Industry News

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Ruth Noah 1971-2024

New Natural Business is saddened to hear of the passing of Ruth Noah of Noah's Health Food Shop in Wallington. Ruth took over at the store's helm in 2003 on the retirement of her father, Jack Noah.

The Health Food Institute paid tribute to Ruth, a Fellow of the Institute who was a big believer in training – there was never a time when she didn't have a member of staff on HFI courses:

"Ruth was part of Noah's Health Food Store right from the start – when Jack Noah and his wife Lorna started their health food business in Sept 1970, Ruth was a wee bump – and when she was old enough she worked in the store on Saturdays and during school / college holidays.

"Ruth was an avid contemporary and jazz dancer and studied dance, art and theatre in London for two years, achieving a BA Honours Degree in Theatre from Dartington College of Arts in 1994. She worked as an actress with various theatre companies, touring the UK.

"Finding work as an actress became more difficult in the late 90s and, though she continued to work for local theatre and do some amateur dramatics, in 1998 she began a new career in marketing, achieving a Chartered Institute of Marketing Certificate in 2000 quickly gaining promotion to UK Press Officer for Philips Consumer Electronics.

"Ruth continued to work part time after the birth of her son Angelo in 2001, and then, when her father Jack's health began to deteriorate she began to spend more and more time working with him in the shop. When he died in November 2012 aged 90, Ruth knew that she wanted to take over the business – it was in her blood!"

Meanwhile, Health Stores UK posted this tribute: remembering-our-colleague-and-friend-ruth-noah

Why Irish customer care is second to none

A new video tutorial to assist candidates completing the Protocol for Customer Care is now available for Irish health store staff.

The video, which features nutritionist and tutor Grace Kinirons (pictured above: with her partner and co-star, John Bourke), is produced by Health Stores Ireland's video partner Big Adventure Media.

Candidates are talked through the missions and aims of the Protocol and demonstrate how it can be applied in real life practical situations.

Erica Murray, one of the authors of the original Protocol, said: "Grace is an excellent communicator and teacher, and the video tutorial will be a valuable resource to provide context and reassurance for new staff."

Every Health Stores Ireland member store will be requested to include all elements of the Customer Care Protocol as part of new staff induction. Following the success of the project, Health Stores Ireland is planning to add more video and podcast-based training over the coming months.

Technical top job

Houaida Alawieh is the new technical manager at the Health Food Manufacturers' Association.

She brings a wealth of experience with her specialist knowledge of food legislation, regulatory affairs and industry best practices.

New Health Stores Ireland website

Health Stores Ireland has launched a new look website www.healthstores.ie.

The Factory, an ethical and eco design company, was awarded the contract having previously completed a successful Touring Map of Ireland print project for the group.

The brief was to use the themes and messaging from the touring map, which highlighted the diversity and independent nature of the sector in Ireland.

The redesign also allowed Health Stores Ireland to apply its new brand design package.

Announcing the new Secret Shopper Award

For nigh on a decade, New Natural Business has been on the hunt for the very best in health food retailing. Our Secret Shoppers have scoured the land for everything good about independent stores – or in some cases the not-so-good.

When the pandemic struck, we embarked on some serious training articles on how to set up and run a successful online store in tandem with your physical shops. At the same time, we focused on this aspect of retailing for our hugely successful Secret Shopper series.

Before the pandemic, those stores with highest marks were eligible for an award in conjunction with the Health Food Institute. Post-pandemic, there has been no opportunity to continue this award.

Therefore, we're reinstating it with an annual award for the Best Use of an Online Store and Social Media in support of a physical shop or shops. We'll bring you more details about the NNB Secret Shopper Award in due course and announce the winner in our Spring 2025 issue.

The prize is a framed certificate, assets for online use, and a write-up in NNB. And you might never see our shopper coming, so make sure your online shop is in tip-top shape!

Read the latest spy report here

In the classroom

Health Stores Ireland is kicking off the term-targeted Health Food Institute Diploma 1 course with a view to signing up a cluster class of candidates to start and finish the course together. The plan is to have all the class of 2024 cross the finish line together in September.

King of organic

King Charles has agreed to remain as patron of the Soil Association. Pictured on a farm visit, he has supported the charity since first becoming patron as Prince of Wales in 1999 and he has also supported hundreds of farmer-led research trials with the charity's Innovative Farmers network.

How to prevent Alzheimer's

World-leading brain health scientists came together to launch Alzheimer's Prevention Day in May. Their aim was to raise awareness of the scientifically proven ways Alzheimer's can be prevented.

Only about one in a hundred cases are caused by genes, leading the group to emphasise other factors involved.

"It may be possible to prevent up to 80% of dementia cases if all known risk factors, including homocysteine-lowering B vitamins and omega-3s, were targeted," says China's leading prevention expert Professor Jin-Tai Yu from Fudan University in Shanghai.

Professor David Smith, former Deputy Head of the University of Oxford's Medical Science division, added: "With no clinically effective drugs and the minimal role of genes, our focus must be on making diet and lifestyle changes that reduce risk of developing dementia."

His research has shown up to 73% less brain shrinkage in those given B vitamin supplements along with sufficient omega-3.

Harvard-trained psychiatrist Dr Georgia Ede also recommends cutting carbohydrates. "Alzheimer's is sometimes called 'type 3 diabetes' because 80% of cases show insulin resistance, which makes it difficult for the brain to use carbohydrate for energy. A ketogenic diet improves insulin resistance and generates ketones from fat to help energise the brain," she says.

alzheimersprevention.info