Tiffany Tompkins 12/13/17 Tiffany Tompkins 12/13/17

More than 75% of U.S. Adults Take Supplements; Millennials Turning to Probiotics

Source: Presence Marketing News, November 2017
Author: Steven Hoffman, Compass Natural Marketing

Multivitamins, Vitamin D and Vitamin C are the most popular dietary supplements among U.S. adults, says a new consumer survey conducted by the Council for Responsible Nutrition and published on October 19. The survey found that overall, 87% of U.S. adults have confidence in the safety, quality and effectiveness of dietary supplements. According to CRN, 76% of U.S. adults use dietary supplements, an increase of 5% over 2016 values.

In related research, Millennials are driving sales in probiotics and functional foods. According to Packaged Facts, Millennials aged 18-34 have relatively higher interest in probiotic foods and beverages compared to Gen Xers and Baby Boomers. Overall, approximately 25% of U.S. adults seek out foods and beverages with high amounts of probiotics or prebiotics, according to Packaged Facts’ 2017 National Consumer Survey.

With the increased focus on their health and wellness potential in recent years, probiotics have emerged as one of the biggest trends today in the food and beverage industry, says Packaged Facts. Products range from the familiar (i.e., yogurt, kefir, kombucha and infant nutrition) to the cutting edge (probiotics in soda, coffee, tea, soups, beer and more).

“Probiotics have emerged as a driving trend in the industry,” said David Sprinkle, Packaged Facts Research Director. “And given the core importance of gut health, this suggests continued potential for growth of probiotic- and prebiotic-containing foods, as consumers continue to learn more about them and next-generation products make their case in the market.”

Packaged Facts’ survey also found even higher interest in probiotics among those who shop for food in the natural channel, which “retains its role as the most significant retail sector for food and nutritional trends,” it said.

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Steven Hoffman is Managing Director of Compass Natural, providing brand marketing, PR, social media, and strategic business development services to natural, organic and sustainable products businesses. Contact steve@compassnatural.com.

Tiffany Tompkins 12/4/17 Tiffany Tompkins 12/4/17

Modern Twist on an Old Classic: Betsy’s Best Transforms the ‘PB&J’ at the MetroCooking DC Show, Dec. 9-10

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

A Modern Twist on an Old Classic: Betsy’s Best Transforms the ‘PB&J’ into a Healthy, Gourmet Treat at the MetroCooking DC Show, December 9-10

Registered Dietitian and food entrepreneur Betsy Opyt will present “The PB&J Gourmet Experience” at Betsy’s Best Gourmet Nut & Seed Butters Booth #1139 at the Metropolitan Cooking and Entertaining Show, Dec. 9-10, 2017, at the Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC.

Naples, FL (Dec. 4, 2017) – The ultimate food lover’s weekend returns to the Washington, DC, Convention Center where Betsy’s Best Gourmet Nut & Seed Butters founder and CEO, Betsy Opyt, will be sampling her sweet and salty spreads including Almond Butter, Cashew Butter, Sunflower Seed Butter and Peanut Butter with jellies and jams from World of Chiaand artisan sprouted grain Bread Crisps from Angelic Bakehouse.

Dubbed “The PB&J Gourmet Experience,” the creative tasting experience presented by Betsy’s Best at the upcoming MetroCooking DC Show is an excellent example of healthy-foods-meets-gourmet-ingenuity during the two-day culinary extravaganza. Alongside cooking demos and book signings with top Celebrity Chefs, including Guy Fieri, host of the hit TV show Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives, Betsy will showcase the versatility of her healthy and delicious gourmet products.

Now in its 12th year, the MetroCooking DC Show has grown significantly in popularity over recent years and has emerged as a top national event for foodies. The event draws thousands of visitors and features hundreds of vendors.

As a Registered and Licensed Dietitian and former Miss Indiana, Betsy Opyt has been touring the country sharing her passion for healthy, great-tasting spreads that make eating well a lot easier. Made with whole food ingredients and superfoods such as chia seeds and cardamom, Betsy’s Best Nut & Seed Butters have become a national hit because of their unique taste and texture that appeal to adults and kids alike. As an added bonus, Betsy’s products are also Non-GMO Project Verified, gluten free, and palm oil free.

“We cannot wait to be amongst some of America’s top culinary minds at the Metropolitan Cooking and Entertaining Show,” says Betsy Opyt, founder and CEO of Betsy’s Best Gourmet Nut & Seed Butters. “To showcase our nut and seed butters in a truly innovative setting has motivated us to come up with some creative twists on a classic sandwich that everyone can enjoy - from the discerning foodie to the pickiest kid. Come explore healthy, gourmet food with us. You are going to love it!” she adds.

