Oser Communications Group

NATURALLY HEALTHY www.gourmetnews.com n MARCH 2015 n GOURMET NEWS N H 3 8 New Year and New Things from New Zealand Manuka Honey continues to be a multi-mil- lion dollar industry as demand continues to grow for the miracle honey found only in New Zealand. New regulations are being es- tablished for rating the purity of Manuka. The New Zealand Government has decided that the only way to establish the purity of Manuka is to measure the methlyglyoxil (MG) content of the honey. This, they state, is not a health claim and will bring order to an industry where there has been a lot of mis- labeling of Manuka, particularly in brands that only have Bio Active products and no UMF rated products. UMF will still be rec- ognized as a purity grading. The problem is with MG rating is that it is a genotoxlin that affects cells and is a health claim. What the MG rating does not tell you is how effective the Manuka honey can be. You can have a very high MG rating but very low perioxide activity (Bio Active) or Low NPA or UMF (non peroxide activity). Both Bio Activity and UMF have always been a true measure of actual properties in Manuka that are higher than or not found in other raw honeys. These tried and tested measurements have helped consumers find the perfect Manuka honey for their needs. Pacific Resources International (PRI) was the first to introduce Manuka Honey to the U.S.A. in 1987, and continues to lead the industry with the largest range of Bio Active and UMF rated Manuka honeys that will now have an MG rating. PRI will con- tinue to work directly with bee keepers that do not blend their Manuka and take pride in produc- ing high quality Manuka products as well as other Native N.Z. hon- eys that are cool processed to re- tain all the natural health giving properties. PRI also has a large se- lection of health and beauty prod- ucts containing Manuka honey. The new Manuka moisturizing hand lotion comes in "the take anywhere" 3.5-oz size, and is perfect for dry and tired skin. If you love chocolate, try the new Manuka Honey mint chocolates, a great digestive aide for after meals or an anytime pick me up. Your body can collapse from salt thirst. A true sea salt contains all the natural trace elements in small amounts ppm (parts per million) that the body requires to govern blood pres- sure, sleep and normal body func- tions. Pacific Sea Salt is harvested after 13 to 22 months being dried at the top of the south island by the wind and sun in beautifully clean Lake Glass- mere. Mother Nature does all the work to produce this clean high quality sea salt that is essential for a healthy lifestyle. Try the new Mesquite Smoked Pacific Sea Salt on avo- cados or your favorite barbecue dish. PRI will continue to provide New Zealand's finest products for the dedicated U.S. con- sumer looking for the best healthy lifestyle. For more information, stop by booth #2288 or visit www.shoppri.com. Action Brand Management Brings Products from Concept to Reality The food market today is incredibly complex and interesting. Home cooks are innovating every day in their own kitchens, and let's face it, many food products we see on the shelves today began as a home recipe. Not all great recipes are destined for the grocery store shelves, however. An idea or a promis- ing product in a home kitchen does not nec- essarily translate into a successful specialty food business. So what separates the great recipes and home food products from those with business potential, and how do those success stories come to be? Companies like Action Brand Manage- ment (ABM) are helping companies in the natural and organic space to determine just that. "Just because a few people love your recipes does not mean they will 'vote with their dollars' and buy the product in a gro- cery retailer," said Jeff Canner, Partner, Ac- tion Brand Management. "You need more than an idea to start a successful specialty food business. You need to know your idea is a real opportunity." Action Brand Management, founded by Steve Gelerman and Jeff Canner in 2000, has extensive experience in the space, develop- ing and bringing to market frozen and shelf- stable products in the snack, entrée and bak- ery categories, and with such specialized niches as gluten-free, organic and vitamin enriched. ABM offers affordable outsourcing solutions for strategic branded sales and marketing along with product de- velopment and operational administration, and works alongside entrepreneurs and es- tablished brand teams to provide support in everything from development and imple- mentation of sales strategy, marketing plans, broker management and distribution. Action Brand Management (www.action- brandmanagement.com) allows companies to compete with established brands by bring- ing veteran players in the space to work hard for them, and ABM's proven track record builds a solid brand plat- form for new products and products that are in need of revitalization. From start-ups to existing estab- lished brands, the experience ABM brings to the table in brand analysis and go-to