has invited GMS and Inca Worldwide to the PLMA. U.S. Private Label Trade Show in Chicago on November 17-19, 2019.
Only 6 companies will participate on the Colombia booth at the PLMA show.
At the 2019 show, more than 1,500 companies from over 55 countries will exhibit their products, including 30 international pavilions.
For more than 35 years, PLMA’s annual U.S. Private Label Trade Show has been the industry event of the year giving access to the growing private label market in the U.S. and Canada, where retailers and wholesalers source for their private label programmers.
From food, snacks and beverages to household and kitchen products, from health and beauty to general merchandise.
Exhibitors range from small and medium-size companies to well-known national brand makers who also supply store brands.
After the successful presentation of our Sacha Inchi at the fair of National de Chocolates last week, the executive committee of the Tosh brand will review our Sacha Inchi products in June.
Nutresa has its own brand of cookies, snacks, infusions, granola, bars, and artisanal products.
Nutresa will carry not only our products for Evok but also for Tosh
Tosh is sold in more than 2,300 stores in South America
the global tea beverage market was estimated to be worth about 49.46 billion U.S. dollars and is forecasted to reach to about 73.13 billion U.S. dollars by 2024
Colombiana de Chocolates has requested final samples of Sacha Inchi to be used in its products.
Colombiana de Chocolates is the biggest buyers of Cacao in Colombia.
Colombiana de Chocolates is part of the Nutresa Group.
Colombina de Chocolates make Sacha Inchi products cover with Chocolates
and sell to Evok and other chains of supermarkets like Exito Group
with more than 2,300 grocery stores in South America.
Samples need to be delivered by May 15, 2019
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About Colombinana de Chocolates
We are part of Grupo Nutresa’s Chocolate Businesses, which has production plants in Costa Rica, Mexico, and Peru, and a wide distribution network that allows us to make our portfolio available in the most strategic regions for our business to grow.
Grupo Nutresa is one the most important players in the food industry in Latin America, operating through eight business units:
* meats,
* cookies,
* chocolates,
* Tresmontes Lucchetti (TMLUC),
* coffees,
* foods for consumers,
* ice creams,
and
* pastas.
It is also the second most reputable company in Colombia according to the 2017 Merco Empresas monitor,
and the second-best employer in the country according to Merco Talento 2017.
finished the test on our Sacha Inchiinfusion (herbal teas) for Nutresa.
We have shipped the first order of herbal tea to Drycol who will packet into bags and add dried fruits to be sold under the Evok brand.
We expect this will be the start of a great business relationship with Drycol and Nutresa.
Drycol SAS
is a Colombian company dedicated to the production of Freeze-dried and Dehydrated foods by hot air and Spray Dry (atomization).
Our plant is located in Mosquera Cundinamarca - Colombia, with the capacity to withdraw 50 tons of water per month, employing on average 60 people who are mostly head of the family.
Inca Worldwide/GMS applied for Accelerate Colombia
After a successful lunch meeting with the team of Accelerate Colombia we have applied for the Accelerate Colombia Program.
Accelerate Colombia is an accelerated program that will refine our business plan to participate in the 16 weeks Boston based Accelerate Colombia located on the MIT campus in Cambridge, MA
We will receive an intense US-based entrepreneurial experience to refine our business plans, gain early market access and have the opportunity to secure growth capital.
Accelerate Colombia will support the development of our businesses and our teams through their network of experienced mentors, corporate partners, technologists, leading universities, angel investors and venture capitalists.
While in the accelerator, we will have an opportunity to come to know the unique aspects of the US markets and how to access them to grow our ventures.
When we return to Colombia we will bring much stronger businesses and, just as importantly, knowledge of the US entrepreneurial culture, community, and processes.
Two times per year, startup companies in Colombia can apply to participate in business plan competitions.
The five winning startups will be invited to come to the 16 week Boston based Accelerate Colombia program for an intensive 16 week acceleration process.
In the Accelerate Colombia offices located on the MIT campus in Cambridge MA, they will receive an intense US-based entrepreneurial experience to refine their business plans, gain early market access and have the opportunity to secure growth capital.
Accelerate Colombia will support the development of these businesses and their teams through our network of experienced mentors, corporate partners, technologists, leading universities, angel investors and venture capitalists.
While in the accelerator, they will have an opportunity to come to know the unique aspects of the US markets and how to access them to grow their ventures.
When they return to Colombia they will bring much stronger businesses and, just as importantly, knowledge of the US entrepreneurial culture, community and processes.
