancy Food Show was all about the company’s new Mini Pizzas and the new flavors for Sensational Sweets’ Chippers the Bark With a Bite®.

Not only do the Mini Pizzas fill the consumer request for a more “individual” serv-

ing size, they will also push sales for the Sensational Sweets’ larger dessert Pizzas.

Hand-crafted, layer upon layer, these sweet Mini Pizzas are awesomely unique and tasty. Packaged in a smaller, matching pizza box, the Pizzas and Mini Pizzas display very well together.

bles are grilled artichokes, a typical variety from Puglia called “Violetto di Brindisi,” a name that is derived from the purple leaves.

These artichokes are perfect for tasty pizzas, sandwiches, appetizer plates or as an accompaniment to meat or fish. De Carlo also offers some of the world’s most sought after Sun Kissed Pomodorini tomatoes. These preserved tomatoes have been ranked among the best for use in the world’s top cuisines. De Carlo premium extra virgin olive oil is used to preserve the best semi-dried vine cherry tomatoes. These Sun Kissed Pomodorini tomatoes inspire creativity and can be used in a number of ways—on pizzas, focaccias, salads, appetizers, pasta dishes,

risottos or simply served alongside fresh cheese, like mozzarella or burrata.

In addition, De Carlo offers flavorful spreads. A black olive spread made exclusively with olives from the De Carlo olive groves offers a distinctive aroma and strong flavor. De Carlo also offers a spread made with cherry tomatoes, called Red Passion. It is made from an exclusive family recipe, and is extremely tasty, with a unique flavor. Both of these spreads make a great bruschetta!

For more information or to order, please contact Viola Imports by calling 847.690.0790 or visiting www .violaimports.com.

2011 sofi Silver Finalist for Outstanding Condiment, which tops off an impressive list of wins that include Scovie Awards, Fiery Food Challenge awards and a Bronze at the World Wide Mustard Festival.

Made with six different kinds of hot peppers, Uncle Bunk’s Rustic Pepper Sauce, available in medium and hot, is a unique cross between a salsa and a spicy ketchup. It also has claimed both Scovie and Fiery Food Challenge awards.

Uncle Bunk’s 14 Day Sweet Pickles, the

crispiest pickle you will ever eat, are made across 14 days using a 100-year-old family recipe. Country Living Magazine called them the best regional pickle in 2010. If you like things hot, the company’s 14 Day Hot Sweet Pickles, a fiery version of the classic Sweet Pickles will heat you up.

They are a 2013 Fiery Food Challenge winner and First Place Scovie Award winner.

For more information, visit www.unclebunks.com, call 304.652.1920, or email bunk@unclebunks.com.

The new Bark flavors introduced at the show include pomegranate, chai latte and pumpkin. The response to the flavors was great, with attendees proclaiming that they are truly delicious. Sales have been very strong, as the flavors and colors work well for everyone’s fall and holiday displays.

According to the team at Sensational Sweets, this was the strongest Fancy

Food Show at which the company has exhibited in years. There was an unprecedented degree of interest in the company’s offerings and a terrific number of orders written.

Contact Sensational Sweets/Creative Cookie etc., at 570.524.4361, or check out the company’s website at www.sensationalsweets.com. Let Sensational Sweets sweeten your day!

Lizbeth Lane Offers More than Simmer and Pizza Sauces Retailers and their consumers alike know and love Lizbeth Lane Cuisine’s line of gourmet, all-natural and gluten-free simmer sauces, as well as the company’s new line of unique pizza sauces. However, many retailers may not know that these sauces are being used in some pretty creative and unorthodox ways!

Lizbeth Lane does many in-store demos of its sauces, and demonstrators often hear from consumers that they are using the company’s simmer sauces in ways they had not considered. One customer recently told a demo person that she used Lizbeth Lane’s Piccata Sauce over grilled salmon. Another customer told the story

of making a cold gazpacho with the company’s Mediterranean Tomato Sauce. Another said that she used Lizbeth Lane’s Marsala Sauce as a key ingredient in a delicious chicken pot pie. Who knew!

The team at Lizbeth Lane advises gourmet retailers that when offering the company’s simmer and pizza sauces on their shelves, it is important to let store employees know about the fabulous sauces and how they are typically used and enjoyed. However, it also helps sales to mention unique uses as well. Nothing bumps sales like getting the wheels turning in a customer’s head as they imagine making a stellar meal.

Stonewall Kitchen Tastes Success at Summer Fancy Food Show Fresh off a very successful reception at the 2013 Summer Fancy Food Show, it is safe to say that Stonewall Kitchen left a good taste in everyone’s mouths this year. One reason for this is the addition of figs to several product offerings. The new White Fig Spread has a uniquely sweet, rich flavor that will go great with a cheese board or simply spread on a croissant or scone. The new White Chocolate Fig sauce is equally impressive and sure to capture fans of white chocolate everywhere. In addition, the new Balsamic Fig Vinegar offers exciting potential for use in marinades, dressings

or as a creative ingredient in recipes.

Stonewall Kitchen’s new Rosemary, Chipotle and Lemon Pepper flavored oils are wonderfully aromatic and rich in flavor as is the California Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Just in time for fall holidays, there is also a new Stuffing Spice Mix. This soon to be family favorite is loaded with herbs, spices and hints of savory mushroom and onion.

For dessert, the new Espresso Dulce De Leche and Maple Dulce De Leche dessert toppings are decadent and nothing short of amazing. There is also a new Ginger Molasses Cookie Mix that lives up to the

Lizbeth Lane’s line of simmer sauces includes Lemon Piccata, Marsala Tarragon, Mediterranean Tomato and Roasted Red Pepper & Basil Cream. The sauces allow your customer to make a gourmet quality entrée in about 15 minutes. Lizbeth Lane’s pizza sauces come in three unique and delicious flavors, including Tomatillo Cilantro, Roasted Vegetable and Tomato, Pepper & Basil. Imagine what you could do with them!

Visit the Lizbeth Lane website to learn more about some of the great recipe ideas for the company’s products. You will see that Lizbeth Lane has more to offer than just simmer sauces over meat or pizza sauce on a crust.

For more information, contact Lizbeth Lane Cuisine by email at contactus@lizbethlanecuisine.com, by phone at 215.480.2710, or visit the company online at www.lizbethlanecuisine.com. claim of having the perfect balance of sweet molasses and spicy ginger. With its crispy exterior and soft, chewy center, it is everything a cookie can be.

Also in time for the holidays, Stonewall Kitchen is rolling out six new holiday confections. Each is handcrafted, premium quality and delicious. To help make them even more appealing, new branded packaging with a French vintage feel was developed. It is sure to gain a customer’s attention.

Finally, for around the home, the new Pumpkin Harvest Fine Homekeeping scent is a delightful combination of cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, cardamom, ginger and pumpkin.

For more information, contact Stonewall Kitchen at 888.326.5678, or visit www.stonewallkitchen.com.

SFF WRAP UP

GOURMET NEWS SEPTEMBER 2013 www.gourmetnews.com

Wolfgang’s Bavarian Pretzels Offers Authentic Treats from Munich Add a continental touch to a store shelf or food display with original German desserts from Wolfgang’s Bavarian Pretzels. These sweets are made from traditional recipes, using ingredients simply unavailable elsewhere, including pure, chemical-free Munich water and tart cold-weather Bavarian apples.

Wolfgang’s Apple Strudel is not a single burrito-like roll, like some other commercially available strudels. It is layers of pastry dough, painstakingly rolled out in paper-thin sheets and layered with rich apple filling. The pastry is also available in apricot. Wolfgang’s Apple Rings are coated in a feather-light egg white batter.

It is delicious eaten by itself as a snack but can also be used as an eye-catching component in original desserts.

Of course, Wolfgang’s does not stop at dessert. Original German Potato Pancakes are a company specialty. Enjoy them as a side dish with jam or applesauce, or serve them with shrimp for a lovely main course. A memorable European-themed gift basket might include these Original German Potato Pancakes along with a jar of apple preserves.

