Bryce Edmonds

April 24, 2008

9 Min Read
Company/People News

Vernon Hills, Ill.-based Natural Inc., distributors of Tonalin CLA, announced that since the Journal of International Medical Research published the results of the fifth clinical study on conjugated linoleic acid and fat loss/lean muscle gain, many major television networks nationwide have picked up the news. The study was the fifth published in a peer-reviewed medical journal within 18 months confirming CLA's role in body fat reduction, according to Natural Inc. The latest study, conducted by Scandinavian Clinical Research AS, Kjeller, Norway, demonstrates that CLA reduces body fat in humans.

Weleda USA is hiring three brokers specializing in the natural products market to cover three geographic areas in California and the Pacific Northwest: California Marketing in southern California, Golden Gate Brokerage in northern California and Mountain Sales in the Pacific Northwest.

Good Earth Tea has begun selling its teas and iced teas to the foodservice trade. The fresh-brewed tea line is available in individual foil packs, which are quadruple sealed for freshness, and is also available for large quantities in 3-oz pouches. GET is expanding its distribution, and inquiries from brokers and distributors are invited.

Daiichi Fine Chemical Co. Ltd., the vitamin and fine chemical manufacturing subsidiary of Daiichi Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., has stopped production of pyridoxine HCL (vitamin B6) at its facility in Takaoka, Japan, effective July 31. The company cites poor global market conditions as the primary factor leading to the decision to exit the business. The company will use the limited quantity of pyridoxine HCL manufactured prior to the July 31 shutdown date to fulfill existing contracts and commitments.

Integrated Marketing Group, a marketing and branding firm servicing both a domestic and international clientele, announced its fifth anniversary of providing marketing and brand consulting to the healthy lifestyles industry.

Seventh Generation, manufacturer of environmentally friendly household products, was named Vermont's sixth-fastest growing company by Vermont Business magazine.

BI Nutraceuticals, formerly known as Botanicals International, debuted its new name and look at the Supply Side East show in Secaucus, N.J., on May 7. BI, is a Long Beach, Calif., supplier of nutritional ingredients servicing the dietary supplements, pharmaceutical and food industries, manufactures, markets and distributes a diverse product offering, including whole herb powders and teas, fruit and vegetable ingredients, herbal extracts, and other nutritional supplements.

Albion Advanced Nutrition has expanded its network of distributors in the international marketplace. Recently, the company has exercised a letter of intent naming S&D Chemicals Ltd. as a distributor throughout the United Kingdom and Ireland. In addition, S&D will distribute on behalf of Albion in most Eastern European nations.

Draco Natural Products Inc. introduced an extract of wild jujube seed for ingredient use in herbal products as a single herb or as part of a formula. The extract, standardized to 2 percent total triterpene saponins, is made from the seed of Zizyphus jujube, var. spinosa using Draco's proprietary Full Spectrum process. Draco's Full Spectrum process produces an extract that is water soluble/dispersible, homogenous and carrier free.

Bill Anderson, area marketing director of SuperValu, of Arlington, Va., and member of the North Dakota Grocers Association, received the National Grocers Association's Spirit of America Award at the NDGA annual convention in Fargo, N.D. The NGA Spirit of America Award honors key industry and community figures who provide leadership in community services and government relations on behalf of a free and independent food distribution system. Anderson has been a member of NGA since 1982 and serves on its board of directors.

Univera Pharmaceuticals, of Broomfield, Colo., a natural products research and development facility and proprietary raw materials supplier, has changed its name to Unigen Pharmaceuticals Inc. Unigen is a subsidiary of Nam Yang, a nutraceutical and cosmeceutical research company based in Seoul, South Korea. The name change for Univera combines all scientific resources and consequent recognition under one name, domestically and internationally, emphasizing its association with Unigen-Asia. Unigen and sister company Aloecorp are subsidiaries of the Unigen Group of companies.

Werum America Inc., the U.S. subsidiary of Werum Software & Systems, of Lüneburg, Germany, has moved its corporate headquarters to Towaco, N.J., because of the growing popularity and success of its MES programs with major pharmaceutical manufacturers in the Northeast. Werum designs and provides comprehensive Manufacturing Execution Systems for process industries.

Tea Tree Therapy Inc., of Ventura Calif., has appointed New Connections Marketing Group to its broker network to represent its southern and northern California, Arizona and Nevada regions.

Tea Tree Therapy also celebrated its fifth anniversary. The company was launched in February 1997. Owners Ed Heftman and Suzanne Dean have more than 25 years' experience in the natural foods industry.

Newleaf Designs LLC, of Chanhassen, Minn., a supplier and manufacturer of bulk food dispensing and display systems, announced that the National Sanitary Foundation has certified its complete line of Scoop Bins, Gravity Feed Bins and Merchandising Components, as well as its complete line of VITA BIN gravity bins and scoop bins.

Sunrise Brand Management Specialists Corp., of Rockaway, N.J., announced it has entered its third year as national sales and marketing manager for several U.S. and Canadian specialty/grocery companies. Robert Tepper, who has an extensive background in natural and specialty brand development, is president/CEO of the company.

