Patagonia Takes Lead in Focus on Regenerative Agriculture, Climate Change
Photo: Pexels
Originally Appeared in Presence Marketing News, February 2020
By Steven Hoffman
“We’re losing the planet. We really are,” Patagonia’s founder Yvon Chouinard recently told Emily Stifler Wolfe, a reporter at Explore Big Sky. “And I’m not going to let it go without fighting, so we have to try harder.” Patagonia in 2012 launched its Provisions division that sells organic grains, responsibly caught salmon and other items to help create a market for climate-friendly products. In 2018, it became a charter member of the Regenerative Organic Alliance, and in 2020 the company is introducing its Road to Regenerative line of organic cotton clothing. Made of “100% Regenerative Organic Certification Pilot Cotton from farms working to rehabilitate soil, respect animal welfare and improve the lives of farmers” the new tee shirts also are Fair Trade Certified sewn, says the company. Patagonia, with a new mission statement, “We’re in business to save our home planet,” intends to go “carbon neutral and non-extractive by 2025,” reports Explore Big Sky, and it plans to boost support for environmental conservation and go deeper into politics. The company in December 2017 sued the Trump administration for rescinding a million acres of Utah’s Bears Ears National Monument, and it backed Montana’s Democratic Senator Jon Tester – an organic farmer – in his 2018 reelection. To learn more about regenerative organic agriculture and food and climate, attend Climate Day at Natural Products Expo West, Tuesday, March 5, 2020, and an update from the Regenerative Organic Alliance at Expo West on Friday, March 8.
European Researchers Concerned About High Levels of Glyphosate in Foods
Photo: Pexels
Originally Appeared in Presence Marketing News, February 2020
By Steven Hoffman
“The toxic pesticide glyphosate should not be in the food chain,” researcher Thomas Bohn of the Institute of Marine Research in Tromso, Norway, told FoodNavigator in January 2020. His concern, along with that of other researchers in Norway and the U.K., is that glyphosate is the most widely used pesticide in the world due to its use on GMO soybeans, resulting, he says in higher levels of glyphosate residues in plants and food products. According to research published in Foods in late 2019, farmers in Argentina and Brazil from 1996 to 2014 have increased application of glyphosate in their fields “more than twice as high as the recommended doses used in most field trials.” Also, reports FoodNavigator, research has shown that late-season spraying of glyphosate – used as a desiccant and harvest aid in GMO and non-GMO soybeans – increases glyphosate residues in harvested soybeans by a factor of 10 or more. “These factors increase adsorption of the herbicide and augment residue levels in the harvested beans,” the researchers wrote. According to Bohn, the current risk assessment system only received data from field trials with soybeans that were sprayed with “much lower” doses compared to “contemporary commercial farms,” reports FoodNavigator. “All possible measures should be taken to reduce consumption of glyphosate, like avoidance of desiccation, reduced used by farmers, etc. Glyphosate should not be in the food chain,” Bohn told FoodNavigator. According to a CNN report, glyphosate increased the cancer risk of those exposed to it by 41%, according to a peer-reviewed study published in 2019.
Bring Your Idea to Life: Iovate Ventures Offers Strategic Partnership Opportunities for Early-Stage Nutritional and Functional Products Brands
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Bring Your Idea to Life: Iovate Ventures Offers Strategic Partnership Opportunities for Early-Stage Nutritional and Functional Products Brands
Leading Active Nutrition and Wellness Company Invites Like-Minded, Impact-Driven Brands to Join the Conversation at Natural Products Expo West, Anaheim, California
Expo West Breakfast Meet & Greet
Iovate Ventures Entrepreneurs
March 5th, 2020, 8:00 am – 10:00 am
Hilton Anaheim, Room #: Palos Verdes A, 777 West Convention Way, Anaheim, CA
Oakville, ON, Canada (February 19, 2020) – Iovate Ventures, a newly formed and dedicated international health and wellness investment group, a division of Iovate Health Sciences International Inc., is seeking like-minded U.S. start-up brands to apply to their strategic partnership program. If you are an emerging start-up brand looking to gain traction, expand retail distribution, and improve innovation, Iovate Ventures invites you to attend a morning meet and greet during the Natural Products Expo West Trade Show on Thursday March 5th, 8:00 am – 10:00 am, Hilton Anaheim, Palos Verdes A Room, Anaheim, California.
