Blog, Summary11 Steve Hoffman Blog, Summary11 Steve Hoffman

Conventional Retailers Take the Lead in Natural/Organic Food Sales

Sales of natural and organic products grew 9.1% to reach $120 billion in 2014, reports Natural Foods Merchandiser’s 2015 Market Overview.

Sales of natural and organic products grew 9.1% to reach $120 billion in 2014, reports Natural Foods Merchandiser’s 2015 Market Overview, and for the first time, conventional retailers recorded slightly higher sales than the traditional natural products retail channel.

“It could be the year we look back on, and remember as the turning point for when natural became everyday.” - Christine Kapperman, Editor in Chief, Natural Foods Merchandiser

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As Editorial Director of the Natural Foods Merchandiser in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, I remember spending a number of late nights working with the magazine’s founder, Doug Greene, pouring over paper surveys to complete the industry’s eagerly awaited annual Market Overview. Things have changed since then, yet the natural and organic products industry continues to gain momentum, posting impressive year-over-year growth, as consumers increasingly demand cleaner, healthier foods.

Everyone is taking notice. Never has the competition been fiercer among traditional natural foods super-naturals, including Whole Foods Market and Sprouts, and expansion-minded chains and independents such as Natural Grocers, Earth Fare, Fresh Thyme Farmers Market, Lucky’s Market, MOM’s Organic Market, Mustard Seed, and others. Just last month, I reported on how major food brands, including Kraft, Chipotle, Pepsi and a growing number of others, are feeling the pinch of lost market share and are now removing artificial ingredients, colorings, preservatives, GMOs and other chemicals from their ingredient decks. Additionally, Kroger’s private label organic brand, Simple Truth, in 2014 surpassed $1 billion in sales, the retailer’s “most successful brand launch ever,” said Kroger president and COO Mike Ellis in a March 5, 2015, conference call.

Natural Products Sales at a Turning Point And now, according to this year’s Market Overview, published in Natural Foods Merchandiser’s June 2015 edition, the industry has reached a tipping point, in that, for the first time, sales of natural and organic products in conventional retail stores exceeded overall sales in the traditional natural foods retail channel by a slim margin. “It could be the year we look back on, and remember as the turning point for when natural became everyday,” wrote Christine Kapperman, Natural Foods Merchandiser’s Editor in Chief.

Overall sales of natural and organic products grew by 9.1% in 2014, reaching $120 billion. Traditional natural products retailers reported $49.1 billion of those sales, or 40.7% of the market, with a growth rate of 8.0%. However, conventional retailers claimed slightly higher sales of $49.6 billion, higher growth of 10.6%, and a larger piece of the pie with 41.2% overall sales, as distribution and availability of natural and organic foods spreads to all corners of the country.

Internet Sales Post 13.7% Growth A smaller but growing market segment – the Internet – recorded ecommerce sales of $4.6 billion in 2014 for a 3.8% share of the market, up from $3.5 billion in 2013, representing an impressive 13.7% growth in sales. Practitioners, too, are registering a significant share of the dietary supplements and natural remedies market, with steady growth averaging 10% over the past two years, and $4.2 billion in sales in 2014.

Multi-level marketers, such as Amway, Herbalife, Nu Skin, Shaklee and others, continue to maintain an 8% market share, reporting $9.1 billion in sales in 2014, primarily through dietary supplements, personal care and other non-food items. However, growth in this sector has slowed slightly from 5.7% in 2013 to 5.4% in 2014. Sales by traditional mail order are slowing, too, from 8.7% growth in 2013 to 8% growth and sales of $3.8 billion in 2014.

Snack Foods Lead Category Growth Categories showing the strongest performance in 2014 include snack foods, posting 12% growth and $2.8 billion in sales; dairy ($3.5 billion total sales; 10.3% growth); meat, fish and poultry ($1.9 billion total sales; 10.2% growth); condiments ($1.2 billion total sales; 9.4% growth); beverages ($5.8 billion total sales; 8.4% growth); and packaged & prepared foods ($3.6 billion total sales; 8.4% growth).

Sales of organic products in the U.S. rose 11.3% in 2014, totaling $39.1 billion, despite the industry having to deal with tight supplies of organic ingredients, reported the Organic Trade Association in April 2015. Organic food sales totaled $35.9 billion in 2014, an 11% jump over the previous year, while sales of organic non-food products increased nearly 14% to $3.2 billion, the biggest jump in this category in six years, reported OTA.

Independents Develop Strategies to Compete As natural and organic products, especially the leading brands in the category, become more available throughout the U.S., independent natural foods retailers can thrive by focusing on service and newer local, regional and national brands that don’t have access to the larger retail chains, Yadim Medore, Managing Director of Pure Branding, told the Merchandiser.

According to Pure Branding’s new report, the Natural Products Marketing 2015 Benchmark Report, produced in partnership with SPINS, large manufacturers with annual sales greater than $15 million, while comprising only 3% of all natural products manufacturers, command 85% of market share. This presents an opportunity for independent retailers to differentiate with unique, younger, authentic brands. Also, high interest in local, gluten free and non-GMO can also benefit independent retailers, Medore said in the Market Overview.

Co-ops a Bright Spot The 2015 Market Overview also reported that retail co-ops or cooperatives are a “bright spot on the natural retail landscape.” National Co+op Grocers, a business services organization for co-op grocers, reported a rise from 136 members in 2013 to 144 in 2014 with combined sales of $1.7 billion, up 7% from the previous year, and the Cooperative Grocer Network, a trade organization, estimates there are 300 co-ops total in the U.S. and another 100 in various stages of development, and that there is “unprecedented interest” in creating new co-ops.

