Video: GMO Labeling - We Have a Right to Know

This 60-second video, produced by Boulder-based Whizzbang Studios and Compass Natural Marketing, made its debut at Natural Products Expo West, the world's largest natural and organic products trade exhibition, at a GMO labeling seminar and press conference held on March 7, 2013. http://youtu.be/biuMH9L1-tU

With GMO labeling and consumer transparency a key issue at this year's trade show, the seminar, moderated by Compass Natural Marketing Managing Director Steve Hoffman, was standing room only. Featured speakers included public health attorney Michele Simon; Ken Cook, president of Environmental Working Group; Lori Lively, Washington State I-522 campaign executive committee member and education director for Marlene's Market and Deli; Gary Hirhberg, Chair of Stonyfield Farm and founder of Just Label It; Jessica Lundberg of Lundberg Family Farms; and David Bronner, CEO of Dr. Bronne'rs and I-522 campaign executive committee member.

For more information on the Washington State I-522 People's Right to Know Genetically Engineered Food Labeling Act, visit www.labelitwa.org.

MetaBrand Makes Trade Show Debut at Natural Products Expo West

For Immediate Release

Contact: 

Steven Hoffman, Compass Natural, tel 303.807.1042, steve@compassnatural.com

Eric Schnell, MetaBrand, tel 888.611.5573, info@metabrandcorp.com

MetaBrand Makes Trade Show Debut at Natural Products Expo West

Visit MetaBrand - the leading "concept-to-market" turnkey solutions provider for emerging natural and organic beverage and supplements brands - at Booth #7213 in the "Next" New Products Pavilion at Natural Products Expo West, the world's largest natural and organic products trade exhibition, March 8-10.

March 7, 2013 – Edison, NJ – Turnkey beverage and supplement companyMetaBrand is off to a fast start. Founded in 2012, the "concept-to-market" solutions provider has contributed to the growth of more than a dozen natural product brands in various capacities.

Company representatives, including Founder and CEO Eric Schnell, will be on hand at Natural Products Expo West - the world's largest natural and organic products trade exhibition - to showcase MetaBrand’s capabilities and meet with prospective clients.

Much of the early success for MetaBrand can be attributed to its ability to address the specific needs of each unique client. Unlike more rigidly structured organizations, MetaBrand is able to leverage the broad, multi-disciplinary expertise of a team of 35 industry-veteran advisors. Because of this unique model, MetaBrand can provide unmatched workscope and pricing flexibility to its growing client roster.

This flexibility is demonstrated in two distinct projects that MetaBrand is currently working on; Runa Tea and FitPro Real Milk Protein. The former, a brand of organic ready-to-drink (RTD) Guayusa teas, utilizes MetaBrand’s formulation, extraction, and packaging technologies. The latter, a brand of all-natural RTD protein shakes, leans on MetaBrand for branding, marketing, and sales/distribution strategy. Both rely on the broad capabilities of MetaBrand, only in very distinct ways.

Also paramount to MetaBrand’s success is the recent addition of three key personnel; General Manager Janis Grover, Technical Director Kathryn Deibler, Ph.D, and Director of Operations Michael Fougere. Together, the trio brings more than 60 years of collective industry experience in the areas of brand management, food science, flavor research, manufacturing, and distribution.

“MetaBrand has been a success for two main reasons,” says Schnell. “First, we have assembled an unbelievably talented group of industry advisors. Second, our structure allows for à la carte services based upon client needs. No other company that I am aware of offers such a dynamic combination.”

MetaBrand will make its national trade show debut at Natural Products Expo West at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California, March 8-10, 2013. Interested attendees should visit Booth #7213. For more information on MetaBrand, please visitwww.metabrandcorp.com.=

About Metabrand

Created by natural products industry veteran and Steaz Teas Co-founder Eric Schnell, MetaBrand, based in Edison, NJ, offers turnkey “R&D to retail” services to start-up and early-stage natural and organic beverage and supplement brands, including product formulation and development, manufacturing, distribution, and sales, marketing and promotional strategies. With a team of 35 advisors and long-standing industry relationships, MetaBrand helps companies quickly and efficiently develop winning formulations for natural product concepts that are on-trend and efficacious, regulation compliant, and scalable. For more information on MetaBrand, visitwww.metabrandcorp.com, info@metabrandcorp.com, tel 888.611.5573. 

