WIN Opens Award Nominations
From June 1-30, nominations will be open for the 2025 WIN awards. The annual ceremony honors individuals and organizations that embody the core mission of the non-profit organization: to empower women and foster an inclusive, supportive environment so their talents and contributions can thrive. New for this year, Women In Nutraceuticals has added the WIN Female Entrepreneur Award, an honor recognizing an outstanding female entrepreneur who has pushed forward innovation, growth, and positive change in the nutraceutical industry. Other award categories will include:
- WIN Champion Award recognizing a company or organization that has set the gold standard for supporting and championing women in the nutraceuticals industry. This award acknowledges those who have built inclusive cultures, initiated programs for gender parity, and actively promoted women into leadership roles.
- WIN Research Pioneer Award presented to an individual of any gender or organization that has made significant contributions to advancing research on nutraceutical products for women or furthering health/nutrition science for women. The accolade recognizes the pioneering spirit of those dedicated to uncovering new insights, developing innovative solutions, and enhancing women's health through scientific excellence.
- WIN Guiding Star Award celebrating an extraordinary individual of any gender who has been instrumental in mentoring and elevating women within the nutraceuticals industry. The prestigious accolade is reserved for those whose guidance has not only illuminated paths but has also inspired confidence, skill development, and leadership among women.
“Last year’s WIN award recipients were deeply moved by the recognition that their work makes an impact and creates change for the better,” shared Petra Erlandson, VP of sales at Alkemist Labs and WIN awards committee chair. “More individuals and sponsors are becoming involved in WIN because they see the impact our programs and networking opportunities are having, which makes highlighting the achievements of women and their allies in the nutraceuticals industry increasingly meaningful."
This year's award winners will be recognized during a WIN event being held at SupplySide Global in October 2025. Nominations for the WIN Heroine Award will open in January 2026 with a presentation to follow in April 2026 during the WIN Leadership Summit.
For more on the awards and nomination criteria, please visit womeninnutraceuticals.org/awards
IFT Keynote Addresses Food Safety Issues
The IFT FIRST: Annual Event and Expo is taking place from July 13-16 at McCormick Place in Chicago. One of the event's keynote sessions, "Food Additives: Reformulation and Regulatory Challenges", will take a look at the growing pressure for food and beverage manufacturers to reformulate products and replace synthetic additives like colors, preservatives, and other functional ingredients. Five experts from the legal, regulatory, and consumer advocacy sectors will lead the discussion and shed light on the challenges that come about when altering synthetic additives including costs, technical hurdles, and scalability challenges. “Consumer expectations around food safety, transparency, and ingredient integrity are evolving, and the food system must rise to meet that demand,” explained IFT CEO Christie Tarantino-Dean. “At IFT FIRST, we bring together experts from across academia, industry, and government to tackle complex challenges head-on—and ensure that we’re not just keeping up with change but driving it.”
Other keynote sessions during the event will cover GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) regulations and the introduction of new food ingredients and the navigation of the FDA’s new era of food safety. Various scientific panels will also be taking place such as:
- Addressing the role of technology within food safety enhancements
- The food safety challenges having the biggest impact on public health
- Why food recalls are still so common
- How international regulatory frameworks are impacting new food products
- Addressing consumer confidence in food safety
For more on the upcoming event, including registration details, please visit iftevent.org
Nutriearth & AIDP Inc. Distribute Concentrated Vitamin D3
Natural and sustainable vitamin D3 producer, Nutriearth, is partnering with functional ingredients distributor, AIDP Inc., to introduce the brands concentrated vitamin D3 oil to dietary supplement and nutraceutical clients. Produced using a patented, unique method that mimics the body's natural vitamin D3 synthesis, manufacturers will now have access to the highly effective, bioavailable vitamin that stands out for its purity and reduced environmental impact. "We are thrilled to collaborate with AIDP, whose expertise and reach in the American and Canadian nutraceutical sector will allow us to bring our unique vitamin D3 oil to more consumers seeking sustainable, high-quality solutions," commented Jeremy Burks, CEO of Nutriearth.
