Here’s a great Feature Story on Nutiva, as we prepare to move our HQ.  From Ventura County Star.
Read the original article HERE.

Photo by Chuck Kirman, Photos by Chuck Kirman / Star staff

Nutiva, with its headquarters and warehouse in Santa Paula, has been a pioneer in getting hemp food products to consumers.

Now in its 11th year, the company has branched out into coconut and chia seed products and generated about $10.3 million in revenue during its most recent fiscal year, which ended in June. Its founder wants to reach $100 million in sales by 2015 and $1 billion by 2025.

As it moves toward those ambitious goals, Nutiva continues to expand its product offerings in retail stores and online and will move its headquarters and warehouse to a new 18,000-square-foot location in Oxnard next month to house a growing team of employees and pallets of products.

Selling hemp products has meant becoming an advocate and working to build a domestic hemp industry.

Wearing a shirt of hemp fabric, Nutiva founder and CEO John Roulac quickly sorted through a display of everything that can be done with hemp — from Nutiva’s food products to insulation for cars, pressboard for construction, even the random Frisbee made of hemp “plastic.”

“We’re not just selling a product, but also educating,” Roulac said.

Because of its relation to marijuana, industrial hemp has had a spotty reception in the United States, although the plant doesn’t have the narcotic qualities of its cousin.

Nutiva garnered a lot of press early in its existence. After government officials seized a shipment of Nutiva hemp bars from Canada in 1999, the company became a central figure in the push to get hemp food products on store shelves and keep them there.

“It’s changed a lot, but it has a long ways to go,” Roulac said of the current perception of hemp.

He shakes his head that medicinal marijuana can be grown in California, but industrial hemp is still illegal.

He has advocated for bills to make cultivation legal. The governor vetoed the most recent one in 2007, because cannabis plants, including hemp, are a federally regulated controlled substance, although it is legal to import, buy and consume hemp foods in the United States.

Roulac said he wants to start sourcing the company’s hemp closer to home. Nutiva currently gets hemp from Canada. “We will grow hemp in America. It’s just a matter of time,” he said.

Hemp remains a cornerstone of the company’s business, but its coconut products are grabbing a larger share of sales. Roulac advocates Nutiva’s coconut oil as the best oil for cooking. A new product, Coconut Manna, is garnering demand as a spread or ingredient for smoothie drinks, he said.

Photo by Chuck Kirman, Photos by Chuck Kirman / Star staff

‘Awesome’ business

Enrique Candioti, owner of Henry’s Frozen Delight in Ojai, has started using Coconut Manna in his raw vegan ice cream, replacing the coconut butter he was using before. He said the product works well and is less expensive than the butter, and it adds an extra layer of flavor and texture when combined with the organic young coconut he also uses in his ice creams.

As a business, Candioti said, Nutiva is “awesome.”

“They’re very efficient and well-organized,” he said. The process is easy for wholesale customers, and the company is quick to fix things if anything goes wrong.

“They’re a small company,” Candioti said. “I get the impression that John has a very personal relationship with his employees. There’s always communication.”

Candioti counts himself a personal fan of Nutiva’s products, including its hemp seed. He’d like to eventually create a hemp-flavored ice cream.

Education drives demand

Roulac said the company wants to have a few “super foods” and focus on them. Consumers are seeking out natural and organic food products.

In 2008, natural and organic food items registered $29.7 billion worth of U.S. sales, up 11.4 percent from 2007, according to Nutrition Business Journal information reported by the Natural Products Association.

Nutiva doesn’t advertise beyond Google, but it focuses on educating the public on organic and sustainable products, which helps to build brand awareness.

A lot of people still don’t know what hemp seed is, much less how to use it. Nutiva will reach its revenue goals by moving more into the mainstream, Roulac said. The company is starting to do that through sales on Amazon.com.

A little celebrity endorsement doesn’t hurt, either. Roulac said sales spiked after a celebrity chef sprinkled a little hemp seed on her yogurt in February.

Continued growth

Inc. magazine put Nutiva on its list of the 5,000 fastest-growing businesses in 2009, because of the company’s 145.2 percent revenue growth from 2005 to 2008. The company also made the magazine’s list this year, announced last week, based on its 104 percent growth — from $4.4 million in revenue in calendar 2006 to $9 million in calendar 2009.