For more information, visit http://newhope360.com/news-analysis/nfm-market-overview.

Steven Hoffman is Managing Director of Compass Natural Marketing, providing brand marketing, PR, social media, and strategic business development services to natural, organic and sustainable products businesses. He is the former Editorial Director of Natural Foods Merchandiser Magazine and co-founder of the LOHAS Journal. Contact steve@compassnatural.com.

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Major Food Brands Dump the Junk

Over a dozen major food brands and restaurant chains have announced they are removing ingredients deemed unhealthful by an increasingly discerning public.

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Talk about a domino effect. One after another, from Pepsi to Panera, over a dozen major food brands and restaurant chains this past year have announced they are removing artificial colors, flavorings and preservatives, GMOs, antibiotics, and other ingredients deemed unhealthful by an increasingly discerning public from their products.

Driven by increased demand from Millennials for cleaner, healthier products, along with growing sales of natural and organic products across a broad spectrum of the US population – not to mention constant pressure by consumer advocacy groups and high-profile food activists – iconic food brands are dumping the junk and striving for a more health-oriented image.

One sign: people just aren’t drinking soda and eating junk food burgers as much as they used to. With fizzy soda sales on a long-term decline and 63% of Americans telling a Gallup survey last year that they are actively avoiding traditional soda drinks, “we’re operating in a very challenging environment,” Coca-Cola CEO Muhtar Kent told analysts in a conference call in late April, reported the Washington Times.

For the quarter ending April 3, 2015, Coca-Cola reported a profit of $1.56 billion, or 35 cents a share, down 3.8% from the previous year. Global sales increased a modest 1%, the first growth in quarterly revenue in more than two years, reported the Washington Times.

After emerging rival Chipotle Mexican Grill – which announced recently that its menu is now non-GMO – reported that comparable-store sales were up 10.4% during the first quarter of 2015, McDonald's reported a 2.6% decline in same-store sales in the company's 14,000 U.S. locations during the quarter. Additionally revenue for McDonald’s for the quarter dropped 12% from $6.7 billion the previous year to just under $6 billion.

So, with mounting pressure from social media, consumer organizations, online petitions, and high-profile activists including GMO Inside, Vani Hari of Food Babe, Robyn O’Brien of Allergy Kids and others, combined with declining sales and profits for traditional junk foods, longstanding brands are retooling their recipes. Whether of their own volition, as in the case of Chipotle, or under pressure, recent examples of companies getting on board the clean label bandwagon include the following.

Chipotle says Adios to GMOs Making good on a two-year promise, Chipotle Mexican Grill announced in late April 2015 that it had removed all ingredients made with genetically modified organisms from its menu. The company's corn and flour tortillas were among the hardest items to change, but now they’re non-GMO, thanks to Chipotle's collaboration with suppliers to plant non-GMO corn varieties, reported NPR. GMO soybean oil in the chips and taco shells was replaced with non-GMO sunflower oil. However, Chipotle still uses meat from animals that may be fed on GMO corn or soybeans, admits CEO Steve Ells, though the company wants to change that, but it may take several years, he said.

Panera Drops Long List of Artificial Ingredients Artificial sweeteners, preservatives, flavor enhancers, and 150 other artificial ingredients are being nixed from Panera’s menu by the end of 2016, the restaurant chain announced in May 2015. Panera uses more than 450 ingredients to prepare its food in nearly 1,900 locations across the US. In a move to protect its sales and remove one-third of its ingredients, the company created a "No No List" based on research and standards developed by Johns Hopkins, the Environmental Working Group, the Natural Resources Defense Council and various European governments, reported the New York Times. Panera said it worked with both its suppliers and their suppliers, who themselves were not always certain whether their products contained the ingredients on Panera’s list.

Kraft Mac & Cheese Goes Au Natural Moms across the country breathed a collective sigh of relief when Kraft Foods, after an onslaught by bloggers and food activists, announced in April 2015 that it would remove artificial colors and preservatives in the U.S. version of its iconic Macaroni & Cheese by January 2016. Kraft says it will replace synthetic colors — including Yellow 5 and Yellow 6 — with naturally derived colors such as paprika, annatto and turmeric – the way it's been formulated in Europe for years.

PepsiCo Removes Aspartame from Diet Pepsi; Adds Sucralose Instead PepsiCo announced it is removing aspartame, first sold under the brand name NutraSweet, from Diet Pepsi by August 2015 in response to customer feedback, and replacing it with sucralose, another artificial sweetener known as Splenda. Aspartame is "literally the number-one complaint we've heard from diet-cola consumers as to why they're drinking less and less diet cola, " Seth Kaufman, SVP for PepsiCo, told NPR.

Coca-Cola: No More Fire Retardant in Soda Coca-Cola and PepsiCo both announced in May 2014 they would remove brominated vegetable oil (BVO) from all of their beverages. BVO was first patented as a flame retardant, but has also been added to many American sodas for decades, reported health expert Dr. Mercola. “Regardless of what the official statements say, the companies made this move due to consumer outrage started with an online petition…from a college student that gained over 200,000 signatures,” reported the Motley Fool.