Olomomo Nut Company Shakes Up the Nut Industry

For Immediate Release:

Olomomo Nut Company Shakes Up the Nut Industry

Demand drives company to roll out new display cases and packaging

Visit Olomomo at Booth #5673 with America's Best Organics at
Natural Products Expo West, March 8-10, 2013

Media Contact: Annie Brown, annie@brunoredstar.com, tel 303.241.0282

BOULDER, CO (March 4, 2013) – Olomomo Nut Co., a leading, Boulder, CO-based producer of all-natural, gluten-free, artisan-roasted nuts, announces the launch of eye-catching, fully recyclable, point-of-purchase display cases designed to appeal to consumers and retailers alike. Olomomo Nuts are now available in both convenient single-serving-size packets (1.5 oz.) and larger 4-oz. bags (four servings). The new product sizes are designed to work perfectly in natural grocery stores, coffee shops, convenience stores and other retail locations.

“Part of the motivation behind the new packaging and displays was to create an attractive delivery system that was colorful and visually appealing, with easy identification of flavors, and attributes legibly printed on each bag. Our retail grocery customers spoke and we listened,” said Olomomo CEO Mark Owens.

All Olomomo Nut products are kettle-roasted using centuries-old techniques, and lightly seasoned with individual spices to prevent masking the nut’s inherent flavor. According to founder Justin Perkins, “I’m a weekend-warrior athlete who depends on sustained, even energy. I wanted a food that wasn’t overly sweet or salty; I don’t have time for sugar crashes and ingredients that are dehydrating. Therefore, all of our products adhere to that guiding principle of minimal sugar, low-salt, but tons of flavor.”

Originally inspired by an artist from Oaxaca, Mexico, who used native products to produce intricate art, the folks at Olomomo use simple but distinctive, fair-trade spice combinations to create mind-blowing roasted almond flavors including Cherry Vanilla Dream, Chai Bliss, Mango Chipotle Zinger, and Righteous Cinnamon Cayenne, available in 1.5-oz. and 4-oz. sizes - and Cosmic Maple Masala Pecans, available in 10-oz. bags. The company plans to roll out new flavors later in the year.

Current flavor offerings have the following attributes: all natural and organic ingredients, vegan, gluten free, dairy free, no trans fat, no added oils, no cholesterol, no preservatives, no artificial colors, no artificial sweeteners and no GMO ingredients.

Olomomo Nut Company is a cause-oriented brand with a mission to do and inspire more good in the world while creating a healthy snack alternative. Recent donations have included Kay Angel Orphanage in Haiti, The Center for Resource Conservation, Net Impact, and Cultiva, an organization dedicated to teaching young people about organic gardening.

About Olomomo Nut Company

Olomomo - The Good Nuts™ - offers five varieties of healthful, artisan-roasted, all natural nuts. Since launching in 2008 at a local farmers’ market, Olomomo has grown to be the snack of choice for thousands. Olomomo Nut Co. is a sustainable business with a commitment to fair labor practices, all natural and organic ingredients, and a wide variety of environmental and social causes. Olomomo Nuts inspires people to... ”Be Nutty.  Be Good.  Be Adventurous™.” Available now at more than 150 natural grocers and cafes nationwide, including Alfalfa's Market, Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, Akin's Natural Foods, and other leading retailers. For information, visit www.olomomo.com or join the community at www.olomomo.com/facebook.

Look for Olomomo Nuts at Natural Products Expo West, March 8-10, 2013, downstairs in Hall E at America's Best Organics, booth #5673, in the
Anaheim Convention Center.

