YUMI Launches Functional Smoothies at Whole Foods
Nutrition company YUMI has launched a new line of six functional smoothies nationwide at Whole Foods. The company is using a proprietary preservation process that it claims retains more nutrition and taste than conventional shelf-stable packaging.
YUMI was co-founded by Angela Sutherland, a former investment banker, and Evelyn Rusli, a former journalist for The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal. Sutherland's journey began after she became pregnant and delved into research about the critical importance of nutrition during a child's first 1,000 days for lifelong health. The new "Smoothies-to-Go" line is organized into three functional categories: immunity, probiotics, and protein. For instance, the immunity smoothies are an excellent source of vitamins D and C, while the protein varieties contain 5g of protein per pouch. Flavors include combinations like Guava, Banana, & Apple for immunity and Cinnamon Apple & Sweet Potato with probiotics. A key differentiator for the smoothies is their shelf-stable nature, achieved without the high heat of traditional retort processing. YUMI employs a proprietary preservation method that uses less heat, which helps to lock in more of the natural vitamins, color, and flavor of the whole fruit and vegetable ingredients. This nationwide launch at Whole Foods marks the company's most significant retail expansion since its debut in Target stores three years prior. The move signals a major step in YUMI's evolution from a primarily direct-to-consumer subscription service to a prominent player on national retail shelves, competing with other organic brands.
