Transparency is big these days, especially in our industry. Millions of U.S. shoppers are drawn to natural and organic products in the first place because they want to know exactly what’s in their food, how companies are treating the environment and how growers are compensated. In general, I’d say “transparency”...
A look back at the passing of DSHEA 20 years ago, and what we can learn from it today. Part One of a Seven-Part Series on Natural Success Stories This story is dedicated to the memory of Rae Howard, cofounder of Good Earth Natural Foods in Utah, who cared deeply...
On October 7, 1994, in the late evening hours, the Senate passed the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) by unanimous consent. It took months and months of intense effort by retailers to rally a grassroots campaign among shoppers who feared their supplements would become unavailable. It also took...
Insight into the botanicals that are captivating dementia research groups. Five million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease, the most prevalent form of dementia (1). Millions of others are dealing with other types of dementia and countless others do not yet know their “forgetfulness” is something much worse. Dementia, a...
The past five years has been a busy time in the natural products industry. Here are some key issues that have developed since 2009, and had profound effects on the industry. Commenting on these issues are WholeFoods columnists Richard A. Passwater, Ph.D., author of Vitamin Connection; Legal Tips writer Scott Tips, president of Natural Health Federation; and Merchandising Insights author Jay Jacobowitz, founder of Retail Insights.
This issue of WholeFoods has been on my mind for months. It’s WholeFoods Magazine’s 30th anniversary of ownership under the Wainer Family, and I wanted to make the coverage special. As I started researching the story of how WholeFoods came to be, I realized there was a gaping hole in...
Contract manufacturers talk about quality and innovation.Cue 1970s game show music! “Manufacturer #1 loves to make probiotics and has over 50 years of research experience in the field. Manufacturer #2 hails from the West Coast and recently invested in a handsome new 120,000-ft2 facility. Finally, Manufacturer #3 not only can...
What you need to know about the growing spices, herbs and salts market.Your mission: Make a 30-minute meal from scratch that’s flavorful, unique and cost-effective without piling on unhealthy fats, sweeteners or too much sodium. Your secret weapon? Herbs and spices! Whether it’s as common as cinnamon or as adventurous...
The thing I hate most about visiting the doctor is being reduced to a number. In the race to get to the next patient, far too many physicians scan the “high” or “low” column of a lab report, not even caring to look at the numbers within the range or...
Demand for natural products is as strong as ever, according to data collected in the 36th Annual WholeFoods Retailer Survey. Independent stores that participated in this year’s survey had a strong showing in 2013, selling a combined $741 million throughout their more than 1.24 million ft2 of total retail space.