At the breakfast, brands will meet with industry leaders and learn more about the application process. Discover why your brand should collaborate with Iovate Ventures and gain access to expert advice and high-level teams, including best-in-class strategic tools and methods to accelerate ideas.
Apply to Iovate Ventures Strategic Partnership Program:
https://www.iovate.com/iovate-ventures/
For impact-driven brands, regardless of your company’s stage of growth, Iovate Ventures tailors specific strategies through its program offerings and services. Iovate Health Sciences International Inc. has more than 25 years of experience in wellness, weight loss, and active nutrition. The company’s seasoned team of scientists, R&D professionals, sales, and manufacturing experts are ready to help take your brand to the next level.
“There are a lot of great product ideas out there with tremendous potential that hit bumps on the road to their becoming viable offerings. It might be owing to a lack of experience, the necessary contacts—or resources. At Iovate Ventures, we want to ensure that great ideas achieve their potential and make a difference in the world. We’ll provide the expert resources to bring your product to market and provide access to people around the world who would most benefit,” says Raza Bashir, Vice President, Product Innovation at Iovate Ventures. “If you have a novel functional food or wellness-related consumer product in-market or ready to launch, then we want to connect at our Expo West breakfast to hear more about your products and what you stand for!”
An additional benefit to applying and joining the partnership includes exclusive connections to Iovate’s global distribution and retail networks, including the world’s largest retailers.
About Iovate Health Sciences International Inc.
Iovate Health Sciences International Inc., has been creating and building successful brands for more than 25 years. Through its commitment to scientific research and product development, Iovate Health Sciences International Inc. has led marketing efforts for countless cutting-edge products, which have been chosen by millions since its establishment in 1996. Iovate’s current brand portfolio includes Purely Inspired®, Conscious KitchenTM, Hydroxycut®, MuscleTech®, and Six Star®. The company’s core values include teamwork, accountability, passion, valuing people, customer-centric, and consumer-driven. For more information on Iovate Ventures and the application process, click here.
Iovate Ventures Contact
Raza Bashir, Vice President, Product Innovation
ventures@iovate.com
Media Contact
Steven Hoffman, Founder, Compass Natural
303.807.1042, steve@compassnaturalmarketing.com
Mass Market Sales of Hemp-derived CBD Predicted to Rise Significantly
Photo: Pexels
Originally Appeared in Presence Marketing News, February 2020
By Steven Hoffman
Look out, specialty CBD retailers, the mass market is coming on. According to a survey conducted by Nutrition Business Journal, CBD supplements and beauty products are now sold in more channels than perhaps any other product in “the history of human commerce,” including natural food stores, pharmacies, supermarkets, doctor’s offices, coffee shops, bookstores, boutiques, fitness clubs, smoke shops, dispensaries, convenience stores and gas stations. Consumer awareness of CBD increased from 47% in 2018 to 70% in 2019, according to NBJ’s survey, and product sales continue to grow at a rapid pace. “The largest shift between 2018 and 2020 is projected to happen in mass market retail, increasing from under 1% of the market in 2018 to almost a quarter of sales in 2020,” says NBJ, which attributes much of that growth to the sales of topical hemp-derived CBD products. However, NBJ predicts that mass market channels will continue to see success in CBD sales as more stores offer dietary supplement product options. NBJ estimates that sales of hemp-based CBD products will reach $4 billion by 2023.