GMO Update: Whole Foods Market to Require GMO Transparency

This past month marked a number of important developments in the ongoing debate to label genetically engineered or GMO foods, including the following news items.

Whole Foods Market Announces Mandatory GMO Labeling in Stores by 2018
Not waiting for the government to take the lead in the labeling of genetically engineered or GMO foods, Whole Foods Market announced at Natural Products Expo West that it will require GMO transparency for any products sold in its stores by 2018, making it the first national grocery chain to set a deadline to label foods that contain GMO ingredients.

Whole Foods also will require labeling for meat and dairy products if the animals were fed GMO grains. Certified organic foods will not have to carry the label since by definition, organic foods are prohibited from using GMO crops or ingredients. According to Co-CEO A.C. Gallo, the nation’s leading natural and organic products grocer is seeing sales increases of 15% to 30% for non-GMO verified products. Whole Foods told USA Today that is currently sells more than 3,000 products that have gone through the non-GMO verification process, more than any other retailer in North America. Additionally, Whole Foods Market, Aldi’s and Trader Joe’s announced that they would not sell genetically engineered salmon, if FDA approves it. “We are committed to full GMO transparency within five years,” said Whole Foods Co-CEO Walter Robb.

Washington State’s I-522 Leads State GMO Labeling Efforts
After submitting more than 300,000 signatures, Washington State’s I-522, the People’s Right to Know Genetically Engineered Food Act, is considered by many to be the best bet to achieve mandatory GMO labeling in 2013. In February and March, Washington State legislators held hearings, which included testimony from Robert Maquire, an attorney for the pro-GMO biotech lobby, who argued that GMO labeling is not in the public interest. George Kimbrell, an attorney for the nonprofit Center for Food Safety who helped create the GMO labeling measure, disagreed, saying the issue is “a far cry from mere consumer curiosity.” Kimbrell asserted that I-522 would not lead to frivolous lawsuits or increase costs to consumers. Unless the state legislature passes the measure as it stands, which is a rare occurrence, according to the Seattle Times, the I-522 bill will go before voters in the November election. A number of other states are pursuing GMO labeling legislation, including Vermont, Connecticut and Oregon. Efforts in other states, however, including Hawaii, New Mexico, Arizona and Colorado, were defeated or postponed in legislative committees before ever seeing the light of day. However, GMO labeling advocates in both California and Colorado say they’ll be back in 2014. To support and contribute to I-522, visit www.labelitwa.org or contact Steven Hoffman, steve@compassnatural.com.

NPA Calls for National GMO Labeling Standard
After taking heat for coming out against California’s Prop 37 GMO labeling bill in 2012, the Natural Products Association in March called for national GMO labeling. “This is really very simple – people have a right to know what’s in their food,” said NPA’s Executive Director John Shaw. Shaw indicated that a national standard would be best and that different state and local requirements would be counterproductive. Mark Squire, owner of Good Earth Natural Foods in Fairfax, CA, and a proponent of Prop 37, told New Hope 360 that he applauds NPA’s stand, however he hopes to see NPA back Washington State's I-522 GMO labeling bill "because there is a great deal of precedent for laws starting at the state level and then being adopted at the national level. The Obama administration could require labeling immediately, but the question is does anyone in D.C. have the political backbone to listen to the American people when it would require ignoring such a powerful and moneyed lobby as biotech? It may be that passing a law in a state is the only way to get national regulation on this topic," he said.

NPA’s position statement contains five points:

• NPA believes consumers have the right to be informed whether genetically modified components are in their foods.

• NPA supports and encourages the voluntary labeling on non-GMO foods.

• NPA believes that consideration of federal law promoting a uniform standard is warranted to avoid separate standards for GMO labeling at the state level.

• NPA opposes a private enforcement provision, which encourages abusive litigation, to impose compliance.

• NPA supports the FDA consistently reviewing the concept of bio-equivalency of genetically modified ingredients in light of the most recent scientific studies.