QEDN Events happening this week for Inca Worldwide
Drycol
finished processing the samples for Nutresa and next week we should get final feedback and a possible first order fromNutresa.
Wednesday
Sarah, Michelle and Kate have the lunch meeting with Accelerate Colombia.
Nextrading CEO
is back on Monday from South Korea and should provide us with feedback on the possibility of exportingSacha Inchi Snacks and all the rest of our products to South Koreathe biggest buyer ofSacha Inchi.
This will allow us to export product faster and to have certification like ISO 28001.
An OEA is an Operador Economico Autorizado
that is recognized by Colombian export agencies, Invima, narcotics police and import agencies that are part of the Trade export agreement from Colombia as companies that comply with all the requirements to export Sacha Inchi and any other products.
This will reduce the time to export any of our products.
QEDN - Connecting with Boston Massachusetts Ecosystem
April 15, 2019
Sarah Bahnsen
won a lunch meeting with Accelerate Colombia
On Friday April 12,2019
we participated in the first introduction meeting of Accelerate Colombia an international business platform connecting the Colombian business community with the highly develop startup ecosystem in Boston Massachusetts.
Sarah Bahnsen won the lunch meeting with the Accelerate Colombia team.
Sacha Inchi snacks, Sacha Inchi tea and Sacha Inchi powder.
The samples where received in Japan and they are reviewing the samples at the moment.
Suntory Beverage & Food Ltd.
engages in the manufacture and sale of food products and non-alcoholic beverages.
It operates through the Domestic and International segments.
The Domestic segment produces coffee, mineral water, green and red tea, carbonated beverages, fruit juices, sports and functional drinks, and beverages for specified health use.
The International segment offers products from Europe, Oceania, Asia, and Americas such as the brands
participated in the Business match forum in Bogota.
The event had over 3,000 companies meeting to discuss business in areas of Food, Metalworking, Chemicals, Industry and Fashion.
The highlight of the meetings are:
1 - PRIME FOODS S.A.S. (Exportador) - Colombia
they export 1 container of quinoa a month and want to start with 1 pallet of Sacha Inchi a month initially but expect to have 1 container per month of Sacha Inchi before the end of the year.
is a collective team of industry experts that deliver integrated solutions from brand sales to local and global brands.
As a new brand on the verge of entering the Canadian market, CPG Brand Management offers marketing solutions that include logistics, sales, and marketing resources to build your brand respecting your vision of brands.
They want to help Inca Worldwide/GMS to bring our own brands to the market:
Sacha Inchi, Sacha Powder, Sacha Milk, and Wulff Products a complete line of pet products make with Sacha Inchi.
____________________________________
All the buyers were very impressed with the taste of our Sacha Inchi snacks and Sacha Powder.
Our biggest success was our Sacha Inchi Milk all of buyers want to be the first one to have Sacha Inchi Milk. We expect to have this product in the market mid-June
We are also the only company that has developed Sacha Inchi Milk.
New packet for our Sacha Inchi products made with sugarcane.
GMS started working with Alico a Colombian company to make a biodegrade bag made 100% from sugar cane.
All our samples will be pack on this biodegradable bag.
We present laminated packaging with paper, including products that have structures of different barriers, responding to market trends that promote the use of paper for its natural appearance and its lower environmental impact because it comes from renewable sources.
Sacha Inchi, a thousand-year-old but unknown nut, becomes a replacement alternative for illicit crops.
Still few plant it, although there is great potential.
In the middle of the era of superfoods, a new business opportunity appears for the countryside and, especially, for the areas most affected by illicit crops.
It is the Sacha Inchi, also known as the peanut of the Incas, traditionally cultivated in the Peruvian, Colombian and Ecuadorian Amazon.
Its exceptional properties, since it contains one of the highest levels of omega-3 in a vegetable, have turned it into a fashionable food, as well as into a key input for the cosmetic industry.
Their global demand and the low supply (Peru is the main producer) have made this crop profitable.
So much so that it could substitute illicit crops like coca.
A Sacha Inchi plant begins to produce 7 months after sowing, two months more than coca.
And for the production of one hectare a farmer can receive between $15 million and $18 million, compared to $20 million of coca, which makes it a real substitute.
presides Inca Worldwide, a firm that promotes Sacha Inchi in the country and industrializes it for export.
She explains that other crops with which they have sought to substitute illicit crops take a long time to produce the first harvest (such as cocoa or coffee).