To order online or find out more about the specialties offered by Wolfgang’s Bavarian Pretzels, visit www.wolfgangspretzels.com or call 209.295.4664. Taste the difference that only Munich-baked can make!

Rabbit Creek Prepping for the Holidays Now that the craziness of the Summer Fancy Food show has subsided, it is time to get geared up for the holiday season, which will be here in the blink of an eye.

Launched at Summer Fancy Food, Rabbit Creek’s new Wild Bird Seed Crunch is a fantastic, ready-to-eat snack that is perfect for curling up in front of a movie on a snowy December day. Chock full of pumpkin, sesame and sunflower seeds caught up in a light and airy toffee-like crunch, Wild Bird Seed Crunch gives that needed boost of energy that you do not have to feel guilty about.

Just in time for the inevitable holiday

sweet tooth that is sure to rear its head, Rabbit Creek’s Chocolate fruit dip is simply fantastic. Seriously, say it once more— chocolate fruit dip. Enough said.

Rabbit Creek offers mix and match ordering, allowing customers to mix flavors to get a full case, as opposed to having to order a full case of each individual flavor.

The company also has free private labeling available for all their products.

Contact Rabbit Creek by phone at 913.837.2757 or by email at rcreek@mokancomm.net. Also, visit the company online at www.rabbitcreek gourmet.com.

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Festive Holiday Gifts from Java Frost Seeking out the happiest holiday gift? Look no further than Java Frost’s seasonal gift canisters filled with gourmet holiday drink mixes. There are three delicious flavors to choose from. Try one, or try them all!

Usher in the fall season with a perennial favorite: Pumpkin Cheesecake. Made with real pumpkin and aromatic spices, this ultimate indulgence is sure to please. Your customer will enjoy this rich and creamy cup. Next, capture the nostalgia of the holiday season with Candy Cane Crème. Experience the delight of your first candy cane in a cup. Candy Cane Crème delivers real mouthwatering candy cane bits with every sip. Finally, spice

up your Christmas sales with Red Hot Cinnamon. Real Cinnamon Imperials make this wonderful cinnamon smoothie more fun than Santa’s reindeer prancing on the roof.

Each flavor is packaged in a case of eight enchanting 8-ounce gift canisters.

These flavors are designed to delight. Java Frost canisters are the perfect addition to corporate or holiday gift baskets. All Java Frost products are carefully crafted with quality and value in mind.

Call Java Frost today for sales, samples and product information at 800.676.3661, or visit the company online at www.javafrost.com.

Coy’s Country Northwest Brings Consumer Back to a Simpler Time Coy’s Country Northwest is known for their delicious and fun-to-make baking mixes. The company’s mixes include eight delectable varieties: Lemon Ginger Pound Cake, Lavender Sugar Cookies, Orange Spiced Scones, Amazing Pudding Cake, Fabulous Fudge Cake, Fruit Cobbler, Pumpkin Spiced Cake and Cinnamon Apple Crisp. With a wide range of flavor profiles, each mix with a 15month shelf life, there is without a doubt a mix to fit the needs of any consumer when the time is right.

Recently, Coy’s Country Northwest underwent a packaging update, resulting in a bright, eye-catching pouch that is remi-

niscent of a time much simpler. The easyto-follow step-by-step instructions on the back of the pouch allow for a quick reference point when baking.

Since Coy’s Country Northwest joined Seattle Gourmet Foods, a gourmet foods manufacturer based out of Kent, Wash., it has continued to be a trusted supplier of baking mixes. This partnership has proved beneficial in updating the brand, while maintaining the flavors that people have come to know and enjoy.

For more information, call 800.800.9490, email sales@seattle gourmetfoods.com, or visit www.seattle gourmetfoods.com.

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GOURMET NEWS SEPTEMBER 2013 www.gourmetnews.com

Buddy Squirrel Introduces New Product Lines Buddy Squirrel combines the best of both worlds when it comes to satisfying your sweet tooth or craving for salt. The company specializes in award-winning confections, boxed chocolates, stylish gift tins, premier nuts from around the world, snack mixes and award-winning gourmet popcorns.

Buddy Squirrel’s history began more than 96 years ago when immigrants founded Quality Candy, a confectionery company in Milwaukee, Wis. In the 1960s, Quality Candy then purchased a nut roast-

ing, gourmet popcorn and snack mix operation called Buddy Squirrel. In 2010 the newly renamed, Buddy Squirrel LLC, began revitalizing bulk sales with new kosher confections, healthy snack mixes and redesigned packaging.

Today, the company continues to evolve within its wholesale division. Buddy Squirrel recently debuted Bull Whips and White Cheddar Cheezzzy® Cheese Corn. It now also offers Buddy Bars, made from the original 1916 Quality Candy recipes. Avail-

Rubschlager Breads Offer a Healthful Start for a Party, Snack or Meal Rubschlager breads make a healthy start for food for entertaining or for everyday snacks and meals. Rubschlager Cocktail Breads, available in four varieties, are a no-fuss way to start any party. Just open a cheese spread, add a bowl of chicken or tuna salad and perhaps a tray of sliced meat and cheese, and the party is underway with minimum fuss and good nutrition as well. Of course, the Cocktail Breads also

lend themselves to make-ahead hors d’oeuvres, including everything from the very fancy, featuring caviar or lobster salad, to the very plain and economical, such as a simple cream cheese spread topped with attractive veggies.

Rubschlager’s Square and Rye-Ola Breads are equally adaptable for smaller hors d’oeuvres when cut into smaller wedges, triangles or squares. These breads can of course, can be used for full-

Robert Rothschild Farm’s New Products and Holiday Gifts a Hit at SFF Robert Rothschild Farm made a big debut at the 2013 Summer Fancy Food Show with the launch of a number of new products, including a new holiday collection.

The latest products from Robert Rothschild Farm include new preserves, dessert toppings, cheese dips, baking mixes and seasonal items. Some of the outstanding preserves include the Heirloom Tomato Watermelon Jam, Stone Fruit Preserves, Hatch Chile Jalapeño Jam and Pear Ginger Preserves. The unique flavor combinations and profiles of these preserves make them a must-try.

In addition, good news for sweets lovers, Robert Rothschild Farm launched two new dessert mixes at the show. The Classic Shortbread Cookie Mix and Double Chocolate Fudge Brownie Mix make classic desserts simple and sweet. Robert Rothschild Farm’s Pub Style Pretzel Bread Mix was a huge hit with customers at the show who loved the endless ways one could make special sizes and shapes with the pretzel dough. The possibilities for creativity with the pretzel bread make it great for any occasion.

In addition, the holiday season is

Convenient and Healthy Back to School Options from Mediterranean Snacks As the fall season approaches, the backto-school timeframe is an ideal opportunity for consumers to instill new eating habits and try more wholesome snack options when packing lunches or going on the road for after school activities. Plus, with allergy-related food restrictions enforced in many schools, it is now more important than ever for parents to find healthier, safe alternatives when shopping.

Mediterranean Snacks recognizes the

need for better-for-you snacking alternatives to fried potato chips or other high calorie snacks, whether due to a desire for low-fat, protein-rich options or an interest in following a gluten-free diet. Making nutritious, tasty, calorically smart snacks available to consumers is the company’s mission. This mission is reflected in Mediterranean Snacks’ latest product for busy, health-conscious consumers: tapaz2go™. This innovative offering, a

Attractive, All-Natural Mixes from Sierra Soups Sierra Soups are vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free, and they taste fabulous. The mixes are simple to make and come complete with vegetables (dehydrated) and a flavorful spice packet. They will serve a large family, and recipes are on the back of each package, along with additional options to enhance the meal.

