Issue link: http://osercommunicationsgroup.uberflip.com/i/1156619
NATURALLY HEALTHY www.gourmetnews.com n SEPTEMBER 2019 n GOURMET NEWS NH 7 0 we are national-based and have seven distri- bution centers in Texas, Illinois, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, California and our headquarters in New Jersey. GN: What would you say makes your com- pany unique? KS: As healthy food adventurers, we are passionate about delivering premium healthy beverages and specialty foods from all around the world to our customers. From aloe vera drink, moringa tea and turmeric powder to dragon fruit chips, we have led market trends with innovative and quality items. We supply the best healthy products to our valued customers with the lowest price possible. GN: What are you doing this year that's dif- ferent from what you did last year? KS: We have achieved big success in the tra- ditional market. This year, we are making history in the online market. We have launched our favorite items in major e-com- merce websites along with our own website, www.mypocas.com, and got remarkable re- sults and feedback from our customers. We communicate more with customers and hold multiple online events that lead to boosting sales and traffic to the website. GN: What was the most significant event or series of events affecting your company over the past year? KS: Ten years ago, aloe vera was known as an emollient for sunburn, but was not much consumed as a juice drink. We imported and introduced aloe vera drinks to the American market for the first time. We have won statewide acclaim and are hailed as being a big success in the healthy bev- erage market. In addition, we are proud to introduce the very first vacuum dried dragon fruit chips to the market. Ever since it was introduced to the market in 2017, Pocasville Dragon Fruit Chips has been loved. We are partnering with major wholesale partners like Costco and Trader Joe's to deliver this healthy snack to more customers. GN: Are you introducing any new products? If so, what distinguishes this new product from others already on the market? KS: We are debuting five-flavor omija juice drink. The berry gives five different flavors: sweet, sour, salty, bitter and spicy so that your customers enjoy way beyond refreshing and feel the mysterious harmony in every sip. It is non-GMO and contains no preserv- atives and no artificial colors, flavors or sweeteners. GN: Why are your products or services the best value for your customers? KS: Our products are known for their great quality and innovative aspects. They have won PRODEXPO Golden Award, America Masters of Taste, Beverage Innovation Award, Golden Europe Award, Sial Canada Innovation Competition, and also Monde Se- lection Gold Award and Superior Taste Award. We have seven different distribution cen- ters to deliver our best products faster and safer. Throughout the year, we participate in over 70 trade shows, including national and vendor shows to support our customers and promote the products. GN: How do potential new customers know that they can trust you with their business? KS: As the company matures, we are achiev- ing success by identifying and partnering with not only retail stores, but also national distributors and wholesalers, such as Wal- mart, Costco, Jetro, Save-A-Lot, Trader Joe's, Amazon, etc. We pride ourselves on honesty and integrity to build long-term re- lationships with clients and distribution part- ners. Visit Pocas International at booth #835. For more information, go to www.pocas.com or call 201.941.7900. Follow the company on Instagram and Facebook. Pocas International (Cont'd. from p. 1) on its specialty and edible oil production lines equipped for filling bottles, jars and bulk packaging. Quality and food safety are Interpac's top priorities. The Quality Assurance Team maintains a multi-layered system of quality control processes to protect product integrity prior to entering the building. Ingredients and packaging materials are documented and stored according to allergen characteristics and protective requirements. Interpac can pack point-of-purchase display shippers and club store pallet displays and provides inventory management control, cross-docking, warehousing and order fulfill- ment. Interpac's extensive capabilities as food co-packers and warehousing and distribution specialists provides a single-source solution delivered in a highly personalized manner. Interpress Technologies Services Celebrating 30 years of experience and inno- vation, Interpress Technologies is a leading food packaging manufacturer specializing in formed paperboard containers and lids, wrapped cups, printed sidewalls and folding cartons with high impact graphics, "Made in USA" with certified sustainable paperboard. With specialized printing presses, forming machines and cup wrapping machines, Inter- press produces packaging for many products, including oatmeal, soup, pasta, dried fruit, snacks, nuts and ice cream. Interpress continuously expands its capabil- ities to offer new innovative solutions and many product sizes are compatible to run on the Interpac filling lines. Interpress offers stan- dard and microwavable paperboard cups, pa- perboard wrapped plastic cups (perfect for microwavable and refrigerated foods and prod- ucts requiring additional shelf life) and the next generation of paper overcap lids (includes full color graphics on the lid rims and top panels). Interpress has an in-house Graphics, Pre- press and Ink