Earth Equity News

Newman's Own Organics: A Trendsetter. By Kim Stevenson, NYTimes, September 30, 2008. "It took a detailed marketing plan and a Thanksgiving dinner that Nell Newman secretly made with organic ingredients to convince her skeptical father that the venture was worth it. Now, 15 years later, the company's line has grown to more than 150 products, and Newman's Own Organicsis the third most recognizable organic brand in the country, according to the Hartman Group, a market research firm. When the company started, major food producers were reluctant to develop organic versions of products for fear consumers might question their traditional offerings, said Peter Meehan, a family friend who started the organic company along with Ms. Newman. 'Because he was willing to do it, he helped allay the fears that corporate America had about coming out with both organic and conventional items,' he said. The company's need for organic ingredients, especially in the early days, meant survival for small producers and helped strengthen markets for commodities like organic chocolate and sugar."