New Bill Would Require FDA to Allow Marketing of CBD in Dietary Supplements
Photo: Pexels
Originally Appeared in Presence Marketing News, February 2020
By Steven Hoffman
A bill introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives would allow hemp-derived CBD to be marketed in dietary supplements and food products. Introduced by Collin Peterson (D-MN), Chair of the House Agriculture Committee, the bill would explicitly include hemp-derived CBD in the definition of a dietary supplement, reports New Hope Network. The bill is important, reports Marijuana Moment, because, while hemp and its derivatives were federally legalized under the 2018 Farm Bill, according to former FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, it could take years for the FDA to finalize rules around allowing hemp-derived cannabidiol (CBD) in dietary supplements and food products—unless Congress steps in, he said. The legislation, filed on January 14, 2020, if passed would amend the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetics Act to include CBD in the definition of dietary supplements. “The last two Farm Bills were landmark successes for hemp, but we are still very early in this process, and growers need regulatory certainty. This bill will allow FDA to regulate CBD that comes from hemp as a dietary supplement, providing a pathway forward for hemp-derived products. It would also identify barriers to success for hemp farmers, informing growers and policy makers of the challenges facing this new industry,” said Congressman Peterson in a statement. Learn more about current FDA, USDA, and state-level hemp and CBD policy and regulation at the upcoming 7th Annual NoCo Hemp Expo, the world’s largest exposition, conference and gathering of hemp industry professionals, March 26-28, 2020, at the National Western Complex in Denver, CO.
Clif Bar Invests in University of California’s First Organic Research Institute
Photo: Pexels
Originally Appeared in Presence Marketing News, February 2020
By Steven Hoffman
With a $1 million endowment from Clif Bar & Company and University of California (UC) President Janet Napolitano, the university will establish the system’s first-ever institute for organic research and education. The California Organic Institute will accelerate the development and adoption of tools and practices for organic farmers and those transitioning to organic by building on the capabilities of the UC Department of Agriculture & Natural Resources’ (UC ANR) Cooperative Extension and Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program, the university said in a release. “California's organic farmers already benefit from UC ANR's pest management, irrigation and crop production research, and this partnership with Clif Bar will give UC more capacity to focus on challenges specific to organic farming,” said Glenda Humiston, UC vice president of agriculture and natural resources in the release. “The California Organic Institute will serve many of the organic producers we depend on for ingredients like almonds and figs, as well as farmers outside our supply chain,” added Lynn Ineson, VP of Sustainable Sourcing for Clif Bar. “We recognize that the future of our food company depends on the ecological and economic success of organic and transitioning farmers.” According to UC ANR, California has the most organic farms in the U.S., with 3,000 certified organic farms in the state representing 21% of all certified organic acreage in the U.S.
Plant-based Foods Are Hot, Getting Hotter
Photo: Pexels
Originally Appeared in Presence Marketing News, February 2020
By Steven Hoffman
The growth of plant-based foods will continue to skyrocket into the new decade, resulting in a continued decline in traditional meat and dairy products, reports Forbes Magazine. The article cites SPINS data commissioned by The Good Food Institute showing that retail sales of plant-based foods in the U.S. increased 31% over the two-year period ending July 2019 to reach nearly $4.5 billion. According to Forbes, plant-based milk is driving the category with total dollar sales of $1.86 billion in April 2019; plant-based meat alternatives totaled $801 million, followed by ready to drink beverages at $103 million. According to Forbes, investment bank UBS predicts that U.S. sales of plant-based protein and meat alternatives will grow from $4.6 billion in 2018 to $85 billion in 2030, and sales of plant-based dairy alternatives could reach $27.5 billion by 2025. Forbes noted that U.S. chocolate company Hershey recently launched two plant-based jerky varieties under the Krave brand, a meat snacks company it acquired for $200 million in 2015.
Customers Name Seven NCG Co-ops as their States’ Top Independent Grocers
Photo: Pexels
Originally Appeared in Presence Marketing News, February 2020
By Steven Hoffman
Using data from Yelp and Google Trends, market research firm 24/7 Tempo recently released a ranking of top supermarkets and grocery stores in each state. In seven U.S. states, customers ranked retail food co-ops, all members of the National Co+op Grocers Association (NCG), as their favorite independent grocery stores, reports the National Cooperative Business Association (NCBA). “Unlike corporate grocery chains, food co-ops are totally independent and owned by the community members who shop there. Instead of focusing on investors, food co-ops focus on providing fresh, healthy food for shoppers, creating sustainable jobs for employees, building a strong regional food system for everyone, and giving back to their community,” said C.E. Pugh, CEO of NCG, told NCBA. “It’s no surprise that so many shoppers appreciate the value of their community-owned food co-op, but few industries are as competitive as the grocery business, so that makes us especially proud of our member co-ops achieving these hard-earned rankings. It’s a true testament to our co-ops working diligently to serve their members and communities, and toward the day when everyone has the fresh, healthy food they deserve,” she added. Customers voted the following seven retail food co-ops as their favorite independent grocery store.
