VANCOUVER, B.C., June 25, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to Global Industry Analysts , the global market for functional foods or "Superfoods" is expected to reach $130 billion next year, fuelled by the swelling number of health-conscious consumers with high disposable incomes (baby boomers).
The market segment is growing fast. 10,000 baby boomers reach retirement age every single day. They want to continue doing yoga, tennis, jogging, swimming, skiing etcetera. Boomers are deeply motivated to spend money to prolong their ability to do these activities. Hemp is a natural, affordable solution.
" Naturally Splendid (TSX-V:NSP) (FRANKFURT:50N) (OTC:NSPDF) is in the right place at the right time," states Russ Crawford, the President of the Canadian Hemp Trade Alliance in an exclusive interview with Financial Press , "I've been involved in Canadian agriculture for over 40 years, so I am well versed in the production, processing, handling and exporting of North American grains and oilseeds."
"Naturally Splendid is much more than just a hemp company," states Co-founder Bryan Carson, "It produces a whole variety of food products, attractive to a wide variety of end users. Whether it is an athlete, a mother feeding her child, or a senior looking for a nutritious meal. I anticipate Naturally Splendid products displacing traditional crops as it is a profitable alternative for Canadian farmers. Hemp contains high protein and omega benefits, and is much more digestible than soy."
Superfoods, like omega-3 oils and dietary protein and fibre found in hemp, have demonstrable physiological or health benefits. The sector is growing globally at a rate of 6% per year. The trend looks set and long term. Shares of United Natural Foods and Whole Foods Market are up 300% and 350% respectively in the last 5 years.
Naturally Splendid (TSX-V:NSP), a Superfood innovator, has developed the NATERA™ line of hemp-based products carried by Canadian and U.S. specialty health food distributors.
The NATERA™ line of products includes natural and flavored shelled hemp seeds and flavored hemp protein powders.
"Naturally Splendid has been developing super food lines for six years," states Craig Goodwin CEO and co-founder of (TSX-V:NSP) in an exclusive interview with Financial Press , "We are one of, if not the first publically traded industrial hemp superfood company in North America."
Hemp was introduced to North America in 1606. Industrial hemp was the most important non-food crop in the early history of the United States, used for sails, riggings, canvas, ropes, clothing and paper.
NSP's expertise is in the explosive demand area of 'functional foods' and 'Super Foods' - with a focus on Cannabis Sativa and plant based Omegas.
"We announced our major retail line, NATERA in October 2013," stated Goodwin, "and the products have already been picked up by three of Canada's largest distributors and an established U.S. distributor - so we have laid the foundation for rapid sales growth."
Naturally Splendid also has an exclusive North American sales agreement to market and distribute a line of patent pending, plant-based omega products created by Boreal Technologies (formerly Canadian Medical Hemp), including HempOmega™ and H2Omega™, FlaxOmega™, CanolaOmega™, and ChiaOmega™.
The U.S. is the world's biggest consumer of industrial hemp but it cannot legally be grown there. So you have an established rapidly growing market that is 100% dependent on imports. Industrial hemp in mostly grown in Western Canada. Saskatchewan accounts for over 50% of domestic production. Naturally Splendid is politically and geographically positioned to fill the U.S. demand.
Many North Americans are confused about the difference between industrial hemp (which doesn't get you high), and marijuana (which does). Another point of confusion is the relative size of the two markets.
"There is buzz around the medical marijuana industry," states Goodwin, "but there are currently only 39,000 legal prescriptions for marijuana in Canada. Industrial hemp food products are being consumed by health conscious consumers globally - so we are servicing a much bigger potential market, and have a correspondingly bigger opportunity."
Industrial hemp contains trace levels of THC but it has been a heath-boosting source of food and fibre for the past 10,000 years.
"We plan to monetize all components of industrial hemp," states Goodwin, "and that means using it as a food and developing it as plant based Omega-3 – which we are currently doing with a Boreal Technologies at the University of British Columbia."
Crawford, who is also a Director of NSP, recalls that in his early years in the agriculture business it was illegal to grow hemp and nobody talked about it. In the last 15 years, the interest and popularity of the product has grown exponentially.
"Hemp offers a spectrum of benefits unequalled by any other plant," states Crawford, "Some plants have proteins and some have energy. This one has both, as well as vitamins and minerals. So it is very attractive to the health-conscious consumer.
That market segment is growing fast. 10,000 baby boomers reach retirement age every single day. They want to continue doing yoga, tennis, jogging, swimming, skiing etcetera. Boomers are deeply motivated to spend money to prolong their ability to do these activities. Hemp is a natural, affordable solution."
"Naturally Splendid is much more than just a hemp company," states Crawford, "It produces a whole variety of food products, attractive to a wide variety of end users. Whether it is an athlete, a mother feeding her child, or a senior looking for a nutritious meal. I anticipate Naturally Splendid products displacing traditional crops as it is a profitable alternative for Canadian farmers. Hemp contains high protein and omega benefits, and is much more digestible than soy."
With instances of heart disease and other chronic illnesses rising, Superfoods are an increasingly popular preventative measure. Eighty percent of North Americans are trying to eat healthfully. Young adults ages 18–24 are the top users of liquid based functional foods.
On May 6, 2014 Naturally Splendid announced that it had achieved full Non GMO Certification for the NATERA ™ hemp based Superfood Line. "Non-GMO Project Verified" is the fastest growing label in the natural products industry, representing $5 billion in annual sales.
Naturally Splendid is currently trading at .25 with a market cap of $9 million.
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CONTACT: Naturally Splendid(R) Enterprises Ltd. (NSP - TSX Venture) Suite 605 - 1166 Alberni Street Vancouver, BC V6E 3Z3 Phone: 604-559-8051 e-mail: info@naturallysplendid.com Fax: 604-570-0932
