New Natural Business
SPRING 2024
Fresh thinking for the natural health market
Incorporating
Beter Retailing
Magazine &
Retailing Beter
Online
TRENDS
WHAT’S HOT
TRAINING
RESEARCH
E-COMMERCE
Irish retailers came to the party in
Shannon to collect their well-earned
awards. We also spotlight a store
where kids love to pitch in.
SPECIAL REPORT
BEST FOOT
FORWARD
MARKET WATCH
Latest research, industry
trends and the Big Issues
NOPEX Preview ▪ Hormone Health ▪ Men’s Health ▪ UTIs & Candida
PLUS
STOP THE
FORWARD
THINKING
Reasons to be cheerful in 2024
Slide
Making, baking,
and cleaning up
shouldn’t cost the earth
Doing the little things better for a healthy home, healthy planet, healthy you.
www.ifyoucare.co.uk
Get in touch
For information about our range, marketing materials, product training and more
Contact Paul Moore e: paulm@ifyoucare.com
Our range of kitchen and household products are made with their
environmental impact in mind. We make choices, from the materials we use,
to where they will end up when their work is done.
So you can care for your home without making a mess for the planet.
WHERE MINDS MEET
@NewNatBusiness
Published by JFN Productions. Produced on environmentally friendly chlorine-free paper derived from sustained forests and supplied on fully biodegradable polywrap.. The content of all advertisements
in this publication is the responsibility of the advertiser and is received in good faith. JFN Productions cannot be held responsible for any erroneous advertising content. The opinions expressed in Beter
Retailing are those of individual contributors and do not necessarily refect the views of the editor or publishers who cannot be held responsible for actions taken as a result of the content of this magazine.
Irrepressible Mary Portas is a keynote
speaker at NOPEX this year. Like
many of you, I listen to what she
says through her illuminating blogs
(weareportas.com).
Recently she quoted Darwin who
said, “It is not the most intellectual
of the species that survives, it is not
the strongest that survives, but the
species that survives is the one that
is able best to adapt and adjust to the
changing environment in which it
finds itself.”
In short, says the Queen of Shops,
survival of the fit, not the fittest.
“What’s so uplifting is the
fact that we are now seeing these
beautiful green shoots of regeneration
happening across the country.
“It’s coming from small
independents rooting themselves
in communities – small boutiques
diversifying and becoming
mini-lifestyle concept shops.
Embracing change drives creativity
and innovation.”
Have a look at pages 19 & 20
where Tessa Badenhorst’s Aloe Tree
in County Clare is doing just that
and rightly pushed hard for every
prize in the recent retailer awards
in Shannon.
She’s a great example of why the
high street will never die. As long as
creativity and putting people at the
heart of them is the starting point.
Welcome to our Spring
issue, may you find inspiration
here, and please do pass on your
news and views at me via email,
alistair@jfnproductions.co.uk.
Alistair Forrest, Editor
Spring 24 issue, March 2024. Group Editor Alistair Forrest alistair@jfnproductions.co.uk | Sub Editor Jef Munn-Giddings | Advertising Manager Sharon Munn-Giddings
sharon@jfnproductions.co.uk | Digital Communications Manager Yasmin Dacombe yasmin@jfnproductions.co.uk | Design & Production Paul Dickson paul@jfnproductions.co.uk
Commercial Director Cathy Norris cathy@jfnproductions.co.uk | Managing Director Stuart Jackson stuart@jfnproductions.co.uk
To advertise in New Natural Business call 01223 894200
New Natural Business incorporating Beter Retailing Magazine and Retailing Beter Online
JFN Productions, Unit E1, Blois Meadow Business Centre, Steeple Bumpstead, Essex CB9 7BN, Tel: 01223 894200
Inside this issue of
New Natural Business
26
BRIEFING
4-10 Industry News, Research, Trends,
Secret Shopper
FORWARD THINKING
12-22 Ireland’s Shannon Summit, Retail
Sales, Retailer Spotlight, NOPEX Preview
SPECIAL REPORTS
20-30 Candida & UTIs, Hormone Health,
Men’s Health, Hot to Stock
RETAILING BETTER ONLINE
31 How, Where and Why Consumers
Buy Online
WORKING TOGETHER
32-35 Your Associations
VIEWPOINT
36-39 Insider: Allicin International, Organic
Market Report, Legislation
COVER IMAGE
HISBE, Lovacore, The Body Shop and
others have sufered the unthinkable.
