Natural Factors brings back ECHINAMIDE Buy-In

Prepare now for the cold and flu season and win. Natural Factors annual ECHINAMIDE Buy-In has an exciting twist for 2010. When retailers place any ECHINAMIDE Buy-In order before Dec 31, 2010, they will be entered to win $5,000 cash.

The draw will be made on January 15, 2011 and the winner will be announced in CNHR's March/April issue. Ask your Natural Factors sales rep or call the Natural Factors customer service desk for complete contest details. •

Industry friends remember Al Cooper

Industry friends and colleagues gathered recently to celebrate the life of Al Cooper. He passed away on March 31, at home with his wife Joy by his side.

Al worked at Ontario Natural Food Co-op as an outside sales representative in the south west Ontario region for 10 years. In 2004, Al was recognized with the prestigious Jack Gahler Award for Excellence in Outside Sales.

Friends and co-workers alike say they were blessed to have known this cheerful, upbeat man who built a wonderful reputation for himself while touching those around him with his bright light. A highlight for Al was working with the Health First Network on their flyer programs. Al was a trusted friend to his retail customers, and they were family to him. •

Hyla Cass addresses women's health issues

Canadian-born Dr. Hyla Cass attracted over 400 people when she recently spoke on the topic of women's health during two stops in Ontario's near north. Dr. Cass's tour, sponsored by Preferred Nutrition, included stops in Huntsville and Bracebridge. The lectures were hosted and promoted by natural retail stores The Great Vine in Huntsville and Muskoka Natural Food Market in Bracebridge.

Dr. Cass is one of the United States' foremost authors and speakers on the subject of integrative medicine. A former assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at UCLA School of Medicine, she has incorporated nutrition and natural health techniques into her practice for more than 20 years. With a private practice in Pacific Palisades, CA, she uses an integrated approach in her evaluation and treatment of individuals with a wide variety of problems.

Along with authoring several natural health books, she also appears regularly as an expert in the field, on radio, TV (including The Dr. Oz Show, The View and MSNBC), and in numerous major newspapers and magazines. •

Good Health Mart buys six Planet Organic, Healthy's stores

The Good Health Mart has purchased six Healthy's and Planet Organic Living stores in the greater Toronto area for an undisclosed amount. The deal was completed March 17. The stores are located in Burlington, Brampton, Milton, Mississauga, Guelph and Toronto.

Nordic Naturals named exporter of the year by US export magazine

Nordic Naturals received a 2010 Exporter of the Year award from ThinkGlobal Inc., publisher of Commercial News USA, the official export promotion magazine of the U.S. Commerce Department.

PGX studies available

The efficacy of PGX has been the subject of over a dozen human clinical studies. A published human tolerance study conducted on 60 subjects showed PGX to be a safe and effective product under the test conditions (approved by French health authorities), and a published genotoxicity study further proves the safety of PGX. The studies were conducted in Australia, Canada and France, on hundreds of subjects over numerous weeks.  For more information and to read the abstracts from these four studies, visit naturalfactors.com •

New VP at Horizon Group

Terri Newell new VP at Horizon Group

Terri Newell has been named vice president of the Horizon Group of Companies. Terri joined Horizon Distributors, the cornerstone of the Horizon Group in 1991, and has served as the company's general manager for the past decade.  Terri's recent achievements include planning a new 150,000 sq. ft., "built-to-suit" distribution centre in South Burnaby, BC; and overseeing the seamless transition of three subsidiary business operations into the new facility. In her new role, Terri will support the president's work with the regional, subsidiary distributors across Canada. Additionally, she will continue to liaise with financial institutions and investors; develop budgets and operational plans; and oversee operational structures across the Horizon Group. Terri will also continue to serve as the general manager of Horizon Distributors.  She can be reached at: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it •

Matt LeBeau launches marketing agency

Matt LeBeau, an organic food industry veteran of 15 years, has launched LeBeau Advance Ltd., a national sales and marketing agency. The new firm will partner with manufacturers and branding firms to assist in brand management, sales execution, market analysis, marketing plans and many other value-added activities in the natural, organic, specialty food, HABA, and NHP categories.

Matt's industry experience includes senior positions with Puresource Inc., SunOpta Distribution and his involvement with the Organic Council of Ontario. LeBeau Advance, which already has contracts with Uncle Lee's Teas and Popcorn Indiana, is headquartered in Guelph, ON, within the Orchard Park Office Centre, a 500 acre certified organic property, which recently started an incubator unit for businesses focused on alternative and sustainable land use. You can reach Matt at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or by phone at 519/841-8155.

Ottawa’s Rainbow Foods becomes Certified Green

By Delia Carnide

Since they first opened Rainbow Natural Foods in Ottawa, ON 30 years ago, Janet and Michael Kaplan have been guided by the concepts of environmental sustainability and social responsibility.  They started the “bring your own bag” initiative long before it became fashionable and trendy, says Janet.