But Sacha Inchi not only produces soon, but, unlike coca, which is now harvested every three months, it is produced every month.
Inca Worldwide buys the crop from some 2,200 farmers in Antioquia, Chocó, Cundinamarca and Guaviare, which is equivalent to about 280 hectares.
Figures from the Ministry of Agriculture indicate that in the country there are some thousand hectares sown, of which 685 are currently producing.
The Putumayo and the Valle del Cauca have more planted area than the rest of the departments.
You can also read:
Peasants who leave illicit crops will have a discount on trademark registration
In Antioquia the crop is growing and there are already 115 hectares sown.
In fact, the Government allocated money from the royalties so that the Eafit, National and Bolivarian Universities could carry out a study about the potential of the crop in the department.
Jaime Garzón,
Secretary of Agriculture of Antioquia, argues that this product can be an important line for the department.
Therefore, they want to promote it in an orderly manner, after analyzing the vocation of the land of the nine regions of Antioquia.
They have realized that it works in municipalities affected by the conflict, such as some of the Magdalena Medio and Bajo Cauca.
That is why they proposed to the High Commissioner for Peace to consider Sacha Inchi not only as a substitute crop, but also to promote peace.
How is it consumed ?
The Sacha Inchi plant generates three main products: almond, oil and cake.
For its properties it is considered a very good substitute for flaxseed oil and fish oil (it has 17 times more omega-3 than salmon).
In protein it replaces soy, egg and dairy products and is in the growing category of nutraceuticals, that is, medicinal products made with natural ingredients.
Regarding the cosmetic use, Sacha Inchi oil serves to care for the skin as an antioxidant and leaves it smooth and soft (without fat).
It works very well as a moisturizer.
It is also used in moderate amounts for washing and hair treatments.
All this becomes an opportunity for the country to focus on its cultivation, with other nations such as China, which already have 700,000 hectares sown, and also in its industrial process.
Inca Worldwide operates a plant in Turbo where it processes the star Sacha Inchi, as it is harvested, to a seed, which is then converted into a snack such as peanuts, flour, milk (such as almond or soy), tea and a concentrated food for pets.
Bahnsen maintains that they have already invested US $1.5 million in the entire process of collection and production of derivatives and that they already have customers at supermarkets in the United States.
They would like to get to Korea or Japan, where these types of products are very popular.
In 2018, they exported 239 tons of Colombian Sacha Inchi, mainly to Peru, Ecuador, Panama, Denmark and the Netherlands.
The American NGO ACDI / VOCA, which promotes sustainable economic growth in vulnerable communities, highlights the work of the Agrosolidaria de Florencia (Caquetá) association in its Colombian chapter.
It stands out that one of the virtues of this crop is that it germinates despite the harsh conditions of the Amazon-intense rain, incessant heat, acid soils.
In addition, as a perennial plant, it produces crops throughout the year, which means that producers have increased their monthly income by almost 50%.
The business model has worked because Agrosolidaria guarantees the purchase of the entire crop from the producers.
And then process it to produce the oil, which already has an Invímaregistration, which facilitates its export.
With the Sacha Inchi Colombia, it can advance firmly towards an effective strategy of crop substitution.
Fashion business
Although the Sacha Inchi is a thousand-year-old plant cultivated by the Incas, in Colombia they barely know it, while US food chains such as Whole Foods have it on their shelves.
This fashionable food has nine amino acids, which for experts means it can replace the meat.
Help with blood pressure by strengthening the heart; reduces the levels of cholesterol in the blood; streamlines brain functions linked to memory, intelligence and rationing;
It serves as an antioxidant and, most importantly, from the point of view of business, is that they attribute slimming properties.
According to an investigation by the US market intelligence agency Mintel Global New Products Database, the number of new products containing components called superfoods has increased more than 200% between 2011 and 2015.
In addition, it expects its sales to exceedUS $300,000 million for 2020 only in the United States.
Results of meeting with Evok part of Nutresa Group
During our meeting with Evok part of the Nutresa Group, we agree to put together a packet of products that can be sold inside the high-end stores of Evok and on its website. https://www.evok.com.co/tiendas/.
This will allow us to test the market in Colombia before starting to sell our products outside of Colombia.
On March 1, 20019 we will meet again to show what products could be sold inside Evok stores and on its website.
First product development meeting with Evok the product development group from Nutresa that focus on ancestral herbs, fruits, and seeds in Colombia
Evok, an 'intra-enterprise' from Nutresa that wants to return to the basics and the natural with a portfolio that includes: chocolates, infusions, fruits and bakery, products made from raw materials ancestral as herbs, seed, and fruits in Colombia.
