CRN Introduces Two New Members
The Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) Board of Directors has confirmed several new Voting Members and Associate Members. Following approval during the second quarter, the addition of seven new members in total shows a continued interest and support from the industry in clinically validated ingredients, advanced manufacturing capabilities, scientific substantiation, and regulatory expertise across global markets. "CRN continues to attract companies that are committed to advancing science, quality, and responsible innovation throughout the dietary supplement supply chain," said Steve Mister, President and CEO of CRN. "From validated botanical and microalgae ingredients to specialized regulatory and compliance services, these members bring valuable expertise that strengthens our collective efforts to support consumer trust and industry growth."
New Voting Members:
Ennature Biopharma develops clinically validated botanical ingredients for Healthy Aging, Women's Health, and Metabolic Health. By integrating advanced phytochemistry, proprietary delivery technologies, human clinical research, and standardized manufacturing with a fully traceable, vertically integrated supply chain, the company delivers science-backed botanical ingredients through globally accredited manufacturing facilities and rigorous quality systems.
Hebei Meishen Technology Co., Ltd., with over 20 years of expertise in the magnesium industry, manufactures magnesium compounds for pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, food, and industrial applications. The company integrates R&D, manufacturing, and sales, delivering customized magnesium solutions supported by a U.S. based sales team and serving customers worldwide.
Microphyt SA develops novel branded ingredients derived from microalgae for the nutraceutical and cosmetic industries. Its portfolio includes branded ingredients supporting cognitive performance, sports nutrition, gut health, and healthy aging. Microphyt's portfolio is supported by proprietary research, clinical validation, and a strong commitment to sustainability.
Natural Remedies Pvt. Ltd. is a botanical ingredient supplier dedicated to advancing evidence-based nutrition through rigorous research and development. Its portfolio of clinically validated branded ingredients supports joint health, gut health, brain health, Sports Nutrition, stress management, and immune health.
Nu-Mega Ingredients has pioneered the science of microencapsulating omega-3 oils for three decades, drawing from both fish and algal sources to deliver highly stable, functional DHA and EPA without compromising on taste, texture, or smell. Nu-Mega’s science-based approach to omega-3 nutrition is backed by an extensive body of clinical research collaborations, reinforcing the efficacy and safety of its ingredients across life-stage and condition-specific applications.
New Associate Members:
Substantiation Sciences is a science and regulatory consulting firm serving the dietary supplement, food, beverage, and medical food sectors. Its services include GRAS determinations, New Dietary Ingredient Notifications (NDINs), formulation guidance, scientific study design and management, expert witness support, and statistical analysis.
TecEx is a specialized product compliance services firm that helps manufacturers, importers, and distributors navigate regulatory requirements across global markets. The company provides auditing, label review, tariff classification, and product compliance services, supporting companies operating in highly regulated industries, including dietary supplements.
Reviewed on a quarterly basis, approval for membership includes a review of the submitted application by the organization's Board of Directors and vetting by outside counsel. Members include leading ingredient suppliers, manufacturers, finished product marketers, retailers, and service providers committed to advancing science, quality, and responsible industry practices. For more CRN membership, please visit crnusa.org/plan
Virun NutraBiosciences Partnering with Wellma
Developer and manufacturer of highly bioavailable liquid formulations, Virun NutraBiosciences, has announced its newest business partnership with developer and co-manufacturer of nutraceuticals, Wellma. Founded by scientist Philip Bromley and Nick Huang in 2003, Virun is a U.S.-Irish nutraceutical CDMO specializing in patented, advanced lipid carrier technologies. The agreement brings new advanced product and innovation capabilities to Wellma and represents the first sites of Wellma in the United States and in Ireland. "What attracted me to Wellma was the opportunity to continue driving Virun with the same entrepreneurial spirit that has defined us for more than two decades, while gaining access to a broader team with deep industry expertise and growth opportunities on both sides of the Atlantic," shared Philip Bromley, Founder and CEO of Virun. "Together with Wellma, we can better support our customers as they expand into Europe, while also helping Wellma’s partners strengthen their presence in the US market. It is a partnership built on shared values and a long-term growth mindset. I have never seen anything like the Wellma model, and it attracted us a lot"
Wellma's CEO Christian Merup explained what the strategic alliance represents for the company's future. "Virun has built an exceptional technology platform and is one of the true leaders within liposomal and advanced liquid delivery systems. They are already supporting many winning fast-growing brands, and we have strong belief in their technology and team going forward. With this partnership, Wellma establishes a leading position in one of the fastest-growing categories in our industry, and we are proud to welcome the Virun team to the Wellma family. The team behind Virun has together built a culture of innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship that resonates perfectly with us, and we are excited for the future together.”