About Betsy’s Best
Betsy's Best® was founded in 2012 by Betsy Opyt, former Miss Indiana and a Registered and Licensed Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Educator. Based in Naples, FL, the company blends its nut and seed butters with unique ingredients, flavors and superfoods to create products that are nutritious, delicious and different. Betsy's Best brands are the initial offerings of Healthy Concepts Food Company, LLC.

Betsy's Best Gourmet Almond Butter with Cinnamon & Chia Seeds was recognized in October 2016 as the first recipient of the ChefsBest Quality in Craft Award by an expert panel of Certified Master Tasters. Also, Betsy’s Best Gourmet Cashew Butter with Cardamom & Chia Seeds was recognized as a NEXTY Award Finalist at Natural Products Expo East in September 2017. For more than 60 hand crafted recipes and to learn more about Betsy’s Best, visit www.BetsysBest.com and connect on social media.

Where to Find Us
Betsy’s Best Gourmet Nut & Seed Butters are available online at www.BetsysBest.com, on Amazon Prime, and in over 2,100 stores in 39 states, including Kroger, Wegmans, Whole Foods Market (Florida), Bristol Farms, Ingles Markets, Vons, Ralph’s, Lowe’s, City Market, King Soopers, Fred Meyer, Harris Teeter and others; and through distributors including UNFI, KeHE, Jake’s Finer Foods, Haddon House, Gourmet Merchants and others. For wholesale inquiries contact info@BetsysBest.com, tel 888.685.8292.

Visit Betsy’s Best Gourmet Nut & Seed Butters, Booth #1139, at the Metropolitan Cooking and Entertaining Show, Dec. 9-10, 2017, Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Washington, DC.

Contact
Steven Hoffman, steve@compassnaturalmarketing.com, tel 303.807.1042

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Tiffany Tompkins 11/29/17 Tiffany Tompkins 11/29/17

EnerHealth Launches Helix Herbs, a Professional Line of Herbal Hemp Formulas for Wellness Practitioners

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

EnerHealth Launches Helix Herbs, a Professional Line of Herbal Hemp Formulas for Wellness Practitioners

Helix Herbs, EnerHealth’s new line of hemp extracts, are specially formulated and available exclusively to natural health and wellness practitioners throughout the U.S.

Longmont, CO (November 29, 2017) –EnerHealth Botanicals, Colorado-based manufacturer of natural and organic herbal supplements, has announced the launch of its new line, Helix Herbs, formulated for health professionals who practice holistic alternative and natural medicine methodologies. The line of full-spectrum, raw, whole plant extracts includes 1oz. pure hemp extracts available in four potencies, and four unique 2oz. hemp blends. Products are available through www.helixherbs.com.

EnerHealth, a longtime leader in artisan-quality herbal extracts and other products, developed the practitioner line in response to the rising demand for wellness products made from hemp and the growth in alternative medicine. According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health in a March 2016 analysis, approximately 38% of adults and 12% of children use Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

The perceived therapeutic attributes of hemp extract rich in phyto-cannabinoid compounds have become extremely popular as people search for alternative ways to alleviate what ails them. According to market research compiled by Hemp Business Journal, the hemp industry is projected to grow to $1.8 billion in sales by 2020, led by hemp food, body care, and extract-based products.

“The goal with Helix Herbs is to assist people in their quest to find, achieve and maintain optimum health,” says Steve St. Clair, founder and CEO of EnerHealth. “People are increasingly turning to chiropractors, naturopaths, traditional herbalists, and other practitioners for natural healthcare options and we want to provide efficacious hemp extracts for the practitioner’s toolbox,” he adds.

Hemp Extract Like No Other
The hemp used in EnerHealth’s extracts comes from farms that follow organic production practices. Using a specialized “spagyric” technique that utilizes only organic grape alcohol and pure water, the company uses this innovative extract technology and a low temperature technique to preserve the living constituents of the original raw hemp plant. EnerHealth's Whole Hemp Extract is considered to be the most effective and safest on the market today.

Helix Herbs products include the following Whole Hemp Extract formulas, available in 1oz. bottles in the following potencies, and the following Hemp-blended Formulas, available in 2oz bottles:

Whole Hemp Extracts - Containing naturally occurring cannabinoids in a base of certified organic, gluten-free and non-GMO Grape alcohol and MCT coconut oil. Available in strengths of 250mg, 500mg, 1500mg and 3000mg.

Pro-Immune Blend – Pro Immune is formulated with Whole Hemp Extract, which supports healthy inflammatory response and has antioxidant and nutritive properties; Chaga, an antioxidant and immune booster that provides lymphatic system support; Nettles Leaf, which supports healthy blood sugar levels and bone, cardio, and immune functions, and promotes healthy digestion; Elderberry, an immune booster and anti-oxidant that helps modulate body temperature; and Maitake, a mushroom traditionally used to provide immune support.

