Here's to good taste … Better Nutrition & the NNFA salute the 1998 People's Choice Award Winners

Better Nutrition, Nov, 1998

"Don't eat lunch," would have been good advice for the 130 health-food/natural-products retailers who served as judges for the 5th Annual People's Choice Awards held at this summer's National Nutritional Food Association's (NNFA's) Marketplace '98, the Association's Annual Convention and Tradeshow. In all, this year's competition, held in San Antonio, Texas, featured 94 different products from 28 companies in 25 different categories.

Participating retailers did a blind taste-testing on all the entries and voted for those natural products which they found to be the best tasting.(*)

Health Valley took home the coveted "Best of Show" award [or its Turkey Chili, as well as the People's Choice Award in the Cereal category for its Raspberry Rhapsody. Other big winners were: Hain Food Group, which took home the most awards nine in all -- followed by Tree of Life, Inc., with six awards.

In total, five of the 1998 winning companies had visited the People's Choice Award Winner's Circle in previous years. These companies were: United Specialty Foods, Hain Food Group, Health Valley Company, Queen Bee Gardens, and Tree of Life, Inc.

First-time winners were Aloe Commodities International, Inc., Virgil's Root Beer, Flora, Inc., Oskri Coop Group, Symbiotics LLC, Seeds of Change, and Mental Processes, Inc.

Better Nutrition would like to congratulate all of the participating manufacturers who entered the 1998 People's Choice Awards -- winners and non-winners alike. As co-sponsor of the People's Choice Awards for the second year in a row, Better Nutrition staffers got to do their share of tasting, and, according to their tastebuds, all of the participants get a "D" -- for delicious!

1. Baked Goods (not sweet)

Tree of Life, Inc. Snack Attack Low Fat Crackers -- Viva La Veggie

St. Augustine, Florida Retailer info: 1-800-874-0851

2. Baked Goods (sweet)

Hain Food Group -- Natural Foods Division Westbrae Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

Uniondale, New York Retailer info.: 1-800-434-HAIN (East Coast) 1-800-776-1276 (West Coast)

3. Beverages (coffee/substitutes)

Hain Food Group -- Natural Foods Division Cafe Westbrae Mocha

4. Beverages (nutritional drinks/waters)

Aloe Commodities International, Inc. -- 1st Time Winner Uncle Fred's Farm Pure & Natural Healthy Drink

Farmer's Branch, Texas Retailer info: 1-800-701-ALOE

5. Beverages (soda)

Virgil's Root Beer -- 1st Time Winner Virgil's Micro-Brewed Root Beer

Wayland, Massachusetts Retailer info: 1-800-626-7632, x. 16 www.virgils.com; virgils@virgils.com

6. Beverages (tea) [TIE!]

Flora, Inc. -- 1st Time Winner Heavenly Gardens Premium Herbal Tea

Lynden, Washington Retailer info: 1-800-498-3610 www.florainc.com [and]

Oskri Coop Group -- 1st Time Winner Mint Tea

Thiensville, Wisconsin Retailer info: 414-512-1119 www.oskri.com; sales@oskri.com

7. Cereals

Health Valley Company Raspberry Rhapsody

Irwindale, California Retailer info: 1-800-423-4846 (not pictured)

8. Chips (corn)

Hain Food Group -- Natural Foods Division Bearitos Blue Corn

9. Chips (specialty)

Hain Food Group -- Natural Food Division Little Bear Extra Crunchy Cheddar Crunchitos

10. Condiments

Hain Food Group -- Natural Foods Division Westbrae Honey Mustard

11. Confections

Queen Bee Gardens Caramel Kisses

Lovell, Wyoming Retailer info: 1-800-225-7553 queenbee@tctwest.net

12. Dairy (cheese)

Tree of Life Tree of Life Jalapeno Jack Cheese

13. Dairy Alternatives (milk-soy)

Hain Food Group -- Natural Foods Division Westsoy Plus -- Vanilla

14. Dairy Alternatives (milk-rice)

Hain Food Group -- Natural Foods Division Westbrae Rice Drink -- Vanilla

15. Deli

Tree of Life Inc. Tree of Life Smoked Tofu -- Original

16. Energy Bars

Symbiotics LLC -- 1st Time Winner New Life Colostrum Body Bar -- Vanilla-Raspberry

Sedona, Arizona Retailer info: 1-800-784-4355 www.symbioticsllc.com

17. Jams and Jellies

Tree of Life, Inc. Harvest Moon Fruit Spread -- Blueberry

18. Main Dish (poultry) (BEST OF SHOW)

Health Valley Company Turkey Chili

19. Main Dish (vegetarian)

United Specialty Foods Not Chicken Breast Fillet

Nashville, Tennessee Retailer info.: 1-888-57-4-LIFE (not pictured)

20. Pasta

Tree of Life, Inc. Garlic & Parsley Pasta

21. Popcorn

Hain Food Group -- Natural Foods Division Bearitos 50% Less Oil Popcorn

22. Rice Cakes

Tree of Life, Inc. Tree of Life Chocolate Rice Cakes

23. Salsa

Seeds of Change -- 1st Time Winner Black Bean & Tomato Salsa

Santa Fe, New Mexico Retailer info: 1-888-762-7333 www.seedsofchange.com

24. Snack Foods

Mental Processes, Inc. -- 1st Time Winner Pumpkorn Seeds

Atlanta, Georgia Retailer info: 1-800-431-4018 www.pumpkorn.com mentalprocesses@msn.com

25. Soup

Hain Food Group -- Natural Foods Division Hain Chicken Noodle

(*) The judging did not take into account the nutritional value of the products; judging was based on taste only, without the assistance of seasoning or condiments. Neither Better Nutrition nor the NNFA served as judges for this contest.

Companies interested in participating in the 1999 People's Choice Awards, to be held in July in Las Vegas, Nevada, should call Anne McConahey of the NNFA at 1-800-996-6632, x.238.