Good Health Mart meeting brings training opportunities

The Ontario-based Good Health Mart group of stores held its third annual Supplier Meeting in Port Severn in late May. Above, franchisees and store managers – along with owners Eunice and Murray McMahon – took a moment between meetings to gather outside Rawley Lodge. GHM attendees were treated to training and updates from select suppliers. "We want to thank the four suppliers who participated – SISU, New Chapter, Natural Factors and Prairie Naturals," said Eunice. The event is important to GHM, explained Murray. "Staff appreciates the training and opportunity to learn about the new products from the suppliers." •

Three Three new products from Natural Factors

CurcuminRich Turmeric Root 300 mg

The curcumin molecule has several different actions. This seems to be the key to curcumin's potent effects in chronic degenerative disorders, which often have multiple pathways of dysfunction that converge to cause disease. For example, research shows curcumin can regulate numerous pathways that have been linked to inflammatory diseases, including transcription factors, cytokines, protein kinases, adhesion molecules, redox status, and enzymes.

Stress-Relax Magnesium Citrate Powder 300 mg

This berry-flavoured powder is an effective source of easily absorbed magnesium. Magnesium helps the body metabolize carbohydrates, fats and proteins. It also helps in the maintenance of bones and teeth, in tissue formation, and to maintain proper muscle function. Insufficient magnesium may contribute to stress, trouble sleeping, and muscle tension.

PGX Daily Satisfast

Natural Factors PGX SATISFAST Whey Protein combines the health and weight loss benefits of two exceptional products; clinically proven PGX (PolyGlycopleX®) and 100% natural whey protein. Available in French Vanilla and Chocolate.

www.naturalfactors.com

COTA announces Organic Week

Celebrations planned for September

The Canadian Organic Trade Association, with Canadian Organic Growers, is excited to announce Canada's third annual National Organic Week, a time to celebrate healthy food, safe environments and sustainable family farms and products from September 22 to 29. This year's celebration of "All Things Organic" is a great opportunity for the organic community in Canada to come together, and for retailers in particular to engage with the public. Over the last two years, Organic Week has featured events at the local, regional and national level, with 28 company sponsors and hundreds of participating retailers, chefs and public events.

There are many ways to get involved, and it costs nothing to come up with a great Organic Week idea or event. In the past, participating retailers have used Organic Week as a backdrop to a new front store display profiling organic products; organic food and drink samplings; organic garden workshops and even organized mini-farmers markets.

The Organic Week graphic banner, logo, and supporting materials (posters, shelf wobblers, info-sheets or consumer materials) are shared with participating retailers. All participating retailers are listed on the official Organic Week website (www.organicweek.ca) and events listings directories, and promoted through social media.

If you are a retailer and would like to be involved, please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Remember to visit Organic Week's website (www.organicweek.ca) to find out about upcoming organic events and activities in your area.

Industry couple helping to feed orphans with organics

Dale and Linda Bolton are doing some amazing things through their Natural Calm product line to help feed African orphans, by teaching organic farming and providing nutritional education.  They are accomplishing great things, but could use more support from our industry. Please take a minute to visit www.organics4orphans.org and see what they are doing.

ONFC tabletop event

Second annual ONFC tabletop event: June 1 & 2

It worked so well last year, it's happening again.  The Ontario Natural Food Coop (ONFC) is holding another tabletop show, promising, "exceptional summer and fall deals for your customers, entertainment, prizes, giveaways, and exceptional people."

ONFC vendors will be out in full-force, offering retailers a chance to sample new organic and local food, and some great tabletop deals, too. Every retailer attendee will receive a free "swag bag." There will be giveaways, and a chance to spin to win prizes, including spa packages, admission to the Rising Stars seminars, electronics and more.

There's a free organic/local lunch, and a perfect opportunity to have some great conversations with ONFC staff and vendors. In addition, there will be entertainment all day.

The tabletop show is taking place at the ONFC head office, 5685 McLaughlin Rd. Mississauga ON. on Friday June 1 from 11am to 5pm and on Saturday June 2 from 10am to 5pm. For more information, please go to onfc.ca •

Sangster's wins provincial business award

Sangster's Health Centres has won the North Saskatchewan Business Association's (NSBA) New Direction Award.

The New Direction Business Award is presented to a NSBA business that identifies and pursues a new business idea. Sangster's Health Centres won this award based on its pursuit of integrating its own manufacturing facility – Canadian Bio – into daily operations. This vertical integration of Canadian Bio is invaluable as Sangster's can now control the quality of its own products, make special runs if product is needed quickly, and give customers a better price on Sangster's brand of products.

Sangster's Health Centres opened its first store in 1971 in Yorkton, Sk. Today, Sangster's has 37 locations across Canada, with its head office based in Saskatoon. •

Retailer Forum

Two new programs from CNHR will help put retailers together to discuss and solve common issues

I want to introduce two new initiatives from CNHR to provide this option: The CNHR Retailer Forum and the CNHR Retailer Mentorship Program.

The Retailer Forum will be on our website, cnhr.ca. Here's how it works: if you have a question, problem or concern, post it on the Retailer Forum on cnhr.ca. I invite all other retailers to offer their thoughts, solutions, ideas, etc. to the posed question.

It also works in reverse: if you have a tip, an idea or good-news story other retailers can learn from, post it. Hopefully, the Retailer Forum will result in lots of interaction and conversation between retailers, and loads of problem solving and information exchange. You can go to Retailer Forum on cnhr.ca. to check it out.

The Mentorship Program will require experienced, established retailers who are willing to share and serve as a mentor to newer, less experienced retailers one-on-one. I will put people together, and let you do your own thing.

Please email me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it if you fall into either of these groups: if you're either looking for help or if you're willing to help.

Everyday, you are sharing your vast product knowledge with consumers in your stores. I am hopeful many of you will be as generous with your business knowledge in helping your fellow retailers across the country. •.

Sequel Naturals changes its company name to Vega

Sequel Naturals re-brands, company now known as Vega the same name as its best-selling line.

After careful consumer research, Team Vega noted that its internationally-recognized Vega brand has earned customers' trust as a leader in clean nutrition. By aligning the entire family of brands under the single Vega name, the company hopes to create more consistency within the brands, increase in-store brand recognition and make the entire line of products more easily-recognizable to consumers.

Health First Network AGM

The recent Health First Conference in Calgary offered a number of excellent presentations, including these two from alive associate publisher Rick Kroetsch and Top Drawer Creative's founder Howard Chang. Here are some high points from their presentations.

The ideal health food customer is "The Evolved Consumer"

During his presentation at the Health First Network AGM in Calgary, Howard Chang, president and founder of Toronto's Top Drawer Creative, told a gathering of natural health retailers that their ideal customer is the "evolved consumer." And he provided insight on how retailers can find this person, and then sell to them.

David Chapman honoured by industry friends, co-workers

November 17 was a special night for David Chapman, founder and past-president of Purity Life Health Products. It was his official retirement party, and it was a well-attended gathering, which included David's family, co-workers, former employees, vendors, retailers and other industry friends.

It was also a night to honour David's wife and partner in business, Elyse Chapman.