Researchers from the University of Colorado found that consumption of Marigot’s Aquamin, also known as calcium supplementation, could possibly prevent reduced bone density for post-menopausal women. Aquamin also includes magnesium and 72 other trace minerals.

The study analyzed exercise-associated calcium level and PTH levels affected in women post-menopause. A total of 33 women between the ages of 57 and 65 were divided into two groups and given sports drink supplements with calcium.

The results suggested that calcium supplements kept calcium levels high and PTH levels low, increasing bone re-absorption when consumed an hour before exercising. If supplements were taken 15 minutes before exercising, the results were not as effective.

(xanax)

VIVA Magazine sponsored the National Women’s Show – Toronto at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre from Nov. 7 to Nov. 9! Plus, VIVA was accompanied by Canadian supermodel Stacey McKenzie for her presentation, “Dream, Believe & Persevere,” which took place at 3:30 p.m on Friday, as well as her other talks that took place over the weekend at Centre Stage, featuring “Work What You Got!” at 3:45 p.m. on Saturday and “Channeling Your Inner Supermodel!” at 3:45 p.m. on Sunday.

Thanks for a fantastic Women’s Show, Stacey, and thank you to everyone who made it out!

Vega has been named London Drugs’ Vendor of the Year in the health and beauty category as part of the retailer’s Partnership Presentation.

In a letter from London Drugs, Clint Mahlman, executive vice president and chief operating officer, states, “Every year, as part of our annual Partnership Presentation, London Drugs recognizes a select group of vendor-partners who are helping us to meet the rapidly evolving needs of our customers and exceed their expectations. Your organization’s commitment to innovation, service and collaboration have been exceptional this past year. We are therefore pleased to recognize Vega as the recipient of the 2014 Outstanding Partner of the Year Award in the Health category.”

According to the letter, the award is given to a company that demonstrates excellence in total sales volume and/or percentage of total sales volume dollar growth, total gross margin achieved and/or percentage increase in gross margin dollars, innovative technology and design, innovative marketing and a company that pairs up well with the London Drugs Management Group.

“Vega had won Vendor of the Year for the Health category, which is given to the vendor in each category who has excellent growth and shows willingness to partner with great ideas,” says Marieve Tardif, PR specialist at Vega. “Our LD account team is amazing at building relationships and coming up with ideas and executing them.”

Seattle-based company Theo Chocolate has debuted a new ingredient for Theo Innovations called Violetamine, extracted from cocoa with high levels of polyphenols and theobromine. It also contains cocoa flavanols and epicatechins of a level higher than any other chocolate product in the market.

“There are a variety of health benefits that are supported by the scientific literature. The benefit with the most scientific support is cardiovascular health and the elasticity of arteries,” Theo Innovations Vice President Stefan Wypyszyk told NutraIngredients-USA. “There is also support for improving cholesterol and for vasodialation.”

Violetamine contains a xanthine alkaloid called theobromine that helps to stimulate heart rate. Theobromine works alongside flavanols to regulate blood pressure by creating a vasodilating effect.

Nutregrity, a division under Omega Protein, has also been marketing the same ingredient as Cocoanol, Wypyszyk told NutraIngredients-USA. 

Land Art has hired Joanne Badgley as its new Ontario Territory Manager. Joanne has worked in the natural health industry for over 15 years as a store manager and sales representative, including at Body Plus. Joanne has developed extensive knowledge of the industry from the ground up.

Congratulations on your new role, Joanne!

Thrive Market, an online store selling organic and natural foods, home and personal care products launched on Nov. 3 for customers in the U.S. However, this e-commerce site is making waves due to its yearly membership fee, which allows consumers to buy their favourite health foods at prices that are 25 to 50 per cent lower than retail.

Shoppers sign up for a membership that costs $59.95 annually, allowing them access to over 2,500 health foods and products that are delivered to their door, as long as they reside in the continental U.S.

In addition, for health-conscious shoppers who may not otherwise be able to afford the yearly membership cost of the service, the company’s Thrive Gives campaign offers a free membership for one lower-income family for every paid membership.

