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Guayaki Honored With 2004 Socially Responsible Business Award
Guayaki Honored With 2004 Socially Responsible Business Award
Published 10-28-04
Submitted by Guayaki
It was clear that the positive energy and delicious drinks eminating from the California company's "tropical cafe" exhibit booth was appreciated by show attendees and peers as well. The pulsating beat of traditional and contemporary South American music was a pleasant backdrop to the Guayaki team serving a steady stream of "mate latte's" and Java Mate lattes to the energy-starved crowd.
"We started this company in 1997 with a dream to help protect rainforests and help people lead a healthier lifestyle," says David Karr, co-founder of Guayaki. "Its tremendously fulfilling for our team to know that practicing socially responsible business practices can be successful and fun, and that others in the industry respect what we do," adds Karr.
Natural Products Expo East is the biggest event in the thriving $42 billion industry. This was the 10th annual presentation of the awards. Guayaki is a two-time winner, having been bestowed an award previously in 2001.
Nominees were ranked on a scale of 1 to 10 in each of nine categories derived from the Social Venture Network's Standards of Corporate Responsibility. These include Ethics, Accountability, Governance, Financial Returns, Employment Practices, Business Relationships, Products and Services, Community Involvement, and Environmental Protection. The awards are presented to companies or individuals who have demonstrated excellence in integrating and promoting these values in the workplace. For more information about the socially responsible business awards, please contact event coordinator Siri Khalsa at 310-552-7923.
Guayaki is the market leader in the yerba mate category with 65% of the market share. Yerba Mate has grown to encompass approximately 5% of the overall natural tea market. This coffee alternative offers an incredible list of health benefits due to its 196 active compounds, including 24 vitamins and minerals, and 15 amino acids. Yerba mate also provides a unique sustaining energy due to its complex combination of xanthine alkaloids, caffeine, theophylline and theobromine.
The organic cultivation of Guayaki's yerba mate takes place on the 20,000-acre Guayaki Rainforest Preserve. Guayaki's Market-Driven Conservation business approach generates Fair Trade income for the 34 indigenous families living there and creates revenue for the Preserve - a safe haven for more than 330 bird and mammal species. Guayaki uses a triple "bottom line" to measure success: Economic Viability, Social Justice, and Environmental Stewardship. Their goal is to create economic models that drive reforestation while providing a living wage.
Humidity, cool temperatures and rich organic soil in the rainforest encourage yerba mate trees to grow slowly, the way nature intended. Guayaki's mate is grown in this natural rainforest where shade from the upper canopy of towering hardwood trees above protects the leaves from direct sunlight, which can cause bitterness. Guayaki workers handpick only the most tender mate leaves and stems, which are flash-heated to protect the nutritional properties. The mate is wood-dried by artisans using naturally-fallen rainforest hardwoods and then aged for 12 months in cedar wood chambers. This time-honored process creates Guayaki's distinct "woodsy" aroma and full-bodied flavor.
To learn more about Guayaki, please visit www.guayaki.com or call 1-888-GUAYAKI (482-9254). Guayaki yerba mate products can be purchased at thousands of natural food stores, cafes and supermarkets throughout North America or though their secure website www.guayaki.com. Guayaki offers 100% organic yerba mate in traditional and mate blends, including: 7 varieties of Tea Bags (Traditional, Magical Mint, Chai Spice, Mate Chocolatte, Greener Green Tea, Orange Blossom, and Mate Rooiboost!); Loose Tea; Java Mate; Bulk Loose Yerba Mate; Mate Chai Latte Concentrate; and Bulk Yerba Mate Tea Bags.
