Sean Moloughney03.01.11
Offering ingredients from all over the world, Ecuadorian Rainforest, LLC (ER), Belleville, NJ, has evolved into a supplier of high quality powdered botanicals that are found in dietary supplements, functional foods and beverages, cosmetics and other products available in a variety of channels.
Ecuador native and natural products enthusiast Marlene Hurtado-Siegel founded the company in 1997. “From a home office, Marlene coordinated her small wholesale business dealing strictly with botanicals from South America,” said Steve Siegel, vice president of marketing and sales. “Using her knowledge gained while growing up in Ecuador, a culture that heavily emphasizes natural product use, as well as the contacts from her native country, Marlene established a small but growing business.”
Steady growth would allow the company to expand its offerings, eventually adding botanicals from the U.S. and other countries to its product catalog. “Today, ER offers ingredients from every continent in the world,” said Mr. Siegel. “Our ingredients are found in dietary supplements, functional beverages and foods, cosmetics and more, from local mom-and-pop shops to big box stores.”
The company’s botanical products include fruits, herbs, spices, vegetables and ingredients from marine sources. In addition to these basic categories, the company has been quick to respond to consumer demands, offering high antioxidant superfruits as well as condition-specific products designed to target joint health, blood sugar management, weight management, eye health and other health categories. “All of our ingredients have nutritional benefits that can assist manufacturers in creating products that will entice consumers looking for all-natural and healthy options,” said Mr. Siegel.
And the company continues to expand its ingredient offerings. It recently introduced Irvingia gabonensis, a weight management ingredient from South Africa that has strong scientific backing. In January, ER also debuted “Napoleon’s Choice” a line of all-natural, “paw-picked” botanicals that are designed for domestic animals.
Mr. Siegel emphasized quality, meeting regulatory requirements and exceeding standards. Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) and other FDA regulations continue to be top-of-mind for responsible businesses in the nutraceuticals industry, he said. In fact, ER has hired an internal legal and regulatory affairs counselor. “This individual’s sole responsibility is to make sure ER is up-to-code and up-to-speed on requirements set by the government here in the U.S. and when importing ingredients into foreign markets.”
In 2011, ER will be moving to a larger facility in Belleville, NJ, increasing its warehouse capacity and, in turn, offering manufacturers larger volume and a wider variety of products, according to Mr. Siegel. “Additionally, this move will include the hiring of new talent that will surely help us better serve our clients.”
In spite of the faltering global economy, ER continued to see growth during the past few years. “Any economic turbulence can really test a business,” Mr. Siegel noted. “During that time a company must get creative in not only how it spends money, but also how it communicates with its clients. A combination of spending smart and working harder can get a company through tough times. Ecuadorian Rainforest met the economic adversity by spending smarter and working harder during these tough times.”
For the future, he said the company would strive to maintain its current presence while also looking for possible expansion opportunities. “While it would be nice to have an all-over-the-world presence, ER believes in doing the best we can, where we can. Focusing on our existing clients, whose patronage over the years has been a gift, is priority number one. Reaching new clients in budding markets is also important. The nutraceuticals market is still very young. In some parts of the world it is only beginning.”
As the company looks to continue growing its business globally, ER will be exhibiting at a nutritional tradeshow in Asia for the first time. “This opportunity will allow ER to reach a whole new world of manufacturers and help them create health products for consumers there.”
Ecuadorian Rainforest, LLC
25 Main Street, Bldg #6
Belleville, NJ, 07109
Telephone: 973-759-2002
Fax: 973-759-3002
E-mail: info@intotherainforest.com
Website: www.intotherainforest.com
Ecuador native and natural products enthusiast Marlene Hurtado-Siegel founded the company in 1997. “From a home office, Marlene coordinated her small wholesale business dealing strictly with botanicals from South America,” said Steve Siegel, vice president of marketing and sales. “Using her knowledge gained while growing up in Ecuador, a culture that heavily emphasizes natural product use, as well as the contacts from her native country, Marlene established a small but growing business.”
Steady growth would allow the company to expand its offerings, eventually adding botanicals from the U.S. and other countries to its product catalog. “Today, ER offers ingredients from every continent in the world,” said Mr. Siegel. “Our ingredients are found in dietary supplements, functional beverages and foods, cosmetics and more, from local mom-and-pop shops to big box stores.”
The company’s botanical products include fruits, herbs, spices, vegetables and ingredients from marine sources. In addition to these basic categories, the company has been quick to respond to consumer demands, offering high antioxidant superfruits as well as condition-specific products designed to target joint health, blood sugar management, weight management, eye health and other health categories. “All of our ingredients have nutritional benefits that can assist manufacturers in creating products that will entice consumers looking for all-natural and healthy options,” said Mr. Siegel.
And the company continues to expand its ingredient offerings. It recently introduced Irvingia gabonensis, a weight management ingredient from South Africa that has strong scientific backing. In January, ER also debuted “Napoleon’s Choice” a line of all-natural, “paw-picked” botanicals that are designed for domestic animals.
Mr. Siegel emphasized quality, meeting regulatory requirements and exceeding standards. Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) and other FDA regulations continue to be top-of-mind for responsible businesses in the nutraceuticals industry, he said. In fact, ER has hired an internal legal and regulatory affairs counselor. “This individual’s sole responsibility is to make sure ER is up-to-code and up-to-speed on requirements set by the government here in the U.S. and when importing ingredients into foreign markets.”
In 2011, ER will be moving to a larger facility in Belleville, NJ, increasing its warehouse capacity and, in turn, offering manufacturers larger volume and a wider variety of products, according to Mr. Siegel. “Additionally, this move will include the hiring of new talent that will surely help us better serve our clients.”
In spite of the faltering global economy, ER continued to see growth during the past few years. “Any economic turbulence can really test a business,” Mr. Siegel noted. “During that time a company must get creative in not only how it spends money, but also how it communicates with its clients. A combination of spending smart and working harder can get a company through tough times. Ecuadorian Rainforest met the economic adversity by spending smarter and working harder during these tough times.”
For the future, he said the company would strive to maintain its current presence while also looking for possible expansion opportunities. “While it would be nice to have an all-over-the-world presence, ER believes in doing the best we can, where we can. Focusing on our existing clients, whose patronage over the years has been a gift, is priority number one. Reaching new clients in budding markets is also important. The nutraceuticals market is still very young. In some parts of the world it is only beginning.”
As the company looks to continue growing its business globally, ER will be exhibiting at a nutritional tradeshow in Asia for the first time. “This opportunity will allow ER to reach a whole new world of manufacturers and help them create health products for consumers there.”
Ecuadorian Rainforest, LLC
25 Main Street, Bldg #6
Belleville, NJ, 07109
Telephone: 973-759-2002
Fax: 973-759-3002
E-mail: info@intotherainforest.com
Website: www.intotherainforest.com