Sierra Soups mixes come in clear cello packaging, showcasing their colorful, all-

natural ingredients. Display trays are available for shelf presentation. The company offers eight different soup mixes and a Middle-Eastern Grain & Lentil Salad mix, all of which are inexpensive and easy for the average cook to prepare. Its current bestseller, Fresno Fog Split Pea soup, only requires the addition of water and a cooking time of approximately one hour. The company supplies distributors, brokers,

able both packaged individually and in bulk, the collection of flavors includes Sea Salt Caramel, Butter Almond Toffee, Peanut Butter Caramel, Peanut Butter Meltaway, Mint Meltaway and more. Additionally, Buddy Squirrel is thrilled to introduce Honey Bars, a honey and granola-based alternative to the company’s Buddy Bars. This new collection includes flavors such as Almond & Raisin, Cashew, Coffee, Craisin & Peanut Butter and Raisin & Seeds.

Buddy Squirrel currently owns and operates three retail locations in the metro Milwaukee area. Celebrated products in-

clude Butter Almond Toffee, Pecan Tads®, Cheddar Cheezzzy® Cheese Corn and Fairy Food®.

Buddy Squirrel confections are also sold across the country through wholesalers and specialty food and candy stores and can be directly purchased from its website.

The heart of Buddy Squirrel is the company’s mission to delight customers with friendly service and the experience of the world’s finest confections made from premium chocolate, nuts and popcorn.

For more information, call 800.972.2658, email sales@buddysquirrel .com or visit www.BuddySquirrel.com.

sized hearty sandwiches as well. Smoked salmon combines with Rubschlager’s RyeOla Black Rye or Westphalian Pumpernickel for the perfect presentation. There is no need to remove crusts from any of these breads, minimizing both preparation time and waste.

If the occasion is a children’s party, kids are always pleased with Rubschlager’s Cocktail Breads, because they can make sandwiches with their favorite fillings, which are “just their size.” Try serving children turkey breast, egg salad or peanut butter on these smaller-sized Cocktail Breads.

Rubschlager’s Natural Preferences Mini-

Chips offer an all-natural, 100 percent whole-grain crunchy option to accompany guacamole, salsa, onion dip, soups and salads. In fact, these mini-chips serve as a healthful and delicious snack all on their own. Available in Really Rye, Really Garlic and Not Really Plain, there is a flavor to please everyone’s taste buds.

All Rubschlager products are OU Pareve. Rubschlager Baking Corporation is located at 3220 West Grand Avenue, Chicago, Ill., 60651. Contact the company by phone at 773.826.1245, or email sales@rubschlagerbaking.com.

Visit the company online at www .rubschlagerbaking.com.

quickly approaching, and Robert Rothschild Farm is preparing retailers for the season with everything from gourmet stocking stuffers to elegant gift sets. The Perfect Pair Gift Sets were very popular at the show because of the reusable, sophisticated packaging and the delicious gourmet products in each box. Perfect Pair Gift Sets are available in four flavors that include the company’s top-selling dips and seasonal favorites paired with gourmet pretzels for a flavorful combination. The Entertaining Trio Gift Sets are available with either a sweet or savory combination of three delectable dips, sauces or preserves. Two of their most popular sauces, Pineapple Coconut Mango Tequila Sauce and Hot Pepper Raspberry Chipotle Sauce are available in

a Gourmet Sauce Duo Gift Set. Any foodlover will appreciate the Italian Dinner Gift Set, Breakfast at the Farm Gift Set or Holiday Celebrate Gift Set, because of the variety of products they include and the options they offer for making a meal, breakfast or appetizer.

The Summer Fancy Food Show has come and gone, but what remains are some delectable new products and the assurance of knowing that holiday gifting will be a breeze with Robert Rothschild Farm.

For more information about Robert Rothschild Farm products, call 800.356.8933, email info@robertroths child.com, or visit the company’s website at www.robertrothschild.com. You can also find Robert Rothschild Farm on Facebook and Pinterest.

convenient, gluten-free-certified, minimeal solution, combines a single-serve pouch of protein-rich Mediterranean Snacks Lentil Crackers along with a substantial portion of hummus in one portable package for healthy on-the-go snacking.

Made from all-natural ingredients with 250 calories or less per serving and 7 grams of protein, tapaz2go addresses the consumer desire for natural, high protein, satiating snacks. Another benefit to shoppers is that tapaz2go is shelf stable and can be stored at room temperature, so it is a perfect on-the-go snack solution for parents who want to fit healthy, smart snacking into their families’ active

lifestyle. The product can be a convenient between-meal snack for those out doing errands, or it can be an easy, nutritious office lunch.

Available in three popular hummus flavors, roasted garlic, red pepper or classic, the individual package size for tapaz2go is 3.6 ounces. The product has a suggested retail price of $2.99, with a shelf life of 300 days.

For more information on Mediterranean Snacks, contact the company by phone at 973.402.2644 or by email at sales@mediterraneansnackfoods .com. Visit the company online at www.mediterraneansnackfoods.com.

gourmet/specialty food shops, health food stores and upscale grocery stores/chains.

Marketing research shows that the household cook does not mind a slow-cooking product such as beans. However, he or she wants some leftovers. With this in mind, Sierra Soups developed recipes that serve from eight to twelve servings and which can then be frozen for later meals and still retain their marvelous flavor and nutrition.

For the team at Sierra Soups, the overall mission is to provide a wholesome product, with exceptional food value and a heap of

flavor, but which is easy for the average cook to put together. With the spices and vegetables already included in the soup bag, you will not have to make a trip to the grocery store. The hardest thing you may need to do is sauté an onion (and sometimes not even that). In addition, once prepared, the company’s soups can be frozen for future meals.

For more information about Sierra Soups, Inc., or to order the company’s soup mixes, visit www.sierrasoups.com, or call 800.397.6887, Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

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GOURMET NEWS SEPTEMBER 2013

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Lemon Ricotta Cookies from Vanilla Bean Unique Cookies Only the freshest natural ingredients go into Vanilla Bean Unique Cookies’ Lemon Ricotta Cookie. The team at Vanilla Bean prides themselves on creating cookies that are a combination of creativity, uniqueness and amazing flavor profiles, and the Lemon Ricotta Cookie is no exception! Vanilla Bean has taken the classic Italian Ricotta Cookie and added its signature twist to create an amazing cookie.

The Lemon Ricotta Cookie is made with real butter, fresh eggs, lemon zest, tart lemon juice, pure vanilla and creamy ricotta cheese. The resulting cookie is soft with a cake like texture, garnished with the company’s signature lemon glaze. With its creamy texture, the glaze has just the right amount of sweetness and a hint of tart lemon to create a great finish to an amazing cookie.

Vanilla Bean’s cookies are fresh baked

with no synthetic preservatives. However, the fresh lemon adds a natural element to help preserve the cookie without giving up the company’s high standard for quality.

Because of the fresh nature of the Lemon Ricotta Cookie, it is a great fit for online retail companies, corporate gifts and gourmet gift baskets.

Your customers will appreciate Vanilla Bean’s attention to detail as the company’s cookies are packaged in a classic natural pinstripe box. Each box contains 12 cookies, and each cookie is individually packaged in cellophane and sealed to ensure freshness. While some companies seek products with long a shelf life, Vanilla Bean knows its customers appreciate the pure quality of its cookies as will yours.

For wholesale information regarding Vanilla Bean cookies, contact Debbie Smith at 260.415.4652 or 888.498.4502.

Bella Lucia Gluten-Free Italian Pizzelle Bella Lucia Gluten Free Italian Pizzelle has an amazing line of delicious handmade cookies for all your customers’ needs.

Bella Lucia is the largest producer of gluten-free pizzelle in the United States.

The company has been able to combine the traditional taste of Italian cookies, with a new twist for all your specialty needs.

Bella Lucia still laboriously bakes its pizzelle two at a time, a claim not many other companies could make. Choose between the company’s top four flavors: anise, vanilla, Saigon cinnamon, and the

company’s newest flavor, Lemon Love, the perfect mix of tangy and sweet.