During this meeting, we will discuss what product Evok wants to make for Nutresa and what the next steps will be to obtain our initial letter of interest and a distribution agreement
First annual meeting with Colsacha in Bogota February 13, 2019
Today we are having the first official meeting in Bogota with Colsacha the official association of Sacha Inchi in Bogota.
Colsacha is the organization of growers, transformers and exporters of Sacha Inchi.
The organization is working to be recognized as the main group to represent the interest of Sacha Inchi in Colombia.
We will also meet with Organizaciones Solidarias to discuss the plan to be presented to the president Ivan Duque.
Kate will meet with a representative of el procurador de la Paz.
Kate will also be at the US embassy to discuss the support of the embassy and to see if we can talk with the FBI at the US embassy on the stock manipulation case.
We will update everybody tomorrow on all these meetings.
President Ivan Duque to meet with President Donald Trump at the White House on February 13, 2019
President Donald J. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump
will welcome
President Ivan Duque Marquez and First Lady Maria Juliana Ruiz Sandoval of Colombia
to the White House on Wednesday, February 13, 2019.
President Trump and President Duque
will build upon the strong partnership that exists between their nations in pursuit of a more prosperous, secure, and democratic Western Hemisphere.
The leaders expect to discuss their commitment to pro-growth policies, combating terrorism and illicit narcotic networks, strategic partnerships in regional security, and efforts to restore democracy in Venezuela.
Sacha Inchi products on Alibaba compare to the quality of products of Inca Worldwide
China and Vietnam started growing Sacha Inchi seed for the last 5 years but they have failed to penetrate the market in the USA and Europe.
Sacha Inchi seeds have a very dry taste if they are not roasted properly.
Alibaba has many sites selling Sacha Inchi seed raw and the roasted Sacha Inchi seeds but there is no feedback on the taste.
All the Sacha Inchi roasted seed on Amazon have very poor reviews on the taste.
Peru has been banned from selling Sacha Inchi seeds to South Korea the biggest buyer of Sacha Inchi seeds in the world because the seeds were contaminated.
On 2015-02-11, the FDA announced that Sunfood is conducting a recall on Organic Sacha Inchi Powder due to possible contamination with Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin.
The recalled products were sold under the brand name(s) Sunfood during an unspecified time period throughout the regions shown in the map below.
Ingredion Colombia SA met with the CEO of Inca Worldwide (OTC-QEDN) in December 2018 to discuss the possibility of adding Sacha Inchi Powder to the current products.
After the meeting, both companies signed an NDA.
Ingredion Colombia SA sent the Sacha Inchi Powder samples for analysis and now we have started the second phase of product development.
Ingredion Colombia SA produces formulas for children, pregnant women and people over 62.
These formulas are sold to different Colombian government programs.
GMS and Ingredion Colombia SA will continue to work together to develop formulas that can be provided to farmers that grow Sacha Inchi at a low cost.
This way our farmers can benefit from the Sacha Inchi they grow.
We expect to have twoDistribution Contracts before the end of the first quarter of 2019.
One Distribution Contract for Grupo Nutresa and one Distribution Contract for Ingredion Colombia SA
Nutresa moves to product development stage with GMS and Inca Worldwide
Kate Bahnsen the CEO of Inca Worldwide (OTC:QEDN) and GMS met yesterday January 30, 2019 in Nutresa with the director of product development of Noel S.A., the director of Fundacion Nutresa, the head of purchasing department of Grupo Nutresa and the director of sustainable products.
During that meeting, it was agreed to start working with Noel to add Sacha Inchi Powder to their current products.
It was also discussed if el Grupo Nutresa could packet Sacha Inchi for their own products, for GMS and for customers that want to have their own Sacha Inchi brand products.
After this product development is done we discuss that GMS will get a letter of interest and then suppliers agreement contract from Grupo Nutresa.
Grupo Nutresa, formerlyGrupo Nacional de Chocolates S.A. is a food-processing conglomerate headquartered in Medellín, Colombia.
The group's principal activities are producing, distributing, and selling cold cuts, biscuits, chocolates, coffee, ice cream, and pasta
Updates to Bylaws of QED Connect QEDN to protect shareholders.
The board of directors has updated the bylaws to include under section 7 according to New York BSC-Business Corporation Article 11 that no debt holders or any person or legal entity that claim to have any lawsuit or debt against the Corporation will be allow to have any shares with voting rights.
