The NZ Natural Products Summit is the annual gathering of company owners and senior managers involved in the manufacture, marketing or supply of natural products including: nutraceuticals; complementary medicines; cosmeceuticals/nutricosmetics; skincare and perfumes; functional foods; and ingredients, services and retailers that support the industry.

21 March 2012:
Team Kart Competition with Off Road NZ
Alaron Products Cocktail Function

22 March 2012
NZ Natural Products Summit – Distinction Hotel Rotorua
Annual Gala Dinner and Industry Awards – Redwoods Forest

23 March 2012
NZ Natural Products Summit – Day 2

Download the Summit programme now!
NZ Natural Products Summit 2012 Programme

Michelle Palmer, Executive Director of Natural Products New Zealand says that the industry has been working towards this for some time and believes it will bring benefits to both manufacturers and consumers.

NPNZ – Natural products industry welcomes regulation

The leaders of the natural products industry were recognised at the 10th Natural Products Summit in Nelson in April 2011.

The annual awards, held by Natural Products New Zealand and sponsored by, James & Wells Intellectual Property and the Cawthron Institute, acknowledge individuals and companies who have made a significant contribution to the industry.

Natural Products New Zealand executive director, Michelle Palmer, said despite the ongoing challenges with the New Zealand and international economies the natural products industry in New Zealand continues to thrive.
“The industry has undergone much change and growth in the past few years even in the face of a global economic crisis and is now a significant contributor to the New Zealand economy with export earnings of an estimated NZ$1billion annually.  

“Greater than NZ’s organics and biotechnology sectors combined, the NZ natural products/bioactives industry is now even larger than the NZ wool industry,” says Mrs Palmer.

“The Awards recognise just some of the outstanding achievements reached through determination and innovation.”

Easiyo Products Ltd, the biggest home-made yoghurt brand in the world, won the Natural Products New Zealand Exporter of the Year award.  
Currently 75% of the company’s products are exported to Australia, the USA, the United Kingdom and most recently, Italy. Despite increased milk powder prices and currency devaluation EasiYo has seen an export growth of 3% in NZ dollars and 19% in GB Pounds over the last year which is attributed to a significant expansion of the Foodservice Division, supported by brand investment.

This year’s James & Wells Intellectual Property Excellence in Marketing Award winner was M J Health Ltd for its Dr Wendy’s skincare range, New Zealand’s only completely plant based natural skin care product.  

For a minimal investment, MJ Health achieved significant growth (20%) in sales based on an intensive social media marketing campaign.  MJ Health’s owner, Dr Wendy Maddocks-Jennings says that from a small business perspective using tools such as Facebook, Twitter and blogs has enabled the company to reach into their key markets – UK, Hong Kong and Malaysia – to access more customers than they would not have otherwise connected with.

 The Cawthron Innovation in Science & Technology Award went to Seperex Nutritionals Ltd for the research and development innovations for two bioactive marine extracts, BioLex® and BioLex-Plus®.

Two proprietary manufacturing processes were developed to extract high levels of an anti-inflammatory/analgesic  marine oil from New Zealand green lipped mussels which can be used for joint mobility and pain management as well as alleviating the symptoms of eczema and dermatitis.

Seperex Nutritionals developed methods to separate and concentrate bioactive lipid amides while maintaining bioactivity. The company tested their methods in pilot scale and successfully scaled up production to commercial scale.

Two awards were presented to individuals Christine Acres and Phil Rasmussen who were recognised for their outstanding contribution to the New Zealand natural products industry. 

Christine Acres, who is currently operations manager at SeaDragon Marine Oils, has worked in various capacities in the sector including technical, production, operations, laboratory, quality and compliance.   She has lent her support to the industry through serving on the Natural Products New Zealand Board and various organisational committees over several years, contributing many hours of personal time for the benefit of the NZ industry.

Medical herbalist, Phil Rasmussen is managing director of Phytomed Medicinal Herbs which produces premium herbal medicines for qualified health practitioners.  Phil is dedicated to increasing the amount of raw materials used by New Zealand manufacturers and has supported local growers, wild-harvesters and farmers to grow the body of primary producers who supply the natural products industry. 
As a committee member for the NZ Association of Medical Herbalists, Phil has spent many years committed to assisting the development of the industry.

The Industry Awards capped off the tenth annual NZ Natural Products Summit which was formally opened by Member of Parliament Craig Foss standing in for the Minister of Trade, Hon Tim Groser, and was attended by natural health specialists, research organisations, government agencies, big and small manufacturers and marketers including brand leaders like Healtheries, Comvita, Red Seal, Blackmores,  Manuka Health, and Lifestream International.

Awards Winners’ Summary:

Natural Products New Zealand Exporter of the Year Award : Easiyo Products Ltd
James & Wells Intellectual Property Excellence in Marketing Award : M J Health Ltd
The Cawthron Innovation in Science & Technology Award : Seperex Nutritionals Ltd
Outstanding contribution to the New Zealand natural products industry : Christine Acres and Phil Rasmussen

The 2011 industry event commences with the Alaron Products Cocktail Function on Wednesday 13 April; flows through the day of Thursday 14 April with enlightening and educating international and NZ speakers; to the evening and the sparkling 10th Annual Gala Dinner with industry awards.
On the 15th of April there are marketing and science based seminars and the opportunity for more great networking.