Mind and Memory Blend – Helix Herbs’ Mind and Memory Formula is made with Whole Hemp Extract, which supports healthy inflammatory response and has antioxidant, nutritive, and mood enhancement properties; Bacopa, an anti-oxidant which supports brain health, memory and healthy cardiovascular function; Turmeric, an anti-oxidant that supports healthy inflammatory response and balances brain function; Gotu Kola, which supports mood, promotes general energy levels and serves as a brain tonic and mild adaptogen; and Rhodiola, an adaptogen that helps balance serotonin levels for better mood, promotes healthy nerve growth, harmonizes the mind, and promotes healthy sleep patterns.

Homeostasis C Blend – Helix Herbs’ Homeostasis C is made with Whole Hemp Extract, which supports homeostasis and healthy inflammatory response and has antioxidant and nutritive properties; Red Clover, which promotes healthy blood function and healthy cell growth and has strong nutritive properties; Chapparal, which supports homeostasis; Dandelion Root, a gentle detoxifier; and Turkey Rhubarb, a gentle detoxifier that supports healthy digestive function.

Ache Away Spray – Ache Away is a topical spray made with Whole Hemp Extract, which supports healthy inflammatory response and has antioxidant and nutritive properties; Skullcap, which promotes healthy nerve growth; White Willow, which helps ease discomfort; Nettles, which helps relieve discomfort and supports nourishment via the skin; Lobelia, which eases muscle discomfort and promotes healthy blood flow; and Camphor/Menthol, which eases muscle tension and helps cool the skin.

For practitioner wholesale inquiries contact Helix Herbs via EnerHealth Botanicals, tel 866.762.9238. Visit www.helixherbs.com and contact sales@enerhealthbotanicals.com.

About Spagyric Medicine
Spagyric Medicine is an ancient alchemical process used to preserve and potenize medicine, dating back to ancient Greece. Spagyric formulations are prepared by reconstituting the cell salts (minerals) back into the herbal extract. EnerHealth uses this innovative extract technology and a low temperature technique to preserve the living constituents of the original raw hemp plant. Enerhealth’s spagyric herbal extracts were tested by third party HPLC gas chromatography analysis of potency in key constituents with results finding an increase of 10 times the normal values found in herbal tinctures.

About Enerhealth
Founded in 2005 by Steve St. Clair, the Colorado-based herbal manufacturing company offers hemp extract oils in tinctures for internal use, hemp–infused massage oils and spagyric hemp salves for topical external use, and hemp seed hearts to eat. Enerhealth also manufactures and sells an extensive variety of health and food products, including single herb extract oils, blended herbal formulations, herb-infused salves, a line of organic cocoa powder and organic coffee blended with medicinal mushrooms, products for cleanses and detox, portable water filters and bottles, and emergency preparedness items. Visit www.enerhealthbotanicals.com.

Contact
Steven Hoffman, Compass Natural Marketing, steve@compassnatural.com, 303.807.1042
Steve St. Clair, EnerHealth Botanicals, steve@enerfood.com, 303.702.0833

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Tiffany Tompkins 11/28/17 Tiffany Tompkins 11/28/17

How to Help Farms and Wineries Damaged in the Sonoma, Napa and Mendocino Fires

Source: Presence Marketing News, November 2017
Author: Steven Hoffman, Compass Natural Marketing

For those looking to help organic farmers and producers who suffered significant damage in the fires that swept through large parts of Sonoma, Napa and Mendocino Counties in northern California, here are some resources where you can help and learn more:

North Bay Just & Resilient Futures Funds

Resources from this fund, established by the Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF) along with a coalition of community based organizations, will be provided to victims of fires, especially those suffering losses not covered by insurance or traditional relief services, and to support initiatives that build more just, healthy, and resilient communities.

California Certified Organic Farmers

CCOF is extending all organic compliance deadlines for operations in the Napa, Sonoma and Mendocino Counties, recognizing that power outages and fire damage will affect immediate business operations for some days, weeks, or longer. CCOF lists a number of organizations and ways industry members can help – visit CCOF’s Northern California Fire Relief Efforts page here.

California Wine Strong

Funds collected on this YouCaring.com website set up by California Wine Strong will be distributed to individuals, businesses and communities affected by the wildfires through Napa Valley Community Foundation’s Disaster Relief Fund, the Community Foundation of Sonoma County’s Resilience Fund, and the Community Foundation of Mendocino County Disaster Fund of Mendocino County.

