“We could not be more thrilled to partner with such a reputable supplement line as Kyolic,” said Jeff Hilton, IMG Co-Founder and Partner. “I’ve watched Kyolic grow in the industry and they are truly a remarkable, substantiated nutraceutical pioneer. They deserve greater consumer awareness and recognition.”

Kyolic has remained a leader in scientific research since bringing its unique Aged Garlic Extract process to the U.S. in 1972. More than 650 clinical studies using Aged Garlic Extract have demonstrated Kyolic’s efficacy for benefits such as heart health and immune enhancement. Kyolic now offers more than 100 different products with specific benefits, from heart, joint and digestive support, to specific women’s and health needs.

“IMG knows dietary supplements and the media landscape for these types of products. They’re experts in nutritional product marketing,” said Albert Dahbour, Wakunaga Vice President. “We look forward to the high quality, results-driven work the IMG team will produce.”

IMG already began its PR work with Kyolic last month when the University of Florida published a study that found Kyolic Aged Garlic Extract may reduce cold and flu symptoms by up to 61 percent. Kyolic research has been recently presented at major international symposiums such as the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association.

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About Integrated Marketing Group:
Integrated Marketing Group is a marketing consultancy focused in the healthy lifestyles category, and specializing in strategic planning, branding, public relations and Web design and development. Its principals have created a marketing firm with a diverse background of creative development and strategic planning skills to serve the healthy lifestyles, food and personal care industries. For more information, or for branding resources, visit www.imgbranding.com. Follow us on Twitter @IMG_Branding or on Facebook.

About Wakunaga of America and Kyolic:
Since its establishment in 1972, the Wakunaga group of companies has played a unique role in promoting consumer health worldwide through the research, development, manufacturing and marketing of high quality products. Kyolic originated from time-tested organic farming techniques free from pesticides, herbicides and chemical fertilizers. Organic cultivation is essential to grow pure and natural garlic bulbs, which are well balanced in nutrients. Harvested at full maturity, the garlic cloves are naturally aged to convert harsh and odoriferous compounds such as allicin, into mild, odorless and stable water-soluble sulfur containing compounds which offer the benefits of garlic. Kyolic is quality assured from soil to shelf, and considered “The Sociable Garlic” supplement.

Media Contact:

Zach Zavoral

zachz@imgbranding.com

(801) 538-0777

The NBT Awards, presented by Nutraceutical Business & Technology Magazine in partnership with Vitafoods Europe, recognizes and rewards excellence in research and development, marketing, business and technology throughout the nutraceutical and functional food and beverage industries. The NBT Awards take place on the second night of the Vitafoods Europe event.

Hilton is the Co-founder and CMO of Integrated Marketing Group (IMG), a full-service marketing and PR agency specializing in the nutraceuticals and functional food and beverage industries. Last month IMG celebrated its 15-year anniversary of growing natural brands.

“The list of NBT Award nominees this year is impressive, so being asked to host is exciting, humbling and little panic-inducing all at the same time,” said Hilton, who was a speaker at SupplySide Marketplace in New York City last week.

NBT Editorial Director Dr. Kevin Robinson said that he decided Hilton should host because of “his industry visibility and slight physical resemblance to (Golden Globes host) Ricky Gervais.”

“The joy of having an industry expert like Jeff is his ability to comment on the fly about the awards and not feel constrained to ‘a script’,” Robinson said. “Everyone knows and respects Jeff and I’m sure he’ll do a great job.”

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About Jeff Hilton and IMG
Integrated Marketing Group (IMG) is a marketing agency focused in the healthy lifestyles category, and specializing in strategic planning, branding, public relations and Web design and development. IMG’s Co-founder and Chief Marketing Officer Jeff Hilton has been recognized by Advertising Age as one of America’s Top 100 Marketers and has more than 30 years of broad-based business experience, including more than 20 years spent within the natural products industry. Hilton is the recipient of Nutrition Business Journal’s Personal Service Award in recognition for his multiple outreach efforts including editorial contributions, pro-bono work and webinar and speaking engagements within the healthy lifestyles industry. Visit the IMG blog for Hilton’s branding articles and educational resources at www.imgbranding.com.

About the NBT Awards
From ingredients, production and finished products to applications and business practices, the mission is to deliver a set of benchmarks to a global audience to achieve significant developments in quality of service, health management, research, development and relationship management. The 5-Star venue provides a fitting environment for the annual gala dinner ceremony, where attendees, sponsors and industry professionals can network and celebrate new and significant developments with those that have successfully demonstrated their outstanding contributions to the industry.

The New York Times‘ freelancer Andrew Adam Newman asked IMG Co-founder and CMO Jeff Hilton for his expert opinion of the new Newtons Cookie marketing strategy. IMG in the NY TIMES! Click here to read the full article, or read his excerpts below …

> Like prunes, which similarly are recognized for their laxative effect, “to a lot of people a fig means ‘geriatric’ and that’s not good,” said Jeff Hilton, co-founder of the Integrated Marketing Group, an agency that works with natural brands.

> Mr. Hilton, the natural brands consultant, lauded the strategy. “When you have a consumer looking for healthy fruits and vegetables, you’re putting your product in a whole new context that consumers haven’t seen before,” he said. “It’s ingenious.”

Hilton, IMG co-founder and CMO, will speak on new target market opportunities for functional foods and beverages following Steve French’s presentation on Natural Marketing Institute’s 2011 findings.