Rep. Jared Polis Announces Federal GMO Labeling Bill
US Congressman Jared Polis (D-CO) announced in late February that he will introduce a federal bill to require mandatory labeling of genetically engineered or GMO foods. The GMO Labeling Bill will be co-sponsored by Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and in the Senate by Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA). “I am proud to help lead the GMO Labeling Bill, which is all about consumer choice and information. It’s important to empower people with the information they need to make their own healthy choices. People have the right to make consumer decisions based on accurate transparency in labeling, and knowledge is power,” Polis said in a press conference held in the new Alfalfa’s Market in Boulder. More than 90% of Americans support labeling of GMO foods, according to a 2012 Mellman Group survey.

Last Minute “Monsanto Protection Act” Takes Away Courts’ Right to Limit GMO Crops In an era of 11th hour budget battles in Washington, D.C., non-GMO advocates are railing over a section introduced at the last minute by an “anonymous” congressman in a federal agricultural appropriations bill called HR 933. The short-term resolution, signed on March 26 by President Obama, contains language dubbed the “Monsanto Protection Act.” Specifically, section 735 of the bill “would limit judges to stop Monsanto or the farmers it sells genetically modified seeds from growing or harvesting those crops even if courts find evidence of potential health risks,” according to the New York Daily News. Advocates are primarily upset over the seemingly blatant collaboration with the biotech industry on the rider in the bill. “Why is this such a big deal?” asked public health attorney Michele Simon in her blog Appetite for Profit. “The court system is often our last hope, with Congress, the White House and regulatory agencies deep inside industry’s pocket. Several legal challenges have resulted in court decisions overturning USDA’s approval of new GMO crops, for example, sugar beets,” she said. Despite the best efforts of Senator Jon Tester (D-MT) – the only organic farmer in Congress – the biotech rider was pushed through. “These provisions are giveaways, pure and simple, and will be a boon worth millions of dollars to a handful of the biggest corporations in this country,” he said.

Note: This article was originally published in the March 2013 issue of Presence News, published by Presence Marketing/Dynamic Presence.

The IFOAM Organic Leadership Course North America 2013

A World of Organic Leadership Learning

The IFOAM Organic Leadership Course - North America 2013

A Professional-level, Online and In-Person Leadership Learning Intensive Into the World of Organic Food, Agriculture, Production and Trade

Presented by IFOAM, the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements

Training the Next Generation of Organic Industry Leadership

Register Now and Join Us for the First Residential Module in Lutz, Florida March 20-29, 2013

Led by international and regional experts, the IFOAM Organic Leadership Course - North America 2013 provides intensive training for executives, managers, entrepreneurs, producers and others to gain deeper knowledge and understanding of the North American and world markets for organic food and agriculture.

Through a series of 10 webinars and two in-person residential modules, the curriculum will focus on:

Understanding the Organic World

You will gain an in-depth understanding of the fundamentals of the organic sector and the channels of distribution and the ability to apply this knowledge in your work and advocacy.

Institutional Management

Learn effective leadership and modern management skills that are consistent with the ethics of the organic sector. Develop skills for organizational development, project management and the ability to forge strategic alliances for cross-sector collaboration.

Networking & Communications

Gain knowledge and skills to communicate effectively within your organization and sector. Identify organic industry leaders and hone industry networking skills.

Organic Value Chain

You will gain the necessary understanding of the organic value chain in theoretical and practical terms.

Certification & Regulation

Increase your knowledge and gain a deeper understanding of organic regulations, standards, certification and production in the U.S., North American and world markets.

Organic Services & Development

Understanding the support system that underpins the value chain will enable you to work with and strengthen the organic sector and achieve long-term sustainability.

Organic Leadership Skills

Build your advocacy skills for organic food and agriculture, and hone skills and attitudes to take a leadership role in the organic industry.

"Leadership and learning are indispensible to each other." - John F. Kennedy

We're Looking for a Few Good Organic Leaders

Our planet needs people with the right skills and attitudes to make the shift we need toward a more sustainable future.