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Tiffany Tompkins 11/16/17 Tiffany Tompkins 11/16/17

Betsy’s Best Goes Prime Time for the Holidays

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Betsy’s Best Goes Prime Time for the Holidays

In time for the holidays, Betsy's Best® Gourmet Nut & Seed Butters are now available on Amazon Prime, plus shoppers will receive a bonus PDF Holiday Recipe Book featuring more than two dozen recipes crafted by Registered Dietitian, fitness trainer and former Miss Indiana Betsy Opyt, founder and CEO of Betsy’s Best.

Naples, FL (November 16, 2017) — Betsy's Best® Gourmet Nut & Seed Butters is pleased to announce its better-for-you pantry essentials are now available on Amazon Prime. All of Betsy's Best’s nutritious and delicious, Non-GMO spreads – including Almond Butter, Cashew Butter, Peanut Butter and Sunflower Seed Butter – are now available as singles, two-packs and six-packs, eligible for free two-day shipping for Amazon Prime members.

By selling on Amazon Prime, Betsy's Best products become more visible and readily available online. Amazon Prime members enjoy a number of benefits including free two-day shipping on Amazon Prime approved products. Membership is growing rapidly, and Business Insider reports there are more than 80 million subscribers to Amazon Prime.

In addition to being approved for sale on Amazon Prime, Betsy’s Best Gourmet Cashew Butter with Cardamom & Chia Seeds has been singled out as “Amazon’s Choice.” Amazon's Choice “recommends highly rated, well priced products available to ship immediately,” the company says. Affective today at 4:00pm EDT through end of day November 30th, customers can save 30% off the Cashew Butter buy using code CASHEW30.

Made with superfoods and whole food ingredients such as chia seeds, organic honey and Himalayan pink salt to create award-winning spreads noted for their unique taste and texture that appeal to adults and kids alike, Betsy’s Best Gourmet Nut & Seed Butters are Non-GMO Project Verified, gluten free, and palm oil free. Products available on Amazon Prime include Betsy’s Best Gourmet Almond Butter with Cinnamon & Chia Seeds, Cashew Butter with Cardamom & Chia Seeds, Seed Butter with Sunflower & Chia Seeds, and Peanut Butter with Cinnamon & Chia Seeds.

"We continuously look for opportunities to enhance the reach of our brand to more customers who may not be able to find our products in a store near them," says Betsy Opyt, founder and CEO. "The launch of Betsy’s Best products on Amazon Prime will significantly expand its availability in the U.S.”

Holiday Recipe eBook
Amazon Prime customers also will receive a complementary downloadable PDF Holiday Recipe eBook featuring more than two dozen easy-to-prepare holiday recipes hand crafted by Betsy Opyt. In addition to founding Betsy’s Best, Betsy is a Registered and Licensed Dietitian, fitness trainer, avid cook and former Miss Indiana. “Our Holiday Recipe Book contains more than two dozen recipes that are high on taste and health when you are low on time,” Betsy says. “These are my own family-approved recipes that I use at home.”

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

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Tiffany Tompkins 11/13/17 Tiffany Tompkins 11/13/17

Panel Features Top Chef Host Padma Lakshmi, Other Notables, on Future of Food

Source: Presence Marketing News, November 2017
Author: Steven Hoffman, Compass Natural Marketing

Due to the power of social media, even young audiences in remote parts of the world know about “Top Chef,” said the hit food show’s co-host Padma Lakshmi, noting that children are more aware of food at a younger age, and engaging them in cooking and passing recipes down is important to food’s future. Home Economics “should be brought back” into the school curriculum, she suggested.

Padma spoke at The Next Big Bite: How We Will Eat & Drink, held October 16 at the Institute of Culinary Education in New York. The event was hosted by Les Dames d’Escoffier New York, a professional women’s culinary organization with members who are leaders in the fields of food, fine beverage, and hospitality. Lakshmi joined other panelists including Melissa Clark, New York Times food columnist and cookbook author; Kerry Heffernan, executive chef, Grand Banks Restaurant, New York; Pascaline Lepeltier, instructor, Court of Master Sommeliers at the International Culinary Center, master sommelier, and author; Missy Robbins, chef and owner, Lilia Restaurant, Brooklyn, NY; and Susan Ungaro, president, The James Beard Foundation. Dana Cowin, DBC Creative, host of the podcast Speaking Broadly on Heritage Radio Network, and former editor-in-chief of Food & Wine, moderated the panel.

Here are food trends to watch, according to the panel and as reported in Specialty Food News:

Vegetables and plant-based foods. Stem to stalk is the new nose to tail. “Wasting food is going to become like not buckling up,” predicted Ungaro.

Untapped resources of the ocean such as algae or dogfish. “Dogfish is very plentiful and now we’re sending it to the U.K. because they know if makes good fish and chips. People here don’t understand that it’s a great resource,” said Heffernan.

Increased interest in the origins, content, and production methods of wine and spirits. “We can know what we eat, but we don’t always know what we drink,” noted Lepeltier.

