Heather Wainer
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WholeFoods Magazine
publisher /chief business officer of WholeFoods Magazine , lover of life
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Articles by Heather Wainer
The Summer of Advocacy
As policymakers at the state and federal levels debate supplement regulation, consumer access, and federal oversight, it’s essential that the natural products industry makes its voice heard. Thankfully, our trade associations are working hard on that front.
NPA Fly-In Day Brings Supplement Industry Priorities to Capitol Hill
Washington, D.C.—More than 130 natural products industry leaders gathered on Capitol Hill, on May 12, 2026, for the Natural Products Association’s (NPA) annual Fly-In Day. Representing companies from across the country, attendees met directly with lawmakers and legislative staff to advocate for policies impacting the dietary supplement industry. Attendees spent the day discussing key legislative and regulatory issues affecting manufacturers, retailers, distributors, and consumers.
Fresh Look for an Old Friend
Happy New Year! The WholeFoods Magazine team is excited to step into 2026 with you. A new year brings fresh energy, new beginnings, and so much to look forward to in the months ahead. With that spirit in mind, we felt this was the perfect time to introduce our refreshed logo. It reflects a modern look while truly capturing who we are today. While we proudly print WholeFoods Magazine, for quite some time we’ve been much more than a printed publication.
From Arizona to India: Advancing the Nutraceuticals Industry
New opportunities are wonderful, exciting, and always offer something new to learn. In April, I traveled to Arizona for the inaugural Women in Nutraceuticals (WIN) Leadership Summit, which was an uplifting experience. The networking was top-notch—I connected with many longtime friends, and met new ones. Each speaker motivated me to be better all around.
Arizona Custom Blends Delivers Quality Products and Partnerships
Tempe, AZ — Arizona Custom Blends (ACB) showed off its new 144,000-SF facility at an open house for customers and vendors on September 6. The facility, which has room to grow, has the capacity for capsules as well as powders and packaging. ACB started off in an 8,000 SF facility in 2016, but the company quickly outgrew that space, and expanded into a second building, and then a third, which is where the facility is today.
At NPA’s Fly-In Day, Industry Members Tackle Pressing Issues
Washington, DC—The Natural Products Association (NPA) hosted its annual federal government advocacy Fly-In on Capitol Hill on Wednesday, May 22. More than 100 natural products industry members gathered in D.C. to meet with members of Congress and their staff. This was the largest Fly-In Day post-pandemic, with retailers, brands, suppliers, and industry stakeholders from across the country welcome to attend.
Publisher's Letter
Person of the Year has allowed us to highlight some special people over the years, and in 2023 we are recognizing someone who is truly special to the team at WholeFoods Magazine: Mark Blumenthal, Founder & Executive Director of the American Botanical Council (ABC), Editor-in-Chief of HerbalGram & HerbClip, and Director of the ABC-AHP-NCNPR Botanical Adulterants Prevention Program (BAPP).
Heather Wainer
Read More Publisher's Letter Read More Publisher's Letter Read More Read More A few months ago, I did an interview with Loren Israelsen of UNPA. He noted that WholeFoods Magazine has long had the foresight to discuss important topics early on. Loren pointed to our coverage of mood support, GMOs, and Mushrooms in 2008. Back then, those topics were just starting to get...
Active Nutrition is Trending!
In June, I attended the International Society Of Sports Nutrition (ISSN) conference for the first time. ISSN is a non-profit academic society dedicated to promoting the science and application of evidence-based sports nutrition and supplementation. This year’s conference celebrated the 20th anniversary of ISSN, which was started by Doug Kalman, Ph.D., RD; Jose Antonio, Ph.D.; Richard Kreider, Ph.D.; Susan Kleiner, Ph.D., RD; and Anthony Almada, MSc, in 2003.
FSA | WholeFoods Magazine
NOTE: WholeFoods Magazine is a business-to-business publication. Information on this site should not be considered medical advice or a way to diagnose or treat any disease or illness. Always seek the advice of a medical professional before making lifestyle changes, including taking a dietary supplement. The opinions expressed by contributors and experts quoted in articles are not necessarily those of the publisher or editors of WholeFoods.
