RiceBran Technologies (NASDAQ: RIBT) (the “Company”) announced today that it has engaged the services of Teak Media + Communication, LLC (“Teak”), and MarketPlace, the Food Marketing Agency (“MarketPlace”), to launch a comprehensive branding and marketing initiative for the Company. The project will focus on two key components to help RiceBran Technologies drive sales growth and build on momentum in the markets for its healthy, natural, and minimally processed food ingredients and functional foods.
As RiceBran Technologies continues to establish itself as the industry leader in stabilized rice bran and derivatives, the Company’s proprietary and patented technologies, as well as its expertise in formulation, blending, and production, differentiate it as an expert in both its ingredients and ability to deliver complete solutions to its growing customer base.
The branding component will be led by MarketPlace, a St. Louis-based brand development firm specializing in the food, beverage, and ingredient industries. Building on its successful branding of other global ingredient companies, MarketPlace will create a B2B brand strategy across the Company’s growing line of nutrient-dense rice bran ingredients and turnkey applications, engaging food industry media and manufacturers.
Teak Media + Communication, a Boston-based media and communications firm, will lead the implementation of an integrated corporate media and marketing strategy. Teak will work with MarketPlace and the Company’s investor relations firm, Ascendant Partners, LLC, to increase RiceBran Technologies’ public corporate profile and awareness of the value of RiceBran Technologies’ products with consumers.
The Company sees this new effort as a critical component in positioning RiceBran Technologies to capitalize on rapidly growing consumer demand for its healthy, natural, gluten-free, non-genetically modified, and minimally processed rice bran ingredients and applications, and expects to launch its new product and service branding in the 4th quarter of 2014 as a precursor to a larger, sustained marketing campaign in 2015.
RiceBran Technologies CEO and President W. John Short commented, “We are excited to launch this new marketing effort with these trusted industry specialists. Over the past year we have strengthened our balance sheet to position our Company to unlock the vast potential of our technology and expertise. As we move into a growth phase for our business, we are confident that this new marketing effort will significantly increase brand awareness and accelerate sales globally while substantially raising our corporate visibility in the food and beverage industry. We expect the coordinated efforts of our new branding and marketing partners and our current investor relations team to help us accelerate sales growth in the high-margin human ingredient and functional food markets while working to build lasting price appreciation for our stockholders.”
Tracy Landau, President of MarketPlace said, “We are excited to be working with RiceBran Technologies to bring awareness to the value of their nutrient-dense rice bran ingredients and their unique proprietary technology, which makes it possible to capture that value. Their story is very compelling and we are delighted to help them bring the RiceBran Technologies story to the food industry and further establish their position as a leader in functional food ingredients that answer the demand of consumers for foods that are not only nutritious but also sustainable and natural. As food industry specialists, we see RiceBran Technologies as providing a solution that both the industry and consumers will be excited about.”
Jackie Herskovitz Russell, President of Teak Media + Communication stated, “Teak’s specialty is communicating the stories that lie at the intersection of humanity and business. In RiceBran Technologies, we see a company whose proprietary technology is enabling millions to be fed from a food source that is cultivated without draining additional environmental resources. The Company is groundbreaking and Teak is honored to be a part of the team that will bring its nutrient-dense products to the public.”
About RiceBran Technologies
RiceBran Technologies is a human food ingredient and animal nutrition company focused on the procurement, bio-refining and marketing of numerous products derived from rice bran. RiceBran Technologies has proprietary and patented intellectual property that allows us to convert rice bran, one of the world's most underutilized food sources, into a number of highly nutritious human food ingredient and animal nutrition products. Our target markets are human food ingredients and animal nutrition manufacturers and retailers, as well as natural food, functional food and nutraceutical supplement manufacturers and retailers, both domestically and internationally. More information can be found in our filings with the SEC and by visiting our website at www.ricebrantech.com.
About MarketPlace
MarketPlace Innovations, LLC (“MarketPlace”) is a food marketing agency specializing in brand development for food, beverage, and ingredient companies. Founded by partners from within the food industry, MarketPlace has an insider’s perspective on the needs, audiences, and trends in the industry and applies these insights and experiences to develop brand strategies and marketing communications that engage targeted industry and consumer audiences. More information can be found on MarketPlace’s website at www.market-pl.com.
About Teak Media + Communication, LLC
Teak Media + Communication is an award-winning, values-led public relations and communication firm that increases awareness and drives public engagement for responsible companies. Teak promotes the programs, products and services of companies that inspire human greatness and make the world a better place. For details, visit www.teakmedia.com.