Nutiva employs about 20 people, with 11 in Santa Paula. The company has added employees as it has grown and added products.

It started out sharing space with an organic coffee company, then moved into its own office and warehouse space two years ago. Now, it’s moving to a larger building in Oxnard. Roulac said he wanted to stay within the county as the business grew.

Roulac said he looks to other successful businesses for lessons on how to grow — for example, Patagonia for its sustainable and charity efforts, and Zappos for its customer service and employee happiness.

The company donates 1 percent of sales to charity and programs including one that gives coconut trees to farmers.

Author Credit: Allison Bruce

Read more: http://www.vcstar.com/news/2010/aug/28/seeds/
- vcstar.com

December 29, 2009

By Leora Rames (Wright, WY United States) -
I just bought this wonderful Nutiva coconut oil after hearing Dr. Jonny Bowden talk about coconut oil and all the benifits it contains. This has got to be the most delectable on the planet it smells like heaven and tastes sooooo good. I bake and cook with it, and after reading all the rave reviews about it being used as butter and on the hair and skin I will never buy anything but this again. Bye Bye Crisco, hello Nutiva.

So many uses!!!

December 16, 2009
By
nvmac  (Nevada USA) -

I just ‘wow’ed my co-workers with brownies made with coconut oil; chocolate and coconut go together so well. I’ve had limited success using it for psoriasis scars, but have only recently been using it daily, so we’ll see. I must be honest and admit I originally got a small jar of this for a personal lubricant for my wife and I. Coconut oil has been used in other countries to treat infections (down there) and after using this my wife has not experienced any of the issues which she was experiencing. We even tried glycerin free lubricants, to no avail. Additionally, I have seen good improvement in my nail fungus after incorporating it into my diet, which was getting worse but at least in my fingertips, is now almost completely gone. I’ve read that coconut oil has anti-fungal and anti-microbial properties and at least for me, it appears to be working.

This particular brand is advertised as cold pressed, not heated or chemically derived (using hexane), which is certainly desired. If things keep going the way they are going, I’m going to have this brand of coconut oil in the house at all times.

(Santa Paula, Calif. ~ December 17, 2009)

Americans creating holiday wish lists on Amazon.com are hoping that Santa leaves them a 54-ounce jar of Nutiva® Coconut Oil.  The week before Christmas, the unrefined organic coconut oil was the most requested organic and natural food gift on Amazon–topping organic tea, soymilk, coffee, agave syrup, and lollipops–as well as other superfood categories including cacao nibs, maca powder, goji berries, and chia seeds.   In fact, Nutiva® has a record seven top sellers in Amazon’s Top 100 Best Organic and Natural Items, including three sizes of Coconut Oil, two sizes of  Hempseed, the three-pound  Hemp Protein + Fiber, and the three-pound Hemp Protein 50%.

One Amazon customer described his experience of Nutiva’s virgin Coconut Oil:

“I’ve tried two of the major coconut oil brands. I ordered Nutiva® just to see how it tasted, because the price was so good, if it didn’t taste right I’d just use it on my skin. It is the BEST tasting oil I’ve tried.”

In response to the rating, Nutiva® founder and CEO John W. Roulac said,

“The strong showing on Amazon reveals the public’s increasing awareness of the many health benefits of organic coconut oil.”

How is so much coconut oil being used?  This question was recently posed to Nutiva® fans on Facebook.  Here are a few of the many ways respondents said that they use it for personal care:

• as a massage oil
• a makeup remover
• a suntan oil
• a hair conditioner
• a shoe polish
• a face and body moisturizer
• a toothpaste (mixed with baking soda)
• and to prevent stretch marks in pregnancy.

Facebook fans have said that, in the kitchen, they use Nutiva® Coconut Oil in smoothies, on popcorn, as a frying oil, in cakes and cookies, on hot cereal or breakfast toast, as a substitute for cream in vegan soups, and even as a nutritious dog food additive.

In the Indian medicinal system known as Ayurveda, coconut oil has traditionally been used extensively, and many athletes, dieters, and body builders choose the oil because it contains fewer calories than other oils and its fat content doesn’t accumulate in the heart and arteries.

Roulac is confident that Nutiva’s coconut oil will continue to boost the sales of his fast-growing company.

“While going through one of the most economically challenging periods since the Great Depression, we’re riding the wave of a tsunami of interest in our products. We plan to continue researching and developing new products that nourish people and the planet.”

