Natural product retailers help choose this year`s outstanding new

For the fourth year in a row, Vitamin
Retailer (VR) editors have sifted through
and discussed the thousands of press
releases we receive throughout the
year to come up with a list of Best
New Product candidates.
But that’s just the tip of the
iceberg—then, a pool of
retailers were asked to weigh
in on VR’s picks based on
movement they’re seeing in
their stores, along with what
they perceive as unique,
innovative, high quality and
filling a need. As if that
wasn’t enough, at times
retailers offered additional
items for consideration that the
VR team, may have missed.
Based on this feedback, the list
was whittled down to 10 top
products, which is what readers will
find highlighted here. This wouldn’t
have been possible without the eager
participation of some fantastic retailers, so a
big thank you to them, and, of course, a
hearty congratulations to the winning
manufacturers. And now, VR’s Best New
Products of 2011:
Natural product retailers help
choose this year’s
outstanding new products.
B
Y
J
A N E T
P
O V E R O M O
Super Earth Rainforest Animalz
Bluebonnet Nutrition Corporation
Sugar Land, TX • (800) 580-8866
Bluebonnet Nutrition has introduced a new line
of children’s whole food-based supplements
called Super Earth® Rainforest Animalz® for ages
3 and up. These kosher-certified, gluten-free
chewables provide important vitamins, minerals
and omega-3 fatty acids—plus powerful super
fruits and vegetables. There is no wheat/gluten,
dairy, fillers or artificial color/sweeteners. And, the
natural flavors taste so good, kids will never know that
Super Earth Rainforest Animalz contain all the fruits and
vegetables they love to hate because they are sweetened
with EarthSweet®, a nourishing blend of natural cane crystals and fruit juice concentrates from blueberry, cranberry,
prunes, cherry, strawberry, grape, raspberry and bilberry, as
well as grape seed and raspberry seed extracts.
When asked about this product, Debbie Jacob, coowner of Natural Reward Health Food Store in Pearland,
TX, first commented that Bluebonnet really stands by small
retailers. “We’ve waited for this for a long time. We have it
24 VITAMIN RETAILER
now and it is doing really well. The kids like it. The products don’t have all the junk. It stands out because there’s
no sugar added. It really is quality.”
Richard Jones, vitamin department manager with Country
Sun in Palo Alto, CA, said that the products are offered in
veggie caps, so “people are going bonkers for it.”
“I give credit to Bluebonnet for not necessarily breaking
new ground, but doing what a lot of other people have
tried, only better,” added Adam Stark of Debra’s Natural
Gourmet, (West Concord, MA), who is also the founder of
Adam Herbs herbal formulations.
WWW.VITAMINRETAILER.COM DECEMBER 2011
Eye Formula
Vita Logic Vitamins
Columbus, GA • (877) 426-7307
Vita Logic Vitamins’ therapeutic
Eye Formula was designed by a
team of researchers, scientists,
and medical and naturopathic
doctors to help protect the eyes
from damage and aging. It contains powerful minerals and
antioxidants, including zeaxanthin,
astazanthin, vitamin A, alphalipoic acid, lutein and bilberry.
Suitable for those who spend
prolonged hours at a computer
screen, in the sunlight and focusing at one distance, additional
benefits of the Vita Logic Eye Formula include nourishment
to help against degenerative concerns, supporting healthy
circulation, and antioxidant renewal and protection.
“Vision is a major sense we utilize daily to relate and survive, and vision health is dependent on vitamins, minerals,
healthy fats and antioxidants for protection, prevention,
maintenance and nourishment,” the company stated. “Our
eyes depend on vital nourishments to support the intricate
circulatory, nervous and ocular systems that provide healthy
and proper vision. The Vita Logic Eye Formula was uniquely
formulated with essential nutrients and antioxidants, plus
extra lutein, in a new vegetarian capsule to meet consumers’ demands for vision health and protection.”
Michael Hittner, owner of Family Natural Foods in
Wisconsin Rapids, WI, said the eye formula is “really fantastic. I’ve had a lot of good feedback. Customers said
their doctors told them their eye condition stopped progressing and the only thing that changed was they started
taking this product.”
Curamin P.M.
EuroPharma
Green Bay WI • (866) 598-5487
The best answer to the deadly
duo of pain and disturbed
sleep is a natural solution,
according to EuroPharma.
Curcumin, boswellia, DLPA,
P-5-P and melatonin combine
to make the most powerful
anti-inflammatory, pain relieving and sleep combination
one can find, said Terry
Lemerond, president and
founder of the company.