Hershey’s Kisses Goodbye to GMO The Hershey Co. announced in February 2015 it intends to remove genetically modified ingredients from Hershey’s Milk Chocolate and its iconic Kisses – first introduced in 1907 – by the end of 2015. The company will replace sugar derived from GMO sugar beets with cane sugar, and will switch to a non-GMO soy lecithin as it pledged to focus on "simple ingredients." It will also remove the emulsifier polyglycerol polyricinoleate (PGPR) and artificial vanillin in its products. Hershey in December 2014 said it would work to replace high-fructose corn syrup in sweets including York Peppermint Patties and Almond Joy candy bars. "We are specifically looking to formulate new products and transition existing products to deliver on no artificial flavors, no synthetic colors, no high fructose corn syrup and to be gluten free," Hershey said in a statement.

Nestle Makes Over Butterfinger, Baby Ruth Not to be outdone by the Hershey Co., Nestlé USA also announced in February 2015 it would remove artificial flavors and synthetic colors, including Red 40 and Yellow 5, from all of its chocolate candy products. By the end of 2015, more than 250 products and 10 brands, including Butterfinger, Crunch, and Baby Ruth candy and Nesquik powdered drink mixes, will be free of artificial flavors and certified colors, said the company. Products will begin appearing on store shelves by mid-2015, and will be identified by a “No Artificial Flavors or Colors” claim featured on-pack.

McDonalds: No Human Antibiotics in Chicken McDonald's will stop selling chicken treated with antibiotics that are also used in human medicine, the company announced in March 2105. The phase-out will occur over the next two years, as the world's largest restaurant chain works with its suppliers, which include poultry giant Tyson Foods (see below). Chickens used by McDonald's will still be treated with antibiotics that aren't used in human medicine, reported Time Magazine. The announcement came three days after McDonald's new CEO Steve Easterbrook took over leadership of the company, when he pledged to reform McDonald's into a "modern, progressive burger company."

Tyson Removes Human Antibiotics in Poultry Operations Tyson Foods announced in April 2015 that it is striving to eliminate the use of human antibiotics from its U.S. broiler chicken flocks by September 2017. The country’s largest producer of poultry will report annually on its progress, beginning with its fiscal 2015 Sustainability Report. In October 2014, Tyson said it no longer uses antibiotics in its 35 chicken hatcheries. The company still uses antibiotics in chicken feed “when prescribed by a veterinarian to treat or prevent disease” and said the “vast majority of the antibiotics” it uses aren’t used in humans. The company said it is researching “alternative treatments and protocols that will eventually eliminate the application of any antibiotics used in human medicine from poultry feed,” Food Safety News reported. Tyson offers a completely antibiotic-free chicken under its NatureRaised Farms brand.

Subway Bows to Food Babe Over Additive After food blogger Vani Hari, also known as Food Babe, launched an online petition in early 2014 to convince Subway to remove a controversial food additive, the sandwich giant announced plans to phase it out of its fresh-baked breads, reported NPR in February 2014. The additive, azodicarbonamide, is often used by the commercial baking industry to bleach flour and condition dough. However, as the petition points out, the compound has been phased out in many other countries, and the World Health Organization has linked it to asthma in people. A spokesperson for Subway told NPR, "We are already in the process of removing azodicarbonamide as part of our bread improvement efforts, despite the fact that it is a USDA and FDA approved ingredient."

Dunkin’ Donuts Ditches Nanoparticles Responding to concerns that a whitening agent, titanium dioxide, is a nanoparticle that may be unsafe for human consumption, Dunkin' Donuts announced in March 2015 that it will no longer use the ingredient – also used in sunscreen and paints – in its donuts. The decision came after an environmental advocacy organization said it found titanium dioxide nanoparticles in the white powdered sugar used in Dunkin' Donuts products, based on independent laboratory tests in 2013. As You Sow, an Oakland-based group, said the small size of nanomaterials might make them more likely to enter cells, tissues and organs and cause damage. The FDA does not have a broad stance on products containing nanomaterials, saying it would make safety judgments on an individual basis, reported the Los Angeles Times. Dunkin’ Donuts said the titanium dioxide used in its products "does not meet the definition of 'nanomaterial' as outlined under FDA guidance," nonetheless it is making the change to remove the chemical from its donuts.

Yoplait Reduces Sugar Content by 25% Following Yoplait's removal of high fructose corn syrup and its discontinued used of dairy with rBGH/rBST growth hormone in 2009, the leading yogurt brand announced in May 2015 that it is reducing the sugar content in its single serve yogurt cups by 25%. The move is the latest in brand owner General Mills' efforts to provide consumers with more healthful, category-leading products, reported Food Ingredients First. In order to reduce the sugar, Yoplait included additional milk and changed the natural flavorings, the company said, adding that Yoplait contains no artificial sweeteners or flavors.

Target Repositions Food Business Toward Healthier Options Target in April 2015 named Anne Dament the company's top executive to lead the repositioning of its food business. Dament brings nearly 20 years of grocery and consumer packaged goods experience to the role, including as a buyer at Supervalu and Safeway, said Target in an April 2015 press release. Target’s food reinvention, expected to take place over the next 18 months, will emphasize six key categories that resonate most with its customers:  better-for-you snacks, coffee and tea, premium sauces and oils, specialty candy, wine and craft beer, and yogurt and granola. It will also expand the availability of natural, organic, locally grown and gluten-free choices to fit customers' wellness-focused lifestyles, the company said. Work on the reinvention is underway, with the most significant changes slated to arrive in stores in 2016.