These pizzelle are just the thing to tempt the palate.

Bella Lucia never adds any artificial flavors or colors. The company’s pizzelle are always natural and always great! “Be Authentic. Be Unique,” and include Bella Lucia Gluten Free Pizzelle in your product lineup.

For more information, check out Bella Lucia online at www.BellaLuciaGluten Free.com, or call 814.201.2222.

Cholent—Kosher Meals Made Easy Cholent is another creative series of saltfree dinner kits from Purely American Foods. What exactly is Cholent? It is a traditional Jewish meal that, for generations, has been prepared on Friday before the Sabbath begins. Slow cooked all night, this savory stew is the main course at Saturday’s noonday meal.

Now, busy, health-conscious consumers of all faiths can enjoy these time saving, salt-free meals any day of the week. Gluten-free, all-natural, kosher, and free of salt and MSG, the Cholent kits from

Purely American are a delicious and goodfor-you heat and serve option for your retail customers.

The Cholent kits are just one among many delicious and healthy meal solutions offered from Purely American. The company’s healthy dinner kits are all salt and gluten-free, kosher certified and all-natural with no MSG and high fiber.

Check out the company online at www.purelyamerican.com, or contact Ray Leard at 740.592.3800 for information and orders.

Cheese Lovers Seeking Out Authentic Le Gruyère AOP When you want the “real” Gruyère AOP, there are a few things you can look for to guarantee that you have found the one cheese that can deliver the signature taste and consistency you expect from Gruyère AOP. In order to find this authentic cheese, you need to know where to look, and what it means.

During production, each wheel of Gruyère AOP is systematically marked with the number of the mold and code of the cheese dairy that is producing it. The day and month of production are also noted. These black markings are made

with casein, the milk protein (even here, there are no additives involved). From this point on, the name “Gruyère AOP,” and the code of the production facility appear on the heel of each wheel.

This is an effective way of preventing fakes and guaranteeing authenticity.

However, you can take it a step further. Using the cheese dairy’s unique code, you can go to www.gruyere.com and enter the cheese dairy number to see who produced the cheese you are eating!

For more information, recipes and photos of the only region that can produce Le Gruyère AOP, visit www.gruyere.com.

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GOURMET NEWS SEPTEMBER 2013 www.gourmetnews.com

‘Ohana Harbor Bringing Kona Coffee to the Mainland Nothing is quite as exotic as Hawaii, but forget springing for a plane ticket to find the real taste of paradise. More and more specialty retailers are offering ‘Ohana Harbor Coffee to satisfy their customers’ cravings. ‘Ohana Harbor Coffee Company offers a variety of Hawaiian Island-inspired Kona Coffees that will provide you and your customers a vacation for your palates.

‘Ohana Harbor Coffee Company’s 100

percent Kona coffee is grown exclusively in the Kailua-Kona region on the Big Island of Hawaii, where rich volcanic soil and an ideal climate produce a unique and robust coffee cherry. Harvested from September through February, ‘Ohana’s 100 percent Kona coffee is award winning. It has earned the “Cream of the Crop” designation for six consecutive years.

A favorite among coffee aficionados for

Sarabeth’s Takes Home sofi Gold Award for Velvety Cream of Tomato Soup Sarabeth’s recently took home the 2013 sofi Gold Award, presented by the Specialty Food Association at the Summer Fancy Food Show. Sarabeth’s Velvety Cream of Tomato Soup won the honor in the Soup, Stew, Bean and Chili category.

Over the years, Sarabeth’s has been awarded multiple sofi Awards ranging from the gold award in the Outstanding Classic category for the company’s Blood Orange

Marmalade to the gold award in the Hot Beverage category for Hot Chocolate Parisienne.

Sarabeth and Bill Levine still remain the driving force behind the success and outstanding reputation of the Sarabeth’s brand. Sarabeth is a James Beard Award Winning Pastry Chef as well as an author.

Together Bill and Sarabeth are also successful restaurateurs with multiple loca-

Acme Smoked Fish Delivers Variety of Offerings for All Tastes Brooklyn-based Acme Smoked Fish Corporation is more than just smoked fish, offering Wild Smoked Salmon and Cream Cheese Crepes and a range of Wild Salmon Jerky. The company’s exciting collaboration with Crepini, a locally owned company and a premier producer of crepes, provides customers with wholesome all-natural ingredients and readymade convenience, ideal for today’s busy lifestyle. This new partnership continues Acme’s commitment to serving the local community by using local ingredients and

supporting local businesses.

New Wild Smoked Salmon with Cream Cheese Crepes combine Acme’s signature Smoked Wild-Caught Alaskan Salmon with cream cheese and all-natural ingredients in a classic and delicate pancake shell. Each 11-ounce tray, available for retail and food service, includes five substantial crepes that are ready to serve and eat either cold or heated.

Easy to prepare and serve, Wild Smoked Salmon with Cream Cheese Crepes are ideal for breakfast, mealtime or

eSutras Organics: Exquisite Products in Small Batches eSutras Organics is a Chicago-based wholesale supplier of organic culinary herbs, spices and oils, as well as a manufacturer of specialty health foods and herbal medicinal teas. At their Chicagobased USDA certified organic and FDA inspected facility, eSutras Organics manufactures a carefully nurtured line of exquisite products in small batches. The

company’s offerings are unique, not like most commercial food companies’ products seen in chain grocery store aisles. eSutras Organics manufactures gourmet healthy sweeteners, including enriched agaves, jaggery and raw whole cane juice powder, as well as delicious herbal medicinal teas and Cocoa Cravings hot chocolate beverages. Exciting new ethnic flavors abound

ADAM Tea Offers Specialties for Tea Lovers ADAM Tea is diligent in its pursuit of delivering the perfect cup of tea. Born from a desire to share a superior healthy product with friends and family, ADAM Tea has been spearheading Sri Lanka’s tea industry by providing superior teas and courteous service for 60 years. The company planted hopeful roots in sunny California 25 years ago.

Offering only the purest, high grade green and black Ceylon teas, ADAM Tea is a leader in the Sri Lankan tea industry. The company uses only teas that have been awarded the coveted Lion Seal of purity by

the Sri Lankan Tea Board.

Have you ever noticed a cloudiness in tea after it has been brewed? There are more than 200 tea grades currently available, and much of the tea commonly found in the United States is a much lower grade than Ceylon tea, producing this cloudy result. ADAM Tea goes a step further, utilizing Lion Seal Ceylon tea. This means that ADAM Tea resides on the upper 10 percent of the 200 grade scale.

All tea from Sri Lanka is procured in an auction, where the quality is strictly monitored and the best tea is awarded a seal.

its low acidity and full-bodied flavor, ‘Ohana’s 100 percent Kona coffee is offered in medium and dark roasts. The company’s most popular Kona coffee is Ali’i Premium, a hand-picked, sun-dried, single-origin Kona coffee that is small batch roasted to bring out its sugars while preserving the nutty flavors for which Kona coffees are traditionally known.

While ‘Ohana Harbor specializes in 100 percent Kona Coffee, the company also offers small batch-roasted, hand-crafted Kona blends that fit into any budget.

Whether a seasonal product or a faithful stand by, ‘Ohana Harbor offers island-in-

spired packaging and taste that is guaranteed to be fresh and smooth.

Founded on traditional values and sustainability, ‘Ohana Harbor is a familyowned operation emphasizing traditional Hawaiian culture, fairness and environmentally mindful practices. ‘Ohana does this by staying involved with its coffee “from tree to cup.” ‘Ohana Harbor is honored to offer the great-tasting coffee from the company’s ‘Ohana to yours. ‘Ohana means “family,” and ‘Ohana Harbor invites you to make its coffee part of yours.

For more information head online to www.ohanaharbor.com.

tions in New York City, Key West and Tokyo.