market strategies helps clients to avoid pitfalls that derail so many companies. "We help companies to achieve their goals without investing in a large, in-house staff," said Steven Gelerman, Partner, Action Brand Management. "We work to identify what a brand needs to get to the next level and move the brand from needs to reality!" For more information, contact Jeff Canner at jeff@actionbrandmanagement.com or stop by booth #8102. Alpha Packaging Focuses on Sports Nutrition with PET Wide-Mouth Options By Marny Bielefeldt, Vice President of Mar- keting, Alpha Packaging Alpha Packaging has added new sizes, gram weights, manufacturing locations and bottle shapes to offer packaging options for sports nutrition products from 1500cc to two gal- lons. With the recent addition of a 5000cc size, Alpha Packaging has once again extended its line of PET Indented Large Packers, offering the most complete line of sizes ranging from 1/2-gallon to 6250cc. All of Alpha's PET In- dented Large Packers are manufactured using a single-stage blow molding process. Standard colors are clear, white, cobalt blue, dark green, light amber and dark amber. Bot- tles are available with low minimums for standard colors; custom colors require a min- imum of 10,000 pieces with a $500 purge charge, or Alpha will waive the purge charge for orders of 50,000 pieces or more. In addition to the family of Indented Round Packers, Alpha also offers three sizes of square PET Plaza Jars with grip areas. The family in- cludes a 32-ounce, 64-ounce and one-gallon size. The 32-ounce Plaza Jar features an 89mm neck, and the two larger sizes both have a 110mm neck large enough for scoops and spoons. However, with the convenient grip areas, they are also easy to hold in one hand while pouring out the contents. In addition to sports nutrition powders, Alpha's Plaza Jars are ideal for dry food products and powders, including coffee, loose tea, herbs and spices, soup mixes, cereals, dried beans and legumes, candies, nuts and pretzels. Samples can be ordered at www.alphap.com. For more information, visit www.alphap.com, call 800.421.4772, email marketing@alphap.com or stop by Engredea booth #411. Lucy's to Debut New Brownie Crisp at Natural Products Expo West Lucy's ® , maker of gluten-free and allergy- friendly baked goods, will be debuting its new line of brownie products at this year's Natural Products Expo West. With a mission of baking life better, Lucy's will provide consumers with even more healthy and en- joyable gluten-free options that are typically hard to come by. Lucy's Triple Chocolate Brownie Crisp, the first flavor to hit shelves this winter, fea- tures a delicious mix of chocolate chunks (72 percent cocoa), chocolate chips, cocoa and organic Madagascar vanilla. This treat is a symphony of deep, rich chocolate flavor. Still, it's light and crispy with only 100 calo- ries for three crisps. Like all Lucy's products, the Brownie Crisp snacks are gluten-free and allergy friendly as they are made without wheat, dairy milk, butter, eggs, casein, peanuts or tree nuts. Soon to be available in a variety of sizes including 4.5-oz. and 14-oz. pouches as well as 1.25-oz. Grab 'n Go bags, the Brownie Crisp larger sizes will also include a resealable top to maintain the freshness of the crunchy brownie treat. In addition, the new dessert is also Non-GMO Project Verified, certified vegan and Kosher Pareve. "At Lucy's, we truly love providing deli- cious desserts to people who are either living with special diets or are just looking for a better-for-you option," said Lucy's Founder and Chairman, Dr. Lucy Gibney. "Launching the new Brownie Crisp not only ex- pands our brand's line but gives health-conscious consumers an- other option for a scrumptious gluten-free dessert." Lucy's invites attendees at Natu- ral Products Expo West to try out the new Brownie Crisp and the rest of its beloved cookie products at booth #4576. About Lucy's Lucy's creates delicious, high-quality, and convenient snacks and desserts for people with and without special dietary consider- ations. On the market in the U.S. since December 2007, Lucy's currently offers a variety of flavors of gluten-free, allergy- friendly cookies – Ginger Snap, Chocolate Chip, Cinnamon Thin, Sugar and Oatmeal – packaged in 5.5-oz. boxes. Select fla- vors are also available in convenient snack sizes. All cookies are baked without wheat, gluten, dairy milk, butter, eggs, casein, peanuts or tree nuts. Lucy's incorporates a three-compo- nent allergen control program that includes selectively sourcing raw materials, test- ing for trace allergens in an on-site lab, and baking in a dedicated facility. Lucy's products are available at over 7,000 stores in North America including Whole Foods Market, Sprout's, Publix, Safeway, Weg- man's and many more. Products are also now in the U.K. at Whole Foods, Planet Organic, Booth's and more, and is newly launching in Mexico with a growing num- ber of retailers. For more information, visit www.drlucys.com or stop by booth #4576.

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