Wendy's Goes Veggie Columbus, OH, is the test market for a new black bean veggie burger at Wendy’s, the nation’s third largest burger chain, reported the Columbus Dispatch on May 18, 2015. While petitioners at Change.org had been asking the company, founded by Dave Thomas in Columbus in 1969, for a veggie burger option, Wendy’s had been testing its black bean burger at two locations in Columbus. White Castle, another Columbus-based burger chain, tested a veggie burger last year, purchasing its patties from a New Jersey company, Dr. Praeger’s Sensible Foods, which also makes a line of frozen veggie-burger products. White Castle made the veggie burger a permanent menu item in March 2015. Additionally, in late April 2015, Wendy’s announced that it added an organic tea – Honest Tea’s Tropical Green Tea – to its permanent menu. The product began rolling out nationally in May. “While the move may seem insignificant, it’s huge for the organic food movement – taking organic beyond the world of specialty and natural foods restaurants and into the absolute mainstream of fast-food America,” said USA Today.

Editor's Note:  This blog was originally published on the website/blog of our friends and colleagues at Agrisystems International:  http://agrisysintl.com/major-food-brands-dump-the-junk/.

Steven Hoffman is Managing Director of Compass Natural Marketing, providing brand marketing, PR, social media, and strategic business development services to natural, organic and sustainable products businesses. He is the former Editorial Director of Natural Foods Merchandiser Magazine and co-founder of the LOHAS Journal.

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Sales of Non-GMO Products Top $8.5 Billion, Post 20% Growth

Sales of products carrying the Non-GMO Project Verified seal now total more than growing at more than 20% annually, reported the Non-GMO Project.

Sales of products carrying the Non-GMO Project Verified seal now total more than $8.5 billion, growing at more than 20% annually, reported Megan Westgate, Executive Director of the Non-GMO Project, a non-profit organization based in Bellingham, Washington. More than 22,000 products now carry the Non-GMO Project Verified seal, representing more than 2,100 brands, she said.

To qualify for the seal, a product has to be certified as containing ingredients with less than 1% genetic modification. Westgate said that’s a realistic standard, while totally GMO-free is not, particularly in an environment where more than 90% of conventional crops including corn, soy, canola, alfalfa, sugar beets and cotton are genetically engineered. “Interestingly, with all of this traction in the natural sector, we’re seeing more conventional companies coming on board and having their products verified,” Westgate told Iowa Public Radio in a December 17 interview.

To date, FoodChain ID, a third-party auditor that certifies products for the Non-GMO Project, has verified 17,000 ingredients from 10,000 suppliers in 96 countries. David Carter, General Manager of FoodChain ID, said he could barely keep up with the number of inquiries coming from companies that want Non-GMO Project certification. “The demand is now very, very high and it has been for probably over a year,” Carter said. Visit www.nongmoproject.org.

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Health Conundrum: Pesticides in Tea

If tea is not organically grown, toxic synthetic pesticide residues can remain on conventionally grown tea leaves until the first time they touch water.

When companies sell non-organic tea produced with pesticides, what are consumers really sipping?

Tea, an ancient plant first discovered in China, is today arguably the most popular beverage in the world. Millions of people from every corner of the world drink tea primarily for its many health benefits and soothing, energetic and/or medicinal qualities.

Yet, many consumers may not know that tea leaves are primarily dried and not washed after they are harvested. Why is that important? If the tea is not organically grown, toxic synthetic pesticide residues can – and sometimes do – remain on conventionally grown tea leaves until the first time they touch water – in your cup.

Residues Exceed Limits

Organizations including Greenpeace and CBC News conducted independent testing on tea leaves, and found that 59% of samples tested contained pesticide residues in excess of EU government limits. Testing also found that 67% of tea leaves sampled in India contained residues of the pesticide DDT, banned in India since 1989 and in the US since 1972. Some teas were found to contain more than one pesticide, and one tea product tested by CBC, the Canadian Broadcast Corporation, contained 22 different pesticides.

“Some of the pesticides found – including endosulfan and monocrotophos — are in the process of being banned from use in some countries because of dangers to the environment and to workers,” CBC said in an article on March 8, 2014. Endosulfan has been banned globally under the Stockholm Convention due to its particularly toxic properties.

Additionally, Greenpeace in 2013 randomly tested 18 tea products from China – the world’s largest tea producer and one of the world’s largest users of pesticides – and found that “a whopping 12 of the 18 samples tested contained at least one pesticide banned [in China] for use on tea.”

Even teas carrying “natural” claims may not be immune to pesticide residues if they have been conventionally grown using synthetic pesticides, reports Vani Hari, editor and publisher of Food Babe, a blog dedicated to promoting healthy lifestyles and investigating food companies and their products.

Don’t Panic – Drink Organic!

So what’s a tea lover who wants to avoid pesticide residues to do? Friends of the Earth suggests drinking tea that is organically produced without the use of toxic, synthetic insecticides, herbicides or fertilizers.

One tea maker, Belight Tea of Phoenix, AZ, offered this advice to tea drinkers on its blog:

“Generally speaking, white tea tends to have the least pesticide residues; black tea the most. That has to do with picking time: the longer the leaves are on the bush, the more they are exposed to, whether intentionally or inadvertently.”

Another organic tea company adds, “From the outset, we’ve been committed to 100% organic cultivation,” said Linda Appel Lipsius, Co-Founder and CEO of Denver-based Teatulia Organic Teas. Teatulia sources its teas from its own 3,000-acre, USDA Certified Organic and Rainforest Alliance Certified tea garden in Northern Bangladesh. “Transparency is key where possible,” she said. “Since we are the farmers, organic tea produced without the use of toxic, synthetic pesticides is something we have always been able to guarantee.“

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Colorado is Underdog in GMO Labeling Election Battle

Just 10 corporations  are responsible for more than $13 million of the $14.3 million total contributed to kill the Colorado GMO labeling bill.

