The Canada Organic Trade Association (COTA) held its annual 2024 Organic Leadership Awards on April 2, 2024. The evening gala celebrated the 15th anniversary of Canada regulating organic products, and honouring innovators and visionaries of the organic industry.

The Pantry Natural Foods, Mission, BC, turned 50 this year. It was founded in 1974 by Jenne and Harold Greger and is now owned and managed by their daughter Margot Greger.

While the world has slowly but steadily recovered from the fallout of COVID-19 pandemic, retailers are still dealing with its aftereffects—specifically from a phenomenon called “rent-flation.”

Have you ever wondered about the trillions of microbes that inhabit your body? Understanding this vast universe inside us—known as the microbiome—is revolutionizing our health. Far from outdated, purely negative models of microbes, the research is accelerating in its understanding of how these tiny organisms are pivotal not only to human health but also to the health of our planet.

Retailers were encouraged to participate and share their experiences in an “idea exchange” during a retailer roundtable at CHFA NOW Vancouver 2024.

When it comes to purchasing natural health products, the journey of a first-time buyer differs significantly from that of a repeat customer. Understanding these differences is crucial for both retailers and manufacturers when developing effective marketing plans and ensuring customer loyalty.

Purity Life Health Products is excited to be celebrating 40 years of enriching lives as Canada’s largest natural health product distributor. The team at Purity Life is committed to fostering innovation, leading industry trends, and remaining a reliable partner in assisting the growth of their vendor, broker, and retailer partners.

NOW Health Group has announced its 2024 consumer and trade campaign. This campaign will include online, print, video, social, email, and in-store retail activations, and will run the second quarter of 2024. The campaign discusses the 19,000 product tests that NOW conducts per month.

Earlier, Puresource announced that it has been selected to manage the distribution, sales, and marketing of the Bio-Strath brand in Canada. As part of the agreement, Puresource will be the exclusive Canadian distributor for Bio-Strath.  

In a bid to sow the seeds of environmental consciousness among Canadian children and their families, the Plant a Seed & See What Grows Foundation has initiated a seed preservation program to promote seed biodiversity and ecological seed production, and to keep seeds in the public domain.

Health Canada is introducing new front-of-pack labelling changes that will come into effect in January 2025.

 Gather your clubs and fellow teammates for a day of friendly competition and networking amid the stunning greens of Lionhead Golf Club.

In February, CHFA's Industry Night Out in Calgary brought together nearly 100 retailers, health practitioners, manufacturers, and businesses operating in the natural, organic and wellness (NOW) space.

Melanie Vacquier has been appointed key account manager, supporting health food stores across Canada. And Nicholas Bright has joined Bioforce Canada as key account manager for grocery, drug, and mass accounts.