The IFOAM Organic Leadership Course aims to do just that. If you want to take yourself or your staff to the next level, then enroll in this exciting program!

The IFOAM Organic Leadership Course, North America 2013 includes:

- Two Residential Modules in Tampa, FL, March 20-29, and Baltimore, MD, Sept. 19-25.

- Ten online webinars between March and September 2013.

- Course fee of US $4,500 covers tuition and all training materials, plus food & lodging during the residential training. (Travel costs not included.)

Click here for more info

Download brochure here

To Apply, contactacademy@ifoam.org

Deadline to apply: Jan. 1, 2013

© 2012 International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM). All rights reserved. IFOAM, Charles de Gaulle Strasse 5, 53113, Bonn, Germany, tel +49 228 926 5099, www.ifoam.org. Communications on behalf of IFOAM by Compass Natural LLC, Boulder, CO USA.

Figo! Means Cool in Italian!

Introducing Figo! Organic Gelato Made In The Traditional Slow Batch-Churn Style

Visit us at Natural Products Expo West

March 7 - Fresh Ideas Pavilion, Booth #53, Marriott Anaheim Hotel

March 8-10 - New Products Hall, Booth #6309, Anaheim Convention Center

                      www.figogelato.com

Slow, Batch-Churned Gelato

USDA Certified Organic

Gluten free

Egg free

GMO free

Seven Palate-Pleasing Flavors

Vanilla Trio

Salted Caramel Café

Coconut Almond Chip

Chocolate Peanut Butter

Cool Limone

Pure Pistachio

Chocolate Duet

Commitment to Quality

Slow, batch-churched in authentic Italian-made machines

Proprietary process

Sustainably Made

Premium BPA free packaging

Wind powered facility

Zero waste facility

Figo! Organic Gelato is made by Boulder Homemade Inc., maker of Boulder Ice Cream, in Boulder, CO.

For distribution, sales, marketing & public relations, contact Glennise Humphrey, tel. 303.494.0366,

glennise@bouldericecream.com. 

Communications on behalf of Figo! Organic Gelato by Compass Natural Marketing

www.compassnaturalmarketing.com  |  info@compassnaturalmarketing.com

Grocers Act to Reduce Food Waste

Source: Wikimedia Commons

“We educate team members and consumers to sort their trash and not just ‘throw it away,’ because there is no ‘away.’”   - Tristam Coffin, Whole Foods Market

Abundance and waste. They are two sides of the same coin in America, and that goes for our food system, too.

According to Jonathan Bloom, author of Wasted Food, 40% of all food produced in the U.S. gets thrown away before it is consumed, and the vast majority of that (97%) ends up in a landfill, where organic food waste is one of the main culprits in methane gas production – a major contributor to global warming.

Each year, 160 billion pounds of food – the equivalent of $250 billion per year – is wasted, enough to fill the equivalent of two Rose Bowls every day, said Bloom, who spoke at the Sustainable Foods Summit held Jan. 22-23, 2013, in San Francisco, and produced by leading market research firm Organic Monitor.

With the planet’s population set to increase from 7 billion to more than 9 billion by 2050, it isn’t just a matter of increasing food production, but decreasing food waste as well as redistributing food to food banks. A number of grocers are taking steps to address this issue, including SuperValu, the third largest retailer in the U.S., which has achieved “zero waste,” or 90% diversion from the landfill, in 150 of its stores, said Michael Hewett, Director of Environmental and Sustainability Programs for Publix and a member of the Food Marketing Institute’s (FMI) Sustainability Executive Committee.

“As retailers pull cardboard, plastic, cans, etc., out of the waste stream, they are left with food,” said Hewett. “We must find ways to capture food before it goes bad and get it to food banks. From Ahold USA to Winn Dixie, grocers need to share best practices in a ‘pre-competitive’ way. That’s radical collaboration,” he said.