Demand for healthier fare will have chefs rethinking traditional favorites. “We’re going to see a trend toward healthier, but with balance,” said Robbins, who created her restaurant with a health-oriented menu in mind. “People will give themselves the authority to indulge when they want to.”

Foods to watch: seaweed; beans, pulses, and legumes; oysters; and hemp.

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Tiffany Tompkins 10/11/17 Tiffany Tompkins 10/11/17

Cross-Country Road2Wellness Tour Reaches the Finish Line at Making Strides Walkathon, Oct. 15, in Jones Beach, New York

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

**Cross-Country Road2Wellness Tour Reaches the Finish Line at Making Strides Walkathon, Oct. 15, in Jones Beach, NY**

Raising awareness for cancer prevention and a cure, leading nutritional supplement maker Nature’s Answer CEO Frank D’Amelio, Jr., has led a team of riders on a 4,000-mile, cross- country motorcycle tour in partner with the American Cancer Society. The riders reach the finish line on October 15 at the start of the Making Strides Walkathon in Jones Beach, NY.

Hauppage, NY (October 11, 2017) – What does a coast-to-coast motorcycle tour and the American Cancer Society have in common? Both are hoping to raise awareness across America about cancer prevention, treatment and finding a cure during Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October.

Led by Frank D’Amelio, Jr., CEO of New York-based Nature’s Answer, one of the nation’s oldest and largest family owned manufacturers of nutritional supplements, along with a group of colleagues, the riders on the Road2Wellness Tour are covering 4,000-miles from San Diego to New York to kick-start the nonprofit Nature’s Answer Foundation with a mission to help educate communities and raise funds for prevention, treatment and research to finding a cure for cancer – a disease that has affected nearly every family in America.

During the 16-day road trip, which began September 30, the Road2Wellness Tour, held in partnership with the American Cancer Society, has included stops along the way to highlight the foundation’s support of health and wellness and cancer research organizations throughout the U.S., including the following organizations. The tour culminates October 15 at the starting line of the annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walkathon in Jones Beach, NY.

American Cancer Society’s Hope Lodge – With 31 Hope Lodges across the U.S., the American Cancer Society’s Hope Lodge offers cancer patients and their families a free place to stay when their best hope for treatment may be in another city. The Nature’s Answer Foundation is proud to support Hope Lodge, and the Road2Wellness Tour included stops at Hope Lodge in Phoenix, AZ; Nashville, TN; and Hershey, PA.
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory – Founded in 1890 in Cold Spring Harbor, and home to eight Nobel Laureates, the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory is one of the world’s preeminent institutes specializing in cancer, molecular biology and genetics research.
Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walkathon – The Road2Wellness Tour riders reach the finish line at 7:00 am on the morning of Sunday, October 15, in Jones Beach, NY, where they will join 250 Nature’s Answer employees, family and friends at the starting line of the annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walkathon.

Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine – Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in Phoenix, AZ, is a premier university for naturopathic practitioners. SCNM is one of seven accredited naturopathic medical schools in North America.
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital – Families never receive a bill from St. Jude’s for treatment, travel, or lodging for life-threatening childhood illnesses. Most of the funding for this world-renowned children’s research hospital, based in Memphis, TN, comes from donors, with only 14% coming from insurance – a vastly different model from other hospitals, and one supported by the Nature’s Answer Foundation.

Social media coverage of the tour using #road2wellnesstour has featured frequent updates and live streaming on Facebook (Nature’s Answer); Twitter (@natures_answer); Instagram (naturesanswer and road2wellnesstour); and on the tour’s website, www.road2wellnesstour.com.

Nature’s Answer will donate 10% of total product sales across all channels of distribution during the entire month of October to the Nature’s Answer Foundation, to be distributed to various charities to support cancer research. In addition, select Road2Wellness Tour gear is available online at www.road2wellnesstour.com, with the net proceeds from the sale of these items to be donated to qualifying charities, as well.

For more information and a complete tour schedule, to see a list of our partners, and to make a tax-deductible donation, please visit www.road2wellnesstour.com. To schedule an interview with Nature’s Answer CEO Frank D’Amelio, Jr., contact Steven Hoffman, steve@compassnaturalmarketing.com, tel 303.807.1042.

About Nature’s Answer
Founded in 1972 by Frank D’Amelio, Sr., along with his wife Josephine, Nature’s Answer® is one of the largest family owned and operated manufacturers of nutritional supplements in North America. Today, Nature's Answer continues to combine the best of traditional herbal remedies, vitamins and minerals with innovative scientific techniques and phytopharmaceutical manufacturing to deliver supplements of the finest quality and value for the entire family. Visit www.naturesanswer.com.

