NCN's Cornerstone Investors are committed investors or participants in the nutrition & health & wellness industries that have become annual members of Nutrition Capital Network. NCN provides additional value to Cornerstone Investors in the form of broadened access to deal flow; analysis of deal flow, transactions, markets and trends; custom searches or research; and access to NCN principals and associates. Contact Grant Ferrier (619-295-7685 x15) or Tom Aarts (619-295-7685 x18) to inquire about becoming a Cornerstone Investor.

Alliance Consumer Growth (ACG) is a private equity fund which provides growth capital and value-added partnership to the most promising young consumer and retail brands. ACG invests in differentiated, high-growth companies with at least $5 million in annual sales, that are seeking $2 to $10 million of minority growth capital. Post-investment, ACG partners closely with founders and management teams to develop brand-building strategies, leveraging our network of industry resources to help businesses grow and create durable value. Current investments include BabyGanics, The Honest Kitchen, EVOL Foods and KRAVE Jerky. Prior investments by ACG principals include Plum Organics and DenTek.

Alticor, based in Ada, Michigan, is the parent company to Amway and Alticor Corporate Enterprises. Amway, a pioneer and leader of the direct selling industry, does business through its distributor network in more than 80 countries and territories. Amway’s flagship product brands include NUTRILITE™ nutrition and wellness products. Alticor Corporate Enterprises (ACE) is Alticor’s strategic investment group. Its investment strategy is focused on companies in the beauty, health and wellness sectors outside the direct selling channel. Portfolio companies are self-managed, with management retaining responsibility for the business’s strategy and day-to-day operations. The investment objective is for portfolio companies to fuel their growth by leveraging the business and financial resources available through Alticor. Current portfolio companies include Metagenics, Gurwitch Products, and Interleukin Genetics.

Avrio Capital is a leading investment firm focused on providing growth capital to companies engaged in the food and agriculture sectors. With a collective 80 years of experience in the sector, the Avrio team brings deep domain expertise, providing investees with the investment support and resources they need to succeed. Avrio takes an active role in each investment it makes and team members work within investee companies as a resource to the management team in helping to implement growth strategies, recruit management and establish strategic relationships. Since inception in 2002, the firm has invested over $140M in the agriculture and food sectors and is currently investing from fund three, with ~$92 million committed. Portfolio Companies include: Ascenta Health Ltd., Allylix, Brookside Foods Inc., Ensyn Corp., Fresh Hemp Foods Ltd., Siamons International Ltd., SJ Irvine Fine Foods Ltd., Farmer’s Edge Inc., Baby Gourmet, Organic Meadow Inc., Hortau Inc., Sunworks Farms and Wolf Trax Inc.

BASF Nutrition & Health is committed to adding quality to the world of nutrition – across the entire value chain. Our recently launched “Think Newtrition™” initiative represents our commitment to a fruitful dialog with the experts and opinion leaders in the food, beverage and dietary supplement market segments. This dialog helps us identify essential demands, develop new ideas, concepts and solutions for successful products that meet consumer demand worldwide. BASF is a leading supplier of vitamins, carotenoids, phytosterols, Tonalin® CLA (conjugated linoleic acid), omega-3 fatty acids, and food ingredients like whipping agents, aerating emulsifiers and enzymes as well as process aids for beer and wine.

The Bayer Group is a global enterprise with core competencies in the fields of health care, nutrition and high-tech materials. Bayer HealthCare, a subgroup of Bayer AG with annual sales of EUR 16.9 billion (2010), is one of the world’s leading, innovative companies in the healthcare and medical products industry and is based in Leverkusen, Germany. The company combines the global activities of the Animal Health, Consumer Care, Medical Care and Pharmaceuticals divisions. Bayer HealthCare’s aim is to discover and manufacture products that will improve human and animal health worldwide. Bayer HealthCare has a global workforce of 55,700 employees (Dec 31, 2010) and is represented in more than 100 countries. Find more information at www.bayerhealthcare.com.

Bruckmann, Rosser, Sherrill & Co. LLC is a New York based private equity investment firm with approximately $1.4 billion in funds under management. BRS specializes in management buyouts and recapitalizations of middle market companies with strong market positions and/or growth potential. Sectors in which BRS invests include Consumer Products and Services, Restaurants, Specialty Retail and Commercial Products and Services. Realized investments include Seroyal, Il Fornaio/Corner Bakery, Eurofresh, Au Bon Pain and California Pizza Kitchen.