“Globally, one third of all food produced is wasted in processing, handling, storage, sale, preparation and serving of food,” said Amy Kirtland, Executive Director of Unified Grocers. Kirtland is working with grocers through the Food Waste Reduction Alliance, comprising members of FMI, Grocery Manufacturers Association and the National Restaurant Association, to divert and reduce food waste. Kroger is diverting organic waste to energy production, she said, while Hannaford educates children about food waste through a pilot composting project.

At Whole Foods Market, “We’re looking not for a ‘silver bullet,’ said Tristam Coffin, Whole Foods’ Energy and Maintenance Project Manager, so much as ‘silver buckshot,’ in that stores deal with food waste in region-appropriate ways.” For example, Whole Foods stores in St. Paul, MN, are working with a local farmer to divert food waste for hog feed; other stores work with farmers to supply food waste for compost. In Chicago, stores donate local produce waste to the Lincoln Park Zoo. “We educate team members and consumers to sort their trash and not just ‘throw it away,’ because there is no ‘away,’” he said.

With regard to donating food to food banks, the Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act, signed by President Clinton in 1996, helps reduce liability for grocers seeking to distribute food to food banks and the poor, said Claire Cummings, West Coast Fellow at Bon Appetit Management Co., a leading food service company working with universities and other institutions. “Our goal is to find ways to distribute 1 billion pounds of produce per year by 2015, and that includes making sure that food banks are prepared to take on additional capacity for donated foods ,” added Devi Raja, Director of Food Produce for Feeding America.

Facebook Provides Cost-Effective, Targeted Advertising Solutions

Source: Wikimedia Commons

Taking advantage of Facebook advertising and a network of active fans can provide a relatively inexpensive yet targeted way to communicate your brand’s message and broaden your reach in a friendly environment. Through display ads and sponsored posts, marketers can use Facebook ads to promote product sales, increase likes on your Facebook page, drive traffic to your website, and communicate information to your fans—educational and product specific. According to surveys conducted by Facebook, people who like your business’ Facebook page spend an average of two times more as your customers than people who aren’t connected to you on Facebook.

Facebook offers three types of ads to help crack the conversion code. The tricky part is knowing what type of ad suits your company’s needs, and further, how to navigate the ad creation process to ensure you are reaching your greatest potential audience. The great thing about Facebook is it provides advertisers with the flexibility to alter their ad campaigns in real time.

Will Dean, CEO of Tough Mudder, a company that produces obstacle course events and posted sales of $60 million last year, suggests, “Try anything once. People often ask how we do our advertising. The answer is word of mouth, but first, you have to build momentum, and we got that momentum through Facebook," he told Inc. Magazine.

Three Types of Ads Sponsored Stories – Do you want to tell a story with photos or let your fans know about an upcoming event? Sponsored stories are in fact status updates on your business page that you pay to run in your fans’ newsfeed more frequently, ensuring greater visibility. Your fans can like, comment on, and share sponsored stories, and in turn, their friends see that they like your page. This is one of the fastest and most effective ways to simply increase page likes and create a conversation about your brand.

If your product or service is time sensitive or seasonal, sponsored stories are a way to build page likes during slower times. When you are ready to run an ad during peak times, your fan base will ideally be robust and more effective in creating sales.

Right-Side Display Ads – If one of your objectives is to reach people you are not yet connected to, ads are most effective. They are the small square boxes on the right side of the user’s display that direct traffic to your company’s external website or Facebook page. While this does not automatically convert to a sale, it introduces fresh faces to your brand. By filtering for geographic location and or topics and interests, you can choose a highly targeted audience for your ad.

Coupon Offers – If your goal is to achieve sales through Facebook, create a coupon that runs in your fans’ newsfeed. When fans click on the coupon, Facebook emails the coupon to the user to redeem on your external website. Coupons are shareable to users that are not yet a fan of your brand.

Take a moment to read some case studies to stimulate ideas for your advertising strategies.

Adapted from Compass Natural Winter 2013 News.