The 2011 NZ Natural Products Summit is the industry’s 10th Anniversary Summit.

Download the programme now: NPNZ Summit Program Updated March 2011

Venues:
Rutherford Hotel, Nelson
WOW – World of Wearable Arts Museum, Nelson

For more information on the Summit contact info@naturalproductsnz.org

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19 New Zealand Companies showcased their products at Natural Products Expo West at the Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim, CA in March 2011.

Our companies represented a wide range of industries, from organic food to cosmeceuticals to nutraceuticals.  Follow our Twitter handle @NPNZ to get the lastest on news and events from New Zealand companies interested in the US market, and to keep up to date with special events at ExpoWest.

From the Expo Floor

New Zealand hosted the Welcome Reception at Expo West!

New Zealand hosted the official kick off party for ExpoWest on Thursday night from 6.00pm – 8.00pm. Outside the Palm Court, guests enjoyed New Zealand  food, wine, music, and were introduced to some amazing products and ingredients from New Zealand.

A Maori dance group performed a number of sets to get the crowd going including the Haka! Relive the event and check out the VIDEO.

New Zealand Companies that attended ExpoWest 2011

Media Links and Additional Info

Northcote based Lifestream International Ltd took out the major award of Auckland Exporter of the Year (for total sales under $35 million) at the Air NZ Cargo Auckland Export Awards event held at the Langham Hotel last Friday evening.

Lifestream’s International Sales and Export Manager Harvie Graham accepted the award from the awards sponsor Mr. Ross Chapman of QBE Insurance. This is the second major export award Lifestream has won in two consecutive years – Last year Lifestream won the Natural Products NZ Exporter of the Year award.

Mr Graham said that the whole Lifestream team was “over the moon” to have won such a prestigious export award against such quality competition but put the win down to a great brand coupled with a fantastic team spirit from an incredibly export focused company (Lifestream already exports over 65% of it’s products to over 20 countries worldwide such as Australia, the UK, Sweden, Iceland, Czech Republic, Holland, Finland, China, Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Taiwan and Thailand).

In what has been a couple of very tough years for exporters the team at Lifestream were able to grow the companies overall export sales by 18%.

In 2009 Lifestream opened up three new export markets (China, Greece and Mongolia) and launched 7 new products. Registration process is currently underway in Norway and Germany.

Lifestream is a privately owned New Zealand licenced manufacturer and marketer of more than 60 natural nutritional products such as Spirulina, Aloe Vera Juice, NZ Certified organic Barley and Wheat Grass Powder, NZ Blackcurrant Capsules and Natural Calcium capsules. Lifestream employs over 30 full-time staff.

The company is committed to supplying the best quality whole food supplements available – using no synthetics and no compromise.
Lifestream is the NO.1 Supplier (by volume) of Spirulina and Aloe Juice to the Australian market.

Lifestream was visited yesterday by the Rt. Hon MP Dr. Jonathon Coleman (Minister of Immigration, Minister of Broadcasting, Associate Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Health and MP for Northcote) who came along to congratulate the Lifestream team on winning the Exporter of the Year Award.

Lifestream press release

Women lacking key nutrients.

Women are not getting the nutrients they need and their health could be compromised.

A new review of the nutritional status of women in the UK has found that women’s diets remain lacking in key nutrients, particularly iron, vitamin D, calcium and folate.

Women lacking key nutrients 13 07 10

The report published in the latest edition of the British Nutrition Foundation’s Nutrition Bulletin said that women’s diets are also too high in saturated fat and salt, and low in fibre, oily fish and fruits and vegetables.

Michelle Palmer, Executive Director of Natural Products New Zealand says that taking supplements is a way to ensure our bodies are getting the nutrients we need.

“While fortification of food items is one way to deal to potential deficiencies, supplements can be taken by those people who need them.

“At different stages in their lives women need more of certain minerals. Pregnancy and menopause are two key times when our bodies need extra help,” she says.

The study highlighted that 20% of women of childbearing years were low in iron, 11% were low in Vitamin B2 (riboflavin), 9% were low in magnesium and 6% had low intakes of Vitamin A.

Levels of Vitamin D, folate, calcium and Omega-3 were also found to be below recommended daily intake levels.

Dr Shaun Holt, medical advisor and researcher agrees that women might not be getting the right nutrients at the right time.

“Additional intake of folate has always been recommended around pregnancy to lower the risk of birth defects and at the other end of the spectrum, women need to be thinking about their calcium and vitamin D levels post menopause. Inadequate intake of these nutrients can lead to lower bone density and brittle bones,” says Dr Holt.

“Even those women eating a balanced healthy diet may need extra supplementation at certain times in their lives.”

ENDS
Note: Natural Products New Zealand (NPNZ) represents over 80% of the Natural Products industry. Based on a survey of wholesale and retail sales information, export data and industry surveys, NPNZ’s members make up the overwhelming majority of the natural products industry in terms of product lines, turnover, employment and exports.
For more information contact:

Michelle Palmer, Executive Director of Natural Products New Zealand
P: +64 3 577 8676
E: michelle@naturalproductsnz.org