BYB Brands, Inc. is a full-service brand creation company, specializing in new and alternative beverages as well as other consumable products. BYB is committed to developing new and profitable brands that people want! How do we create brands? At BYB, we recognize that innovation can come from a variety of sources: a trip to the mall, a cab ride in a busy city, a favorite TV show, a conversation over coffee. Cutting edge brands aren’t always developed in the company lab. In fact, some of the best brand ideas come from small companies, entrepreneurs, and creative thinkers! We create our own brands, we collaborate with experts to bring new brand ideas to life, and we occasionally partner with new and inventive brands that need to find a home. Our purpose is to please our customers and excite consumers with new choices. We understand the only way to do this successfully is to be swift to market, innovative, collaborative, and resourceful. Headquartered in Charlotte, NC, BYB Brands, Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated.

Cargill is an international producer and marketer of food, agricultural, financial and industrial products and services. Founded in 1865, the privately held company employs 142,000 people in 65 countries. Cargill helps customers succeed through collaboration and innovation, and is committed to applying its global knowledge and experience to help meet economic, environmental and social challenges wherever it does business. For more information, visit www.cargill.com.

Castanea Partners is a private equity fund founded by operating executives and private equity veterans investing $15-75 million of equity in companies within specifically targeted industry sectors including branded consumer products, specialty retail, marketing services, information services, and education. Portfolio companies include Health Resources and Vitamin Research Products, both acquired in 2010. Castanea invests in traditional MBOs, sales of private companies, industry consolidations, growth equity and acquisition equity capital raises, corporate carve-outs and operationally challenged opportunities.

Catterton Partners is a leading consumer-focused private equity firm in North America with $2.5 billion under management and one of the strongest private equity investment track records in the middle market consumer industry. Catterton Partners invests in all major consumer segments, including Food and Beverage, Retail and Restaurants, Consumer Products and Services, and Media and Marketing Services. Investments include Cheddar’s Restaurants, O.N.E. beverages, Nature’s Variety Pet Food and Restoration Hardware. Realized investments include Baja Fresh Mexican Grill, Build-A-Bear Workshop, Frederic Fekkai, Kettle Foods, Odwalla, P.F. Chang’s China Bistro and Wellness Pet Food.

Coca-Cola's Venturing and Emerging Brands (VEB) is a dedicated operating unit of Coca-Cola North America charged with identifying high-potential growth brands in the North American beverage space for investment or ownership by The Coca-Cola Company. With direct access to the global resources and industry expertise of The Coca-Cola Company and its system, VEB is uniquely positioned to develop emerging beverage brands of The Coca-Cola Company to their full potential. Since its inception, VEB has managed investments and acquisitions in such brands as Honest Tea and Fuze, and the commercialization of illy issimo ready to drink coffee.

Danone posted €15 billion sales in 2009 and is the world's no. 1 company in fresh dairy products, no. 2 in bottled waters, no. 2 in baby nutrition and Europe's no. 1 in medical nutrition. Danone's balanced strategy builds on international expansion, a growing commitment to innovation, and strengthening health-oriented brands. Danone invests heavily in Research & Development — €208 million in 2008 with 100% of its projects in the pipeline focused on health and nutrition. Leading brands include Danone, Actimel, Activia, Evian, Volvic, Blédina, Gallia, Nutricia, Nutrini, Nutrison and Fortimel.

As the world’s premier ingredient supplier to producers of foods, beverages, and dietary supplements, DSM Nutritional Products provides a solid platform for technological innovation and new product development. Utilizing its extensive resources, DSM keeps its customers ahead of the ever-changing marketplace, anticipating customer needs as nutritional trends develop and customer demands evolve. DSM Nutritional Products offers an international network of R&D, production and distribution facilities, as well as a major sales and marketing presence, in more than 100 countries. A global leader in nutraceutical research, we work in conjunction with major universities and assist industry in developing new, beneficial products for the marketplace. DSM’s extensive portfolio of nutritional ingredients for food, beverage, and dietary supplement applications includes: • fruitflow® from tomatoes for healthy blood circulation • resVida™ resveratrol • FloraGLO® Lutein • OPTISHARP® Zeaxanthin • life’sDHA™ & Meg-3® PUFAs, and many other nutrients created to provide optimum performance and health appeal.