As provider of the world’s best-selling brand of organic coconut oil, Nutiva® has begun planting 100,000 new coconut palms in the Philippines, to improve the lives of coconut growers and help reduce carbon in the atmosphere. Nutiva® also supports the efforts to grow hemp in America by working with VoteHemp.com. Currently Nutiva® sources its organic hemp seed, hemp oil, hemp protein, and hemp bars from Canada because the US federal government does not allow the growing of hemp.

For more information on Nutiva®, visit Nutiva.com. Also watch raw food chef, Ani Phyo, prepare a Nutiva® Hemp and Coconut SuperFood Shake HERE .

About Nutiva: Nutiva® is dedicated to a healthy and sustainable world, demonstrating its mission to nourish people and planet by using nourishing organic ingredients, enriching the soil, and supporting worthy causes. Founded in 1999, Nutiva® is the world’s best selling brand of nutritious organic hemp foods and extra-virgin coconut oil. Its products are offered nationwide, as well as in Canada, Mexico, and the U.K., at more than  6,000 natural food retailers. For product specials and Nutiva® news, you may follow us on http://www.facebook.com/Nutiva

Did you know that organic coconut oil is far superior to non-organic and highly refined coconut oil?  It’s true, but what makes it so?  Well, for starters, the coconut undergoes a lot less processing than with bleached and refined coconut oil.  The flesh is dried at a lower temperature, for example, and the oil is cold-pressed.  However, this is just the beginning of the reasons why you should by an organic unrefined virgin coconut oil.  Here are two other reasons why organic virgin coconut oil is better for you.

1.  The coconut is not grown with any chemicals or pesticides. This means that you won’t be consuming any of that bad stuff when you consume the coconut oil. While official guidelines say that small amounts of these chemicals won’t hurt you, other health studies say otherwise. If you want to keep your body pure and free of potentially damaging chemicals that can cause anything from cancer to infertility, you will buy organic oils. It’s just the safest option.

2. The lack of chemicals helps the oil to do its work better. Chemicals interfere with the oil’s ability to help you. Without harsh chemicals in the way, you can expect coconut oil to do an abundance of things for you with ease. Regarding coconut oil weight loss , why is it that is  people in Thailand, India and Sri Lanka are trim yet they enjoy consuming coconut oil and foods almost everyday ?

By keeping chemicals out of your body, you will become more pure and able to function properly. Nutrients are more easily absorbed, joints are more fluid, skin and hair are softer, and everything works more like it’s supposed to. If you find a good source of organic coconut oil for sale, you’ll be glad you did. If you don’t know where to buy coconut oil, try looking at a local health food store. They’ll also be able to tell you all the good ways to use it, such as in coconut popcorn oil, baking, salad dressings, and more. Just always make sure the oil is organic and virgin coconut oil. That’s the key to getting all of the wonderful benefits coconut oil  has to offer.

If you’ve been keeping up with health news lately, you’re probably wondering where you can find coconut oil for sale.

After all, coconut oil is one of the health industry’s newest darlings.  In fact, if you’ve read the studies, it almost seems like unrefined virgin coconut oil is a miracle of nature. It can do so many things it’s no wonder people are wondering where to buy coconut oil. While you can certainly get it at the grocery store in most cases, this may not be the best source for it, as the oil you find there will likely be highly processed. To get the most benefit from your oil, it should be virgin coconut oil, and preferably organic coconut oil, as these are the purest forms of the oil, with no additives. In order to find the best oil available, you’re going to have to shop around.  Here are the two best places to find high quality coconut oil.

• The health food store. You can usually find pretty high quality stuff here, and it will almost always be unrefined, with organic versions available. Just remember, the retail charges are pretty high at health food stores, so be prepared to pay a premium for your product. The good news is, the oil typically comes in large jars and a little goes a long way, so it will be in your kitchen for a very long time. You’ll definitely get your money’s worth. You can use the oil for all kinds of cooking purposes, such as for coconut popcorn oil, stir fries, baking, and more. It’s also great as a health and beauty product. You can rub it right onto your skin or into your hair for a soft, supple look. Grab your jar today.
• Online. There are lots of places to buy this oil online. Wholesalers, retailers, and Amazon.com are just a few. With the Internet, there’s the ability to shop around for the best price, and to buy in bulk, so you’ve got more options here than with just shopping at a brick and mortar health food store. There’s also the convenience of having it delivered right to your door. If you plan on using this oil regularly, or using a lot of it, shopping online is one way to go, as it can definitely save you money. So, don’t be afraid to look around for the best buys.  They’re out there.