What can stop the domino efect? Are
there any ‘Reasons to be Cheerful’?
Forward Thinking, pages 16 & 17
FIFTY YEARS YOUNG
Back in 1974 Franzesca
Watson was one of the first
pioneers in aromatherapy
when she launched Natural
by Nature Oils, supplying pure
essential oils to the health food
industry. Fifty years on she is now
retired, but the business is still family
run and prides itself on the quality of their products
manufactured in their factory in Bedfordshire.
IRISH AWARDS
Irish retailers put their ‘Best Foot Forward’ in
Shannon with their annual awards. See our report
on pages 12-14 and a special report on one of the
successful independents, pages 19-20.
EU CLAMP DOWN
The European Parliament has given the green
light to a new EU law that will ban widely used
environmental claims such as ‘environmentally
friendly’, ‘natural’, and ‘biodegradable’ unless they
are well supported by evidence. The directive aims
to protect consumers from misleading marketing
practices and help them make better purchasing
choices.
NEWS
ROUND-UP
MODEL PERFORMANCE
Weleda hosted The Model Zone in Soho for London
Fashion Week in February. Now in its 16th year,
this established wellbeing project is sponsored by
Weleda in collaboration with the British Fashion
Council. This season The Model Zone will be held
in Broadwick Street, and will provide models with
restorative Skin Food Glow Facials and a private
‘home from home’ to unwind in between shows.
HAYMAX ON TOP
As allergen barrier balms champion HayMax enters
its twentieth year, the brand goes from strength to
strength having now won more than 60 awards,
including a Soil Association BOOM Award 2023,
British Made Award, Enterprise Award, BizzieBaby
Award, Global 100 Award and Corporate America
Today Annual Award.
4 | New Natural Business
Medical doctor and broadcaster Chris van Tulleken says it is time to apply a
‘tobacco control approach’ to ultra-processed foods, including a mandatory
requirement to display a large warning label on all UPFs.
Van Tulleken, author of the best-selling book Ultra-Processed People, is clear
that the explosion of diet-related disease requires a comprehensive regulatory
response and says the ‘personal responsibility’ argument often mounted by
industry lobbyists is now “dead and buried”.
More on UPFs on page 7 and Legislation page 39.
HOW AWARE ARE WE?
Twenty-five million people took part in Veganuary this year and more than 2,000
vegan menu options were launched globally, according to YouGov surveys in the
core campaign countries.
A record-breaking 300 businesses and organisations took part in the
Workplace Challenge around the world, with more than 115 joining in the UK,
including Salesforce, DocuSign, Claire’s Accessories, numerous NHS Trusts, Just
Eat Takeaway, British Association for Sustainability in Sport along with several
football and rugby clubs and many more organisations.
There were more than 10,000 international media mentions of Veganuary
including on the Graham Norton Show, Eastenders, BBC Winterwatch,
Countdown, This Morning and Saturday Kitchen as well as features in the
Guardian, Observer, Telegraph and Daily Mail.
Founders Jane Land and Matthew Glover (pictured) started Veganuary at
their kitchen table in York a decade ago.
Ever since Shrove Tuesday was invented by Anglo-Saxons (get your sins shriven
before Lent begins), and its subsequent adaption to pancake rituals, there has
been a fascination with awareness days.
Well, maybe Christmas or its predecessor Saturnalia got there first.
In the US, recent nominated days have included National Brown Dog Day,
National Ukelele Day, National Tater Tot Day and even Bubblegum Day.
In the UK we have some strange ones – National Sickie Day anyone? – but
here are the important upcoming longer-term ones for our trade:
Stress Awareness Month: April
IBS Awareness Month: April
Coeliac Awareness Week: 13-19 May
Mental Health Week: 16-22 May
Dementia Awareness Week: 20-26 May
CALL FOR HEALTH WARNING ON
ULTRA-PROCESSED FOODS
VEGANUARY’S GLOBAL
SUCCESS
@NewNatBusiness | 5
BRIEFING
HOME TEST FOR MENTAL
ILLNESS RISK
I really enjoy New Natural
Business magazine as it
has a great mix of articles
on products, legislation
and business trends. As an
Irish store, it is interesting to
see what is going on in UK-based
stores too.