A Day on the Hill
It was good to be back advocating for the natural products industry in Washington D.C. after a four-year hiatus. I forgot how productive and enlightening a day on Capitol Hill can be. Thank you to the Natural Products Association (NPA) for organizing Fly-In Day, which was held on June 7. It was wonderful to see so many familiar faces from across the country, and to meet new folks, too. I was very proud of our New Jersey Contingency. Why do we do this?
WholeFoods Magazine is Raising the Bar!
What a whirlwind of a week! The WholeFoods Magazine team just got back from Natural Products Expo West, and we loved seeing our old friends and making new ones. We also enjoyed checking out (and sampling!) many innovative products. Thank you to the many people who took time out to educate us! We will be sharing all we saw, from the latest to support the microbiome, to a wide variety of products to support active aging, to all the plant-based deliciousness, coffee alternatives, and so much more.
Heather Wainer
WholeFoods Magazine is Raising the Bar! The WholeFoods Magazine team launched our new website this month, plus we made sure this April issue was ready for you so you can check out the winners of the 2023 Natural Choice Awards and more! Read More Women Making Their Mark in Natural Products A few months ago, I did an interview with Loren Israelsen of UNPA. He noted that WholeFoods Magazine has long had the foresight to discuss important topics early on.
Women Making Their Mark in Natural Products
A few months ago, I did an interview with Loren Israelsen of UNPA. He noted that WholeFoods Magazine has long had the foresight to discuss important topics early on. Loren pointed to our coverage of Mood support, GMOs (see page 12 of this issue for more), and Mushrooms (turn to page 24 for the latest) in 2008. Back then, those topics were just starting to get on people’s radar. Today, they top the lists of trends and need-to-know news.
Remembering Dr. Richard Passwater
I was planning on writing the Publisher’s Letter this month on a very different topic, but life’s circumstances changed my plans. Last week was sandwiched by the loss of two great men who both had a major influence on my career. Saturday night I learned of the passing of Senator Orrin Hatch, who we all know was our industry champion and the father of the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA).
Transparency Throughout
Being a small, tight-knit company, we enjoy discussing everything together. About a month ago in one of our team meetings on Zoom, the topic of transparency came up. We value it and are proud of how all of our customers are transparent with their customers. I find this information very handy when buying my supplements. And as the conversation continued, we talked about how transparency should take place in all products you buy, and not just your Dietary Supplements.
Woman-Owned, Women-Led!
I know you are currently reading the May issue, but we started preparing this issue for you in March, during Women’s History Month. As a woman it humbles me to have a month to celebrate the countless accomplishments of women throughout the world, and it also makes me appreciate all the powerful women I have the honor of working with in the natural products industry.
You Made the Difference in 2020
L to R: Food being donated to those in need during the COVID-19 crisis, courtesy of Sabinsa; The team at Mandela Grocery work to keep the community nourished, courtesy of Mandela; Jaime Salas-Rushford, M.D., volunteered to help treat patients in hard-hit NYC, courtesy of Dr. Salas-Rushford; Ken Redcross, M.D., cares for patients in NYC, courtesy of Dr. Redcross; NOW’s “Clean Team” is made up of managers that help with cleaning and sanitizing of high-touch spots, courtesy of NOW; Tamara...
My Keto Experiment
This year WholeFoods is publishing a series on special diets, so we thought it could be useful and informative to try each diet, too. I tackled Keto as our first diet. I started on New Year’s Day–the perfect time to start fresh with a new food formula. I have always had a hard time wrapping my head around eating lots of fat–I felt the same way when I tackled Atkins years ago. But I’ve read a lot about how healthy fats are beneficial.
State of the Trade
This interview first appeared in Marketing Natural Products™, a Digital Publication by The Shelton Group, Autumn 2014 As manufacturers and suppliers decide where to allocate their advertising budgets, what makes trade advertising a worthwhile spend? Trade advertising is always an excellent investment for new product launches, as retail stores and businesses need to know about new merchandise before anyone else so they can stock their shelves with great options.
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