• Alaska: Co-op Market Grocery & Deli, Fairbanks
• Maine: Portland Food Co-op, Portland
• Nevada: Great Basin Community Food Co-op, Reno
• New Mexico: Mountain View Market, Las Cruces
• North Carolina: Tidal Creek Cooperative Food Market, Wilmington
• Tennessee: Three Rivers Market, Knoxville
• Vermont: City Market/Onion River Co-op, Burlington
Naturally Bay Area Entrepreneurs Gather for Natural Products Pitch Slam Showdown
Naturally Bay Area’s Premier Industry Event Showcases Top Finalists Competing for More Than $30K in Prizes, Plus a Powerhouse Panel of Special Guests and Judges for its 2nd Annual Pitch Slam Competition and Celebration, Held During the Winter Fancy Food Trade Show, January 19, 2020, in San Francisco, CA
SAN FRANCISCO, CA (January 9, 2020) – Naturally Bay Area, a vibrant and thriving business community comprised of entrepreneurs, investors, innovators and leading brands in the natural and organic products industry, is proud to announce its all-star panel of judges, presenting finalists and keynote speakers for the organization’s premier event of the year, The 2nd Annual Naturally Bay Area Pitch Slam. The event, held in conjunction with the Winter Fancy Food Show on Sunday, January 19, 2020, from 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m., at the Mission Bay Conference Center, San Francisco, CA, will provide a unique evening for networking and mingling with A-list industry leaders.
Hundreds of natural products entrepreneurs will gather to cheer on the Pitch Slam finalists who will share their companies' innovations and brand strategies. Each competitor in the Naturally Bay Area Pitch Slam are founders of emerging local, natural and organic brands that are creating unique better-for-you food, beverage and personal care products and services.
Pitch Slam Finalists
There are six Naturally Bay Area Pitch Slam finalists who will participate in this year’s Pitch Slam competition. Each Pitch Slam finalist will present a timed business pitch to a panel of select expert judges who will vote for the final top-three winners. The six finalists include: A Dozen Cousins, Bread SRSLY, Down to Cook, Dr Hops Kombucha, Outlaw Soaps, and Renewal Mill.
Pitch Slam Judges
Naturally Bay Area has identified a select group of industry experts who will serve as the Pitch Slam panel of judges. Each judge will have an opportunity to ask questions, sample the products and vote on the winners. The powerhouse panel of judges includes:
Kevin Cleary: Principal, Big Rock Growth Advisors (Former President/ CEO, Clif Bar & Company)
Kevin is a results-driven, people leader with a successful track record at private and public companies. His focus on vision and strategy is brought to life by successfully aligning all executional elements throughout an organization. Currently, as Principal at Big Rock Growth Advisors LLC, he helps CEOs and companies drive and manage growth, while developing healthy cultures to ensure long-term success. Much of his advisory work is in leading organizations through the strategic planning process while also helping them create highly effective C-Suite teams.
Aditi Dash: Partner, CircleUp Growth Partners
Aditi is an investor and operator with a passion for food and tech consumer goods. At CircleUp Growth Partners, Aditi applies her applied experience in investing, operations, product innovation, tech, B2C, growth equity, and capital raising to help emerging brands scale with purpose.
Danny Rubenstein: Managing Partner, Mista
Danny brings a unique combination of skills, abilities, and relationships to MISTA and its members. He’s held every C-Suite role, and he has served as a board member, investor, and advisor for startups and early-stage companies multiple times over. Add in his big CPG company background and experience, and you have a mind that’s able to switch gears easily between where you are and where you want to be, and can help develop a strategic path between them.
