2009

hp_fresh_foods_lg1-300x263For Immediate Release – November 3, 2009

Vancouver, B.C. – Things are getting saucy at Happy Planet Foods, Inc. Vancouver’s favourite premium food and beverage company is thrilled to bring a new adventure to your taste buds. Happy Planet Natural Sauces will spice up any meal in minutes with an array of international flavours from Thai Yellow Curry to Spanish Red Pepper. These new Natural Sauces are delicious and a healthier alternative, which is just what you expect from Happy Planet.

With six authentic, gourmet taste sensations to choose from, you’ll have dinner on the table in less time than you can imagine. Happy Planet Natural Sauces are available in:

  • Thai Yellow Curry, with coconut curry & kaffir lime leaves
  • Spanish Red Pepper, with Spanish paprika & cayenne pepper
  • Indian Butter Chicken, with red chili & coriander
  • Bengali Coconut Curry, with fresh cilantro
  • French Mushroom Wine, with fresh cream & rosemary
  • Japanese Ginger Miso, with a hint of maple syrup

All Happy Planet Natural Sauces are vegetarian and gluten-free and go great with vegetables and tofu. But fear not carnivores; you can also add chicken, beef or fish and let the sauces do the rest. Tasting is believing. The Natural Sauces are kettle-cooked and handmade in small batches with fresh, premium, natural and certified organic ingredients. Happy Planet continues to deliver on their commitment to nutritious, great tasting foods – meaning there are no preservatives, artificial ingredients, colourings or anything that you can’t pronounce.

With nothing to hide, Happy Planet Natural Sauces are packaged in clear pouches so you can see exactly what will be on your plate. Just add some protein and/or veggies, heat and enjoy. Happy Planet Natural Sauces are now available across Canada in the refrigerated or deli section of many community grocery stores (Whole Foods Market, Big Carrot Natural Food Market, Planet Organic Market, Capers Community Market, Choices Market, etc.) and coming soon to major grocery retailers. Visit www.happyplanetfreshfoods.com for quick and tasty recipes.

Happy Planet Foods, Inc. is Canada’s leading natural and organic food company. Started in 1994 in Vancouver, B.C., the company sells premium organic juices, smoothies, organic and all natural soups and sauces, as well as healthy functional shots across Canada. All Happy Planet products come from 100% natural ingredients from the best sources on the planet and are made without preservatives, artificial ingredients or colourings.

-END-

For more information please contact Paul Holman of AHA Creative Strategies at paul@ahacreative.com or 604-303-1052.

Read more

BH_logoFor Immediate Release – October 27, 2009

Vancouver, B.C. – For many people, starting the new year off right demands more than just champagne and noisemakers. For those looking to ring in 2010 by doing something spectacular, BikeHike Adventures is offering a special adventure trip of a lifetime. Adventure travellers searching for a special trip to start off 2010 can start off the new year atop Mt. Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest peak on New Year’s Day.

This 7-day Kilimanjaro climb along the Lemosho Route includes an African Safari into the Serengeti plains, Ngorongoro Crater and a bike ride through tribal Masaai villages. There’s also an option to hot air balloon over the Serengeti on the trip. At midnight on New Year’s Eve, the small group will gear up with headlights and warm clothing and trek from Barafu, the last high campsite, to Uhuru Peak, Kilimanjaro’s summit at 19,340 feet/5,896 metres. The goal is to reach the peak by sunrise on January 1, 2010 and usher in the new decade.

This special departure is from December 25 – January 8. The land cost is $4,199 USD starting from Arusha, Tanzania. The trip includes all internal transportation, accommodation (shared twin), most meals, and all equipment (camping gear, bicycles, veteran guides, porters and cooks).

Rated as one of the top adventure travel companies in the world by National Geographic Adventure, BikeHike Adventures Inc. was founded in 1994 by Trish Sare. The organization’s spirit of adventure mission is to bring together like-minded active individuals with a passion for cultural exploration and physically rewarding travel. BikeHike specializes in small or gender group multi-sport adventures in South and Central America, Canada, Europe, Oceania, Asia, and Africa. To review travel itineraries please visit http://www.bikehike.com/ or call 1-888-805-0061.

-END-

For more information, interviews or images, please contact Paul Holman of AHA Creative Strategies at paul@ahacreative.com or 604-303-1052.

Read more

Jeff Bullas has a great post on his blog that outlines many of the reasons that companies aren’t using social media. The post showcases many of the points that we, at AHA, have heard from senior communicators and CEOs. What I also found quite interesting are the comments. They put forward a range of perspectives and are worth a read.

In the world of a communicator or marketer, there is a great deal of focus on social media. It’s important for those of us who work in this area to keep in mind that not everyone has embraced social media the way that we have. We have had many senior executives talk to us about their fears about using social media and their concerns are valid. We’re facing a culture shift and change isn’t easy – even change for the better.

Read more

BH_logoFor Immediate Release – October 19, 2009

Vancouver, B.C. – According to recent statistics*, more than 51 percent of people in Canada are unmarried. For many, the approaching holiday season is something to dread. For some, it comes down to choosing between a solo frozen turkey TV dinner, watching a rerun of It’s a Wonderful Life or listening to Aunt Debbie ask (again) why you aren’t married yet.

For many of the growing population that are not married, getting out of town to do something exciting and adventurous is a great alternative to tinfoil dinners or Aunt Debbie. Recognizing that not everyone looks forward to staying home during the holiday season, BikeHike Adventures offers a range of trips throughout December to meet the needs of this growing group. An adventure trip can take you out of the ho ho ho humdrums and immerse you in activity, culture and friendship. Plus, at BikeHike there is no single supplement.

Many of BikeHike’s excursions are developed with the single adventure traveller in mind. Says BikeHike Founder Trish Sare, “We understand the single traveller and have made sure that our trips create a memorable experience for everyone involved. On our trips, people seem to bond really quickly. The only way someone will feel ‘alone’ with us is if he or she wants to keep to themselves.”  She adds: “Quite often, our single traveller has the best experience. They generally make more friends both in our group and by connecting with the people in the towns and villages we visit. We’ve even had a few romances blossom from people meeting on a BikeHike tour.”

Some of the upcoming holiday season BikeHike trips that Sare recommends for singles are:

BikeHike doesn’t charge single supplements and groups are matched with the overall dynamic and the travellers’ fitness levels in mind. Not all BikeHike Adventure trips are hard core adrenalin-filled, and singles looking for a less physically demanding trip can find one that matches their abilities.

Rated this year as the fourth best adventure travel company in the world by National Geographic Adventure, BikeHike Adventures Inc. was founded in 1994 by Trish Sare. The organization’s spirit of adventure mission is to bring together like-minded active individuals with a passion for cultural exploration and physically rewarding travel. BikeHike specializes in small or gender group multi-sport adventures in South and Central America, Canada, Europe, Oceania, Asia, and Africa. To review travel itineraries please visit www.bikehike.com or call 1-888-805-0061.

-END-

For more information, interviews or images, please contact Paul Holman of AHA Creative Strategies at paul@ahacreative.com or 604-303-1052.

*Statistics Canada 2006 Census: http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/070912/dq070912a-eng.htm

Read more