According to the 2014 Holiday Shopping Behavior Survey from Simon Malls, 89 per cent of millennials who plan to buy one or more gifts this holiday season will do their shopping at a mall.

According to the same survey, 83 per cent of all consumers also plan on doing their holiday shopping at the mall.

“As today’s technology-savvy millennials clearly know, there’s just no substitute for the inspiration and sense of discovery that malls provide,” Mikael Thygesen, Simon Malls CMO, told FierceRetail. “The wide variety of shopping options is a major mall attraction as they search for that perfect gift for family members, friends and co-workers.”

According to the survey, nine out of 10 people said that malls have the latest styles of the season, while the same number said the mall allows them to browse various places for gift ideas. 85 per cent of survey members said shopping malls provide a wide variety of retail options.

The survey also mentions that 76 per cent of millennials and 72 per cent of Generation X members will do research online before going to a store to do their shopping. 53 per cent of shoppers prefer to shop at stores with applications, and 51 per cent look to compare prices using their mobile devices.

Supplement retailer GNC’s new CEO Michael Archbold told investors that the company will bring in more functional foods, such as nut butters, healthy snacks and natural sweeteners, as well as organic and vegetarian products.

“We’re going to be offering far more plant-based and nature-based proteins in our store. We believe this is the start of us being able to focus on taking care of both the consumer we’ve got, who wants to proceed with nature-based proteins and plant-based proteins, but also a customer that we don’t have and to be able to attract that customer in,” said Archbold, as reported by NutraIngredients-USA.

“So what you’ll see, if you go into our store, is a number of products so that our proteins have now been expanded to include soy, hemp, pea, rice and blends of all of the above, and include national brands such as Garden of Life, Vega and SPIRU-TEIN. So these will all play an important role as we continue to grow and expand our customer base,” said Archbold.

However, Archbold also mentioned that the company would continue with its focus on sports nutrition, which he said represents 45 per cent of the company’s sales.

GNC experienced a 2.7 per cent decrease to $656.3 million in consolidated revenue, compared to the same period in 2013. However, the results also indicated the cost involved with changing management, which worked out to $7.5 million for the company.

The Competition Bureau has approved the sale of 10 Shoppers Drug Mart locations to McKesson and Pharmasave, as a portion of a condition of Loblaw’s takeover of the pharmacy.

Seven of the 10 Shoppers locations will be sold to independent pharmacists in Ontario and Alberta that operate under the McKesson banner. The three locations that will go to Pharmasave are located in Atlantic Canada.

In order to fulfill its requirement by the Competition Bureau, Loblaw must still sell four locations to complete the transaction. Earlier this year, Loblaw sold 14 stores and nine in-store pharmacies.

“Competition generally leads to lower prices for consumers, as well as more consumer choice, a wider range of service options and increased innovation,” said the Competition Bureau in a statement.

Duane Keizs has been Empire Health’s new Director of Sales since September 2014. Duane brings over 17 years of international and domestic experience to this role, most recently as the Director of Sales at Peak Performance Products.

Since starting in the new role, Duane has made several advancements on behalf of his company. In September, he attended CHFA East on behalf of Empire Health and used that time to secure orders with key retailers, met all of Empire’s major suppliers and traveled with the company’s Ontario regional sales representative to conduct product presentations.

In October, Duane listed the new superfood VERDA with natural health retailers in Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia, secured an Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey promotional deal with a major sports nutrition retailer chain, realigned the company’s return policy, order entry, back order procedure and sales reporting and also introduced the new CRM program. Duane also interviewed potential new staff members for the Alberta and Ontario regions and provided his sales team with key influencer contacts within the natural health channel.

Duane’s upcoming plans for the year including hiring and providing orientation for Ontario and Alberta sales staff members, initiating brand planning for 2015, streamlining the company’s portfolio and making recommendations to the company President.  He will also draft the company’s monthly goals for 2015 and develop a contest for the sales team, work with Finance and Operations departments to help with efficiencies as it relates to the sales team, assist the sales team with planning 2015 promotions with key sports nutrition retailers, list natural health SKUs with key influencers in the vegan superfood and pain management categories, and hire a new outside sales representative for Quebec.

Congratulations on your new position, Duane!