Naturally Splendid (NSP-V) climbs as CEO talks plant-based omegas on CBC's
cbc.ca
Shares of Naturally Splendid Enterprises were rising on Wednesday after chief executive Craig Goodwin talked up the company's product line and business strategy on CBC's Lang & O'Leary Exchange last night. The company, which has a product line of hemp-based superfood carried nationally by some of the largest distributors in Canada, also has a biotech division that has teamed up with Boreal Technologies to "maximize the nutritional value available in omegas," according to Goodwin.
The hemp sector is all the rage at the moment among the health conscious, with the hardy plant rich in nutritious Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids that are used to make breakfast cereals, pretzels, protein powders, salad dressings and lactose-free milk.
When asked about the benefits of plant-based omegas versus marine-based omegas, the chief executive said Naturally Splendid believes there are "as many if not more" benefits in plant-based omegas.
Naturally Splendid has exclusive rights to market Vancouver-based Boreal Technologies' full range of plant-based omega 3 products throughout North America, with the first ever-production run of the HempOmega product set to be received this month. The line is based on Boreal's method to convert plant-based omega oils into a water-soluble powder, without actually changing the composition of the oil, leaving all the benefits of omegas intact.
The water-soluble powder makes the products accessible for a wide variety of commerical applications, including omega enriched dairy, dairy alternatives, breads, cereals, dry goods and beverages for human consumption, to omega enriched pet food.
"The variety of products is increased greatly," Goodwin emphasized in the CBC interview.
He also said that omegas provide the essential fatty acids that must be taken in through diet, which are the "cornerstones of maximum health", providing benefits for cardiovascular health and many other ailments.
Indeed, the market potential is certainly there, with global health and wellness sales on track to hit a record high of US$1 trillion by 2017 at a steady real growth rate of 7.2 percent, according to Euromonitor International.
In Canada alone, a recent Ipsos Reid survey showed that a full 80 percent of Canadians are influenced to buy a product if it contains omega-3 fatty acids and that 45 percent of all Canadians have used, or are currently using, omega-3 fatty acids in a natural health product format.
Naturally Splendid, which launched its own hemp-based superfoods Natera product line in October 2013, has since expanded the company's distribution network to over 20,000 retail locations throughout North America, and expects to be profitable by Q1 of 2015.
"We're always interested in looking for strong financial partners," said Goodwin, adding that the company does have enough money on hand, however, to get it to the first quarter of 2015, when it expects to reach profitability.
Shares of Naturally Splendid rose by as much as 10 percent in early trades on Wednesday, to 33 Canadian cents, five cents shy of its 52-week high. |