“These ingredients have been
proven time and again to be
highly effective and safe for extended use. They will benefit anyone who is suffering from sleep problems worsened
by pain, whether it is acute, sudden pain such as strain,
over exercising, sprains or any exercise induced injury; or
chronic pain from arthritis, migraine headaches, bursitis,
back pain or any recurring pain. As scientific research
shows, these ingredients are as effective (or more so) as
synthetic drugs and have no significant side effects.”
DECEMBER 2011 WWW.VITAMINRETAILER.COM
Jacob’s reaction to EuroPharma’s Curamin P.M. was
short, but powerful: “It’s awesome.”
“It has been a very good seller and a good product,”
added Hittner. “In addition, EuroPharma provides excellent store training.”
“The company explains the line very well,” Jones
chimed in. “The whole line is pretty terrific.”
Mitochondrial Basics with BioPQQ
Life Extension
Fort Lauderdale, FL • (888) 884-3657
The three ingredients that
make Life Extension’s
Mitochondrial Basics with
BioPQQ™ such an effective
product are:
• PQQ, or pyrroloquinoline
quinone. This breakthrough
micronutrient has recently
been shown to trigger mitochondrial biogenesis—the
growth of new mitochondria
in aging cells. PQQ also activates genes involved in protecting the delicate structures
within the mitochondria.
• R-lipoic acid. The detrimental effects of free radicals
comprise one of the chief
obstacles to optimal mitochondrial energy production. Published studies confirm
R-lipoic acid’s power to promote mitochondrial bioenergetics while simultaneously blunting free radical activity.
Mitochondrial Basics with BioPQQ contains the superior
Bio-Enhanced® R-lipoic acid and is in a proprietary
microencapsulated form for better absorption.
• Acetyl-L-carnitine arginate. Fats are shuttled into the
mitochondria for metabolic combustion by the amino acid
carnitine. The acetylated form of carnitine helps to facilitate more efficient utilization of fats than carnitine alone.
Shown to optimize energy production in the mitochondria.
Theo Kitschker, store manager at the Piscataway, NJbased Green Acres Health Food Store, said when you take
this supplement, “you will be full of energy … it’s really
good.” He added that the product is excellent when taken
with Life’s Extension’s established product Super Ubiquinol
CoQ10 with Enhanced Mitochondrial Support.
“One of the best items in the store,” Country
Sun’s Jones added.
Alpha-GPC
Jarrow Formulas
Los Angeles, CA • (310) 204-6936
Liquid Alpha GPC (also known as L-alpha glycerylphosphorylcholine and as glycerophosphatidylcholine) is a phospholipid metabolite
found concentrated in neuronal membranes.
Derived from lecithin, Liquid Alpha GPC is
extremely well absorbed and crosses the
blood brain barrier, according to the company.
The product supports brain function and
learning processes by directly supporting the
VITAMIN RETAILER 25
synthesis and
secretion of acetylcholine, and protects neurons and
improves signal
transmission by serving as a precursor to
membrane phospholipids.
“It’s great to get Alpha-GPC into a
form that can be delivered to people
who have trouble swallowing,” noted
retailer Stark.
According to Jones, “Because it’s a
liquid and from Jarrow, we had to get it
in the store.”
Medicinal Tea Line
Gaia Herbs Inc.
Brevard, NC
(800) 831-7780
Gaia Herbs now delivers
an impressive line of
medicinal teas, with each
cup delivering a delicious
taste experience as well
as daily wellness or fastacting support. The
unique tea blends support a variety of top
health needs: Cleanse &
Detox; Sleep & Relax; Gas & Bloating;
Natural Laxative; Diet Slim; Bronchial
Wellness; Herbal Digest.
Highlights:
• Uses EU Organic or Ecologically
Harvested herbs
• Blends of botanicals & freeze-dried
extracts
• Foil-lined pouch preserves flavor
and potency
• Unique formulas, each delicious and
aromatic
• No staples or glue used to
manufacture the tea bags
• Caffeine-free formulas
• Offers Meet Your Herbs™ traceability
on every package
• More tea bags per box (20 tea bags
per box vs. common 16-ct. size)
Entering the medicinal tea category
was a logical next step for Gaia and was
a concept that was validated through
market research conducted with more
than 2,000 consumers, according to the
company. To assist with the new line’s
speed-to-market, Gaia Herbs created a
manufacturing partnership with Tuscany,
Italy-based Aboca, the herbal supplement leader in more than 25,000
European pharmacies and health food
stores. Gaia chose to introduce tea
blend formulas that were top sellers in
the European market that complemented many of the company’s own top-selling products. Several new products are
already under development for launch in
2012, based on the success of the line.
“They are hands down the most
effective on the market,” said Stark.