Who's Driving Growth in Organics?

Source: Wikimedia Commons

As sustainable food producers position for the future, they can count on the consumer to drive double-digit sales growth in organic and non-GMO products. In fact, says Wall Street analyst Scott Van Winkle of Boston-based investment bank Cannacord Genuity, the only real growth happening in the food industry today is in the natural, organic and specialty foods markets. Additionally, while California’s Prop 37 GMO labeling initiative was narrowly defeated in November, Van Winkle counters that consumer awareness of genetically engineered foods has increased dramatically as a result of media attention to Prop 37, which will only drive further growth in the natural and organic sector, he says.

However, consumers also became aware during the Prop 37 debate that the parent companies of certain leading organic brands contributed millions to defeat Prop 37, a move that created consumer backlash, exemplified by numerous negative postings on these organic brands' Facebook pages by angry consumers. Companies and brands that support GMO labeling have been lauded as heroes by core consumers.

Shoppers Seek Out Local, Non-GMO Indeed, the Non-GMO Verified Project reports 21% growth in the number of non-GMO verified products in the past year, making it the fastest growing “eco-label” in the U.S., says SPINS.

Buying organic food and products with environmentally friendly packaging makes shoppers feel more positive about their choices, and nearly half (46%) of U.S. shoppers seek out organic and local food, says PricewaterhouseCoopers in its annual report Experience Radar 2013: Lessons from the U.S. Grocery Industry, published in December.

Additionally, shoppers are willing to pay on average a 4% premium for local and organic products, with certain demographics willing to pay premiums of up to 27% for local and organic, and up to 30% on recyclable packaging, says the report.

Financial Markets Respond Seeing the growth in consumer demand for healthy and eco-friendly products, in 2012 the public financial markets opened again after several years to natural and organic products companies, and Cannacord's Healthy Living Index continues to outperform the S&P 500.

In July, Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage (NYSE: NGVC), a retail chain founded in the Denver area in the 1950s by health food pioneer Margaret Isely, raised more than $100 million in an initial public offering. Earlier, in March, natural and organic foods brand leader Annie’s Inc. (NASDAQ: BNNY) impressed analysts and industry alike with the biggest opening day gain in stock price in nearly a year. WhiteWave Foods (NASDAQ: WWAV), maker of Horizon and Silk natural and organic products, raised nearly $400 million in a late October IPO. Additionally, popular East Coast gourmet food chain Fairway Market filed in September to raise $150 million.

Organic is creating jobs, too – more than 572,000 U.S. jobs were created in the organic sector in 2010, at a rate 21% higher than the conventional food industry, according to a 2012 Organic Trade Association study. With 9.5% growth in 2011, U.S. sales of organic products totaled $31.5 billion, says OTA, representing 4.2% of overall U.S. food sales.

"Organic lifestyles are not a passing trend. Expect this trend to grow exponentially in the coming years," PricewaterhouseCoopers advised grocers.

Adapted from Compass Natural News, Winter 2013.

Open Source Branding and the Consumer Values Evolution

Photo: Compass Natural

“At the Epicenter” Green Entrepreneurship Speaker Series Will Feature Brendan Synnott, Co-founder of Bear Naked Granola and EVOL Foods, and Founder of Healthy Lifestyles Investment Group Revelry Brands, on Dec. 5, 2012, Boulder, CO.

After building a $65 million brand, Bear Naked, in just five years in his mid twenties, entrepreneur Brendan Synnott took time off after selling the company in late 2007 to travel and participate as a contestant on television’s pioneering reality show Survivor, and to think about what was next. At the time, Bear Naked held the number one spot in market share in the granola category in more than 10,000 retail stores nationwide.