Photo: Pexels

Photo: Pexels

With more than $25 million poured in to defeat statewide GMO labeling ballot initiatives in 2014, a small cabal of multi-national biotech, pesticide and junk food companies seeks to buy the elections in Colorado and Oregon.

Seeking to crush a groundswell movement in the U.S. to label genetically modified (GMO) foods, a small group of multi-billion-dollar pesticide, biotech and junk food companies have poured more than $14 million into Colorado in September and October to defeat Proposition 105, a grassroots voter initiative to label GMO foods.

Just 10 corporations, including Monsanto, DuPont, PepsiCo, Coca-Cola, Kraft, General Mills, Hershey, Smucker, Dow and Kellogg, are responsible for more than $13 million of the $14.3 million total contributed to kill the Colorado GMO labeling bill.

Also of note among the donors seeking to defeat the Colorado GMO labeling bill are Abbot Nutrition and Mead Johnson, companies that make nutritional formulas for infants and the elderly – companies that do not want mandatory GMO labeling on their packaging.

In contrast, while more than 170,000 Coloradans signed petitions to place the bill on the November statewide ballot – nearly twice the number of signatures needed – the underdog Right to Know Colorado campaign has raised less than $1 million in cash and pledges, mostly through small business donations along with hundreds of $5, $10, and $25 contributions to the campaign from primarily Colorado citizens.

“I can’t understand why these corporations would put over $14 million into a Colorado campaign where the pro-labeling side has less than $1 million,” said Larry Cooper, Co-chair of the Right to Know Colorado campaign. “What are they trying to hide?”

More Biotech Funds Targeted to Colorado than Oregon Ironically, while a similar GMO labeling voter bill in Oregon, Measure 92, has been able to raise significantly more funding - $6.3 million in total - biotech has pumped more into Colorado than Oregon to defeat the GMO labeling measure - although that gap is closing rapidly as Election Day approaches. Monsanto, PepsiCo, Kraft, Coca-Cola, Land O'Lakes, General Mills, Hershey and other chemical and food multinationals top the list of donors to the No on 92 campaign in Oregon. To see the list of donors to both the Yes and No sides in Oregon, visit http://gov.oregonlive.com/election/2014/finance/measure-92/.

Delayed until the Colorado Supreme Court finally cleared the initiative to move forward in March following a complaint filed by the anti-labeling opposition, the Right to Know Colorado campaign got a late start but surprised industry followers by collecting more than twice the number of signatures needed to place the bill on the November ballot.

The Yes on 105 campaign has received important media endorsements from the Daily Camera, Colorado's second largest newspaper, and BizWest, one of the state's leading business journals. Additionally, in September, a 20-member Citizens Initiative Review panel endorsed Colorado’s Prop. 105 to label GMOs by a vote of 11-9. (A similar panel in Oregon voted 11-9 against Measure 92.)

In Colorado, Chipotle Mexican Grill, Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, and Whole Foods Market have provided significant support for the Yes on 105 campaign, helping to get out the vote through their stores and via endorsements and social media.

Major contributors to Colorado's Yes on 105 and also the Oregon pro-labeling campaign include Presence Marketing/Dynamic Presence, Food Democracy Now, Organic Consumers Association, Annie's Inc., Dr. Bronner’s, Boulder Brands and others. For a complete list visit www.righttoknowcolorado.org/donors and www.oregonrighttoknow.org/endorsements.

Grassroots organizations endorsing the Right to Know Colorado ballot initiative include Moms Across America, Rocky Mountain Farmers Union, Colorado Moms for GMO Labeling, Conservation Colorado, Alliance for Sustainable Colorado, Hazon, and others.

Seeing this rising tide of grassroots consumer and citizen support for GMO labeling as a threat to profits, Monsanto, Dow, DuPont, Pepsi, Coke, Kraft, Grocery Manufacturers Association, and other pesticide, biotech and junk food companies have teamed up to spend more than $125 million over the past three years to defeat GMO labeling ballot initiatives in California and Washington in 2012 and 2013, and in Oregon and Colorado this year.

More than 93% of Americans want GMO labeling, according to a 2013 New York Times survey, and in late September, before the anti-labeling ad blitz on TV, 71% of Colorado voters favored GMO labeling, yet less than three dozen chemical, pesticide and junk food companies continue to fight history with a withering amount of cash to barrage the airwaves in Oregon and Colorado with deceptive advertising to confuse voters about GMO labeling - and to buy our elections.

To donate, volunteer, or for information and to support the GMO labeling campaigns in Colorado and Oregon, visit www.righttoknowcolorado.org and www.oregonrighttoknow.org.

Steven Hoffman has served as lead fundraiser for GMO labeling campaigns including Prop. 37 in California in 2012, Washington State's I-522 in 2012, and Proposition 105 to Label GMO Foods in Colorado in 2014.

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FDA Gives Meaning to “Gluten Free” Claim

Companies now have standardized means for promoting gluten-free foods to their customers in a voluntary, verifiable, and consistent manner.

With the August 2 publication of the FDA’s final gluten-free (GF) labeling rules, natural food, supplement, and in certain cases, beer producers now have standardized means for promoting gluten-free foods to their customers in a voluntary, verifiable, and consistent manner. Considering that “gluten-free” health claims accompanied more than 11% of all new specialty food products released in 2012, a 2.6% increase from the year before, the FDA’s decision serves a readily expanding market.