Charlie Apt, former owner of Ciao Bella Gelato Company, joined with the Levines in 2011 as a partner. Charlie is currently working alongside the founders to develop new products and expand the brand’s distribution nationally and internationally.

Sarabeth’s is now available at a number of retailers, including Sur La Table, King’s, Open Sky, A&P, Gelson’s, RueLaLa, Citerella, Soft Surroundings, Loblaw’s and Whole Foods.

In 2013, Sarabeth’s is introducing a new line of pancake, waffle and biscuit

mixes. The mixes will be available for distribution on October 1. This is a unique tasting, all-natural product line that reflects the home cooking found in Sarabeth’s restaurants. Thousands of loyal customers enjoy Sarabeth’s breakfast, brunch and lunch in her restaurants every year. Taking home Sarabeth’s preserves, syrups, mixes, granola and hot chocolate provide consumers with an “at home” experience otherwise only found in Sarabeth’s much adored restaurants and cafes.

For more information visit www .sarabeth.com.

snacking. They also offer a delicious and healthy alternative to the traditional lox and cream or cream cheese bagel. Wild Smoked Salmon with Cream Cheese Crepes further provide an elegant and refined touch to any social event or gathering. The product is kosher-dairy.

In addition, through its Ruby Bay® label, Acme Smoked Fish offers an exclusive range of all-natural wild salmon jerky products that are ideal for gourmet enthusiasts and healthy activists looking for a shelf stable, ready-to-eat, high protein snack that is rich in Omega-3 fatty acids. The 1.25-ounce packs of Peppered and Teriyaki Salmon Jerky were recently joined by a 1.25-ounce pack of Orange-Ginger Salmon Jerky. The three flavors are now

also available in 0.6-ounce single serve packs of Grab-N-Go Salmon Strips.

Ruby Bay salmon jerky is naturally smoked using premium wild-caught King salmon from the pristine waters of Alaska, slowly smoked over cherry and alder wood. All Ruby Bay wild salmon jerky products are delivered in stadium display boxes to allow a more convenient and efficient merchandizing option. The company’s salmon jerky is currently sold in a number of prestigious retail establishments, including Whole Foods, Wegmans, Zabars and more.

For more information, visit www.rubybayseafood.com, or call 718.383.8585.

Ruby Bay is a registered trademark of Acme Smoked Fish Corporation.

in the company’s spices and spice blends. eSutras Organics’ spices are fair trade, family farmed and minimally processed. eSutras Organics products are perfect for any shop whose customers demand great quality and value for their money. The company offers special discounts for bulk food ingredients, including nuts, seeds, flours, sugar, herbs, spices and repacks.

Bring these products to the forefront of your display and your customers will notice. In eSutras’ supplier duties it works with TC Bauer Co., which offers a free sampling with orders policy. The policy

provides an easy way to create continued sales and provides tasty dialogue with your customers. eSutras Organics seeks to create an experience your customers will relish. Stylish new packaging, generous portion sizes and small minimum orders ensure eSutras Organics products will be a good fit for your marketplace.

For more information, call eSutras Organics at 773.583.4850. Also, visit eSutras Organics’ business-to-business website, ES Wholesale, at www.eSWholesale.com, where all registered retailers have easy access to order the company’s products.

In this way, Sri Lanka can guarantee the quality of its most prized commodity.

Although ADAM Tea is relatively new to the United States, the company has already left its mark across the Middle East.

It can also be found in Russia, Italy, France and all over South America.

ADAM’s newest offering, the pyramid tea, is sure to keep tea lovers happy. Taste 18 different teas in a pyramid tea collector tin, a limited edition offering from ADAM Tea. Also try the new Supreme Blends and Exotic Masala Blends lines, both available in tins. These collections feature handrolled high-quality tea leaves combined with fruits, herbs, spices, veggies and various edible flora. Truly distinct, these teas

are blended with a three-year shelf life.

This shipment of succulent fusions is sure to delight all who taste it.

Making its products even more appealing to retailers, ADAM Tea offers tea training, POS and promo materials, in-store demos and samples to those looking for marketing assistance. Consumers love ADAM Tea’s extensive beverage line, whether it be iced in summer of hot in winter. ADAM is perfect for every occasion and season. Brew perfect tea every time with ADAM Teas!

For more information, contact ADAM Tea by phone at 888.725.0365 or by email at gourmetnews@adamtea.com. Also, visit the company online at www.adamtea.com.

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GOURMET NEWS SEPTEMBER 2013 www.gourmetnews.com

New Zealand Pacific Sea Salt and Manuka Honey from Pacific Resources According to Matthew 5:13, “You are the salt of the earth.” In fact, your tears and your blood contain the same balance of salt and trace elements as found in sea salt that has been naturally dried for 13 to 22 months. New Zealand Pacific Sea Salt is harvested from the clean southern seas surrounding New Zealand. It contains no anti-caking or free flowing agents, and it contains all the natural trace elements that your body requires in a perfect balance.

Pacific Resources International is an ex-

clusive importer of this high quality sea salt from New Zealand. It is packaged in several convenient sizes from 4 ounces to 26 ounces. In addition, the product comes in two styles: fine and coarse kosher and 16-ounce kosher/organic.

A new addition to the Pacific Resources family is Mesquite Smoked Pacific Sea Salt in coarse or fine, a great addition to any meal that requires a down-home country barbecue flavor.

PRI has also seen dramatic increases in

Ariston Continues Providing the Very Best in Olive Oil The Doukas family has been producing extra virgin olive oil for three generations and could only think of one word to describe it: “Ariston,” which in ancient Greek means, “the very best.” To keep offering the very best, at the 2013 Summer Fancy Food Show, Ariston introduced a line of Californian Koroneiki Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Californian Koroneiki Infused Olive Oils to meet customers’ need for products

that are made here in the United States.

Since 1997, Ariston has been selling its extra virgin olive oil in the Ariston Refill and Save Program. Imagine that you buy six to 10 glass bottles per year of extra virgin olive oil. Now, imagine your neighbors, family and friends buy that many as well. When you are done with the bottle where does it go? By purchasing your extra virgin olive oil through Ariston’s Re-

The Invisible Chef Blondies and Brownies The Invisible Chef’s blondies and brownies are as much fun to bake as they are to eat!

The company’s collection of products includes best selling brownie flavors mocha chocolate chip and mint chocolate chip, as well as blondie flavor walnut chocolate

chip. All are easy to prepare with only a few ingredients from your kitchen.

The Invisible Chef offers premium baking mixes blended using all-natural ingredients, so you always get the quality you have come to expect in every bite. Other products avail-

Conroy Foods Livening Up the Deli Counter At Conroy Foods, sauce and seasoning is the company’s only business. The team at Conroy Foods is passionate about creating the highest quality, best tasting condiments.

Beano’s Deli Condiments are made with only the finest ingredients. That is why Beano’s Deli Condiments is the No. 1 selling brand.

Every year, Conroy Foods works hard to come up with the next hot flavors. This year, the company is introducing Beano’s Pineapple Honey Mustard, Beano’s Peach

Habanera Sauce, Beano’s Jalapeno Mustard and Beano’s Sandwich Shakers.

The team behind Beano’s Sandwich Shakers has not been this excited about a product release since the launch of Beano’s Submarine Dressing back in 1989. Beano’s Sandwich Shakers will add robust flavor without added fat, cholesterol or carbohydrates. They can also be used to liven up baked potatoes or pasta salads, or they can be used as a rub for chicken or pork.

