Is Good Eating Good Enough? Pollan, Supplements and Health
Maybe we missed the memo, or accidentally erased a voice mail, but somehow we never got the word that Americans eat so well that they don’t really need to supplement their diet with nutrients. Eating a well-balanced diet is all you need. Of course in theory we agree, yet in a nation of over processed […]
Hartman Group’s Tinderbox Dampens Tesco’s Heat
Among the many newsletters we get, one of our favorites is Tinderbox, an effort produced by the Hartman Group. In the current issue they prove NBN—and many others— wrong in our assessment of Tesco’s mighty punch. Their early looks suggest that despite Tesco’s fat wallet, filled with the increasingly valuable British pound, the UK Giant […]
Tom Collins: Who Is Tom Collins?
Tom Collins probably isn’t the love child of Andrew Weil and David Sedaris but sometimes it sure seems that way. Combining smart advice and quirky stories from his life, Collins’ writing brings vitality with humor and grace. Tom’s rules are simple. Don’t take life too seriously, but take it seriously enough that you don’t spend […]
Coca-Cola Buys 40% Share of Honest Tea
When we first heard the news that Honest Tea and Coke we’re merging we thought “Oh no, Coke will ruin them.” Then we reread the release and were relieved, learning that at least for now, Coke just bought 40%. Furthermore, we thought, who wouldn’t want the opportunity to grow their business with that kind of […]
Has Whole Foods Replaced Your Wild Oats?
If so, we want to know what you think. We’ve heard nothing but good things from customers at the Westport, Connecticut store that WFM is transforming slowly but surely. News is that the major remodeling will come this summer, but in the meantime the folks we talked to are happy as a pig…err, bad analogy […]
The Myth of Useless & Dangerous Vitamins
The renowned Mayo Clinic’s online efforts include a feature called NutritionWise. The idea is to help people improve their health with improved nutrition. In the piece, from March 5 the writer/nutritionist asked: “Multivitamins — Are they the best thing for you?” After slapping our forehead with disgust, www.mayoclinic.com/health/multivitamins/NU00651 NBN wonders if the clinic has lost […]
Ethics Schmethics from Profit Hungry Pfizer Pharmaceutical
NBN’s passions run deep but even we wondered why every time we saw the Lipitor television ad with Dr. Robert Jarvik, our blood started boiling. “When diet and exercise aren’t enough, adding Lipitor significantly lowers cholesterol,” Jarvik spins is his folksy, aw shucks kind of way, while touting his credentials as the inventor of the […]
Kellogg’s Gardenburger or A Cautionary Tale For Expo Entrepreneurs
A Tale of Flying Too High in The Freezer Aisle Once upon a time, there was a product that everyone loved and its sales showed. But like many kings, they grew too proud, stopped paying attention to their kingdom, and left the business of veggie burgers to others. When they announced to the world, “we’re […]
Clorox Goes Natural with Burt’s Bees and Green Works
NBN has had more than a few friends buried deep in Excel spreadsheets at Clorox Headquarters in Oakland, California and based on their experience we think that the November 2007 addition of Burt’s Bees to their lineup will do well. Everywhere we turn, there’s another Burt’s Bees display. The bigger question is, how long can […]
It’s Time To Stop Worrying So G-D Much About Chinese Products
Lions and Tigers and Chinese Imports, OH MY! Grocery chains are lining up to state that they are examining their policies on importing foods from China, reassuring consumers that all is well. For example, as www.usatoday.com/money/industries/food/2008-02-10-trader-joes-china_N.htm , “by April 1, Trader Joe’s will phase out single-ingredient Chinese imports such as garlic, frozen organic spinach, ginger […]