Understanding the Law and Implementation The guidelines establish a maximum threshold for gluten content in gluten-free foods as 20 parts per million (ppm) (200mg/kg), which is consistent with international standards defined in the UN’s Codex Alimentarius and determined by FDA to be the scientifically most reliable minimum measurement for gluten content currently available. However, because of the voluntary nature of reporting (manufacturers are not required to label products as gluten-free), as well as no official FDA standardized certification scheme or stamp (a lá USDA Organic), the onus of verification and accountability to consumers ultimately falls on producers.

The ruling took effect on Sept. 4, 2013, but any company looking to update its packaging or any other marketing materials has until Aug. 5, 2014, to comply.

Industry Implications First and foremost the new rule is meant to benefit consumers avoiding gluten out of medical necessity, for whom the risks of consumption range from gastric discomfort to osteoporosis and intestinal cancer. However, according to Laura Kuykendall, Director of Marketing for Glutino, a gluten-free manufacturer founded in 1983, consumers adopting a gluten-free lifestyle are clearly increasing. As a result, Glutino has embraced the use of third party GF certification. “Transparency about process and providing information to consumers is the most important factor" when dealing with medically sensitive consumers, Kuykendall explained.

Jeanne Cloutier, Director of Operations at Alter Eco, an importer and producer of Fair Trade foods, explained that because of the nature of gluten allergies, GF consumers are extremely well educated on manufacturing processes and regulatory issues, “much more than most people are with, say, the USDA Organic standard.” Currently, both companies certify with GFCO, the largest GF certifier operating in the United States.

Depending on how a company plans, implementation costs can be kept to a minimum. Alter Eco waited until its labels required several changes before printing updated packaging. And while costs vary, regular, high caliber testing doesn’t need to be expensive. Ultimately, both women conclude, for gluten-free consumers, your brand is only as good as your reputation. "It’s a trust thing,” says Cloutier, “but somebody needs to validate that logo."

-- Sam Kressler

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Video: Women Leading Green - Top Sustainability Entrepreneurs

At the Epicenter, a CO-based speaker series featured on February 12, 2013, three women leaders in green business.

At the Epicenter, a popular Boulder, CO-based speaker series featuring business and thought leaders in natural and organic products and sustainability, featured on February 12, 2013, three women leaders in green business, including Hunter Lovins of Natural Capitalism Solutions, Kim Coupounas, Co-founder of Go-Lite, and Brook Eddy, CEO of Bhakti Chai. Moderated by Seleyn DeYarus, CEO of At the Epicenter is produced by Compass Natural Marketing

View video highlights from this informative and entertaining discussion. Plus, speaker bios are below. http://youtu.be/mpuhhaaBDv4?t=5s 

Hunter Lovins, Founder, Natural Capitalism Solutions Trained as a sociologist and lawyer, Hunter Lovins is a world-renowned author, President and founder of Natural Capitalism Solutions, a professor of sustainable business management, and a sought-after expert in sustainable solutions for businesses, corporations and governments worldwide. Based in Boulder, Hunter was named Time Magazine 2000 Hero of the Planet and in 2009 Newsweek named her a "Green Business Icon."

Kim Coupounas, Co-founder and Chief Sustainability Officer, GoLite Kim Coupounas is Co-founder and Chief Sustainability Officer of GoLite, the premier global manufacturer of lightweight, high performance, socially responsible apparel and equipment designed for outdoor athletes. Kim also served as the company's CEO until 2008, and is former Chair of the Outdoor Industry Association (OIA), representing the $646 billion active outdoor recreation industry. Kim also served on OIA's Sustainability Working Group.

Brook Eddy, Founder and CEO, Bhakti Chai With a degree in Social Policy, Brook Eddy traveled to India in 2002, where she discovered masala chai tea. Back in the U.S., she created her own recipe, which was so well received by family and friends that she founded Bhakti Chai in 2006. Today, Bhakti is emerging as a brand leader in the organic, fair trade tea and ready to drink categories. The Bhakti philosophy - devotion through social action - continues to drive the company's business practices.

Seleyn DeYarus, CEO, Best Organics Inc. Seleyn DeYarus is Co-founder of At the Epicenter and CEO of Best Organics Inc., an organic and sustainable brands promotion company and provider of America's Best Organics gift basket collections. Seleyn is a former environmental consultant for international business strategist Booz Allen Hamilton, and she served as an intern in the White House's Speech Writers Research Office, where she was personally selected by President Reagan himself.

Video produced by Howard Zaremba, Boulder Valley Media Alliance, BV Channel 22.

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Grocers Act to Reduce Food Waste

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

“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.

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Organic Alley Pavilion Showcases 50 Natural & Organic Brands

On Sunday, Sept. 16, 2012, Boulder’s third annual Boulder Green Streets Ciclovia event will host a three-mile loop downtown, filled with Natural and Organic Products.

Boulder, Colorado (August 31, 2012) – Can you imagine a whole Sunday without the sounds of traffic? Where pedestrians, families with their strollers, skateboarders, bikers and others can roam the streets freely, interact with their neighbors, and engage with exhibitors and outdoor activities?

On Sunday, Sept. 16, 2012, Boulder’s third annual Boulder Green Streets Ciclovia event will host a three-mile loop linking the east end of Pearl Street in downtown Boulder with the North Boulder Recreation Center, and the entire loop will be free of motorized vehicles. The full-day event, hosted by Boulder Green Streets and the City of Boulder, will center around two dynamic activity zones connecting the 3-mile stretch for participants to engage with the Boulder community.

