Read more about Sabinsa’s newest branded ingredient, Chilitenoids® on NPIcenter.com, follow this link to the news release http://www.npicenter.com/anm/templates/newsATemp.aspx?articleid=26654&zoneid=2

How Sweet it is…Imperial Sugar Company and PureCircle Limited (LSE-AIM:Pure) announced today the launch of Natural Sweet Ventures LLC (”Natural Sweet”), a joint venture created between one of the largest producers and marketers of refined sugar in North America and the global leader in the production of high purity stevia products. Read more

It is official: the 2010 panel of NutrAward judges nominated the following companies for best new ingredient and best finished product categories. Visit www.nutraconference.com for more information about the NutrAward or to register for the Nutracon, the premier pre-conference co-located with SupplyExpo.

Best New Ingredient*

1. FAST-C™, buffered and 90%+ acid neutralized Vitamin C, (patent pending)

Scientific Food Solutions

2. Cereboost™, American ginseng

Naturex

3. PromilinPRO®, A Patented Fenugreek Seed Extract

TSI Health Sciences

Best New Finished Product*

1. Nevella, probiotics no calorie sweeteners

Ganeden Biotech

2. Vectomega® whole food omega-3 DHA/EPA complex

EuroPharma® Inc.

3. VitaPQQ, pyrroloquinoline quinine

Quality of Life Labs

*alphabetical by product, not ranked in any order.

Voting begins the week of January 25, 2010.

Now the decision is up to you, the voters. Winners will be announced at Supply Expo, March 12-14 in Anaheim. Please vote at www.nutraward.com. You will need your Supply Expo (or Expo West) badge number to vote, so register now at www.Supplyexpo.com.

This is the time where innovative product development will set you apart from the competition. Innovation is the theme in which we have built the Nutracon 2010 agenda, understanding its importance in the industry today. I found this article in Progressive Grocer speaking to the importance of innovation for CPG growth, here’s a link to read for yourself.

Nutracon, is the premier conference for ingredient and technology innovation. Conference tracks include: Healthy Aging, Natural Sweeteners, Antioxidant Science, Weight Management & Obesity, Botanicals & Extracts, and Healthy Oils. Register before 2/5/10 at www.nutraconference.com/attend for an early bird rate. Dates: March 10-11, 2010, Anaheim, CA USA

Using Menu Psychology to Entice Diners published on 12/22 by the New York Times features closing plenary at Nutracon, Brian Wansink. “Research by Brian Wansink, director of the Food and Brand Lab at Cornell University and the author of “Mindless Eating: Why We Eat More Than We Think,” suggests that the average person makes more than 200 decisions about food every day, many of them unconsciously, including the choices made from reading menus.” Read more the full article http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/23/dining/23menus.html

Intrested in attending Nutracon, March 10-11, 2010 and co-located with SupplyExpo or for more information about the conference agenda visit www.nutraconference.com

Happy Holidays everyone! 2009 is almost over and with that I bring to you another list of predictions for 2010. This Top 10 for 2010 comes from our friends at Functional Ingredients Magazine. A few of note, Soothing and stirring flavours, Accentuate the positive with negatives, Supplements over drinks… intrigued yet, read more and get the in-depth scope from our editors on what will be hot in 2010. And as the article notes, let’s all be thankful we’re not in the auto industry this year.

As Thanksgiving day approaches, I’m sure all appreciate appericate some recent predictions regarding the state of the industry. Functional Ingredients reports “Demand for nutraceutical ingredients worldwide is projected to grow 6.2 per cent annually to $21.8 billion in 2013, when the entire global nutritional product industry will be valued at $236 billion.” Click here to read more. With that said, Happy Thanksgiving.

Exotic Functionals is looking like a key beverage category in the years ahead. I am especially interested in the cocktails…anyone tried one (or several)? Were they good? Did they work? I’d really like to know!

Some news from our friends at NBJ….

Nutrition Business Journal is hosting the annual Nutrition Industry & Supplement Business Overview Webinar on Thursday, August 20, at 11 a.m. MDT. Registering for this Webinar is a great opportunity for your customers and clients to get the bottom line on the topics, issues, and changes that took place during 2008 in the nutrition industry. Find out more, click here.

As reported by NPIcenter today- U.S. Nutrition Industry Grows 8.7% in 2008, Nutrition Business Journal Research Shows. Click here to read more and let’s all take a moment to enjoy some good news in these down times!