“Back then, we were the first company to create an unsweetened soy beverage for the market, and maintained that position by having the bestselling unsweetened soy beverage.
“When you have a line of products that are delicious as well as nutritious, it sells.”
There is no doubt that Nutrisoya is still making the most of its opportunity.
Today exporting to 15 countries worldwide and recently expanding its flagship natur-a brand of beverages to seven flavor varieties—comprising natur-a Soy Original, natur-a Soy Vanilla, natur-a Soy Strawberry, natur-a Soy Chocolate, natur-a Soy Unsweetened, natur-a Light Vanilla and natur-a Soy Original—Nutrisoya pulled in revenues of $30 million last year, according to Daher.
“We’re more than pleased with our brands’ success,” Daher states. “Right through this recent recession, we were the only soy company in Canada whose business kept on growing.”
According to Daher, part of the company’s strong growth record can be traced to its unwavering commitment to high product quality and process integrity.
Pulp Fiction
“Back when we started, we would soak the whole soy beans for eight hours prior to washing, cooking and separating the pulp,” recalls Daher, while few of its competitors wasted their time with the soaking procedure.
“We were considered ‘old school’ in our preparation methods, according to global standards, and we were somewhat embarrassed.
“But then a funny thing happened—we discovered that the soaking aspect was actually good for the soy product, as it naturally boosted the nutritional value and flavor of the soy bean.”
It was a monumental discovery, according to Daher. For one thing, it meant there was no need to add folic acid to the beverage, as it was already there naturally. Moreover, the soaking process was actually found to have improved the nutritional content and the beverage’s overall flavor profile, while facilitating better digestion in the human body.
Photo courtesy of Tetra Pak Canada
“Our soy beverages are not made from concentrate—they are rich in protein, vitamin D and calcium, and contain 14 other essential vitamins, minerals and nutrients,” states Daher.
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