The event also will be home to the Organic Alley Pavilion, a unique exhibitor hall dedicated to natural, organic and sustainable products. Now in its second year, the Organic Alley Pavilion features artisan producers and leading local and national brands. Sponsored by Rudi’s Organic Bakery, visitors will have the opportunity to sample products from close to 50 diverse companies on-site, including WhiteWave Foods, Madhava Natural Sweeteners, GoodBelly, Organic Valley Cooperative, Earth Balance, Cheribundi, Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, Boulder Ice Cream, Boulder Granola, Lovely Lady Products, and others.

The Organic Alley Pavilion is produced by Best Organics Inc., a leading Boulder-based organic gift and brand promotions company, and Compass Natural, a marketing, communications and event planning agency specializing in green business, in partnership with Boulder Green Streets and the City of Boulder.

“We are excited to feature leading and emerging local, regional, and national companies in the Organic Alley Pavilion at this year's Boulder Green Streets Ciclovia event,” says Steven Hoffman, Managing Partner of Compass Natural Marketing. “Incredibly popular last year, we anticipate more than 50 vendors in attendance, and consumers will get to sample and learn about delicious natural, organic and eco-friendly products.”

“We are very pleased to bring the natural products community together with such an active and environmentally aware local community, further building awareness of Boulder as a nexus of natural and organic products,” comments Seleyn DeYarus, CEO of Best Organics. “The Boulder Green Streets organizers give us a supportive environment to bring like-minded individuals together with companies that speak to their values and lifestyles, all with the gorgeous Foothills as the backdrop.”

Exhibitor Contact Information

To participate as a sponsor and/or exhibitor of the Organic Alley Pavilion at Boulder Green Streets Ciclovia, contact Shoshana Romer at Best Organics, shoshana@bestorganics.com, tel 303.499.6742. Also, for more information, visit www.bouldergreenstreets.org.

The third annual Boulder Green Streets Ciclovia is a “Street Liberation” project that repurposes the streets into a play space for the community to engage in healthy, active, sustainable and educational activities. The event offers the community the opportunity to explore the myriad of local resources, services, and products Boulder has to offer in a fun and engaging way. It is a part of the global ciclovia movement that inspires cities to become safer, healthier, and more livable.

Featured Sponsor of the Organic Alley Pavilion We are thrilled to announce this year’s sponsor of the Organic Alley Pavilion is Rudi’s Organic Bakery, a leading provider of certified organic and gluten-free breads and related products. For more information, please visit www.rudisbakery.com.

Organic Alley Pavilion Exhibitors Include: Alchemist, American Natural & Organic Spices, Beanfields Snacks, Boulder Granola, Boulder Ice Cream, Carmen’s Kitchen, CheetahFit Personal Training Center, Cheribundi, Door to Door Organics, Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps, Earth Balance, Earth Island, Eco Ditty, Eco Vessel, Follow Your Heart, Glutino, GoodBelly, Great Eastern Sun, Hanna’s Herb Shop, Happy Family Brands, HiBall Energy, Java Raiz, JJ’s Sweets, Lovely Lady Products, Made in Nature, Madhava Natural Sweetens, Mile High Natural Awakenings, Mile High Organics, Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, Natural Hapa, NewCell, Nite Ize Inc., Nova Chocolate, Organic Valley Cooperative, Olomomo, Purely Elizabeth, Qrunch Foods, Rollin Greens, Rudi’s Organic Bakery, Runa Tea Co., Slide Ridge Honey & Butcher’s Bunches, Spoonk Space Inc., St. Claire’s Organics, Teatulia, Teeccino, Udi’s Gluten Free, Wacky Apple, Way Better Snacks, WhiteWave Foods, Wild Planet Foods, Zing Bars.

About Boulder Green Streets The 3rd annual Boulder Green Streets Ciclovia, presented by the City of Boulder, transforms nearly 3 miles of city streets into a day-long, car-free public space for the community to engage in healthy, active, sustainable activities. Two major zones – located on the east end of the Pearl Street Mall and at the North Boulder Recreation Center on Broadway – will connect the route and feature fun, interesting and free activities including live music, dance, arts, fitness and recreation, as well as informative opportunities to learn about local sustainability efforts, enjoy local and natural foods, explore outdoor adventure gear and more. For more information, visit www.bouldergreenstreets.org.

About Best Organics, Inc. Best Organics Inc., a majority woman-owned company, is a leading provider of premium, hand-packed, organic and eco-friendly gift basket collections featuring gourmet products from local, regional and U.S.-based producers and leading brands. Its gift collections are presented in beautifully illustrated, reusable gift boxes, and are available online at www.AmericasBestOrganics.com, and for corporate gifting. The company's Boulder's Best Organics and Colorado’s Best Organics gift box collections feature organic products from Boulder and the Rocky Mountain region, and its America’s Best Organics gift baskets feature artisan producers from throughout the U.S. Best Organics Inc. is a member of the Organic Trade Association, Colorado Proud, and Naturally Boulder, and is a Green America-approved business. Contact gifts@bestorganics.com or call 303.499.ORGANIC (6742).

About Compass Natural Marketing Compass Natural Marketing, established by organic and LOHAS industry veteran Steven Hoffman and based in Boulder, CO, brings more than 25 years of experience in natural and organic products sales, marketing, public relations, communications, research, event planning, special project assignments and strategic industry guidance to businesses involved in the $290 billion market for natural, organic, sustainable, and socially responsible products. Visit www.compassnatural.com, contact info@compassnaturalmarketing.com or call 303.807.1042.