Kane Candy Chocolate Party Cups Now Available in Nine Award Winning Varieties Kane Candy strives to offer only the very best in premium quality chocolate party cups, chocolate dessert cups, chocolate decorations and allied products to the specialty retail and gift class of trade. The company’s chef inspired products have

taken the market by storm and continue to be best sellers at quality minded retailers, as well as within the premium gift basket segment. Kane Candy recently added four new varieties to their award winning line up of products, and the com-

Holiday Shipper Displays Showcased

by Tortuga Rum Cake Company Designed especially for holiday sales, the Tortuga Rum Cake Company introduced a festive, seasonal version of its popular rum cake shipper displays at the 2013 Summer Fancy Food Show. Maximizing space and boosting retail sales, these free standing, sturdy cardboard floor displays hold either sixty 4-ounce or thirty 16-ounce original golden rum cakes or assorted flavors. Floor displays for Tortuga’s latest products, 100

percent Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee and award-winning Chocolate Rum Turtles with Sea Salt, each holding 36 units, will be available for fourth quarter shipments.

“Because our rum cakes are so popular at Christmas time, our retailers asked for a holiday version of our shipper displays,” says Monique Hamaty-Simmonds, Chief Marketing Officer for Tortuga. “The success of our rum cake shippers encouraged us to

the sales of its Manuka Honey, known as the healing honey. This success is based on the fact that Manuka is working for thousands of people around the world as a simple sweet answer for everyday good health. Research continues to pour in for the many uses of Manuka honey as a digestive aid, for wound treatment and immune building.

Professor Basel Al Ramadi, the lead researcher and head of the Microbiology and Immunology Department at UAE University, recently discovered that Manuka honey can be used to inhibit the growth of several types of cancer cells. This is the first time that a study has been made to investigate Manuka honey’s potency in the treatment

of cancer. Researchers have discovered that regular consumption of even very small amounts of Manuka honey can actually stop the growth of some cancer cells.

As the first to introduce Manuka Honey to the United States, PRI will continue to spread the word this year and into 2014 in the social media arena and through traditional advertising. Supporting the latest medical research, PRI offers the best new products available for those that believe that nature still holds the answers for our everyday good health.

For more information, contact Pacific Resource by phone at 805.684.0624 or by email at info@pri-nz.com, or visit the company online at www.shoppri.com.

fill and Save program, you are able to reuse your bottle and save money on future refills. Due to the success of the Ariston Refill and Save Program, Ariston has now extended the program to its entire extra virgin olive oil, infused olive oil and balsamic vinegar condiments line. And while the rest of the EVOO world has caught on to the fusti bulk concept, Ariston sets itself apart by producing extra virgin olive oil from its own farms and neighboring farms, ensuring that consumers receive the very best oil from Koroneiki olive trees.

Ariston is planning to launch several

new flavors, including chocolate-infused olive oil, thyme-infused olive oil, oreganoinfused olive oil and pizza-flavored olive oil, as well as a series of premium flavored balsamic vinegars including chocolatehoney-orange, espresso balsamic, Sicilian lemon balsamic, mango balsamic, Calabrian tangerine balsamic and truffle-infused balsamic, just to name a few.

Arison also offers a line of all-natural honey from beekeepers local to where the olives are harvested as well as all-natural fruit preserves from Greece.

For more information, visit www.aristonoliveoil.com.

able from the company include Coffee & Tea Cakes, Frosted & Fabulous Cupcake Kits, Savory Muffin Cakes, Bake It Quick Breads, Sweet Muffin Cakes, Bed & Breakfast Favorites and Cookie Jar Classics.

The Invisible Chef’s collection of blondies and brownies are packaged in beautiful gift style boxes with product photography that sells itself. Each 20-ounce

box retails for $9.95. The company’s blondies and brownies are now available, as of September 2013.

For order information or to receive the company’s product catalog, call 800.456.7115, or email contactus@theinvisiblechef.com. The Invisible Chef, fudgy, chocolatey and chewy: “Be Happy—Eat a Brownie!”

Conroy Foods has created many unique and upscale sandwich recipes using the company’s sauces. The brand loves to work with its customers to create custom sandwich programs for grocery store deli departments. Many of Conroy Foods’ recipes are available online at www.conroyfoods.com. When grocers incorporate Beano’s into their sandwich program, they not only create incredible sandwiches but also a perfect sampling vehicle for all of the products that they sell in the deli, including Beano’s Deli Condiments.

All of Conroy Foods’ products and mer-

chandizing tools can be seen on the company’s website. The website was recently updated with links for Twitter and Facebook, making it easy for fans to keep in touch. You can search for great ways to use the company’s products in the online recipe center.

As the team at Conroy Foods always likes to say: “No matter how you slice it, stack it, or spread it, Beano’s makes it better!”™ “Live, Love, Get Sauced!”™ Conroy Foods is located at 100 Chapel Harbor Drive in Pittsburgh, Pa., 15238.

Contact the company by phone at 412.781.1446.

pany now offers beautiful new packaging for all nine varieties.

Kane Candy Chocolate Party Cups offer a quick and easy solution for the novice baker, at home pastry chef or party planner who wants to offer exquisite desserts they can call their own. Get creative with Kane Candy’s chocolate cups by simply filling them with chocolate mousse, gelato, sorbet or whipped cream. Then, simply top the dessert with fresh berries or

chocolate decorations and serve.

Kane Candy Chocolate Party Cups are now available in nine award winning retail varieties. They are great for culinary stores, gourmet shops, kitchenware stores, wine & cheese shops, quality gift baskets, candy stores, bridal shops, hostess gifts and holiday parties. For more information, email info@KaneCandy.com or visit the company’s website, www.KaneCandy.com. For wholesale orders, call 800.875.5557.

create similar displays for our 100 percent Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee and Tortuga Chocolate Rum Turtles with Sea Salt.”

Tortuga rum cakes are baked in the Cayman Islands, Barbados and Jamaica from a generations-old island family secret recipe. Each cake is hand-glazed with Tortuga Gold Rum and vacuum sealed to lock in the delicious freshness. The cakes are available in three sizes, 33-ounce, 16ounce and 4-ounce, and in eight tropical flavors. Other products the company offers include hot and savory Caribbean sauces, gourmet coffees, chocolate rum treats and more.

Understanding the adage, “When they try it, they will buy it,” Tortuga reaches out to the thousands of tourists that visit its shops in the Caribbean with free samples of its products. As such, the company also offers sheet cakes to help retailers facilitate their own sampling programs. Point of purchase materials and colorful yellow and red eco-friendly cloth totes are also available.

For more information, contact Tortuga Rum Cake Company by phone at 305.378.6668 or 877.486.7884. Contact the company by email at sales@tortugaimports.com. Visit the company online at www.tortugarumcakes.com.

BUYERS GUIDE

GOURMET NEWS SEPTEMBER 2013 www.gourmetnews.com

41

BUYERS GUIDE GRAINS

&

FLOURS

This listing is compiled from a survey conducted by Gourmet News and sent to all manufacturers known to the staff. Inclusion in this section is based on a company’s response to our request for information. Information included in this listing is provided by the featured companies.

eSutras Organics Gourmet Flours and Meals Line

Ancient Grains from Sierra Harvest

eSutras’ USDA organic coconut flour and desiccated coconut flour are the perfect alternatives to white refined flour. Coconut flour is gluten-free and low in carbohydrates, both hot selling points in the current marketplace. Customers will love these unique flour options, especially the fact that they contain no ingredients other than coconut. eSutras Organics’ gourmet flours and meals are guaranteed fresh and packaged in Chicago.

In addition to the company’s coconut flours, eSutras also offers amaranth flour, sesame seed flour, brown flaxseed meal and golden flaxseed meal—all USDA certified organic.

SRP: $5-$7

Sierra Harvest’s ancient grains of the world come packaged in large 1.25-pound and 1.75-pound sizes, presented in clear cello packaging with labels. Ancient grains of the world are easy to prepare and come with recipes included. Product offerings in Sierra Harvest’s ancient grains of the world collection include whole grain bulgur wheat pilaf mix, course bulgur wheat, fine bulgur wheat, pearled barley, couscous, red quinoa, white quinoa and tricolor quinoa. Sierra Harvest is a division of Sierra Nut House, Inc., marketer of a wide selection of nuts, dried fruits, candies, dressings, coffee, tea, gourmet gifts and more.