Robyn Rutledge: Founder & CEO, SBG Growth
Robyn’s nearly two decade-long career in finance and investing has been concentrated in the consumer industry, with a focus on food, beverage, and wellness-oriented companies. Robyn is the Founder & CEO of SBG Growth, a consumer-focused investment and advisory business. Robyn also currently advises investment firms, entrepreneurs and other stakeholders on the consumer market landscape. Prior to launching SBG Growth, Robyn spent close to a decade with TSG Consumer Partners, a leading investment firm. She was also a member of the investment team at Thoma Cressey and prior to that, worked in M&A at Goldman Sachs in New York.
Patrick Wyman: Local Forager, Whole Foods Market Northern California and Reno
Patrick has 28 years of experience in the natural foods industry, and 18 with Whole Foods Market. He started with the company in a store support role for the grocery department, moved through grocery leadership, and now oversees the Northern California region’s local purchasing program and local vendor partnerships. In his current role, Patrick helps guide vendors through the logistics of bringing a product to market including topics like packaging, distribution, financing, and compliance with company and governmental standards.
Keynote Speakers & Fireside Chat
Prior to the showdown, attendees will hear insight from two successful women entrepreneurs, Lisa Curtis, the Founder and CEO of Kuli Kuli and Miyoko Schinner, CEO/Founder of Miyoko's Creamery. Lisa will serve as this year’s Host and Master of Ceremony. Miyoko will present the evening’s Keynote presentation and provide her insightful entrepreneurial story leading up to the successful evolution of Miyoko’s dairy-free, plant-based cheese brand and how it competes in the fastest growing category.
In addition, before the Pitch Slam winners are announced, attendees will have the opportunity to participate in a fireside chat with Wayne Wu, Partner at VMG Partners. Wayne will interview Elizabeth Giannuzzi, CEO & Co-Founder of Siren Snacks and 1st Annual first place Pitch Slam winner, and Hector Saldivar, Founder of Tia Lupita Foods and second place winner.
Ticket Information
Join the fun: Mingle, Cheer, Learn, and Eat & Drink. Reserve your seat now to make sure you have a spot for the premier event of the year – we will sell out! Tickets: Members, $49. Non-members, $69. Click here for tickets today!
About The Pitch Slam
Natural product companies based in Northern California were invited to compete and pitch amongst a wide selection of brands in the Bay Area. The Naturally Bay Area team narrowed the selection down to six finalists who will compete for prize packages valued at over $30,000, including:
$5,000 cash, courtesy of Aspect Consumer Partners
10'x10' booth at 2020 Natural Products Expo East (the world’s largest natural products trade show on the East Coast), courtesy of New Hope Network
A guaranteed spot to pitch at the 2020 Natural Products Expo East Pitch Slam, courtesy of New Hope Network
A suite of professional services including financial/legal advice, marketing, strategy consulting, and more.
2020 Pitch Slam Competition Sponsors
Aspect Consumer Partners, New Hope Network, Whole Foods, and Compass Natural Marketing.
About Naturally Bay Area
Naturally Bay Area is dedicated to building and fostering a community that nurtures conscious growth, leadership and innovation in the Bay Area natural products industry. Founded in 2018 as a 501c6 non-profit organization, it now has over five hundred members compromised of entrepreneurs, investors, innovators, and emerging and leading brands. Naturally Bay Area provides access to cutting-edge business education events and programs, opportunities for meaningful connections and networking, and special celebrations.
Naturally Bay Area is a part of Naturally Network, which supports a national ecosystem to galvanize and grow the natural and organic products industry. Naturally Network serves those who wish to create a more conscious and regenerative economy and culture through the power of business. Our collective goal is to manifest meaningful change for our industry, our society, and our planet.
Visit naturallybayarea.org, LinkedIn or Facebook for more information. For member or sponsor information, please contact us at info@naturallybayarea.org.
Naturally Bay Area Sponsors
Naturally Bay Area is proud to have Premier, Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze-level Sponsors. Premier Sponsors include Aspect Consumer Partners, BPM LLP, Clif Bar & Company, Davis Wright Tremaine LLP, GABY, Mind the Font, Mista/Givaudan, Navitas Organics, New Hope Network, Propeller Industries, and The Burbank Hafeli Schiller Group. For a complete list of Sponsors, visit here.