NOW Collaborative Venture Advances Botanical Identity Testing Program
Natural products manufacturer, NOW, is joining forces with botanical genomics company, LeafWorks, to advance its botanical identity testing program. A new first-of-its-kind partnership, the model allows partners to access high-powered genomic analysis without building the underlying bioinformatics infrastructure themselves and puts NOW amongst the companies who are integrating cutting-edge Next Generation DNA Sequencing into botanical identity testing. “We are always looking for ways to strengthen our quality systems and ensure the integrity of our products,” said Maria Mendres, Microbiology Manager at NOW. “Incorporating next-generation DNA sequencing for genomic-level ID adds another valuable tool to our testing program, enhancing our ability to verify botanical identity. The number of species we can test for simultaneously is unique to DNA and LeafWorks’ platform, making it a good fit for NOW with over 2,000 ingredients.”
For the industry, the collaboration further represents how natural-products companies are approaching identity testing. By combining next-generation sequencing with a commercial-grade analytical pipeline, the two companies are demonstrating a more scalable, data-driven approach to botanical identity verification. “What’s exciting about this model is that it lowers the barrier to adopting advanced DNA testing,” said Kerin Law, Co-Founder and Chief Scientific Officer of LeafWorks. “Companies can generate sequencing data in-house and plug directly into our analysis platform without needing to build complex bioinformatics systems themselves. This unique combination of accessibility and rigor is an entirely new model of testing to move the industry forward. We are thrilled to be partnering with NOW, true industry leaders in natural products, in this brand-new testing model.”
KIND Publishes Results of Pilot Project
The Almond Acres Initiative is a three-year regenerative agriculture pilot project from KIND in partnership with ofi to source 100% of its almonds from farms leveraging regenerative agriculture on a mass-balance basis by 2030. Launched in 2023, the program has entered its final year and generated the data and insights needed to identify the best practices and technologies available for improving soil health, resource efficiency, and on-farm resilience. Data provided by ofi's Carbon Trust certified Digital Footprint Calculator, the results that helped KIND achieve 50% sourcing of almond volume from farms leveraging regenerative agriculture practices on a mass-balance basis to date include:
- Increased water use efficiency: The pilot drove a 19.5% efficiency gain in water management.
- Reduced reliance on costly inputs: Reduced the need for nitrogen fertilizer by 33%, demonstrating that regenerative soil management is a direct driver of operational efficiency.
- Reduced overall carbon intensity: After the three-year pilot, the acres saw a decrease in overall carbon intensity of 28%.
- Improved soil health: Marked improvements in soil health metrics like increased soil organic carbon and decreased compaction were demonstrated across all pilot plots.
"We are incredibly proud to hit the halfway mark in our almond sourcing pledge. The KIND Almond Acres Initiative has proven that regenerative agriculture is a scalable, operational engine," said Daniel Calderoni, CEO of KIND North America. "By sharing our outcomes and learnings, we are aiming to move the needle in encouraging the industry to build a more sustainable supply chain – one that's better for the planet and for business."
Tem Toa Expands Availability
Frozen Thai food brand, Tem Toa, is now available at Whole Foods Market stores across the U.S. The chef-crafted recipes are known for bringing traditional ingredients sourced directly from Thailand to their restaurant quality dishes, all in a convenient frozen food item. As consumer demand for global inspired frozen meals continues to grow, the Deep Brands portfolio company is looking to continue expanding its retail footprint to deliver authentic cuisines.
“We created Tem Toa to make it easier for people to enjoy the bold flavors of Thailand at home," shared Kiernan Laughlin, General Manger of Deep Brands. "Since launching earlier this year, we've been excited to hear from many consumers that Tem Toa is as good as or better than takeout from their favorite Thai restaurant. Expanding into Whole Foods Market stores nationwide is a major milestone for the brand and an opportunity to introduce Tem Toa to more shoppers seeking to discover new restaurant-quality, premium global flavors. From traditional ingredients sourced directly from Thailand to recipes inspired by those found at local Thai restaurants, Tem Toa is making authentic Thai cuisine more accessible than ever.”
National Co+op Grocers Announces New Members & Storefront
Fare Share Food Co-op in Norway, ME and Greene Hill Food Co-op in Brooklyn, NY are the newest members of the National Co+op Grocers (NCG) organization. Approved by the NCG Board of Directors, the latest inductees bring the membership totals to169 member co-ops and 241 storefronts in 40 states. “We are thrilled to welcome Greene Hill and Fare Share Food Co-ops into the NCG network,” shared Dave Olson, Chief Membership Officer, at NCG. “Both of these co-ops worked diligently to meet the criteria to become NCG members, and we look forward to supporting them to continue their success."
Both co-ops operate in the Northeast area of the country, boasting significant growth numbers over several years of business:
- Greene Hill Food Co-op is a member-worker co-op in that serves the Clinton Hill, Bedford-Stuyvesant, and Fort Greene areas of Brooklyn, N.Y. Greene Hill opened in 2011. The co-op generated $1.5 million in annual sales in 2025 and averaged 28% growth over prior year.
- Fare Share Food Co-op opened in 1976 and operates out of a historic building the co-op owns on Main Street in downtown Norway, Maine. The co-op generated $941K in 2025, with 33.5% year-over-year sales growth.
Last September, NCG welcomed Salt Lake City’s first community-owned grocery store, Wasatch Food Co-op. In May 2026, the co-op announced its official grand opening and currently has over 2,000 member-owners. With its inauguration, it brought NCG’s total storefronts to 242.