Of course, one of the best places to purchase delicious Organic Virgin Coconut Oil is right here at Nutiva.com.  Click HERE to browse our products.

Coconut popcorn oil can be a great way to enjoy  coconut oil. Yet, using coconut oil to pop corn is probably something you’d never have considered.

(Click HERE to read our Popcorn recipe!)

Traditionally popcorn is popped with canola oil or plain old vegetable oil.  But using unrefined virgin coconut oil instead will give your popcorn a slightly tropical taste that’s both intriguing and delicious.

Virgin coconut oil is an amazing all purpose cooking oil that you can consume.  In fact, coconut oil weight loss is becoming a thriving industry.  But there are more ways to get this delicious oil into your diet than through popcorn alone.  Here are 5 great ways to use it in cooking so you can be as healthy and happy as possible.

• Stir-Fry Meals–Yes, you can use solid coconut oil in stir-fries. As with any cooking, organic coconut oil is best, because it’s made from coconuts grown without chemical pesticides or fertilizers, so it will be healthier for you. It doesn’t matter what kind of stir-fry you’re making, you can use this oil in it, though its tropical taste naturally lends itself to dishes including tropical ingredients such as pineapple, mango, and banana.  Note if you add some sea salt or herbs or garlic it will reduce the coconut flavor and bring out the high notes of the dish or herbs you have added.
• In homemade ice cream–If you have an ice cream maker, you can make the best coconut ice cream in the world with coconut oil.  All you need to know is where to buy coconut oil and how to crank an ice cream maker. Most coconut oil for sale is available at grocery and health food stores, so it’s not too hard to find. Mix the oil with coconut water and stir in flaked coconut flesh, and you’ve got a taste sensation that can’t be beat.
• In baking –In place of butter, try coconut oil. You’ll be surprised at how rich and moist your cupcakes, pie crusts, cakes, and muffins come out. You can use it in place of butter measure for measure, and it tastes delicious.
• In homemade granola — Every good homemade granola dish needs some oil, and butter or canola oil is usually the choice. Try melting some coconut oil to liquid state and mix in with your granola concoction before baking it, and you’ll be amazed at the scrumptious results.
• On salads –This is a great choice if you’re making your own dressing. A little olive oil and vinegar gets a healthy and tasty boost by the addition of some melted organic coconut oil. Your salad dressing will taste richer, and the salad overall will be much healthier. Give it a try and see what a difference it makes in your health and your way of cooking.

Do you know where to buy coconut oil?

This 5000 year old ancient cooking oil is quickly becoming the delight of natural health buffs and those who are looking for a cheaper way to stay healthy. Coconut oil was once frowned upon by doctors because it is rich in saturated fats, which were considered unhealthy.

Now we know that it’s trans fats, not saturated fats, that are the culprits behind many of today’s modern health problems.  Saturated fats like good unrefined virgin coconut oil are increasingly being seeing as a natural choice for a cooking oil.

If you’d like to add virgin coconut oil to your daily diet, you’ve got to find it first.  Many grocery stores carry it, but some are still lagging behind the times.  If your store doesn’t have coconut oil for sale, here are three unexpected places you can buy it.

• Your local health food store or co-op.  These stores are actually great places to find organic coconut oil, which is usually considered the best. Organic oil is produced from coconuts that have been grown without pesticides or chemicals, so you won’t be getting any bad stuff in with your oil.  Depending on the size jar you buy, it might seem a little expensive, but a little goes a long way.

• Online. While we love recommending our own Nutiva Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil products, there are many online retailers that now sell Nutiva and other brands. Be sure to get organic coconut oil, as you don’t want a bunch of additives or processing agents in your coconut oil. If you give us a try, note that we offer free shipping on orders of $30 or more, no coupon or discount code required.

• Buying Clubs. You may find a local food buying club that offers coconut oil. You can often get the oils at a competitive price. These are good oils to use in cooking, since they’re usually unrefined, which is always best. In fact, you can use coconut popcorn oil for popping the best popcorn you’ve ever tasted.