Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps Acquires Sun Dog

Business Wire, March 9, 2005

ESCONDIDO, Calif. -- New "Dr. Bronner's & Sun Dog's Magic" Line Includes Certified Organic Lotions, Lip Balms and Body Balms

Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps has acquired Sun Dog Hemp Bodycare from long-time Bronner family friend Sue Kastensen. The acquisition will expand Dr. Bronner's presence on store shelves beyond popular castile soaps to include organic lotions, lip balms and tattoo & body balms, and eventually other organic personal care products.

"Working closely with Sue and two of the top Ph.D. formulators in the cosmetics industry, we have developed Sun Dog's balms and lotions into organic formulations certified to the National Organic Program Standards," says David Bronner, President and third generation of the family-owned Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps. "We are excited about the phenomenal quality of our new products. We are using jojoba, avocado and hemp oils as enchanting ingredients in all of our lotions and balms. Jojoba oil moisturizes dry skin exceptionally well without being greasy due to the unique similarity to the skin's natural oil. Dr. Bronner's is committed to sustainable agriculture by using only certified organic essential oils."

Introduced this month, Dr. Bronner's & Sun Dog's Magic lotions and balms are now available to distributors and stores, as well as direct to consumers through the company's Web site: http://www.drbronnersundog.com. The products will be available for sampling at Expo West.

Initially the new product line will only be organic lotions and balms, but other high-quality products are planned over the next 18 months that will comply in full with the National Organic Program (NOP). "Our primary mission is to do right by organic farmers and consumers, and be a positive stimulus to other companies in the natural body care industry," says Bronner. "Our industry must clean our own house of abusing the organic labeling program if we want to keep the mainstream from doing the same."

Sue's New Mission

Sue Kastensen moved with Sun Dog (and all Sue's Amazing products) to Dr. Bronner's. She has participated in the development of the new Dr. Bronner's & Sun Dog's Magic line, and with the launch she will start powering up her prisoner re-integration non-profit Fair Shake, a primary beneficiary of Dr. Bronner's & Sun Dog's Magic net profits. "I haven't left Sun Dog, but I am starting a new career in reducing prisoner recidivism," says Kastensen. "I see that there is a need for a 'middle person' between communities, inmates and the Department of Corrections. There is a missing link that is driving the re-incarceration rate higher, while, at the same time, we are locking up more folks for the first time. Our state governments are fiscally overloaded. So are the taxpayers. It's time to downsize ... I think it's time to make a change."