About the Nature’s Answer Foundation
Established in 2017 as a tax-deductible, nonprofit 501c3 organization, the mission of the Nature’s Answer Foundation is to support scientific research to help find a cure for cancer and other leading diseases, promote preventive health education, and raise funds for these important causes. Please visit our website, Nature’s Answer Foundation.

Contact
Steven Hoffman, tel 303.807.1042, steve@compassnaturalmarketing.com
Christine Berry, tel 631.840.3153, cberry@bio-botanica.com

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Tiffany Tompkins 10/4/17 Tiffany Tompkins 10/4/17

The Road2Wellness Tour is Coming To Colorado

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

**The Road2Wellness Tour is Coming To Colorado**

Supporting local organizations and raising awareness for cancer prevention and a cure, leading nutritional supplement maker Nature’s Answer CEO Frank D’Amelio, Jr., is leading a team of riders on a cross-country motorcycle tour in partnership with the American Cancer Society and to raise funds for cancer research, with stops in Colorado and Kansas.

Boulder, CO (October 4, 2017) – What does a coast-to-coast motorcycle tour and the American Cancer Society have in common? Both are hoping to raise awareness across America about cancer prevention, treatment and finding a cure during Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October.

Led by Frank D’Amelio, Jr., CEO of Nature’s Answer, one of the nation’s oldest and largest family owned manufacturers of nutritional supplements, along with a group of colleagues, the riders on the Road2Wellness Tour are covering 4,000-miles from San Diego to New York to kick-start the nonprofit Nature’s Answer Foundation with a mission to help educate communities and raise funds for prevention, treatment and research to finding a cure for cancer – a disease that has affected nearly every family in America.

During the 16-day road trip from September 30 to October 15, the Road2Wellness Tour, held in partnership with the American Cancer Society, includes stops along the way to highlight support of health and wellness and cancer research organizations throughout the U.S., including the following tour stops in Colorado and Kansas:

Alfalfa’s Market, Friday, October 6, 10:00 am (local time)
1651 Broadway, Boulder, CO 80302

Independently owned natural foods grocer Alfalfa’s Market, with stores in Boulder and Louisville, CO, has long been a natural products industry pacesetter and pioneer, as well as a leader in the Colorado community. With a stop at the Boulder store, visitors can meet the Tour riders, learn about cancer prevention, and sample wellness products from Nature’s Answer.

Green Acres Market – Bradley Fair, Saturday, October 7, 11:30 am (local time)
8141 E 21st St N, Wichita, KS 67206

Green Acres Market is hosting lunch for the Road2Wellness Tour riders at its Bradley Fair store in Wichita, KS. Voted 2014 Retailer of the Year by Whole Foods Magazine, family owned Green Acres Market, with eight stores in Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma, is dedicated to creating more sustainable communities and helping customers on their journey to wellness.

Additionally, the Road2Wellness Tour will highlight:

American Cancer Society’s Hope Lodge – With 31 Hope Lodges across the U.S., the American Cancer Society’s Hope Lodge offers cancer patients and their families a free place to stay when their best hope for treatment may be in another city. The Nature’s Answer Foundation is proud to support Hope Lodge, and the Road2Wellness Tour includes stops at Hope Lodge in Phoenix, AZ; Nashville, TN; and Hershey, PA.
Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine – Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine is one of the nation’s premier universities for naturopathic practitioners. SCNM is one of seven accredited naturopathic medical schools in North America.
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory – Founded in 1890 and home to eight Nobel Prize winners, the nonprofit Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory is one of the world’s preeminent institutes specializing in cancer, molecular biology and genetics research.
Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walkathon – The riders reach the finish line in Jones Beach, NY, on October 15 at the Making Strides Walkathon where they will join 250 Nature’s Answer employees, friends and family participating in the walk.

Social media coverage of the tour using #road2wellnesstour will feature frequent updates and live streaming on Facebook (Nature’s Answer); Twitter (@natures_answer); and Instagram (naturesanswer and road2wellnesstour).

For more information and a complete tour schedule, to see a list of our partners, and to make a tax-deductible donation, please visit www.road2wellnesstour.com. To schedule an interview with Nature’s Answer CEO Frank D’Amelio, Jr., contact Steven Hoffman,
steve@compassnaturalmarketing.com, tel 303.807.1042.

Contact
Steven Hoffman, tel 303.807.1042, steve@compassnaturalmarketing.com
Christine Berry, tel 631.840.3153, cberry@bio-botanica.com

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Tiffany Tompkins 9/26/17 Tiffany Tompkins 9/26/17

The Bikes Are Shipped, the Crew is Ready, and the Road2Wellness Tour is About to Begin

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

**The Bikes Are Shipped, the Crew is Ready, and the Road2Wellness Tour is About to Begin**

Hauppage, NY (September 26, 2017) –
The motorcycles have been blessed and shipped from New York to Los Angeles. The riders are ready to embark on a 4,000-mile, coast-to-coast journey. On September 30, the Road2Wellness Tour, with a mission to raise awareness of and funds for cancer prevention, treatment and research, is set to begin.