Sian Eustace, Healing Harvest, Kinvara, Co Galway
A GREAT MIX
What retailers say about NNB
Suma proudly collected six awards
for five of its products at the
2023 Veggie Awards, announced
in January. The wholesale co-
operative snapped up golds for
its Organic Peach & Turmeric
Kombucha, Organic Italian Penne
Pasta and All-in-One Earthbound
bar, and silver awards for Plastic-
Free Innovation, its Edamame
Hummus and Rose & Geranium
Moisturising Balm.
SUMA CELEBRATES
The charity Food For The Brain has launched
a home test that can measure ‘homocysteine’,
an indicator of a person’s B vitamin status.
Understanding this can help reduce the risk
of mental illness.
“Homocysteine is a biomarker for over
100 diseases, but especially those of the
central nervous system,” says pharmacology
professor David Smith.
“It's a biomarker of impaired
cognitive abilities in children,
and in adults is a risk
marker for stroke and for
dementia and Alzheimer’s,
but also possibly for
depression, anxiety,
bipolar, schizophrenia,
obsessive compulsive
disorder, Parkinson’s and
multiple sclerosis.”
Nutritionist Patrick Holford (pictured), who heads the charity,
says: “A raised homocysteine level means something is going wrong
with a vital process that controls how we think, feel and perceive.
It’s called methylation and is totally dependent on B vitamins.”
The home pin prick blood test is £49.95 www.foodforthebrain.
org/tests. The charity also offers a free Cognitive Function Test to help
research the impact of homocysteine on mental health.
Mental health decline ‘a new normal’ – Trends, page 8
NEW FOR 2024
ProVen Vitamins is a brand new concept offering customers a range of supplements that prioritise both
taste AND potency – ensuring a delicious and efficacious experience from each product in the range
TRADE ENQUIRIES CONTACT 07734 908367
6 | New Natural Business
Today’s 40+ consumer is a new breed, actively
prioritising their own long-term health and that of their
family. These savvy shoppers do their homework and
look for quality, research-backed products, designed to
support targeted health areas.
In this respect, sales of vitamin K2 are steadily rising
– 97% of us are deficient in K2 and it’s difÏcult to source
through diet alone.
Evidence-based K2 plays a vital role in bone health,
providing protection against the development of
osteoporosis during and after peri/menopause. K2 also
supports heart health, preventing vascular calcification
and significantly reducing the risk of heart attack
and stroke.
Vitamin D, B12 and iron are also evidence-based,
prescribed by healthcare practitioners and also popular
supplement purchases. Vitamin D, together with vitamin
K, ensures the effective transportation and absorption of
calcium to support healthy bones.
We often struggle to maintain levels of iron and B12
as we mature. Deficiencies can cause memory lapses,
intense fatigue and tingling in the fingers.
Also evidence-based, a recent assessment of 21,000
healthy eaters revealed that not one managed to achieve
the recommended daily allowance for all basic nutrients.
Successive soil assessments also reveal a 70% drop in
certain nutrient levels since 1960.
Digestive health remains one of the largest and
continually growing drivers for supplement purchase
across all age groups. Targeted probiotic supplements
help to promote the health and diversity of gut
microbiota. They improve the body’s absorption of vital
nutrients and ensure effective digestion/elimination.
Again, research-backed probiotic supplements
address a plethora of health concerns, including skin,
cognitive and mental health.
Accurate, detailed product information, unbiased
research data and an eco-friendly ethos actively
influence purchases.
Tim Gaunt is a biochemist, chartered biologist,
nutritionist and Chief Information OfÏcer
at Acorn Scientific Marketing. His LinkedIn
profile is ‘Tim Gaunt, BSc (Hons) CBiol MRSB
D.N.’ or follow the LinkedIn hashtag #timtalks.
