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GOURMET NEWS www.gourmetnews.com n JUNE 2017 n GOURMET NEWS 7 0 Simple Mills Expands 'Clean Food' Portfolio Good-for-you snacking just got simpler with new Simple Mills Crunchy Cookies and Sprouted Seed Crackers – the latest additions to the company's top-selling lineup of grain- free, gluten-free, GMO-free, nothing-artifi- cial-ever baking mixes, crackers and frostings. Since the launch in 2013, Simple Mills has been a leader of the clean food move- ment. Simple Mills began out of the neces- sity and desire for food that is simple, healthy and delicious. Chief Executive Of- ficer and Founder Katlin Smith made the very first Simple Mills muffin mixes one- by-one in her kitchen in North Carolina using only ingredients that made her feel great. Eliminating processed foods has had a huge impact on her own health, in- cluding getting rid of her chronic joint pain, keeping colds and allergies at bay and increasing her energy. These positive changes inspired her to create 'clean' bak- ing mixes to help others find their own health bliss. The new products join Simple Mills' portfolio of eight natural baking mixes, six almond flour crackers and two organic frostings. Simple Mills is the No. 1 fastest-growing natural baking mix and cracker brand, the No. 2 natural baking mix brand by dollars sold and the No. 3 natural cracker brand by dollar volume. Simple Mills' new ready-to-eat Crunchy Cookies go easy on the sugar by using co- conut sugar that limits the glycemic im- pact while also helping reduce sugar content by 25 to 40 percent compared to most cookie brands. Other ingredients in- clude a naturally gluten-free base-flour blend consisting of almonds, coconuts and high-fiber prebiotic root vegetables called tigernuts that were a cornerstone of Paleolithic diets, plus co- conut oil, tapioca, arrow- root, vanilla extract and sea salt. The cookies are vegan, paleo-friendly, crisp to the bite (no mushy texture), and available in Chocolate Chip, Double Chocolate, Cinnamon and Toasted Pecan varieties. Bonus: each cookie has just 40 calories. Simple Mills' new 2-inch-round Sprouted Seed Crackers feature a high-bioavailability sprouted seed blend that delivers more nutri- tional bang per bite, real cracker crunch that makes them a perfect foundation for your fa- vorite toppings, and the same gluten-free, grain-free, vegan, paleo-friendly, lower-carb, non-GMO goodness found in all Simple Mills products. Offered in Original, Everything, Jalapeno and Garlic & Herb flavors, the new crackers are made from a blend of sun- flower, flax and chia seeds that have been sprouted for greater nu- trient absorption. This seed base also lowers the carbohydrate level by 20 to 50 percent compared to leading cracker brands, sup- plies 3 grams of protein per serving, is a good source of Vitamin E and manganese and provides more than 1,000 mg of ALA (Alpha-Linolenic Acid) Omega 3s. With products in more than 6,500 natu- ral and conventional grocery stores throughout the U.S., Simple Mills contin- ues to make healthful choices easy by of- fering food that tastes great in the moment and nourishes your body for the long term. For more information, visit www .simplemills.com or stop by booth #5243. The Spice Lab Introduces New Seasonings, Packaging Options Peri Peri Pepper Seasoning, Old Fashioned Celery Salt and Five Chili Pepper Blend are three of the new products that The Spice Lab is introducing at the Summer Fancy Food Show. New packaging options for its line of Healing Spices are on display at booth #3050, along with the company's extensive selection of artisanal spices, sea- sonings, rubs, salts, loose teas and gourmet gifts. Peri Peri is a Portuguese and African in- spired spicy blend of chili peppers (peri peri in Swahili) and other spices, espe- cially delicious as a marinade for grilled chicken. The Spice Lab's Old Fashioned Celery Salt includes whole celery seed and replicates grandma's secret ingredient for coleslaw, deviled eggs, salad dressings and Chicago-style hotdogs. The Five Chili Pepper Blend mixes chili peppers from around the world to add extra kick to any dish. The Spice Lab line of Healing Spices – Turmeric, Turmeric with Black Pepper, Turmeric Tea, Ginger and Cinnamon – now are offered in a larger, milk bottle shaped jar with vibrant, colorful foil labels for maximum shelf appeal. Throughout history, these spices have been revered for their healing power, naturally providing remedies for a wide range of ailments. "We continue to create new flavors to surprise and please the palate," says Brett Cramer, who with his wife Jennifer founded the company in 2009. "With a large range of packaging options, we can create a nearly infinite number of options to deliver quality products at competitive price points for many