Issue link: http://osercommunicationsgroup.uberflip.com/i/159177
58 NATURALLY HEALTHY KettlePop (Cont'd. from p. 1) popping fresh kettle corn live on-site at outdoor events. Today we capture this experience in a bag so you can enjoy it at anytime from your local natural foods retailer. GN: What would you say makes KettlePop unique? JS: Definitely our process and commitment to quality. Our patented popping process produces a different quality of popcorn you can taste. All our ingredients are certified organic, non-GMO, kosher and are whole grain council certified. We only use real, non-artificial ingredients in our organic popcorn. Because we use a simple recipe with only a few ingredients, it is extremely important that those ingredients be of the highest quality and are produced sustainably. Wonderfully Raw (Cont'd. from p. 1) Brussel Bytes. Our products appeal to all consumers who value the exceptional ingredients and great taste that are the heart of Wonderfully Raw. GN: What would you say makes your company unique? SC: As a former patient with Type II Diabetes, I recognize the importance of good health and sound nutrition. My cure is not in a medicine cabinet, a pharmacy, or a laboratory; it is instead in my kitchen where Wonderfully Raw traces its origins. By creating the foods I enjoy, I can say that Wonderfully Raw is just that: a wonderfully raw approach to producing the snacks, treats and bite-size morsels people love. And, thanks to the efforts of my son and partner Eric Hara, who is an acclaimed chef, I have an amazing team—a Hillside Candy (Cont'd. from p. 1) Each product brand enjoys widespread distribution throughout the United States and Internationally. GoLightly is a sugarfree product line, sweetened with Splenda®, available in peg bags and bulk. Hillside Sweets is a sugar based hard candy line. GoNaturally/GoOrganic is a USDA-Certified Organic, non-GMO certified candy line. Hillside Candy, LLC has been manufacturing its organic candies under two brands: GoNaturally in the United States, and GoOrganic overseas. With the growing awareness in the marketplace over the difference between natural and organic, the Hillside Candy team feels that now is the time to GloryBee (Cont'd. from p. 1) refined white sugar for her baking recipes – all with the intention to bring quality honey, sweeteners, oils and spices to you. Dick puts it this way, "I believe I have a responsibility to pass on what I can to help our customers discover more about healthy living and what we can do to preserve the health of bees. When I was 14, I was diagnosed with Myasthenia Gravis. I didn't really know what it was, but I knew I could die or live a life of physical difficulties. Fortunately, God www.gourmetnews.com GN: What products do you see as being hottest this year? JS: KettlePop Organic Kettle Corn of course! We've been popping kettle corn since 1999 and think we're pretty darn good at it! Although, as we speak, our test kitchen is busy working on some revolutionary new flavors. Our process allows our popcorn to provide an amazing canvass for a wide array of flavor profiles. KettlePop will be launching some very exciting, never before seen in the industry flavors in 2014 and beyond. GN: Who would you say is your target customer or demographic? JS: The target KettlePop customers are those that are passionate about healthy lifestyle and supporting a sustainably conscious product. Our customers want a fresh, organic, hand made quality snack at a reasonable price. KettlePop attracts these types of customers and they are the ones who help our popcorn fly off the shelf. GN: Where can KettlePop products be found? GN: Can you shed some light on what these flavors may be? JS: KettlePop organic popcorn can be found at many gourmet and natural food stores throughout the country, especially on the West Coast. We are constantly seeking new retail partners and distribution avenues across the United States and beyond. If you're inter- family, in the literal sense of the word— that inspires me to succeed. pany's success? JS: I would tell the readers to come on down to booth #250 at the Natural Products Expo East in Baltimore to find out! GN: Describe your company's current marketing strategy. SC: In a word: sincerity. Wonderfully Raw is about great health and delicious taste. There is no tradeoff between the two, and my life story—including my (successful) battle with Type II Diabetes—proves the point that, with creative flair and insight about nutrition, you can—and we do—create remarkable snacks, treats and bite-size morsels. So, while our success is an outgrowth of my journey as well as my son's (and his family's) physical travels from the non-stop energy of New York City to the holistic atmosphere of Santa Cruz, Calif., where we run Wonderfully Raw, we have a story that resonates with consumers on a profoundly emotional level. SC: We directly engage consumers in a oneon-one conversation with additional outreach to specific journalists who write about food, nutrition and organic products. Indeed, we believe the most effective form of marketing is also the most authentic—to answer every letter, reply to each message, and respond to any individual who wants to learn more about our brand. Marketing to me is not about promotions and advertising. Rather, marketing is all about sincere communications and a reflection of the time I spend writing to every consumer who has a comment, suggestion, or