Supplementary
Benefts
TIM’S TIPS
With Tim Gaunt
A new study published in
Gastroenterology Research and
Practice Journal supports the efÏcacy
of an enteroadsorbent in adults with
irritable bowel syndrome subtypes
IBS-D (diarrhoea-predominant) or
IBS-M (mixed bowel habits).
Over 83% of participants in the
CPS Research programme gained a
clinically significant reduction in the
severity of all their IBS symptoms
when taking silicolgel, including
abdominal pain and cramping,
diarrhoea, bloating and flatulence.
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
is a common chronic disorder of
gut-brain interaction that has limited
effective treatment options. Intestinal
adsorbents have a high adsorption
capacity for irritant substances
in the gut and may provide non-
pharmacological alternatives to
manage IBS symptoms.
Jill Stuart, Commercial Director
at FW Medical Ltd, brand owner of
silicolgel, says: “Enteroadsorbents
like silicolgel have been used for many
years for general GI disorders, but
clinical evidence for their efÏcacy in
IBS, and their use by physicians as part
of IBS treatment, has been limited.
Although more research is warranted,
this study adds to the body of evidence
that enteroadsorbent therapy provides
effective relief from symptoms of
gastrointestinal disorders.”
POSITIVE RESULTS
IN IBS STUDY
CANNABINOIDS
AND LONG COVID
Compounds in cannabis have the potential
to prevent and treat Covid-19, according
to a review conducted by researchers at
Dalhousie University in Canada.
They found that cannabinoids could reduce
the severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection, and
claimed they could potentially prevent it.
The researchers propose that cannabinoids may act as a preventive approach
by limiting susceptibility to the virus, mitigating oxidative stress and alleviating
cytokine storms.
The study also suggests that cannabinoids, specifically CBD oils, could be
used to treat symptoms associated with long Covid, including depression, anxiety,
insomnia, pain and decreased appetite.
It’s thought that around 1.9 million people (2.9% of the population) are
experiencing self-reported long Covid. Of these, 69% had been experiencing
symptoms for at least a year, and 41% had been experiencing symptoms for at least
two years.
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38202234
@NewNatBusiness | 7
Distributed by:
FOR BABIES
& ADULTS
PRONE TO:
• Eczema
• Psoriasis
• Dermatitis
Australia’s No.1 Natural Eczema Cream
Outselling our nearest competitor by 4 to 1*
*IMS data MAT 3/18
Available from: CLF, Hunts, Jumla, Queenswood, Natural Dispensary and PharmaPlace
Steroid free Clinically proven 24hr hydration
Recommended by healthcare professionals
AWARD
WINNING
Helps to
soothe itchy,
dry skin
RESEARCH | BRIEFING
ARE PROCESSED ‘MEAT’
ALTERNATIVES AS
DANGEROUS AS ANIMAL
PRODUCTS?
K2 AND D3 COMBO FOR CAC
What on earth makes people
think that it’s okay to buy
their supplements elsewhere
(online in this case) and then
come to me for the advice they
are so clearly lacking on how
to take them or whether they are
safe with their other meds? Apart
from it being an absolute cheek, I have
no idea how bioavailable those supplements are nor
whether they contain other ingredients which could be
problematic. Questionable ethics arise from those apps
advocating certain supplements without providing
correct advice and safety measures. This is why local
health food stores exist, after all.
Marie Longman, Peak Health Foods, Rugely
ADVICE AND SAFETY
Do omega-3 supplements at 4g a day pose an increased
risk for those with atrial fibrillation in people with
suspected heart disease?
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) thinks
they do following several clinical trials saying possible
adverse health effects can easily be overlooked.
They say food supplements containing omega-
3s, especially over a long period of time, should only
be taken by these patients after consultation with a
doctor.
This has led to a number of letters on the matter
being sent to professional agencies across Europe
around regular fish consumption combined with
supplementation.
While accepting the findings, the omega-3 industry
is quick to point out that the findings involved high
intake and only in relation to people at high risk of
CVD, conditions that do not apply to the vast majority
of people taking omega-3 supplements. It is not
thought that the EMA opinion will have any effect on
product labelling.
An international study has indicated
that plant-based ‘meats’ are not
associated with an increased
risk of cancer, heart disease and
type 2 diabetes.