“The natural products industry has traditionally targeted one or two demographics, unaware of the emerging new targets around the corner,” Hilton said.

Though Hilton regularly speaks at SupplySide West, this will be his first time since 2006 to present at SupplySide’s east coast show, now called MarketPlace.

“Jeff’s presentations are always delightfully engaging and incredibly innovative,” said Jon Benninger, VP of the Health and Nutrition Network at Virgo, MarketPlace’s hosting company. “Jeff knows our industry and industry marketing as well as anyone in the business.”

Hilton has been an invited speaker at several natural product events worldwide, including: Natural Products Expos East and West, NutraCon, VitaFoods, NBJ Summit and the British Columbia Functional Food and Nutraceutical Network Conference. Later in May, Hilton will address a VitaFoods Europe audience as well.

“I enjoy attending the SupplySide trade shows and enjoy collaborating with the innovators and thought-leaders there. There’s always so much to share and learn,” Hilton said.

Preview Hilton’s presentation and find more information on SupplySide MarketPlace at www.supplysideshow.com.

About Jeff Hilton and IMG

Integrated Marketing Group (IMG), is a marketing agency focused in the healthy lifestyles category, and specializing in strategic planning, branding, public relations and Web design and development. Jeff Hilton has been recognized by Advertising Age as one of America’s Top 100 Marketers and has more than 30 years of broad-based business experience, including more than 20 years spent within the natural products industry. Hilton is the recipient of Nutrition Business Journal’s Personal Service Award in recognition for his multiple outreach efforts including editorial contributions, pro-bono work and webinar and speaking engagements within the healthy lifestyles industry. Visit the IMG blog for Hilton’s branding articles and educational resources at www.imgbranding.com.

Aller and Hilton were still chuckling this year as IMG celebrated its 15th anniversary on April 1.

“We started with nothing more than a Commodore 64 and a radio stuck on a hip-hop station, and look how far we’ve come,” joked Aller, now the Chief Creative Officer of IMG. “We never expected this much growth; we couldn’t even imagine it at the time.”

IMG kicked off its celebration in March at the ExpoWest 2012 Conference in Anaheim among more than 50 industry leaders, clients and colleagues.

IMG continued its 15-year anniversary festivities after Hilton and Aller returned from ExpoWest. To honor IMG’s “quinceanera,” the co-founders treated their hard-working employees to lunch at a high-end Mexican restaurant called Taco Bell in downtown Salt Lake City.

“The reality is that we work hard, but have a lot of fun here at IMG,” said Gail Frankoski, IMG Director of Marketing. “The day doesn’t end without some sort of hilarious interaction among the team.”

IMG has grown from six employees to its current 14 marketing and public relations professionals – all with extensive experience and an infatuation with the natural products industry.

In 2012, IMG continues to expand its clientele and add new employees. No more Commadore 64s. And instead of starting new ventures every April Fool’s Day, Aller and Hilton simply sit back and marvel at their good fortune, and great clients.

About Integrated Marketing Group:
Integrated Marketing Group is a marketing consultancy focused in the healthy lifestyles category, and specializing in strategic planning, branding, public relations and Web design and development. Its principals have created a marketing firm with a diverse background of creative development and strategic planning skills to serve the healthy lifestyles, food and personal care industries. For more information, or for branding resources, visit www.imgbranding.com. Follow us on Twitter @IMG_Branding or on Facebook.

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Contact Information:
Zach Zavoral
Public Relations Counsel
zachz@imgbranding.com
(801) 538-0777 ext. 112

In the Q&A, Hilton tackles a handful of in-depth marketing issues facing today’s natural products companies.

To read the insightful piece, click here.

“We’ve watched IMG help build several leading ingredient brands, and we trust they will do the same for us,” said Jith Veeravalli, president of Gencor Nutrients. “Their work, like our branded ingredients, generates proven results.”

IMG will develop PR, marketing collateral, advertising and a dynamic web presence for Gencor’s line of branded ingredients, including: Slimaluma, Testofen, Genopause and Gencinia.

“Our job is easier – and our output more effective – when our clients have proven, science-based offerings like Gencor’s,” said Jeff Hilton, IMG co-founder and partner. “We look forward to improving the awareness level of Gencor’s image and public presence.”

Gencor, part of Gencor Pacific Group, has been a leader in specialty nutraceutical ingredients, offering a wide array of products from around the world. Separate from their regular offerings, Gencor’s branded ingredients are each designed with their own specific purpose: suppress appetite, enhance male libido, balance blood glucose, moderate post menopause symptoms or manage blood sugar levels.

About Integrated Marketing Group:
Integrated Marketing Group is a marketing consultancy focused in the healthy lifestyles category, and specializing in strategic planning, branding, public relations and Web design and development. Its principals have created a marketing firm with a diverse background of creative development and strategic planning skills to serve the healthy lifestyles, food and personal care industries. For more information, or for branding resources, visit www.imgbranding.com. Follow us on Twitter @IMG_Branding or on Facebook.

About Gencor:
Gencor Pacific Group provides innovative and high-quality branded ingredients that support a variety of life stages. The company was founded in 1999 and is based in Anaheim, California with locations in the United States, India, China, Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates. For more information, please visit www.gencorpacific.com.

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Contact Information:
Zach Zavoral
Public Relations Counsel
zachz@imgbranding.com
(801) 538-0777 ext. 112

Kyowa Hakko USA's ingredient Sustamine invaded Times Square this week!