After receiving an official “blessing of the bikes” from Reverend Father Antony Asir of St. Thomas More Parish, the tour will be led by Frank D’Amelio, Jr., CEO of Nature’s Answer, one of America’s largest and oldest family owned manufacturers of nutritional supplements, along with a group of New York-based colleagues who will spread the word about cancer awareness during their 16-day road trip from the Pacific to the Atlantic Ocean by motorcycle.

The Road2Wellness Tour, held in partnership with the American Cancer Society and timed to coincide with Breast Cancer Awareness Month, will begin in Los Angeles and include stops along the way to highlight our support of the following organizations, including:

Hope Lodge – With locations throughout the U.S., the American Cancer Society’s Hope Lodge offers cancer patients and their families a free place to stay when their best hope for treatment may be in another city.
Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine – One of the nation’s premier universities for naturopathic practitioners, the tour will stop at SCNM in Phoenix.
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory – Founded in 1890 and home to eight Nobel Prize winners, the nonprofit Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory is one of the world’s preeminent institutes specializing in cancer, molecular biology and genetics research.
Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walkathon – The riders reach the finish line in Jones Beach, NY, on October 15 at the Making Strides Walkathon where they will join 250 Nature’s Answer employees, friends and family participating in the walk.

The Road2Wellness Tour also includes stops at key retailers in Southern California, Phoenix, Denver and Boulder, Wichita, KS, Memphis and Nashville, TN, and New York to raise awareness on a local level. Social media coverage of the tour using #road2wellnesstour will feature frequent updates and live streaming on Facebook (Nature’s Answer); Twitter (@natures_answer); and Instagram (naturesanswer and road2wellnesstour).

“We wanted to do some good and help people share their stories,” said D’Amelio, who has lost several family members to breast cancer. “I’m excited for the ride itself, and I’m honored to support Hope Lodge, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, and more. We’ve got a lot of work to do, and this first annual Road2Wellness Tour is just the beginning.”

For more information and a complete tour schedule, to see a list of our partners, and to make a tax-deductible donation, please visit www.road2wellnesstour.com.

To schedule an interview with Nature’s Answer CEO Frank D’Amelio, Jr., contact Steven Hoffman, steve@compassnaturalmarketing.com, tel 303.807.1042.

Contact
Steven Hoffman, tel 303.807.1042, steve@compassnaturalmarketing.com
Christine Berry, tel 631.840.3153, cberry@bio-botanica.com

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Tiffany Tompkins 9/6/17 Tiffany Tompkins 9/6/17

From Point A to Point B: UNFI Chair Steve Spinner on the Future of Distribution

Author: Steven Hoffman
Source: This article originally appeared in the September 2017 issue of Presence News

UNFI Chairman, President and CEO Steven Spinner was in Colorado recently to address the Naturally Boulder business community about the future of distribution in the natural, organic and “better for you” consumer products market.

The takeaway: “It’s a good time to be in this space,” Spinner said. “We are one of the few industries other than tech that actually grows,” he said, noting that the natural and organic market is growing at 10% vs. 1% growth in conventional foods.

Yet, be prepared for change, Spinner encouraged. “Change is pretty good. The reality is those who have been in the natural products industry for a while have learned that in order to deal with all that growth, you’ve got to be comfortable with handling a great deal of change. Because UNFI is conservative, our balance sheet is conservative – we carry very little debt – and we can weather the changes,” he said.

Shifting Market Drivers

Among the drivers affecting the healthy lifestyles market, Spinner noted, “We are seeing consolidation among manufacturers and the maturation of retail. Also, consumer buying habits are shifting. People are living longer and buying homes and having children later. And with the growth of alternate channels, things are going to get more competitive, so be careful of the price you charge. The Internet has made everything more transparent,” he advised.

“For us, our margins have come down materially year over year – 80% of our volume is a cost-plus program of 10% or less. A common misconception is that we make all this margin on the backs of our suppliers, but that is not true. The way we achieve income growth is by becoming more efficient – we seek to reduce our costs further than our contracting margins,” Spinner shared.

While sales of natural and organic products are growing in mainstream stores such as WalMart, Costco, Kroger and others, “That’s not necessarily all bad because these stores are serving crossover shoppers, and then we get a committed natural and organic shopper,” he said.

At the helm of UNFI – the largest distributor of natural and organic products in North America, with more than $9 billion in annual sales – since 2008, Spinner has become widely recognized as one of the top distribution and logistics experts in the food industry. A publicly traded company (Nasdaq: UNFI), UNFI serves 43,000 customers in the U.S. and Canada from 33 distribution centers.

