Island Abbey Foods Expands into Vitamins and Supplements

Island Abbey Foods, a Charlottetown-based natural health product manufacturer, has expanded into the vitamin and mineral supplement category with the launch of four new products under the brand honibe honey gummies.

“After years of extensive research and product development, we are thrilled to be the first to market with an all-natural honey-based line of vitamins and supplements for both children and adults,” said Founder and CEO John Rowe in a statement. “Staying true to our promise, pure Canadian honey is the No. 1 ingredient in our vitamins, thus cutting refined sugar by 50 percent versus leading brands.”

The four new products include two for adults and two products for children. The adult products include a complete multivitamin and a complete multivitamin with added immune boost. The pediatric products include a complete multivitamin and a complete multivitamin with added immune boost.

The company made the announcement last week at the CHFA show this weekend in Toronto.

SimplyCast Wins Consumer Choice Award

Dartmouth-based SimplyCast, a global leader in marketing and communication automation, has been named the winner of the Consumer Choice Award in the category of Digital Online Marketing.

Selected as a 2017 Consumer Choice Award winner through a process of statistically accurate market research, SimplyCast is now considered to be a top-ranked organization in the online marketing industry, the company said in a statement.

Consumer Choice Award is the only organization to recognize excellence in business through an intensive four-step process designed to produce reliable results for consumers to make educated decisions.

“We are very pleased to be recognized by this prestigious organization,” said President and CEO of SimplyCast, Saeed El-Darahali. “We have worked hard to offer the best product and service possible and to be acknowledged as a top-ranked business confirms that our efforts are successful.”

AIDA presents Cloud-Based Analytics Overview and Tutorial

The Acadia Institute for Data Analytics will hold a seminar on cloud-based analytics at Patterson Hall on Tuesday, Sept. 27.

The Acadia University institute, known as AIDA, said in a statement data analytics and machine learning are becoming increasingly accessible through easy-to-use tools available on the Web. This means that it is simpler than ever to generate insight and create predictions based on your data without having to purchase and install hardware and software.

In this session, participants will learn about several data analysis and predictive modeling tools available in browsers. They will learn about some of the benefits and drawbacks of Microsoft Azure Machine Learning Studio, the Google Cloud Predictions API, IBM Analytics, and Amazon Machine Learning.

The seminar will be led by Christian Frey, who works for AIDA as a Business and Data Analyst.

You can sign up here.

Ignite Fredericton Launches Atlantic Canada’s First Export Accelerator

Ignite Fredericton, the community’s economic development catalyst agency, has launched its new export accelerator, Export Igniter.

As a first of its kind in Atlantic Canada, Export Igniter is designed to help export-ready companies seize opportunities, navigate the complex landscape of international business, and jump start their export sales.

“After a year of consultation and planning, we’re very proud to begin accepting applications for this ground-breaking program,” said Adam Peabody, Investment Attraction and Growth Specialist with Ignite Fredericton.

A statement from the organization said export performance and employment are inextricably linked in New Brunswick. Between 2001 and 2014, export sales from New Brunswick were down by over $600 million on average per year.  Over the same period, New Brunswick lost 13,000 jobs. Currently, export sales account for 45 percent of the province’s GDP; however, with more than 90 percent of all export sales go to the U.S. market. 

Export Igniter will begin in January and run as a 12-week program enabling export-ready companies to develop their export strategy to expand to new markets.

Companies will participate in bootcamps led by subject matter experts such as Canada’s Trade Commissioner Service, Export Development Canada, and Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters.  They will also be paired with a successful local exporter, who will provide ongoing mentorship, as well as paired with a team of highly motivated undergraduate students through a partnership with the University of New Brunswick’s Faculty of Business.