Business
SunOpta Quadruples Acai Business
SunOpta Quadruples Acai Business.
About this update from Sunopta Inc.
[{"type":"text","content":"\n\n\n\n\nTORONTO, September 7 /CNW/ - SunOpta Inc. (SunOpta or the Company)\n(Nasdaq:STKL) (TSX:SOY) today provided an update on its North American Acai\nbusiness. The Company expects to quadruple its sales of Acai in North America\nto approximately $4.0 million over the next 12 months. \"The Acai frozen pulp\nis sold to food manufacturers as an ingredient in fruit juices, smoothie\nblends, and soy and dairy applications such as sorbets. It has become the most\nsought after fruit from our base of customers because of its unique health\nbenefits\" says Joseph Stern, Executive Vice President of SunOpta's Fruit\nGroup, who imports the Acai from Brazil.\nIn addition, the Company announced that SunOpta's Canadian Food\nDistribution Group has signed an exclusive agreement to market the Belizza\nline of Acai and pomegranate sorbets, which are expected to add a further $1.0\nmillion in revenue.\nAcai is harvested by hand and processed within 24 hours from the Amazon\nin Brazil and has the highest antioxidants of any fruit in the world and is an\nalmost perfect blend of essential amino acids along with a high level of omega\nfatty acids and vitamins. Antioxidants are compounds that may help inhibit\npremature aging, heart disease, cancer and Alzheimer disease by neutralizing\nfree radicals. The Acai berries are harvested in a sustainable manner creating\njobs in the Amazon and preserving the Rain Forest. A portion of the fruit\nprice goes back to the indigenous peoples in the Amazon to help support\nschools and provide books and other educational tools to children.\nSteve Easterbrook commented, \"SunOpta's Food Distribution Group is\npleased to have partnered with Belizza to bring a leading edge, healthy,\nunique, high quality and great tasting desert treat to the Canadian\nmarketplace.\"\n\nAbout SunOpta Inc.\n\nSunOpta Inc. is an operator of high-growth ethical businesses, focusing\non integrated business models in the natural and organic food markets. The\nCompany has three business units: the SunOpta Food Group, which specializes in\nsourcing, processing and distribution of natural and organic food products\nintegrated from seed through packaged products; the Opta Minerals Group, a\nproducer, distributor, and recycler of environmentally friendly industrial\nmaterials; and the SunOpta BioProcess Group which engineers and markets\npro...