Department to ensure consis- tency and streamline production, and three U.S. locations serving customers worldwide. Interpac and Interpress Technologies look forward to helping to build your business. For more information, visit booth #1139, call 800.929.9771, email inquiry@iptec.com or go to www.interpactechnologies.com. Interpac and Interpress (Cont'd. from p. 4) whole grains, from quinoa, farro and black rice to superfoods like chia seeds and hemp seeds, the company's portfolio of products continues to grow with the recent launch of goji berry powder and maca powder. No matter what your dietary con- cern or need is, Nature's Earthly Choice's goal is to provide a fantastic tasting, easy to prepare product; from gluten-free, to products rich in Omega 3s, or vegetarian sources of protein. Who says healthy has to be hard? Nature's Earthly Choice brings consumers the earth's most nutritious foods and makes them easy to make and easy to love. Nature's Earthly Choice products are available in over 10,000 gro- cery stores across the U.S. Visit Nature's Earthly Choice at booth #1358. For more information, email sales@earthlychoice.com, go to www .earthlychoice.com or call 208.898.4004. Nature's Earthly Choice (Cont'd. from p. 4) integrated platforms to move the needle for consumer brands. These can be dietary sup- plements, medical foods, OTCs, healthy/functional foods, pet health, med- ical devices, personal care, etc. This intense focus means we understand the various sides of marketing consumer brands, from compliance behavior to regulatory, retail or ecommerce concerns. We know what works to drive sales in all the channels consumers are using, while minimizing risk. GN: How do you approach brand strategy? AO: We know it's never one size fits all. With the plethora of channels in which con- sumers receive information 24/7, it's easy for a brand to create white noise. Strategy depends on the brand, the category, the sit- uation. For example, are you new to mar- ket, facing declining sales or potential delisting at a retailer, adding SKUs? What- ever the case, we look at your goals, sales data and trends, what's been working or not, audiences, competition, timing and budget. We then custom design a campaign based on your situation, budget and avail- able data. GN: What's different about your approach? AO: For most brands, it's difficult to go after a broad audience and still be compet- itive. We prefer to focus on a subset of your audience that will engage with your brand ... then test, learn and scale, looking at data points at every step. We use evolving digital platforms, such as our artificial intelligence (AI), then layer on data that helps us to micro-message the brand story. We focus on your target consumer rather than the chan- nel, educate through storytelling, and get them into the purchase funnel. Consumer research is part of our approach when de- veloping an unbiased strategy. We have a great research tool in-house that helps get insights in real time. GN: What does 'integrated marketing' mean? AO: That term is thrown around a lot, but for us it means a good campaign will be multi- faceted, much like today's consumers and the varying ways they receive information. Each facet works together with the others to strengthen the whole. Whether it's our AI digital advertising platform, influencer acti- vation, targeted content partners, PR, CRM, video, promotions, it all works together with unified messaging and a strong brand strat- egy. Everything has a purpose. GN: What's your advice to brands marketing in 2019 and beyond? AO: Don't assume you know your audience. Do objective research that provides unbiased insights for audiences and messaging. Part- ner with an agency that understands the evolving digital landscape and has capabili- ties that have been successful for other clients, one that understands what keeps you up at night and is willing to set measurable, meaningful goals for your brand. Listen to their counsel and give the marketing the time it needs to work. Brand building is a process that takes commitment and time. For more information, email aomahoney@rlacollective.com or call 914.241.0086. RLA Collective (Cont'd. from p. 1) The year 2018 saw GROM take its retail product selection to over 100 SKUs, and it has received spectacular support from cus- tomers and distributors. A brand new line of products ranges from Super Fine Almond Flour and Hemp Protein Powder to White Popcorn and everything in between. Great River Organic Milling has its or- ganic certified products which it is best known for, along with a line of certified gluten-free products, as well as a natural line of products. Now everyone can enjoy having GROM's quality products in their pantry! Great River Organic Milling's selection of organic, gluten-free and natural oat prod- ucts are tested rigorously to ensure they are safe and free from glyphosate. The com- pany understands the responsibility it has to help the consumer protect their family's food supply. Great River Organic Milling continues to service the baking and cereal world with or- ganic non-GMO stone ground flours and blends. The motto "Nothing Added, Nothing Removed" is at the heart of its quality ethics. Great River Organic Milling would like to take this opportunity to thank its partners, suppliers and friends for your support. If you want to Bake Great, call on Great River! Visit Great River Organic Milling at booth #1111. Great River Organic Milling (Cont'd. from p. 1)