SRP: $4.99-$14.95 No. of grains/flours offered: 8

eSutras Organics 773.583.4850 www.eswholesale.com

Sierra Harvest Grains (a division of Sierra Nut House, Inc.) 800.397.6887 www.sierranuthouse.com

Buckwheat Pasta and Polenta

Keen-Wah Decadence Bars

Since 1868 Carlo Moro's Pastificio di Chiavenna had produced nutritious, indigenous “grano Saraceno” buckwheat flour exclusively in the Chiavenna and Valtellina Valleys. The delicious "Pizzoccheri" buckwheat fettuccine and Polenta for Taragna (gluten-free polenta with buckwheat) are both traditional recipes of the area and favorite among skiers. It was Carlo Moro who gave life to the pasta factory on the river Mera, where the waters powered the grinding machines. Today, the original location is an industrial museum and their new, state-of-the-art factory, using 100 percent green energy, resides at the main gates of Chiavenna, 10 kilometers from Switzerland, on the road towards St. Moritz.

SRP: $6.95 No. of grains/flours offered: 3

Keen-Wah Decadence bars are the only protein bar made with the goodness of quinoa. They are 100 percent organic, glutenfree and vegan. Keen-Wah Decadence Bars are made with lowglycemic coconut nectar, enrobed in chocolate for an “intelligent indulgence.” Quinoa is one of the most perfect sources of protein in the vegetable kingdom, hailed by NASA, the Academy of Sciences and the United Nations for its nutritional value. Now consumers can get their quinoa fix with Keen-Wah Decadence Bars.

Individual bars are 1.5 ounces, and the bars are available to retailers in 12-count boxes.

Number of flavors offered: 3 (raw cacao chia, cayenne cinnamon and coconut almond)

Po Valley Foods Corp.

516.801.4688 www.povalleyfoods.com

Keen-Wah Foods 888.327.8450 www.keenwah.com

Introducing the new, fresh and sophisticated Holiday Collection from Robert Rothschild Farm. This collection offers high quality, gourmet food and festive holiday packaging at a great value. Whether it’s a loved one, teacher, hostess or friend, Robert Rothschild Farm has a gift they will love to receive.

Crunchies freeze-dried fruits and veggies are all natural, no added sugars or preservatives, gluten-free, Kosher, non-GMO and Made in the USA. In Grab-n-Go size or single-serving Munch Pak.

Ariston Specialties LLC 860.224.7184 www.aristonoliveoil.com

Robert Rothschild Farm 800.356.8933 www.robertrothschild.com

With 60 years experience, ADAM procures exquisite Ceylon tea then blends, flavors, packs & exports internationally. Succulent Fusions is ADAM’s premier American line of Pure Green & Black Envelope Teas. It’s a select collection of ADAM’s best sellers in Asia & Europe. Hot or cold, brew perfect tea every time with ADAM.

Sierra Soups are vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free mixes, complete with vegetables and spices in every package. ese treasured recipes are hearty and large enough to serve a whole family as a complete meal and still have leovers. e most difficult step is to sauté an onion, and sometimes not even that.

Since 1848, Premiato Pastificio AFELTRA has produced the finest bronze drawn pasta from Gragnano, Italy. Today, AFELTRA’s premium pasta is still made from the finest Italian durum wheat and water from Naples Lattari mountains. Selections include their prized fusilli bucati, casarecci, rigatoni, tortiglioni and visuvio, to name a few.

ADAM Ceylon Teas & Spices “Historic Quality & Legendary Taste” 888.725.0365 www.AdamTea.com

Sierra Soups Inc. 800.397.6887 www.sierrasoups.com

Po Valley Foods, Corp.

516.801.4688 www.povalleyfoods.com

888.997.1866

Crunchies www.crunchiesfood.com

GOURMET MARKETPLACE

Greek For the Very Best! Come try our Award Winning EVOOs & Balsamic Vinegars! Ariston’s Select EVOO just won Attendees’ Most Favourite Olive Oil at the SIAL CANADA’s OLIVE D’OR COMPETITION in Montreal & Silver in the International EVOO Competition in LA!

GOURMET MARKETPLACE A Special Advertising Section A Special Advertising Section

This classic South American sauce is made by caramelizing condensed milk until it reaches a rich, golden brown. We make it even better with the addition of delicious espresso. Spread this on scones or waffles or enjoy it drizzled over brownies or ice cream for a wonderfully flavorful dessert.

We pride ourselves on creating cookies that are a combination of creativity, uniqueness and amazing flavor profiles. Our Lemon Ricotta cookie made with real butter, fresh eggs, lemon zest, tart lemon juice, pure vanilla and creamy ricotta cheese has a soft cake like texture with a creamy lemon glaze.

Lindsay Farms Specialties is a family owned business committed to creating unique Southern Gourmet specialty items that are rich in tradition, naturally nutritious and utterly delicious.

Stonewall Kitchen 888.326.5678 www.stonewallkitchen.com

Vanilla Bean Unique Cookies 888.498.4502 vbchefs@vanillabeanuniquecookies.com

Lindsay Farms Specialties 800.243.4608 www.lindsayfarms.com

Fire and Flavor is a leading marketer and producer of innovative products and concepts for preparing fresh, flavorful food by offering unique, all-natural and easy-to-use products for at-home cooking.

Every morning TV show and magazine is talking about Beer.

Our Beer crackers are topical & popular. Beer is the main ingredient. ree flavors: Smoky Chipotle, Lime & Beer—Mild and Hot Hot Hot!—and Pizza & Beer.

Shipped direct to you from our bakery.

Smaller Size, Smaller Price New 2oz. size, Hexagon Box in a POP Display Box. Impulse item for cheese case, near register or in hotel amenity bar.

Made with Wine or Beer. 7 month shelf-life. SRP $3.50 Shipped direct to you from our bakery.

Fire & Flavor 866.728.8332 www.fireandflavor.com

American Vintage Wine & Beer Crackers 718.361.1003 www.americanvintage.com

American Vintage Wine & Beer Crackers 718.361.1003 www.americanvintage.com

Beano’s Deli Bistro Sauces deliver an upscale flavor to a wide variety of foods. Available in four exciting and unique gourmet flavors.

Beano’s Sandwich Shakers™ introduces a totally new concept that will enhance the flavor of food without adding fat, cholesterol or carbohydrates. “Just Shake the Taste.™”

If only the finest caviar will do... the House of Caviar and Fine Foods is an importer and distributor of caviar (both imported and domestic), fish roe, foie gras, truffles, smoked fish and other specialty foods, sourced from around the world by our experts. Contact us for your caviar and gift basket needs.

Conroy Foods Inc. 800.317.8316 www.conroyfoods.com

Conroy Foods Inc. 800.317.8316 www.conroyfoods.com

Our individually wrapped TruffleCreme® chocolates are made with an all-natural truffle ganache, and enrobed in selected blends of cacao.

The TruffleCremes® were created by Master Chocolatier, Dana Taylor Davenport, who was inspired by recipes from his great uncle, Julius Franzen, a royally appointed Master Confectioner to the crowned heads of Europe. TruffleCremes® are available in six flavors.

The ‘Ohana Harbor Coffee Company farm is located in the small artist town of Holualoa on the big island of Hawai’i. ‘Ohana is a family-owned, independent, award-winning and Kona-Certified coffee grower. We strive to deliver the very best kona coffee, so you and your ‘ohana can enjoy the taste of the islands anywhere.

