News

Rabobank honours NuTek

30 Dec 2015

Rabobank North America Wholesale has named NuTek Food Science as its Emerging Leader in Innovation Award winner for its two reduced-sodium products: NuTek Salt and Salt for Life, both of which use potassium.

Rabobank North America Wholesale has named NuTek Food Science as its Emerging Leader in Innovation Award winner for its two reduced-sodium products: NuTek Salt and Salt for Life. Both products (referred to as “Nature’s Alternative Salt”) use the necessary and under-consumed nutrient potassium to help reduce sodium in salty dishes, the company said.

“We received multiple nominations for this award, but ultimately NuTek Food Science’s innovative approach to improving health and wellness while maintaining taste is what set it apart,” said Rajiv Singh, CEO, Rabobank North America Wholesale. “Being innovative is critical for us as a bank in the way we support our clients, and it is at the heart of what keeps the food and agribusiness industry so dynamic. With this award, we hope to shine a spotlight on the next bright ideas in the F&A space. We are thrilled that NuTek Food Science is the recipient.”

All salt products from NuTek Food Science use naturally-sourced potassium salt to deliver significant sodium reduction, making them a healthier alternative to traditional sodium salt. NuTek Salt is for use by food manufacturers and restaurant chains, providing 30-50% reductions in sodium versus regular sodium salt. For consumer use at home, the Salt for Life brand is a blend of NuTek Salt and sea salt, to provide 75% less sodium than regular table salt.

“There is a macro-societal health imperative to reduce sodium in our everyday diets which our revolutionary alternative salts are addressing,” said Tom Manuel, Co-Founder and CEO at NuTek Food Science. “NuTek’s products are helping people around the world lower their sodium intake and increase their potassium intake, while still providing the salty flavor they love. We’re honored to be named the Emerging Leader in Innovation by Rabobank.”

Each year at its annual Client Appreciation Events in New York City, Rabobank honors an organisation that addresses issues in the food and agribusiness space in a new and innovative way. In 2014, Clearwater Seafoods Incorporated was the winner of the Rabobank Leader in Innovation Award for its cutting-edge technologies and methods that improved clam harvesting and processing.

This year, focus of the Innovation Award changed to “emerging” companies, which have been operating in the industry for ten years or less, addressing a pervasive industry issue in a unique way, making significant achievements as a leader and expanding a business in the F&A sector, and demonstrating an excellent track record in social commitments and good corporate citizenship. This year also marked the first time Rabobank accepted external nominations from third parties and companies in the food and agribusiness industry. After nominees were vetted by an independent, third-party consultant, a winner was selected by a panel of judges.

The Emerging Leader in Innovation Award is one of three awards presented annually at the Rabobank Client Appreciation Events. The Leader in Sustainability Award was presented to AgroFresh, and the marquis award of the events, the Leadership & Excellence Award, was presented to Jackson Family Wines. The awards are an important part of the invitation-only Rabobank Client Appreciation Events that bring leaders in the food, agribusiness and renewable energy space together to discuss topical themes and ideas, and examine market and sector outlooks.