In a study involving 266,666
participants over three decades,
researchers found no link between
ultra-processed vegan foods and
these diseases. In contrast, regular
consumption of ultra-processed
meat and sugary drinks did have a
significant association with all three.
The study investigated the link
between multimorbidity – the co-
occurrence of two or more long-term
conditions such as cancer and heart
disease, and various ultra-processed
foods. The researchers found
that ultra-processed plant-based
alternatives “were not associated with
risk of multimorbidity.”
Participants were from seven
European countries, including
Denmark, Sweden and the UK.
Researchers enrolled participants
between 1992 and 2000. They then
contacted them every three to four
years to obtain information on any
major diseases.
Published in The Lancet, it’s
thought to be the first study to test
Data published in JACC Advances shows a link between vitamin K2 MK-7
and vitamin D to reduce coronary artery calcification (CAC) which is a strong
indicator of heart attack and cardiovascular mortality in high-risk patients and
statins users.
A clinical trial looked at using the K2 and D3 combination and concluded the
supplements may slow the progression of CAC in those patients.
The study was run by researchers at hospitals in Denmark and the
Biomedical Imaging Research Institute in Los Angeles.
NutraIngredients.com reported Trygve Bergeland of Kappa Bioscience as
saying, “These findings add to a growing bank of evidence demonstrating the
benefits of vitamin K2 MK-7 for heart health, but this is the first clinical trial
documenting effects directly on calcium deposits in the coronary arteries.”
the disease implications of ultra-
processed foods (UPF) in relation to
multimorbidity across countries with
long-term follow-up.
UPFs are foods that have
undergone industrial processing
to add substances like emulsifiers
or colourings. Common examples
include industrialised bread, pre-
packaged meals, breakfast cereals and
meats such as sausages and ham.
Previous research has sometimes
considered UPFs as a single group –
and a synonym for unhealthy – but
the new research has added more
nuance to this label.
HIGH-DOSE
OMEGA-3S
AND CVD
8 | New Natural Business
BRIEFING | TRENDS
SPOT CHECK
MENOPAUSE SUPPORT AT
EVERY STAGE
Health Plus Menopause Complex presents
60 vegan tablets of an advanced and
comprehensive formula that provides 31
key nutrients, including Ashwagandha
(KSM-66®), Sage and Soya Isofavones.
Its hormone-free formulation combines
essential vitamins and minerals with botanicals
to support your customers through every stage
of perimenopause and menopause whilst
maintaining healthy energy levels, balancing
mood and protecting bone health. RRP £18.95.
Phone: 01323 872277
Email: sales@healthplus.co.uk
www.healthplus.co.uk
Staggering NHS figures have revealed that nutrition-
related hospital admissions in England have surged
39% in the past decade. Among the key deficiencies are
B vitamins and iron.
Reported in the Guardian, the Food Foundation
says 15% of UK households – equivalent to
approximately 8m adults and 3m children – experienced
food insecurity in January, as high food prices continued
to hit the pockets of low-income families.
Nearly two-thirds of food-insecure households
reported buying less fruit and 44% bought fewer
vegetables as they struggled with the ongoing cost
of living crisis. In contrast, just 11% of food-secure
households bought less fruit and 6% purchased
fewer vegetables.
A further report by the Health and Food
Supplements Information Service (hsis.org) reveals
that many Brits badly need a nutrition reset with food
portions out of control, comfort eating rife and immunity
nutrients such as vitamin D and iron in decline.
MENTAL HEALTH
DECLINE IS
‘A NEW NORMAL’
The UK has been ranked 70th
out of 71 countries surveyed for
mental wellbeing.
The Mental State of the World
Report from Sapien Labs is the
annual report of the Global Mind
Project and provides trends and
insights on the mental wellbeing of
Internet-enabled populations around
the globe.
Data was collected from over
500,000 respondents in 13 languages
across 71 countries that spanned
nine regions.
Two key findings published in
Sapien Labs’ Rapid Reports in 2023
show that the younger age of first
smartphone ownership and ultra-
processed food consumption are
two major contributors to mental
health challenges.
In wealthier countries, the age of
first smartphone ownership is much
younger and ultra-processed food
consumption much higher.