Now based in Boulder, Synnott is applying the expertise and insights garnered as the former CEO of Bear Naked, plus the strength, stamina and determination demonstrated in Survivor to invest in and partner with innovative natural, organic and sustainable businesses. Synnott’s group Revelry Brands, established in 2009, has invested in such successful emerging brands as EVOL Foods, Siggi’s Yogurt, Only Natural Pet Store, Data Garden and PACT Organic Apparel, where the company’s slogan is “Change starts with your underwear.” Synnott serves as Chairman of Pact, and he stays actively involved in guiding Revelry’s portfolio of companies.

Brendan will share his concept of “open source branding,” or how companies can benefit from building transparency and dialogue with a rapidly evolving, values-based, healthy lifestyles consumer “At the Epicenter” on Wednesday, December 5, 2012, 5:30 – 7:30 pm, at the offices of the Sterling Rice Group in downtown Boulder. A welcoming reception will precede the CEO armchair-style interview and interactive discussion. For information and to register, visit http://brendansynnottattheepicenter.eventbrite.com. For press passes or more information, please contact Shoshana Romer, shoshana@compassnaturalmarketing.com.

At the Epicenter, now in its third year, is an educational series for entrepreneurs in the rapidly growing market for natural, organic and sustainable products in the Boulder/Denver region. The series is produced by Best Organics Inc. and Compass Natural LLC, and hosted by the Sterling Rice Group and the University of Colorado Deming Center for Entrepreneurship, and has featured speakers including Bill McKibben, founder of 350.org; John Elstrott, Chair of Whole Foods Market; Horst Rechelbacher, founder of Aveda and Intelligent Nutrients; Sandy Gooch, founder of Mrs. Gooch’s Natural Foods Markets; and Arran and Ratana Stephens, founders of Nature’s Path Foods.

Secrets of Open Source Branding Revealed “Open source branding is where the relationship between a consumer and a producer unites around transparency and dialogue,” says Synnott, a graduate in economics from Vanderbilt University and a former staffer in the talent department at Saturday Night Live.

“Today’s consumers want to eat food they can learn about, talk about, and understand; they want to drive cars that communicate their care about the environment; they want to eat at restaurants that show they understand the importance of local and sustainable practices. It just so happens that this shift in a consumer’s emotional connection with brands is also going to help save our planet. We continue to believe that investing in forward-thinking consumer brands is a way to improve the negative impact humans have on the environment while helping us to benefit economically from this wave of change,” he says.

“We are excited to add such an accomplished and idea-filled young entrepreneur and investor to our roster of distinguished alumni of the At the Epicenter series,” says Seleyn DeYarus, CEO of Best Organics, a leading organic gift and brand promotions company based in Boulder and co-producer and host of An Evening at the Epicenter. “Brendan’s presentation will inspire young entrepreneurs as well as seasoned business leaders to see possibilities for business to have a positive impact beyond the bottom line.”

At the Epicenter Sponsors Sponsors include the following leaders in natural, organic and sustainable business. Gold Sponsors:Whole Foods Market, Sterling Rice Group, and University of Colorado Deming Center for Entrepreneurship; Silver Sponsors:New Hope Natural Media, Mychelle Dermaceuticals, Earth Balance, Glutino Foods, Udi’s Gluten Free, and Transition Colorado; Bronze Sponsors:Pax World Investments, Bay State Milling, St. Claire's Organics, and EKS&H; Supporting Sponsors:Bonterra Organic Vineyards, Eco-Products Inc., Chinook Book, Care2, Boulder Valley Media Alliance, Shine Restaurant, and Boulder Ice Cream.

About At the Epicenter At the Epicenter is an ongoing series of interactive talks for entrepreneurs and business and community leaders in the $300-billion market for natural, organic, sustainable and socially responsible products and services. At the Epicenter is produced by Best Organics Inc., a leading organic gift basket and brand promotions company based in Boulder, CO; and Compass Natural LLC, a leader in LOHAS communications, public relations, strategic marketing and business development. For information, visit www.americasbestorganics.com, gifts@bestorganics.com, tel 303.499.ORGANIC (6742). For information about Compass Natural Marketing, visit www.compassnatural.com, info@compassnatural.com, tel 303.807.1042.