Contact
Vanessa Toy, Naturally Bay Area, vanessa@cultivatecreations.com
Steven Hoffman, Compass Natural Marketing, steve@compassnaturalmarketing.com
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BeyondBrands® Brings Innovation to Winter Fancy Food Show with National Retail Launch for Three Conscious Product Innovations: Cool Beans, mood33, & Petal
Innovative Food & Beverage Accelerator Represents Leading Brands, Recruits New Talent and Invites Brands to Join the Conversation at National Trade Show, Booth #5745, January 19 - 21, Moscone Center, San Francisco, CA
San Francisco, CA (January 16, 2020) – BeyondBrands® is gearing up for a successful and busy Winter Fancy Food Show in San Francisco and is excited to announce the national retail launch of three innovative consumer packaged goods products: Cool Beans, mood33 and Petal. BeyondBrands, known for their high-level CPG experience and upper-level sales strategies to create, lead and deliver results for emerging brands in the marketplace will showcase these three up and coming brands at the World Finer Foods Booth #5745, North Hall, Moscone Center, San Francisco, CA, January 19-21, 2020.
Cool Beans
Global flavors, vegan and gluten-free? Yes, yes, and yes. Full of plant protein, fiber and nutrients, Cool Beans frozen wraps draw flavor inspiration from around the globe, serving up satisfying, portable eating for vegans, flexitarians or those who simply want to try something new. Plus, they’re easy to make. Just microwave and enjoy.
mood33
mood33™ brings the synergistic superpowers of all the beneficial hemp plant nutrients in a convenient, natural beverage. These herbal teas are mindfully sweetened to create six fruit-forward flavors, whether it’s Joy, Peace, Calm, Energy, Passion or Wellbeing. mood33 herbal teas are blended with flavorful botanicals that are carefully selected to harmonize with full-spectrum hemp extract.
Petal
Petal creates unique beverages using the finest natural extracts and essences, with just enough organic sweetness and plenty of sparkles. Their approach is botanical alchemy – an intuitive process that tunes in to the flavorful power of each ingredient by blending florals, fruits and herbs into the perfect refreshment. Petal comes packed with powerful antioxidants in six flavors: Original Rose, Mint Rose, Lychee Rose, Elderberry White Tea Flower, Peach Marigold, and Lemongrass Dandelion.
BeyondBrands is Growing
BeyondBrands is seeking more talent! They are looking for seasoned CPG experts in the Natural Products Industry to join its Conscious Collective. Inquiries can be made by emailing namaste@beyondbrands.org.
BeyondBrands partners are currently booking appointments with companies attending the Fancy Food Show. Interested in discussing a potential partnership? Learn how BeyondBrands suite of capabilities can position your natural products brand for success in the upcoming year by scheduling an in-person meeting, by emailing namaste@beyondbrands.org. For a complete list of BeyondBrand's capabilities, click HERE.
About BeyondBrands
Assembled by Steaz & Good Catch Co-founder Eric Schnell, and Under the Canopy and Institute for Integrative Nutrition Co-founder Marci Zaroff, a team of 20+ senior-level natural lifestyle and eco-conscious experts are Co-Creating the future model of full-service executive-level consulting including brand incubation and acceleration through the agency's networks and affiliates. This Conscious Products Collective – comprised of specialists from the most respected natural and organic food, beverage, fashion, beauty and nutraceutical companies, to the most recognized consumer brands in the world – passionately and collaboratively delivers 360-degree consulting and outsourced management services for its clients. Visit www.beyondbrands.org.
About the Specialty Food Association
Founded in 1952 in New York City, the Specialty Food Association (SFA) is the leading advocate for the $148.7 billion specialty food industry. Representing makers, importers, entrepreneurs, retailers, distributors and others in the trade, the SFA aims to champion, nurture and connect its members to deliver traditional and innovative new products to consumers that expand consumption of specialty foods. With over 3,800 member companies, the Association helps its members through providing information, research, educational events, and celebrating the industry through its awards programs. The SFA is known for hosting the Winter and Summer Fancy Food Shows, and presents the sofi™ Awards honoring excellence in specialty food. Learn more at specialtyfood.com.
Media Contact
Steven Hoffman, Compass Natural, 303.807.1042, steve@compassnaturalmarketing.com
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