With vitamin D deficiency affecting nearly one billion individuals across the world, the two companies hope to help combat the issue by expanding distribution in the North American and providing an efficient and sustainable vitamin D3 source accessible to the rapidly expanding market. "Nutriearth have an exciting new product backed by strong scientific data and we're delighted to bring yet another market-leading innovation to our North American customers," said Mark Thurston, President of AIDP Inc.
NutriLeads and Yasham Bring Benicaros to India
Benicaros, the precision prebiotic from NutriLeads BV, will now be available to manufacturers throughout India courtesy of a new sales and marketing agreement with Yasham Specialty Ingredients Pvt. Ltd. “India represents an important growth market for Benicaros, and Yasham is the ideal partner to lead the way,” explained Joana Carneiro-Wakefield, Ph.D., CEO of NutriLeads. “Their team brings deep knowledge of the nutraceutical industry and a strong commitment to innovation and health.”
The new partnership will see the plant-based, clinically validated precision prebiotic accessible to food, beverage, and dietary supplement manufacturers throughout India looking for a product that supports both immune and gut health. Extracted from upcycled carrot pomace, Benicaros increases the body's immune responses and carefully nourishes beneficial gut microorganisms and their metabolites. “We are eager to bring this exciting precision prebiotic to the Indian market and look forward to collaborating with NutriLeads,” said Vivek D. Samant, Managing Director of Yasham Specialty Ingredients Pvt. Ltd. “Benicaros is a ground-breaking ingredient that will truly help our customers innovate in the gut and immune health space.”
Cornbread Hemp Host "Countdown to Prohibition" Event
In accordance with Senate Bill 202, passed by the Kentucky General Assembly during the 2025 legislative session, the consumption of hemp beverages will no longer be allowed in restaurants and bars but will be available for purchase at festivals and fairs for the remainder of the year. “We regret that legislative leaders have taken away a legal, safe, non-alcoholic alternative from adults who simply want to drink less alcohol,” said Eric Zipperle, CEO and co-founder of Cornbread Hemp.
To mark the date, Cornbread Hemp will be hosting an event, open to all guests, in the Louisville, KY area. “But until our beverages become illegal on June 1, we want to celebrate one last happy hour with our friends at Hauck’s," said Zipperle. Cornbread Hemp THC Seltzers will still be legal to purchase in package liquor retail locations throughout Kentucky and online.
For more on the new law, Cornbread Hemp products, and the "Countdown to Prohibition" event, please visit cornbreadhemp.com
Oolie Debuts Egg-Based Products
Oolie's creamy, high-protein, dairy-free, egg-based dips and yogurts are now available. Packed with omega-3s and enhanced with vitamins A, D, E, and K, the new dips are made with free-range eggs, coconut cream, real vegetables and seasonings. Flavor options include yellow curry, garlic and herb, Mediterranean tomato, spicy pepper and sweet beet. The dairy-free yogurts come in vanilla, key lime, berry blend, and banana cream flavors and contain lots of protein but no dairy.
Faith Ferguson, VP of sales and marketing, commented on the brand's latest offerings, “At Oolie, we love delicious yogurts and dips—and we love our farmers even more. We are so proud of our work partnering up with chefs and food scientists to create the most delicious, creamy textured egg-based dips and yogurts that make it easy to skip the dairy without every compromising flavor or texture. We believe that deliciousness shouldn’t be a compromise. With up to 11g of protein per serving and naturally nutrient-dense thanks to the power of Free-Range eggs, we’ve reimagined dairy-free for the tastebuds. Every bite is a step towards a cleaner label and better nutrition without sacrificing flavor."
Chomps Earns Certified B Corp Status
High-quality meat sticks brand, Chomps, has been recognized as a Certified B Corporation by the nonprofit B Lab. Committed to offering its customers products made from 100% grass-fed, grass-finished beef and venison, along with antibiotic-free turkey, each Chomps meat sticks offers consumers 10-12 grams of high-quality protein without sugar, hormones, soy, dairy, artificial preservatives, artificial nitrates, or MSG. The company also prioritizes responsible business practices with several strategic partnerships in progress with organizations like 4ocean and Planet FWD to push forward their accountability initiatives.