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Horst Rechelbacher Advocates for Clean, Organic Cosmetics

An "Evening at the Epicenter" with Horst Rechelbacher, entrepreneur, environmentalist, organic farmer, author, artist, and founder of Aveda and Intelligent Nutrients

Horst Rechelbacher, entrepreneur, environmentalist, organic farmer, author, artist, and founder of Aveda and Intelligent Nutrients, was featured at “An Evening at the Epicenter” in Boulder on April 23, 2012. An Evening at the Epicenter with Horst Rechelbacher was produced by Best Organics Inc. and Compass Natural LLC in partnership with the University of Colorado Deming Center for Entrepreneurship at the Leeds School of Business.

Boulder, CO (May 4, 2012) – Iconic natural and organic beauty care and cosmetics pioneer Horst Rechelbacher may be best known for founding the Aveda Corporation, and for growing the plant-based health and beauty business to a $100 million-a-year powerhouse, selling products through 25,000 stores, salons, and spas before selling the company to Estee Lauder in 1997. However, he continues to push the boundaries of beauty, art, business and social and environmental activism. Among other endeavors, Horst established the Intelligent Nutrients personal care product line, made entirely from food-based ingredients, with nearly all of its products certified organic, reflecting an ongoing mission to “change the cosmetics industry for the better.”

Horst discussed his life work and advocacy at the University of Colorado Wolf Law Building (map) on Tuesday, April 23, 2012, as part of “An Evening at the Epicenter,” a series of interactive talks featuring nationally known business and thought leaders in natural, organic and sustainable products and the $300-billion LOHAS – or “Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability” market. “An Evening at the Epicenter” is produced by Compass Natural LLC and Best Organics Inc., privately held, Boulder-based businesses dedicated to promoting local, socially responsible and green businesses. Horst’s talk was produced in partnership with the University of Colorado Deming Center for Entrepreneurship at the Leeds School of Business.

Dedicating a Lifetime to Organic Beauty and Business A pioneer in plant-based personal care and aromatherapy, Horst Rechelbacher is an active entrepreneur and environmentalist who changed the world of beauty and cosmetics. He has authored four books: Minding Your Business: Profits that Restore the Planet; Rejuvenation: A Wellness Guide for Men and Women; Aveda Rituals: A Daily Guide to Natural Health and Beauty; and A Livelihood: The Art of Sustainable Success. He also was executive producer of Hidden Medicine, an independent film that premiered at the 1999 Sundance Film Festival.

Born in Austria, Horst first learned herbalism from his mother, and he garnered recognition as a world-class hair stylist while still a teenager. Before moving to the U.S., he received numerous styling awards, including the International Grand Prix of France, Germany, Austria and Brussels, as well as the prestigious European Golden Comb Award of the former Yugoslavia.

A sought-after speaker and collaborator, he counts TEDIndia among his many speaking engagements. Horst resides in Wisconsin and New York City, with offices in Minneapolis. His Wisconsin organic farm is solar, wind and geothermal powered, where he grows botanical ingredients for Intelligent Nutrients products. His latest interest is plant-based stem cell research for anti-aging. Horst serves on the Board of the Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, and he also is a supporter of the Complementary and Integrative Medicine program at the Mayo Clinic.

About An Evening at the Epicenter An Evening at the Epicenter is a 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. An Evening at the Epicenter is produced by Best Organics Inc., a leading organic gift and brand promotions company; and Compass Natural LLC, a leader in LOHAS communications, public relations, strategic marketing and business development.

Launched in 2010, An Evening at the Epicenter has featured Bill McKibben, Founder of 350.org; John Elstrott, Chair of Whole Foods Market; local economies expert and author Michael Shuman; Fox Health News correspondent Chris Kilham, and others. An Evening at the Epicenter is well attended by business, community, academic and student leader from the Boulder/Denver region. Sponsors include Whole Foods Market, Sterling Rice Group, Mychelle Dermaceuticals, Earth Balance, Glutino Foods, Transition Colorado, Pax World Investments, St. Claire's Organics, Organic Vintners, Eco-Products Inc., Boulder Valley Media Alliance, Boulder Ice Cream.

About Best Organics Inc. Best Organics Inc., a majority woman-owned company, is a leading provider of premium, hand-packed, organic and eco-friendly gift basket collections featuring gourmet products from local, regional and U.S.-based producers and leading brands. Its gift collections are presented in beautifully illustrated, reusable gift boxes, and are available online at www.AmericasBestOrganics.com, and for corporate gifting. The company's Boulder's Best Organics and Colorado’s Best Organics gift box collections, feature organic products from Boulder and the Rocky Mountain region, and its America’s Best Organics gift baskets feature artisan producers from throughout the U.S. Best Organics Inc. is a member of the Organic Trade Association, Colorado Proud, and Naturally Boulder, and is a Green America-approved business. Contact gifts@bestorganics.com or call 303.499.ORGANIC (6742).

About Compass Natural Marketing Compass Natural Marketing, established by organic and LOHAS industry veteran Steven Hoffman and based in Boulder, CO, brings more than 25 years of experience in natural and organic products sales, marketing, public relations, communications, research, event planning, special project assignments and strategic industry guidance to businesses involved in the $290 billion market for natural, organic, sustainable, and socially responsible products. Visit www.compassnatural.com, contact info@compassnaturalmarketing.com or call 303.807.1042.

See Event Photos: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.381396391902817.86769.180109332031525&type=3

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