CocoaWell Advanced CoQ10 Heart
Reserveage
Gainesville, FL • (800) 553-1896
Circle Reader Service #14
26 VITAMIN RETAILER
Harvard scientists have found that
cocoa consumption offers remarkable
benefits for health and longevity. Cocoa
has been shown to improve heart and
brain health, and provide mood-boostWWW.VITAMINRETAILER.COM DECEMBER 2011
ing and exceptional energy benefits.
CocoaWell is the first supplement formula to combine organic whole-food
cocoa with Pure Plant Flavanols in a
single serving. A recent study in the
British Medical Journal concluded that
cocoa consumption reduces the risk of cardio-metabolic disorders. However, researchers cautioned
that the standard delivery system—chocolate bars high in
sugar, fat and calories—can contribute to weight gain,
which creates additional health risk. CocoaWell provides
the equivalent antioxidant health benefits as eight dark
chocolate bars or 33 milk chocolate bars, but without the
sugar, fat, calories and cholesterol.
Reservage Organics’ CocoaWell line includes several
solid products—CocoaWell™
Maximum Potency Organic
Cocoa with 450mg of Pure Plant
Flavanols, CocoaWell CoQ10
Heart, which combines hearthealthy cocoa and pure plant
flavanols with high-potency
200mg serving of CoQ10, and
CocoaWell True Energy, which
produces a natural energy
boost within 30 minutes to an
hour—but the true stand out for
retailers is its Advanced CoQ10
Heart. Its exclusive green tea
and acacia catechu blend delivers benefits of catechin, epicatechin and EGCG.
“The Cocoa Well Advanced
CoQ10 is an awesome product. I’ve been taking CoQ10
for years. This is even better,” said Jones.
“Their products are wonderful,” said Jacob. “We carry
the whole line. After people try them, they really like them.”
Congest Eeze
Vitality Works
Albuquerque, NM • (505) 268-9950
Congest Eeze Liquid Caps by Vitality Works, a manufacturer
and private labeler, is a respiratory antimicrobial and decongestant formula for active congestion from colds, flu, sinus
infections, asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia and smokers’ congestion, according to Mitch Coven, medical herbalist after
15 years in clinical practice who based this gluten-free formula on accumulated clinical work. It is a powerful specific
lung white blood cell stimulant to help the lungs immediately address viral and bacterial conditions. It helps clear the
lungs of congestion to resolve lingering mucus that wants
and needs to be expelled. Congest Eeze bronchi-dilates,
relaxes the diaphragm and excites cilia in the lungs to expel
congestion—soothing a cough by making it productive.
The company uses a proprietary extraction and emulsification process to extract the full spectrum active compounds from 12 ethically wild harvested and certified
organic whole herbs, including osha root, yerba santa leaf,
lomatium root, garlic bulb, mullein leaf, thyme herb,
licorice root, echinacea purpurea flowering tops, wild cherry bark, ginger root and wild oregano oil. After a concentration phase, the extracted herbal paste is nitrogen fixed
while encapsulated in a veggie cap to prevent oxidation.
Omega Kids DHA Bubbles
Barlean’s
Ferndale, WA • (800) 445-3529
Bubble-shaped fish oil soft gels in a
delicious orange-cream flavor even
Willy Wonka would mistake for candy
drops. Barlean’s, all natural Omega
Kids DHA Bubbles™ pack 245mg of
omega-3 per serving and with such a
delectable taste, but surprisingly has
zero sugar.
They’re made with Barlean’s
renowned Fresh Catch™ fish oil and,
according to Owner Bruce Barlean,
“Compared to the competition, DHA
Bubbles offer the highest dosage of
omega-3 at the best price for a full 30- or 60-day supply.”
All Barlean’s Omega Kids products are a fun and delicious way to provide children with vital and essential
health benefits of omega-3.
“We just got them in and they are delicious. It’s a clean
product, and DHA is so important for children,” said
Jacob.
“I think it’s an interesting product that tastes very good,
too,” added Hittner.
28 VITAMIN RETAILER
“CongestEeze isn’t entirely revolutionary, but it’s great
to see legitimate cough ‘syrup’ in capsule form,” said
Stark. “It thins mucous, stills the cough reflex and has a little something to kick the infection out of the lungs.”
In addition to noting what a solid product Congest Eeze
is, Jones added that Vitality Works “is a great company.”
Gentle-Man
Herbalist and
Alchemist
Washington, NJ
(908) 689-9020
Herbalist &
Alchemist has
launched a new
David Winston
formula: GentleMan™ to Support
Mature Men’s
Emotional
Balance.
David Winston,
(2011 Best New Products continued on page 58)
WWW.VITAMINRETAILER.COM DECEMBER 2011