The company recently reorganized itself into three regions: Pacific, Central and Atlantic. Additionally, Spinner noted, “In the past manufacturers had to deal with a number of different regions and policies were different. We have now shifted to a single Supplier Relationship Manager (SRM) system in which the manager works with the supplier on promotional schedules, product introductions, etc. We encourage brands to build a relationship with their SRM. Ask them for advice, for help in resolving issues with deductions, pricing, anything. Even though our managers have to respond to many brands, you might want to make the trip to visit your SRM. It can improve your relationship with UNFI dramatically,” he added.

Shift to the Perimeter

“About five years ago, we determined that the whole retail industry was going to shift from the center of store to the perimeter, that is, less space allocated to grocery and more allocation to dairy, deli and other perishables,” Spinner observed. “So we invested $500 million in refrigerated centers across the country. What we got wrong was the timing of the contraction in the center store – it happened a lot faster than we thought. Deli, produce, meat, frozen – these categories are all growing north of 9%. The perimeter is growing faster than the center of store.”

**“The perimeter is growing faster than the center of the store,” noted UNFI Chair Steve Spinner. Source: UNFI.**

UNFI serves all aspects of a retail store, what it refers to as “Building out the Store,” through its complete catalog plus private label brands including Blue Marble, Haddon House, Woodstock Farms, Select Nutrition and others. For the perimeter, UNFI serves retailers through its subsidiaries Albert’s Organics, Tony’s Fine Foods and Gourmet Guru.

A recent acquisition, Honest Green, also provides UNFI with the ability to drop ship over 35,000 products on behalf of small and national retailers that want to offer a broader range of items beyond their shelves, plus other non-traditional accounts that want UNFI products.

Speaking of e-commerce, Spinner said, “I know sometimes our [private label] products end up on websites, and perhaps those e-tailers try to get a price advantage. We try to prevent that. But the truth of the matter is, e-commerce is here to stay and we plan to get into it in a bigger way. We have to embrace it, understand it, and figure out a way to make it work while also serving our brick and mortar customers and helping them with their online sales platforms,” Spinner said. “E-commerce is still less than 4% of what’s sold in the U.S. However, U.S. food sales at retail are close to a trillion dollars, so a percentage point can mean a lot.”

UNFI Next: An Option for Emerging Brands

“Some would say that we’re a really big company and hard to do business with…but we are a really efficient company that gets product from point A to point B,” Skinner admitted. “However, we do believe we should treat others as we would like to be treated ourselves.”

For established national brands, UNFI’s fee-based ClearVue program converts a brand’s total distributor promotional spend into one flat rate – “No more deduction surprises, and a tremendous amount of portal information available,” said Spinner, who reported that close to 100 suppliers currently participate in the ClearVue program.

For smaller companies, UNFI launched this past year its “UNFI Next” program to help bring smaller, innovative brands into its distribution system, working with a new team that curates and incubates emerging brands not currently in distribution. According to UNFI’s blog announcing the program, the product and brand criteria to define an emerging brand for UNFI Next include:

• Brands/Products that disrupt their category

• Products that are on-trend with key industry/category trends

• New or break-through product entries to the market

“We realized we had gotten too big for some small suppliers, so we are excited about UNFI Next to find and on-board new and emerging brands,” said Spinner. “We are opening UNFI Next centers one DC (Distribution Center) at a time – Denver was recently added as a new UNFI Next center. This enables us to build and extend our pipeline to offer fast growing and exciting brands to our customers. When it works, we hand off the brand from UNFI Next to UNFI.”

To learn if your brand qualifies for UNFI Next, Spinner recommended contacting the appropriate regional Supplier Relationship Manager (SRM). To find contact info, visit here: http://yourbrandsmatter.com/srm-contacts/. You can also learn more about the UNFI Next program at UNFI’s Blog, October 2016 edition, here: http://unfisupplierupdate.blogspot.com/2016/.

Finally, in working with a distributor, Spinner cautioned that the reason suppliers may fail is when they think just getting into the distribution system is the “be all, end all.” Once the SRM places an order, that’s only the beginning, he said. “It’s your responsibility to sell it, get it placed, and get it off the shelf. We will work with you to help promote your brands, but again, I encourage you to build your relationship with your SRM. We also are committed to working with evolving retail stores that are responding to the needs of the future retail marketplace.”

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Steven Hoffman is Managing Director of Compass Natural, a full service agency dedicated to Public Relations, brand marketing, digital communications, social media, and strategic business development in the healthy lifestyles market for natural, organic, regenerative and eco-friendly products and services. Contact steve@compassnatural.com.

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