PARAMUS, N.J. — Smart Balance, Inc. (Nasdaq: SMBL) today announced its entry into the organic soy milk market, with the national launch of Earth Balance™ Organic Soymilk, available at Whole Foods Market, Inc. stores beginning in August. The launch of Earth Balance™ Organic Soymilk will be exclusive to Whole Foods Market stores through 2010.
The new Earth Balance™ Soymilk, which is organic, certified non-genetically modified by the Non-GMO Project and made with soybeans only grown in the United States, will be available in Original, Vanilla, Chocolate, and Unsweetened varieties. In addition, Earth Balance™ Soymilk is vegan; free of lactose, cholesterol, dairy, and gluten; and an excellent source of calcium, vitamin D and ALA omega-3s.
Commenting on the announcement, Smart Balance Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Stephen Hughes stated, "We are thrilled to be partnering with Whole Foods, a retail industry leader in providing new and innovative products to health-conscious consumers, on the launch of our new Earth Balance™ Soymilk. This new product joins the super-premium family of Earth Balance® branded products, including buttery spreads, shortenings and nut butters. Importantly, it will provide consumers with the only refrigerated soy milk product in the market that is both organic and Non-GMO Project certified."
"Earth Balance™ Soymilk is another innovative offering from Smart Balance that demonstrates our ongoing commitment to providing health–conscious consumers with great-tasting, innovative products that meet their needs and that support our corporate strategy to create a multi-brand, multi-category health and wellness platform for growth," continued Mr. Hughes.
Creative packaging for the new product features an Earth Balance™ Soymilk recipe from The Kind Diet, a book authored by actress and vegan Alicia Silverstone that advocates a plant-based diet for healthy, sustainable and earth-conscious lifestyles.
Forward-looking Statements
Statements made in this press release that are not historical facts, including statements about the Company's plans, strategies, beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking and subject to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements may include use of the words "expect", "anticipate", "plan", "intend", "project", "may", "believe" and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and, except for the Company's ongoing obligations under the U.S. federal securities laws, the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether to reflect actual results of operations, changes in financial condition, changes in general economic or business conditions, changes in estimates, expectations or assumptions, or circumstances or events arising after the issuance of this press release. Actual results may differ materially from such forward-looking statements for a number of reasons, including those risks and uncertainties set forth in the Company's filings with the SEC and the Company's ability to:
•maintain margins during commodity cost fluctuations;
•introduce and expand distribution of new products;
•provide funding to support market share and increase consumer awareness; and
•grow net sales in a competitive environment and with increasingly price sensitive consumers.
About Smart Balance, Inc.
Smart Balance, Inc. (Nasdaq: SMBL) is committed to providing superior tasting heart healthier alternatives in every category it enters by avoiding trans fats naturally, balancing fats and/or reducing saturated fats, total fat and cholesterol. The company markets the Smart Balance® line of products, which include Smart Balance® Buttery Spreads, Milk, Butter Blend Sticks, Sour Cream, Peanut Butter, Microwave Popcorn, Cooking Oil, Mayonnaise, Non-Stick Cooking Spray and Cheese, and also markets natural food products under the Earth Balance® brand and healthier lifestyle products under the Bestlife™ brand.
For more information about Smart Balance, Inc., Smart Balance® products and the Smart Balance™ Food Plan, please visit http://www.smartbalance.com.
Source: Smart Balance, Inc.