Sherbrooke Capital, a leading investor in companies that promote healthy, active and sustainable lifestyles, hosted its second annual Entrepreneurship Awards in Anaheim, California during Natural Products ExpoWest, the world’s largest natural products trade show that drew 56,000 attendees and more than 3,000 exhibitors. Awards were given to companies that demonstrated excellence in innovation, either through product development, branding and positioning, or sales strategy. Awards were granted to companies in two categories: those below $5mm in sales, and those with sales greater than $5mm.
For the under-$5mm category, awards were given to Clementine Art and Red’s All Natural. Clementine Art is a Boulder, Colorado-based marketer of natural, environmentally-friendly children’s art supplies. The company sells its products nationwide through Whole Foods and Starbucks. Based in Fairfield, Connecticut, Red’s All Natural sells a line of frozen burritos that are made with antibiotic and hormone-free meats, all natural and organic ingredients, delivered with slightly irreverent marketing. Red’s provides twice the size and more than double the protein than competitive products. Red’s distributes in the Northeast through specialty groceries. Clementine and Red’s All Natural received complimentary one-year subscriptions to SPINS data. SPINS is the leading provider of syndicated consumer sales data for the natural grocery channel.
In the over-$5mm category, the Entrepreneurship Award was given to Seattle’s Sahale Snacks. Sahale makes great tasting, all natural snacks that help consumers to “Snack Better.” The company’s product lines include nut blends and glazed nuts and the recently introduced Seasoned Nuts and Biscotti Crisps. Its products feature unique and surprising combinations of flavors and ingredients, such as organic blossom honey, lemongrass, or Moroccan harissa. Sahale sells its products nationwide through Costco, Starbucks, Wal-Mart and Whole Foods. Sahale received access to Affinnova’s innovative optimization technology that can be utilized for anything from concept development, to package conceptualization, to advertisement messaging and design. Affinnova is one of the fastest growing marketing service companies in the US, providing cutting-edge optimization technology for innovation and marketing for leading consumer packaged goods companies worldwide.
About Sherbrooke: Based in Newton Lower Falls, Massachusetts, Sherbrooke provides growth capital to fast-growing and unique branded consumer products and service companies. Existing and former portfolio companies include FoodShouldTasteGood, Immaculate Baking, Ciao Bella, Adina For Life, Izze and Oregon Chai.
