From Jane Hoback at Supermarketnews.com Natural products retailers continued to battle a slumping economy in 2009, posting lower profit margins while continuing to eke out sales increases. But retailers expect a rosier — though only slightly — 2010. Average sales per store Select figure to enlarge. Independent products retailers surveyed in Natural Foods Merchandiser’s annual [...]

By Michael Doyle / Bee Washington Bureau California organic almond producers can press ahead with their challenge to federal requirements that they pasteurize or chemically treat their crop, a key appellate court ruled Tuesday. The ruling is an important, but not final, victory for the organic growers, who say the domestic food-safety requirement shuts them [...]

Smart Balance, Inc. announced on July 26th its entry into the organic soy milk market, with the national launch of Earth Balance™ Organic Soymilk, available at Whole Foods Market, Inc. stores beginning in August.  The launch of Earth Balance™ Organic Soymilk will be exclusive to Whole Foods Market stores through 2010. The new Earth Balance™ [...]

Nature’s Sunshine Products, Inc., a leading manufacturer and marketer of nutritional supplements and complementary products, confirmed that effective July 1, 2010, Michael Dean assumed his new role as President and CEO of Nature’s Sunshine Products. As previously reported, Mr. Dean joined the board of Nature’s Sunshine Products last year and became CEO elect on March [...]

EMERYVILLE, Calif., Jul 29, 2010 Jamba, Inc, (NASDAQ:JMBA)  announced the sale of 25 restaurants in Washington to existing franchisee, Prudence Swann, principal of PB Swann, LLC. The agreement includes a commitment to further expand the Jamba Juice brand by developing two additional stores in the Seattle market. Jamba Juice expects to add up to 50 [...]

Beachwood, OH– July 15, 2010 – Ginni Garner, the President and Owner of Sanford Rose Associates-Beachwood, a boutique, Recruiting Services and Executive Search firm is pleased to announce that her firm has started a Natural Products practice, which focuses on serving a diverse array of clients in the Natural Products industry including manufacturers, distributors, retailers [...]

Performance Food Centers announces the opening of their online shopping store, Dan’s Pantry, a natural food and beverage store for the whole family. Performance Food Centers is an industry leader in the planning, design, operation and supply of juice bars across North America. Serving over 925 juice bars, fitness centers, schools and coffee shops,  is [...]

NEXT Proteins, the makers of DESIGNER WHEY protein products,  announced the hiring of food industry veteran Tom Oliver as Chief Operating Officer. With an extensive track record in food based consumer packaged goods, Oliver will oversee all aspects of the company’s internal  and external operations, brand philosophies and product launches. Oliver is a veteran food [...]

The Natural Products Association has named John F. Gay executive director and chief executive. Previously, Gay served as senior vice president of government affairs for the National Restaurant Association where he had been responsible for government affairs activities for the International Franchise Association and been a staffer at the American Hotel & Lodging Association, both [...]

Beachwood, Ohio – June 22, 2010 – NaturalProductsBiz.com, a leading web portal providing industry news and resources for the Natural Products, Foods, Supplements and Health Product Manufacturing industries, has expanded its offerings to include complimentary job postings and access to available talent for job seekers and employers. Ginni Garner, the visionary behind the site and [...]

According to the Organic Consumers Association (OCA), organic claims must be certified organic by the USDA or certified as “contains organic ingredients” under the NSF ANSI 305 standard or the products will not be allowed on Whole Foods’ shelves starting June 1,  2011. “In the wake of the BP oil spill, Whole Foods’ announcement couldn’t [...]

If you are an avid drinker of protein shakes, check the July 2010 issue of Consumer Reports magazine. In a study of popular protein drinks, Muscle Milk powder (chocolate and vanilla crème flavors) and EAS Myoplex  (in rich dark chocolate) were both found to have high levels of cadmium, arsenic and lead. Other brands also [...]

How refreshing! Mom’s Organic Market a Maryland based retailer with six locations recently decided to stop selling bottled water. Instead the stores will sell filtered water and encourage patrons to bring in reusable containers. Kudos to Scott Nash, owner and founder. Read more from The Gourmet Retailer

Toronto-based Catalyst Capital Group Inc. acquired the asset of publicly traded Planet Organic Health Corp. Planet Organic operates nine natural food stores in Canada and eleven in the US. Planet Organic received bankruptcy protection under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act in April, when more than $31.1 million in debt was called in by Catalyst Capital. [...]

For the start up, every person and every advisor you need to hire represents a critical commitment of your company’s available time and cash. In essence, you trade those resources for the knowledge and skill (intellectual assets), contacts (social capital), and the pure energy, ideas, and actions you expect that person to bring to your [...]