Other contributing factors are
the relatively diminished family
relationships in wealthier countries.
Younger generations, particularly
those under 35, saw the steepest
declines in mental wellbeing during
the Covid-19 pandemic while those
over 65 remained steady.
With these declines persisting
across all age groups, the pandemic
amplified a pre-existing trend of
poorer mental wellbeing for younger
generations that is now visible across
the globe.
As in previous years, several
African and Latin American countries
topped the country rankings, while
wealthier countries of the Core
Anglosphere such as the United
Kingdom and Australia are towards
the bottom.
The report concludes: “The
expectation may have been that once
the lockdowns lifted and the threat of
Covid-19 subsided that our collective
mental health would begin a recovery
towards its pre-pandemic levels.
However, the data across 71 countries
argues otherwise – that the effects of
diminished global mental wellbeing
have become a new normal.”
WHY THE DECLINE?
The report lists these four main causes of declining mental wellbeing:
Continuation of remote working
Online communication and less in-person social interaction
Processed foods
Proliferation of single-use plastics
IS MALNUTRITION
RIFE IN UK?
@NewNatBusiness | 9
Pioneering a new
generation of formulas
with live cultures
Targeted formulas developed by practitioners,
with clinically proven live cultures
and ZERO nasty additives.
100% plastic-free and home compostable.
The DR.VEGAN® range is available to order at
Enquiries: team@drvegan.com
VEGAN
VEGETARIAN
GLUTEN
-FREE
NON-GMO
DAIRY
-FREE
LACTOSE
-FREE
KIND ON
STOMACH
EASY TO
SWALLOW
KOSHER
HALAL
ZERO
ADDITIVES
10 | New Natural Business
BRIEFING | SECRET SHOPPER
TOTAL MARKS 39/50
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
My first impressions are of a straightforward-
looking website with key information
clearly signposted. Important details are
shown front and centre without making the
homepage look too cluttered.
New and popular products are also
featured on the homepage, giving me an
idea of what this shop offers. I feel confident
that I’ll be able to find the wholefoods that
I’m after here. It’s also pretty easy for me to
find information on the physical shop and
their history.
VERDICT 8/10
WEBSITE LAYOUT
Browsing further I find a good range of
products including ambient food and drink,
supplements, body care and household.
Chilled and frozen products are available
with click & collect or local delivery.
Shop categories are sensibly organised,
making it quite easy to browse and find what
I need. Special offers are clearly shown,
although there aren’t many of them on the
day that I shop.
CHECK OUT
It takes me a moment to understand how
to add products to my basket from the shop
category pages, but once I’ve understood
it I find the feature straightforward to use.
The shopping basket is clearly shown while
browsing and easy to manage.
Checkout is also fairly straightforward,
although perhaps not always 100%
intuitive for me. Delivery choices (along
with their costs) and payment options are
shown clearly.
Delivery is very quick and I’m kept
informed on the progress of my order.
VERDICT 8/10
OVERALL IMPRESSION
Overall I find this a good shopping
experience, with an ordering process that
feels professional and well organised.
VERDICT 8/10
Our secret shoppers are on a regular online
shopping-spree to find the best – or even the
not-so-great – stores offering product sales and
support via a website and social media.
PROFESSIONAL
AND WELL
ORGANISED
New Natural
Business
Awards
STORE LOCATION: East Coast Scotland
ENQUIRY: Vegan wholefoods
Product information is quite detailed,
including ingredients and whether the
product is suitable for different dietary
requirements. However, some product pages
unfortunately seem to have an issue with
images hiding the product information when
I visit them.
VERDICT 7/10
PERSONAL ATTENTION
The shop’s social media pages are updated
fairly often with information on new or
popular products and on shop events
and news.
Blog posts on the website seem to be
updated less often but are well written and
tie in with products available in the shop. An
online chat feature is available on the website
and other contact details are easy to find.
The shop also offers a loyalty scheme
for regular customers and the option to
sign up to their email newsletter when
ordering online.
VERDICT 8/10
The Awards are run in conjunction with the Health Food Institute and reward excellence in independent health store retailing.
The winner is selected from the stores visited by the New Natural Business secret shoppers throughout the year.