Chike, Hydrant top buyers’ picks at ECRM VMS program
Chike Nutrition won the Drug Store News/ECRM Buyers’ Choice Award for its Vanilla Iced Coffee at ECRM’s Vitamin, Weight Management & Sports Nutrition Program held earlier this month. Hydrant was a finalist for its Hydration Mix + Caffeine.
The products were selected from dozens of entries submitted by participating suppliers. Buyers were able to evaluate each entry and cast their votes based on product packaging and innovation via the Drug Store News-branded Buyers’ Choice Awards section of the ECRM Connect platform.
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“Improving performance — whether in the gym or at the office — is an increasingly important component of consumers’ wellness regimens,” said Craig Chmielowicz, ECRM senior vice president of health and beauty care. “Both Buyers’ Choice Award winners have products that seek to drive performance with functional beverages that also taste great.”
Chike Nutrition, based in Abilene, Texas, crafts functional, “better-for-you” products meant to improve health and wellness. It aims to prove that consumers don't have to sacrifice great taste when seeking to make healthier nutritional choices.
The company’s Protein Iced Coffee is low in calories, gluten-free, and has no artificial flavors or colors. Each serving contains 20 g of non-GMO whey protein, two shots of real espresso coffee (150 mg caffeine) and only 1 g of sugar. Its vanilla flavor was developed to be a healthy twist on a classic espresso drink.
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Hydrant’s products use the power of hydration as a functional foundation and include additional ingredients like caffeine or vitamins to supercharge wellness routines. Each product is designed to hydrate you faster than water alone.
Its Energy product is a precise blend of balanced electrolytes, 100 mg of caffeine from green tea and 200 mg of L-theanine for smooth, jitter-free energy. It’s made with real fruit juice powder and contains no synthetic colors, artificial sweeteners or stevia.