New Zealand’s Sweet way to build the immune system and Help with digestive conditions. Manuka Honey Nuggets in three flavors. Ginger, Lemon & Honey and Natural. “You are the Salt of the Earth” and everybody needs clean additive free sea salt that contains all the natural trace elements for a healthy life style. Naturally wind and solar dried for 22 months, this sea salt is so perfectly balanced it is the same as found in each tear drop

Dilettante 800.800.9490 www.dilettante.com

‘Ohana Harbor Coffee Company www.ohanaharbor.com 253.432.4508

Pacific Resources International 805.684.0624 www.shoppri.com

954.462.0533

Bemka Corp. www.houseofcaviarandfinefoods.com

SMORGASBORD

GOURMET NEWS SEPTEMBER 2013 www.gourmetnews.com

43

SMORGASBORD CALENDAR

ADVERTISER INDEX ADVERTISER

PAGE WEBSITE

PHONE

American Vintage Wine

42

www.americanvintage.com

718.361.1003

APEX Imports

18

www.wolfgangspretzels.com

209.295.4664

Ariston Specialties

41

www.aristonspecialties.com

860.224.7184

Bemka Corp.

12, 42 www.houseofcaviarandfinefoods.com 954.462.0533

Carolyn Saucier

18

Conroy Foods

15, 42 www.conroyfoods.com

800.317.8316

Crunchies

41

www.crunchiesfood.com

888.997.1866

EU5

11

www.legendsfromeurope.com

www.carolynsaucier.com

510.336.9403

Sept. 7-9

October 1-2

Dallas Total Home & Gift Market

Tri-State Food Expo

Dallas, TX www.dallasmarketcenter.com

Secaucus, NJ www.tri-statefoodexpo.com

Sept.17-19

October 6-9

Atlanta Fall Gift & Home Furnishings Market and The Atlanta Gourmet Market®

International Baking Industry Expo

Atlanta, GA www.americasmart.com

Las Vegas, NV www.ibie2013.com Oct. 15-17

Expoalimentaria 2013 Sept. 26-28

Fire & Flavor Grilling Co.

42

www.fireandflavor.com

866.728.8332

Natural Products Expo East

Lindsay Farms Specialties

42

www.lindsayfarms.com

800.243.4608

Baltimore, MD www.expoeast.com

Ohana Harbor Coffee

14, 42 www.ohanaharbor.com

253.432.4508

Pacific Resources

42

www.shoppri.com

805.684.0624

PLMA

13

www.plmaregistration.com

212.972.3131

Po Valley Foods

41

www.povalleyfoods.com

516.803.4688

Robert Rothschild Farms

41

www.robertrothschild.com

800.356.8933

Rubschlager

12

www.rubschlagerbaking.com

773.826.1245

SaltWorks

6, 7

www.seasalt.com

800.353.7258

Sarabeth’s Kitchen

3

www.sarabeth.com

800.773.7378

Seattle Gourmet Foods

42

www.seattlegourmetfoods.com

800.800.9706

Sierra Nut House

41

www.sierrasoups.com

800.397.6887

Specialty Food

5

www.specialtyfood.com

State Farm

9

www.statefarm.com

Stonewall Kitchen

2, 42

www.stonewallkitchen.com

888.326.5678

Vanilla Bean Unique Cookies

20

www.vanillabeanchefs.com

260.415.4652

Viola Imports

14

www.violaimports.com

847.690.0790

Wonderfully Raw

44

www.mycocoroons.com

831.786.8773

SEASONINGS AND SPICES Arizona Rub

28

www.arizonarub.com

800.489.1925

Bakto Flavors

28

www.baktoflavors.com

732.354.4492

Busha Browne

25

www.bushabrowne.com

201.947.1000

eSutras

24

www.eswholesale.com

773.583.4850

Purely American

25

www.purelyamerican.com

800.359.7873

Rabbit Creek

27

www.rabbitcreekgourmet.com

800.837.3073

Salty Wahine

26

www.saltywahine.com

Vanns Spices

27

www.vannsspices.com

800.583.1893

SUMMER FANCY FOOD WRAP UP Boyajian

34

www.boyajianinc.com

800.965.0665

Buddy Squirrel

37

www.buddysquirrel.com

800.972.2658

Frontier Soups

32

www.frontiersoups.com

800.253.0550

KBC Kane Candy

33

www.kanecandy.com

800.875.5557

Le Gruyère AOP

31

www.gruyere.com

Sensational Sweets

33

www.sensationalsweets.com

570.524.4361

Sticky Fingers Bakeries

35

www.stickyfingersbakeries.com

800.458.5826

The Invisible Chef

37

www.theinvisiblechef.com

800.456.7115

Lima, Peru www.expoalimentariaperu.com

PEOPLE WATCH Chobani Founder and CEO Named Ernst & Young World Entrepreneur Of The Year 2013 Hamdi Ulukaya, founder and CEO of Greek Yogurt brand Chobani, was named the Ernst & Young World Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2013. Ulukaya was selected from a group of more than 50 country-winners from across the globe for this award.

Ulukaya founded Chobani in 2005, and it took two years to perfect the recipe, with the first order shipping in 2007. Since then, Chobani has experienced a meteoric rise with annual sales rocketing to $1 billion in 2012.

“I am deeply honored to receive this award from Ernst & Young and in the company of such amazing fellow business leaders from around the world,” Ulukaya said. “What began as just my personal commitment to make delicious and nutritious Greek Yogurt accessible to everyone has turned into a 3,000-person-strong company serving three markets around the world. I look forward to our next 3,000 employees and to sharing our food philosophy with even more consumers as we expand into new markets.”

Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur Of The Year is the world’s most prestigious business award for entrepreneurs. Ernst & Young started the Entrepreneur Of The Year® Award program 27 years ago to recognize the world’s most successful and innovative entrepreneurs.

By identifying and recognizing the achievements of outstanding entrepreneurs within successful growing, dynamic businesses, Ernst & Young aims to encourage entrepreneurial activity around the world.

John Compton Named to CROSSMARK Board of Directors CROSSMARK, a leading sales and marketing services company in the consumer goods industry, has named John Compton to its board of directors. Compton will serve along with principals of Warburg Pincus, a leading global private equity firm.

Compton spent most of his career as a senior executive at PepsiCo, most recently serving as President of PepsiCo. Previously, he served as CEO of PepsiCo Americas Foods, the largest division within PepsiCo. In addition, Mr. Compton has also served as CEO of all PepsiCo operations in the United States and Canada. He began his career at PepsiCo in 1983 as a Frito-Lay production supervisor in the Pulaski, Tenn. manufacturing plant. In

all, Mr. Compton spent 30 years at PepsiCo in various sales, marketing, operations and general management assignments.

Mr. Compton graduated from the University of Tennessee and remains an active supporter of the school’s College of Business Administration. He is a lifetime member of the Advisory Council to the Dean.

“John brings extensive experience in the consumer goods industry to the CROSSMARK board,” said CROSSMARK CEO Joe Crafton. “His exceptional leadership and insight will be important as CROSSMARK continues to grow and develop more solutions for our clients.”

Compton said, “I have admired the capabilities of CROSSMARK and look forward to working with the teams to increase shareholder value.”

Nature’s Best Hires Amy Kirtland as Vice President of Sales Nature’s Best hired Amy Kirtland as Vice President of Sales. In this role, Kirtland will be responsible for leading the company’s sales team and executing the company’s strategic growth plans.

“I am excited to start a new challenge and look forward to being part of a unique organization with a longstanding history of excellence and commitment to the natural products industry,” Kirtland said. “I am fortunate to be joining such a respected company that prides itself on top quality service, and look forward to working with independent retailers.”

Amy comes to Nature’s Best with more than six years of experience as Executive Director of Unified Grocers Naturally Division. She has a long history of working with natural and specialty foods.

Tom Echolds, President of Nature’s Best, said, “Amy’s wealth of experience and industry knowledge, along with her passion and commitment to natural and organic products, makes her a perfect fit with the Nature’s Best team. Amy will play a key role in the future of our customer-centric organization.

Her appointment is a sign of our continuing commitment to service excellence.”

Nature’s Best, The Natural Products Distributor, is the largest privately owned wholesaler-distributor of health and natural food products in the natural products Industry. They deliver a full line of certified organic, natural and specialty products to retail stores throughout the South, Central and Western United States, Alaska, Hawaii and Asia.