They say it takes all kinds to make the world go round. This goes especially for the natural and organic industry, which is filled with diverse characters, each with a unique niche. Whether they’re wearing crazy hats, lab coats, hemp shoes or business suits, together, they form a community. Make...
Hot regulatory/legislative issues for 2013 and how to get your voice heard about them.The pressure is on. You are charged with making an important decision about an issue that affects millions of people. Worse, you’re really not well versed on all its complex potential ramifications. Wouldn’t it be great to...
How anti-aging personal care products help preserve moisture and smoothness.For some, growing old gracefully means proudly sporting strands of gray and championing laugh lines as signs of a life well lived. Others, however, take a “turn back the clock” approach. For this group, products that support healthy skin and hair...
December and January aren’t just times for celebrating and making resolutions; these months are prime time for predicting the happenings of the coming year. Many times, projections are positive and kind of fun. I heard from one company (Sensient Flavors) that 2013 flavor trends could include the sweet and smoky...
How diet and lifestyle choices can maintain bone and joint health.Minor aches and pains are normal parts of life. But chronic pain and stiffness that stops us from doing the things we love aren’t. Here, we cover the many ways to strengthen the body’s support system via nutritional and lifestyle...
Eureka!, we thought. We had a great idea on our hands: a brand new way for the industry to access key information at its fingertips. We brainstormed, interviewed vendors (and more vendors), hammered out the fine details and away we went into the brave new world of product development. Now,...
Companies can take advantage of new packaging and labeling techniques to spread their messages in stores.With the market now saturated with interesting and appealing natural products, it is imperative to stand out. You could try to have sales reps standing in every aisle of every natural store to highlight the...
What raw material suppliers are predicting could affect industry in 2013 and beyond.Will 2013 be a good year for the natural products industry? And, how will 2012’s hottest issues like GMOs affect the new year from a business standpoint? In this feature, WholeFoods goes right to the source via interviews...
How did you feel after you learned California’s Proposition 37 (which would have been the first state requirement to label genetically modified organisms, or GMOs) failed? While the anti-Prop 37 crowd breathed a sigh of relief and did a happy dance, its supporters went through the five stages of mourning.
While some retail sectors are making the best of stagnant or declining sales, the natural/organic industry is a standout. Natural and organic products retailers hold a unique place in the lives of consumers. Even if shoppers have less financial security than they did in years past, there’s no lack of...