“At Chomps, our culture starts with the people behind the product,” shared Chomps Co-Founder and CEO Rashid Ali. “Becoming a Certified B Corporation is a testament to how we show up for our team and community every day. Not only does it reinforce our commitment to building a business that does right by our team, our customers, and the planet, but it’s a meaningful step in holding ourselves accountable as we raise the bar for how we run our brand.”
Sweet Bee Naturals Receives USDA Organic Certification
The Sweet Bee Magic line of skincare products from Sweet Bee Naturals will now bear the USDA Organic certification logo. Certifying the company's commitment to using the highest quality natural and organic ingredients in its formulations, consumers can now confidently purchase the brand's line of products that are produced minus the use of harmful or synthetic pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers and are compliant with federal organic regulations.
"Why are our balms USDA organic certified? Because it actually matters! Anything you put ONTO your skin can be absorbed INTO your body. Because we at Sweet Bee Naturals are focused on bringing each of you and your families only the very BEST and very HEALTHIEST products, we took the extra time and effort to make sure that we earned the USDA organic certification. As a physician and CEO, I don’t want you or your family to put anything ON or IN your bodies that isn’t organic, natural, and healthy! I honestly care," shared Dr. Clare Bertucio, CEO of Sweet Bee Naturals.
Nature's Path Introduces Brother Nature
Independent organic breakfast food brand, Nature's Path, has announced its latest campaign promoting the benefits and the great taste of organic foods. Part of the promotion included an event outside NYC's Oculus at the World Trade Center on Tuesday, May 13. From 7am to 2pm the company shared food, good vibes, and introduced New Yorkers to the fictional character, Brother Nature. "Mother Nature's younger brother and a flavor genius who believes real, organic ingredients make a huge difference, especially for breakfast."
"As a family-owned business for more than 40 years, we've stayed true to our purpose of crafting delicious foods with the highest quality organic ingredients," said Arjan Stephens, president of Nature's Path Foods. "With this campaign, we're highlighting that choosing organic is a smart choice for your health and the planet while also tasting great. But it's about more than just what's on your plate. At a time when so many are skipping breakfast or eating alone, we want to bring people back to the table. Because food isn't just fuel—it's connection."
Lily's Toaster Grills Reaches Donation Milestone
Family-friendly frozen food brand, Lily's Toaster Grills, has donated 500,000 sandwiches to programs that provide warm, nourishing meals to children and families experiencing hunger. Originally a grassroots effort to help local schools, the Grilled Cheese for Good program has quickly turned into a national project to feed families, one grilled cheese sandwich at a time. The milestone marker was achieved through the aid and support of collaborators like We Don't Waste, Breakthrough at Kent Denver, The Action Center, Jeffco Eats, Rocky Mountain Prep Schools, and Milo's Market at CU Denver in Colorado, along with Mid-South Food Bank serving families in Memphis.
"Giving back has been part of our mission since day one," said Rob Hearne, CEO of Lily's Toaster Grills. "Long before we ever sold a sandwich in stores, we were hand-delivering them to elementary schools in Denver—because every child deserves a warm, nourishing meal. As our brand has grown, so has our ability to give."
BioVivo Science Opens Facility in Indiana
BioVivo Science has set up a new state-of-the art botanical extract facility in Jefferson, Indiana. The $70 million dollar, 1000,000-square-foot cGMP-certified manufacturing location strengthens the company's manufacturing capabilities and answers the call for premium, locally produced botanical extracts. Equipped with cutting-edge technology, the company's new space will enhance supply chain security, provide an annual production capacity of 2,000 tons of powdered botanical extracts, and provide global nutraceutical, food and beverage, animal and pet nutrition, and beauty and personal care brands with a U.S.-produced alternative for botanical extracts while revitalizing local industry, creating U.S. based jobs, and exploring research initiatives on key North American botanicals like American ginseng.
“Our investment in this facility underscores our commitment to strengthening the U.S. supply chain while delivering high-quality, locally manufactured botanical extracts,” said Chris Smith, Director of Strategic Operations & Supply Chain at BioVivo Science. “The demand for science-backed, natural ingredients continues to rise, and our state-of-the-art capabilities—including extraction, concentration, purification, crystallization, granulation, and straight powder—ensure that we provide superior ingredients with full transparency and traceability. We are committed to innovation, sustainability, and meeting the needs of today’s health-conscious consumers.”