words of praise for Wonderfully Raw. GN: How can readers find out more about your company? start re-branding and go forward with the brand that best fits our product line. GoOrganic has the same leaf logo, although all new packages will have a green leaf and the non-GMO certified logo. The GoOrganic logo clarifies and cements the company's direction with this product line. In addition to this exciting package rebranding, new skus are being introduced at the Expo. GoOrganic offers customers a range of 10 refreshing flavors that include Apple, Pomegranate, Honey, Honey Lemon, Ginger, Cherry, Iced Mint Mango, Blood Orange, and our two newest: Ginger Xtreme and Ginger Chews. This product line is available in consumer friendly 3.5-ounce gusseted peg bags, family and club size 30-ounce gusseted bags, and in bulk. These products are made with all-natural flavors and no added colors. Naturally sweetened with Organic Evaporated Cane Juice and Organic Brown Rice Syrup, GoOrganic has a less-processed and healthier composition form when compared to the traditional use of corn syrup and sugar. These hand-made treats are gluten, cholesterol, trans fats and dairy free as well as non-GMO, kosher and QAI Organic certified. Hillside Candy, LLC is also in the process of becoming SQF Level 2 certified. SQF Certification is supported by an increasing number of U.S. and international retailers and food service providers. The brand's commitment to its customers has led to this very important process. Hillside Candy understands that customers and consumers granted me good health today, but I never take it for granted! I credit natural and organic foods for my well-being and consider it my mission to help others discover the nutritional and sometimes curative benefits of bee pollen, Propolis, royal jelly and honey." GloryBee believes in natural ingredients for a healthier way of life and about maintaining sustainable practices. From reusing bulk containers and drums to recycling paper products and composting organic waste, GloryBee is committed to making sure it does its part to lessen the impact on the environment. Today, GloryBee offers more than 3,000 products to customers across the continent. They continue to introduce unique, new ingredients such as delicious Raw Montana honey, fair trade extra virgin coconut oil, low glycemic agave powder, and varietal honeys sweetened by the flower blossoms themselves. GloryBee offers a wide variety of bulk, foodservice, and retail sizes bringing your customers additional savings. The entire GloryBee family and employees feel so strongly about health and helping GN: To what do you attribute your com- SC: Our website, www.mycocoroons.com, n SEPTEMBER 2013 n GOURMET NEWS ested in carrying KettlePop, please stop by booth #250 at Expo East. If you're having a KettlePop craving and need help finding us, please just visit www.kettlepop.com. GN: What are some of your goals at Expo East this year? JS: Our goals are to continue the march for KettlePop toward becoming America's most POPular popcorn, to inform our existing retail partners about the exciting new products KettlePop will be introducing, as well as sign up new retail partners to help KettlePop continue to POPulate the natural foods retail landscape! For more information head to www.kettle pop.com, call 707.747.6773 or email packaging@kettlepop.com – or just head to booth #250 during the show. has a wealth of information about our products, the organic ingredients we use, the distinctive and delicious flavors we offer, as well as background about my life and the journey responsible for the birth of Wonderfully Raw. I would like to conclude with a personal reflection about what this brand means to me. I am, and I write these words with total humility, a survivor: diagnosed and suffering from Type II Diabetes. I could have continued taking medication and resigned myself to being another statistic in the long catalog of victims stricken with this disease. But with resolution and some setbacks too, I persevered. Wonderfully Raw is a gift both for me and from me because everything else is a surplus of happiness. Truly. For more information email sequoia@ mycocoroons.com, call 831-786-8773 or head online to www.mycocoroons.com. At the show just stop by booth #2423. alike want and deserve quality, which has been and continues to be a keystone goal. In continuing with the commitment of offering Confections for a Healthier Lifestyle, GoOrganic packaging, both gusseted bags and twist film, are recyclable. This product range offers a good-for-you line of treats that are refreshing and overall clean. The Hillside Candy team's commitment to green business practices have led to keeping products locally made and using local and sustainable sourcing efforts in the company's products. For more information visit the GoNaturally/GoOrganic team at Booth #2618. After the show head online to www.hillside candy.com, email info@hillsidecandy.com or call 800-524-1304. others that they established two initiatives in 2012 for "Save the Bee" and "Food Fight 101." They give 1 percent of retail sales to these initiatives, which is adding up to tens of thousands of dollars already! Join GloryBee as they celebrate the 30th anniversary of Aunt Patty's and look to the future of bringing more natural and organic ingredients to you. To learn more about GloryBee and Aunt Patty's, visit www.glorybee.com, call 800456-7923 and visit booth #210.