retail environments." The South Florida- based company moved into a new 75,000 square-foot production facility in March, quadrupling its production capabil- ities to better serve current customers with greater capacity and faster turn-around, as well as to pursue more private label work. "Our new facility is a game-changer, giving us new ways to serve more cus- tomers – from custom blending and private label store brands to the ability to produce 25,000 units per day," adds Cramer. Frequently named to the INC5000 list of the fastest growing private companies in America, The Spice Lab has just been rec- ognized by the South Florida Business Journal as the 2017 Business of the Year Award winner in the $3 to 25 million in revenue category. Based in Pom- pano Beach, Florida, The Spice Lab is a w o m a n - o w n e d and family-run business offering artisanal pre- mium spices, sea- sonings, salts, loose teas and gourmet gifts. It is one of the largest U.S. importers of Himalayan salt and salt products, in- cluding Himalayan salt shot glasses, salt plates and bath salts. All products are processed and packaged in the company's HACCP certified manu- facturing facility. It sells its extensive product line through gourmet and specialty gift shops, grocery, major retailers and on- line through Amazon.com and at www.thespicelab.com. Visit The Spice Lab at booth #3050. Showcase Your Brand with Packaging Designed to Sell Packaging can be a "silent salesperson," compelling consumers to make a purchasing decision within seconds, which can lead to a lifetime of brand loyalty. At the point of sale, a package needs to be attractive and ap- pealing to the consumer's emotional side while providing key information. Below are top tips for creating packaging designed to sell. Know your Market The first step to getting your product into the consumer's hands is to know your market. What are your target audience's needs and wants? If you have a food product, does your customer want a microwavable single serve cup for on-the-go convenience? Does your customer want family size or multi- pack options? When selecting packaging materials and designing graphics, consider what your competition is doing and how your packaging sets your product apart. Create Attractive Graphics with Shelf Appeal A well-designed package communicates all necessary information and branding with eye-catching graphics that can influence a consumer's buying decisions. Is your logo paramount to your branding? What colors are most attractive? Will photography help sell your product? Be bold with key infor- mation on the front of the package and uti- lize the back to provide additional information to enhance the consumer's ex- perience. Build a Positive, User Friendly Experience Packaging needs to be user friendly and functional for both the consumer and re- tailer. The package should protect the product, offer ease of use, include clear in- structions and have key information prominent. In some instances, packaging graphics may include games, recipes or a short story about the product or company to further con- nect with the target audi- ence. Consider offering point-of-purchase displays to further in- crease sales. Work with Professionals Partner with an experienced packaging man- ufacturer who can provide invaluable insight on material and printing options. Work with a graphic designer familiar with packaging structures. For the best printing results, have the designer work directly with the packag- ing manufacturer to create and set up the graphics appropriately. Proofread Carefully Depending on the product, the packaging may need specific consumer information to comply with health and safety regulations. For instance, packaging for a food product may have a Nutrition Facts label, ingredi- ents, allergen statement, net weight and a barcode. Double check that the content, text size and barcode meet re- quirements to keep your product in the market- place. When utilizing functional and attractive creative packaging, complete with required information, you can stay ahead of your competition with a product and package that is designed to sell. Celebrating more than 25 years of expe- rience and innovation, Interpress Technolo- gies is a leading food packaging manufacturer specializing in formed paper- board containers, wrapped cups, printed sidewalls and folding cartons with high im- pact graphics. Interpress has three locations producing packaging "Made in USA" with certified sustainable paperboard. Interpac Technologies, a sister company, is a certified organic co-pack facility and fills cups, bags, pouches and specialty oils (coconut, olive, flax). For more information, call 800.929.9771, email inquiry@iptec.com or go to www .interpresstechnologies.com.

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