What has one of the most innovative nutritional ingredient companies done to compensate for the lack of trade shows? Bioenergy Life Science (BLS) is using its ingenuity to share its unconventional thinking with brand and product managers.

Its methods are even more impressive considering that BLS, known for its heart-healthy and sports nutrition ingredients, is using this opportunity to creatively showcase entirely new healthy aging applications for its functional ingredients. 

Delivering out-of-box ideas into the hands of decision makers
“With trade shows cancelled, we were looking for ways to have meaningful contact with customers and prospects, especially brand and product managers,” recalls BLS Director of Marketing Penny Portner. “We opted for direct mail because it enables us to reach the people in the right positions at the right types of companies.”

Portner knew she wanted to send something unique to capture the recipients’ attention and interest. “To provide the best opportunities for our sales team, we opted to develop product samples in finished format and packaging. These were possible because, unlike many ingredient suppliers, we have relationships with co-manufacturers who can do small- and medium-sized product runs.” 

The first was RiaGev Granola Bites, served with swag
BLS’s newest ingredient, RiaGev, is a patented formula that uniquely combines Bioenergy Ribose and nicotinamide to balance the stress associated with energy production. It is easy to formulate with, cost-effective and delivers unique cellular benefits that promote healthy aging.

“Consumer interest in functional foods is soaring. We wanted to show how easily RiaGev can be used in a food product, despite the presence of nicotinamide which is something that might not always taste good,” says Portner. “RiaGev is best in no-heat applications, so we created Chewy Granola Bites packaged and labeled as finished products. These power-fueled on-the-go snacks taste fantastic without the need for any sort of flavor masking.”

In addition to the Granola Bites, the boxes contained a RiaGev summary sheet describing the ingredients’ benefits as well as RiaGev samples in traditional capsule form, hand wipes, a branded thermal mug and a notebook where recipients could jot down their creative ideas for formulating with RiaGev.

Bioenergy Ribose easily transitions from sports nutrition to nutricosmetics
“You usually don’t think of innovation when an ingredient has been available for 30 years. So recipients were likely surprised when they opened our swag box containing Bioenergy Ribose hand cream,” says Portner. “ Bioenergy Ribose can be used both orally and topically to improve skin’s elasticity and surface structure. It has been clinically shown to reduce the length and area of wrinkles.”

This was both unexpected and a quick turn. “From the time we came up with the concept to the time we produced the hand cream was only about six weeks,” Portner recalls.

Both innovative boxes showcase how BLS can help fast track product success
“The purpose of these swag boxes was to inspire creativity and new thinking about these ingredients and new delivery systems,” comments Portner. The innovative samples accomplished several other goals:
● They created timely conversations with clients and prospects.
“There is heightened interest in healthy aging, and nutrition with additional functional benefits. Also, the hand cream supports topical skin health at a time when we’re all washing our hands more
frequently and using a lot of hand sanitizer.”
● We called attention to BLS’s excellent co-manufacturing partners.
“We can share access to these co-manufacturers who can do the small and mid-sized runs for our clients.”
● Both the RiaGev Granola Bites and Bioenergy Ribose hand cream are ready-to-go products .
“The formulation and label work are done. The co-manufacturers are lined up. While BLS is not in the white label business, we have demonstrated that we can provide white label-level solutions to our customer partners when needed.”

Concludes Portner, “What we’ve shown in 2020 is that BLS ingredients lend themselves to a full spectrum of applications, some known/some new, to support health and fitness. That makes BLS uniquely poised to meet the needs of consumers who have gotten quite a nudge this year to take their health more seriously.”

To find additional information on formulating with Bioenergy Ribose and RiaGev visit www.bioenergylifescience.com.

Media Note: For additional information or to schedule an interview, contact Media Relations Agency at 952-697-5220.