Eden Foods, of Clinton, Mich., together with other business associates, successfully completed a three-year project to secure a permanent supply of organic corn free of genetically engineered organisms. This closed system is based on an already functioning and successful project begun in 1999 to protect thousands of acres of soybeans from genetic and chemical pollution, from seed stock to field, through transportation and production. Eden corn is organically grown by approximately 100 family-owned farms in central southern Wisconsin.

Derma E Skin Care, of Chatsworth, Calif., named J.Z. & Associates of Tom's River, N.J., 2002 Broker of the Year, for having the largest increase in sales volume. J.Z. & Associates is responsible for sales in the Northeast region.

McCarrell Resource Group Inc., of Orlando, Fla., recently launched its new online job matching Web site: www.mcresourcegroup.com, for the natural products, sports nutrition and fitness industries. The site offers job seekers an opportunity to post their resumes free for viewing by potential industry employers. Employers may also post available jobs within their organizations to be browsed and searched by job seekers. Additionally, the Web site offers visitors a free subscription to its periodic e-mail career newsletter.

Degussa BioActives, maker of creatine products, announced its latest focus is sports nutrition and presented the results of product development and clinical trials of Creapure Citrate and Creapure Purovate at the recent Supply Side East show in Secaucus, N.J.

Proliant Inc., of Ames, Iowa, announced it recently improved the Client Access feature of its Web site. The new functionality of Client Access allows Proliant to tailor information to its customers' specific needs for a customized source of Proliant's product information bulletins, application reviews, certifications, latest research and technical presentations.

People News
Frontier Natural Brands has appointed Jim Leighton executive vice president of operations. Leighton brings more than 20 years of food-industry and general management experience to Frontier and will be handling responsibilities for both Frontier Natural Brands and Frontier Natural Products Co-op. Leighton will oversee operations related to the company's Frontier and Simply Organic food brands and its personal care brand, Aura Cacia. Prior to joining Frontier, Leighton held positions with Hain Celestial Food Group, Nabisco and National Health Management Inc.

Seventh Generation has added several new members to its management team. Karen Martinsen Fleming joins the company as senior vice president of marketing and consumer relations. Fleming's 19 years of marketing and strategy experience includes marketing management with such organizations as Procter & Gamble, Ocean Spray Cranberries Inc. and Stonyfield Farm. John Murphy, senior vice president, sales, comes to the company with more than 15 years of experience in the grocery and natural products industry. Most recently, Murphy was with Acirca Inc., whose brands include Mountain Sun, Walnut Acres and Millina's Finest. Jay LeDuc is now vice president of operations. LeDuc brings expertise in operations management garnered from Vermont companies such as Green Mountain Energy, where he was vice president of customer operations and information technology and McAuliffe Inc., where he was director of operations. Martin Wolf joins the company as director of product quality and technology. Previously, Wolf was with Cellutech LLC and Cambridge Analytical Associates Inc., and he has served as adjunct professor at Northeastern University and taught at New York University Environmental Management Institute. Judith Joyce comes on board as director of workplace community and human resources. Joyce boasts more than 20 years of experience as a senior human resources manager. She has served as a human resource consultant, career development coach and trainer for a variety of clients. Earlier in her career she was with Constellation Reinsurance Co. and NAC Reinsurance Corp. Senior Marketing Manager Janice Shade joined Seventh Generation in February. Shade brings with her marketing and management experience from such companies as Procter & Gamble, Welch's, and Nelson Bach, maker of Bach Flower Essences. In late March, Seventh Generation welcomed Peter Swaine as purchasing manager. Swaine is responsible for purchasing, warehouse management and logistics.

Annette Dickinson, Ph.D., vice president, scientific and regulatory affairs, for the Council for Responsible Nutrition, spoke at the 54th annual meeting of The Vitamin Society of Japan, a scientific association whose mission is to promote research on vitamins and vitamin-related coenzymes. In addition to presenting at the VSJ meeting, Dickinson spoke at a seminar sponsored by Japan Health and Medicare, a new industry trade publication, and at a seminar organized by CRN Japan and the Japan Health Food & Nutrition Food Association. Dickinson also had the opportunity to meet with the head of the Office of Health Policy on Newly Developed Foods at the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare to provide an industry perspective on the dietary supplements market in the United States and on associated regulatory issues.

Horizon Organic Holding Co. announced that Secretary of Agriculture Ann Veneman appointed Horizon Vice President of R&D/quality assurance Kevin O'Rell to the National Organic Standards Board. O'Rell's position will continue for four years. O'Rell's seat on the NOSB will help the Horizon Organic Agriculture Project, a program that focuses on organic education and the advancement of organic agriculture and stewardship.

The Aurora Group, a N.J. manufacturer of natural personal care products, said Peter H. Anderson has been hired as director of sales and marketing. Anderson has more than 19 years of diverse experience in the natural products industry, including Weider Health & Fitness, General Nutrition Centers, Arizona Natural Resources Inc. and Grandpa Brands Company.

Natural Foods Merchandiser volume XXIII/number 7/p. 40-42, 49

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