QEDN common shares are the only type of free trading shares in the market.
Common shares don't have any voting rights per the bylaws establish in June 22, 2007 with the State of New York.
Only prefer shares have voting right and they are not free trading shares.
The creating of the Association of Colsacha is official.
We have created the Association of Colsacha.
This association will represent all the companies that grow, transform, sell in Colombia and export outside of Colombia Sacha Inchi and its products.
GMS is part of the board of directors of the 13 companies that make part of this association. The ministry of agriculture is creating the value chain of Sacha Inchi where we have farmers, associations, transformers, and buyers all working together.
A similar model of the Coffee Federation that has been very successful.
GMS is representing the following states (Departments) Antioquia, Choco, Cauca, and Guaviare.
Inca Worldwide and GMS moves forward with Nutresa January 29, 2019
Dear Shareholders, Followers, and Consumers:
Our management team will meet on January 29, 2019, with Fundacion Nutresa and its management team.
Fundacion Nutresa has reviewed the project and wants to incorporate our snacks, protein, and milk to their products. We expect to have a clear plan after this meeting on how we can work with Nutresa.
Grupo Nutresa has accelerated its expansion process by acquiring companies with significant tradition and recognition in the strategic region, whose own history is reflected in the following timeline.
Organizaciones Solidarias will finance 2,000 hectares Yesterday we met with Rafael Gonzales national director of Organizaciones Solidarias, a division of the Colombian.
This institution creates organize projects for the Colombian government their mission is;
"Promote, strengthen and develop social-business that are organizations to generate development in different regions of the country."
January 22, 2019 met with Rafael Gonzales director of Organizaciones Solidarias to lay out how we will work with the government and to finalized the main document that will be presented to the government.
The project will be funded by the government of Colombia.
The initial budget that Funge stores has proposed to the PNUD is $1,430,746,100 Colombian Pesos or $476,915 USD to establish two pilots, one in Guaviare and one in Putumayo, two of the most important states or departamentos in Colombia that required crop substitution.
The project in Guaviare will require GMS and Funge stores to work directly with Farc,
“Armando Ríos” del Frente 1.
The government of Colombia has allocated $19,000,000 Colombian pesos or $6,333 USD per family to do crop substitution.
The project will have required Funge stores and GMS to complete the establishment of the first 200 hectares in Guaviare and 200 hectares in Putumayo in 4 months.
After this stage is completed we can expand to Taraza Antioquia, which has 4,000 farmers that are already signed up, and then to a good portion of the 96,000 hectares of Coca leaves that are concentrated in Putumayo, Guaviare, Nariño and Norte de Santander.
Kate Bahnsen, CEO of Inca Worldwide, states:
“This is a very big milestone for our project. Working directly with the PNUD and having a project funded directly by the government, show the support of the government and the commitment of the government to do substitution of Coca leaves with Sacha Inchi.”
Inca Worldwide (Pink Sheets: QEDN) has finalized a loan with El Banco Agrario to finance the growth and production of 2,300 hectares. The financing secures the relationship with three independent Afro Colombian farming groups.
The total financing is for $13,000,000 USD and the bank has agreed to increase the financing as needed by the company.
Kate Bahnsen, states,
" We now have secured all the financing we need for our company, our farmers, and our manufacturing.
The bank will assist us in growing our production.
But most importantly will support us as we move closer to approval for US Aid."
The company expects to make announcements shortly with respect to sales channels on our whole sales and retail distribution.
QED Connect announces new projections due to recent developments.
Kate Bahnsen, CEO, states,
"Because of the recent new relationships we have established, and our unique ability to control supply, and ultimately create an unique product we are forced to increase our projections.
As part of the company's promise to shareholders to maintain transparency we are posting them on our website.
Based on our present strategy for year 2018 our sales will be in excess of $175,000,000 USD with $119,000,000 USD in profit.
This is an exciting time for us as we continue to work with our farmers."
As previously stated all of the funding for this project will be funded by El Banco Agrario.
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About Inca Worldwide
Inca Worldwide is a public listed company on the OTC under the symbol QEDN.
Our project offers an alternative to Farmers in Colombia to grow crops like Inca Seeds (Sacha Inchi) instead of Coca Plants.
Our Inca Seeds (Roasted Sacha Inchi) a complete protein with all 9-essential amino-acids rich in Omega 3, 6 & 9 and an antioxidant.
A real Super-food.
Sold toprivate brands and our own brandInca Snacks.