DuPont Nutrition & Health addresses the world’s challenges in food by offering a wide range of sustainable, bio-based ingredients and advanced moleculardiagnostic solutions to provide safer, healthier and more nutritious food. Through close collaboration with customers, DuPont combines knowledge and experience with a passion for innovation to deliver unparalleled customer value to the marketplace. DuPont™ Danisco® is the brand for a range of products that help provide enhanced bioprotection, an improved nutritional profile, and better taste and texture with greater cost efficiency and lower environmental impact, meeting the needs of manufacturers of food and beverages, dietary supplements and pet food. Solae™ soy-based ingredient solutions help create nutritious, great-tasting products with a unique combination of functional, nutritional, economical and sustainable benefits. Through the work of the global network of food scientists and technologists in DuPont, our ingredient ranges are supported by a uniquely broad spectrum of know-how across applications and processing.

E&A Industries has been successfully acquiring and growing companies throughout North America and Europe since 1977. E&A is an experienced, highly competent management team seeking long term capital appreciation through acquisition, organic growth, disciplined management, and sales and marketing expertise. E&A is not a private equity firm and does not seek to “buy and flip” companies; rather, E&A is an active partner helping to fill gaps and working with the current management team to achieve long term value creation through a disciplined and unique management style. Recently utilizing innovative consumer engagement platforms and nontraditional industry approaches to sales and marketing, E&A was able to drive sales of Udi’s Gluten Free Foods from $6 million in 2009 to a run rate of $100 million by early 2012. Similarly over the past 30 years, E&A has driven a CAGR in excess of 20% at virtually all of the companies in which it has invested.

Flagship Ventures: Realizing entrepreneurial innovation is the mission of Flagship Ventures. The firm operates through two synergistic units: VentureLabsTM which invents and launches transformative companies, and Venture Capital, which finances and realizes innovative, early-stage companies. Founded in 2000, and based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Flagship Ventures manages over $900 million in capital. The Flagship team innovates and invests in three principal business sectors: therapeutics, health technologies and sustainability/clean technology. Past successful Flagship portfolio ventures include: Adnexus (acquired by Bristol-Myers Squibb), Accuri Cytometers (acquired by Becton, Dickinson), Morphotek (acquired by Eisai), Color Kinetics (acquired by Philips), AVEO (NASDAQ: AVEO) and BG Medicine (NASDAQ: BGMD). Recent notable portfolio ventures include: Joule Unlimited, Agios, Affinnova, AeroDesigns and Novomer.

Herbalife Ltd. is a global nutrition and direct selling company. Products include protein shakes; protein snacks; nutrition, energy and fitness supplements; and skin and hair care products. Herbalife markets and sells its products exclusively through a network of 2.1 million independent distributors who conduct business in 75 countries. Herbalife’s research and development organization combines the experience of its product development specialists with a team of highly accomplished scientists and doctors, and is committed to supply-chain management and quality manufacturing from “seed to feed.”

The Hershey Company is the largest producer of quality chocolate in North America and a global leader in chocolate and sugar confectionery. Headquartered in Hershey, Pa., The Hershey Company has operations throughout the world and more than 12,000 employees. With revenues of more than $5 billion, Hershey offers such iconic brands as Hershey’s, Reese’s, Hershey’s Kisses, Kit Kat, Twizzlers and Ice Breakers as well as the smooth, creamy indulgence of Hershey’s Bliss chocolates. Hershey is a leader in the fast-growing dark and premium chocolate segment, with such brands as Hershey’s Special Dark and Hershey’s Extra Dark. In addition, Artisan Confections Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Hershey Company, markets such premium chocolate offerings as Scharffen Berger and Dagoba.

Ingredion Incorporated (NYSE:INGR) is a leading global ingredients solutions provider specializing in nature-based sweeteners, starches and nutrition ingredients. With customers in more than 40 countries, Ingredion, formerly Corn Products International, serves approximately 60 diverse sectors in food, beverage, brewing, pharmaceuticals and other industries. For more information, visit ingredion.com.

Inventages Venture Capital is one of the world’s largest venture/private equity funds specializing in life sciences and health and wellness. With more than $1.5 billion under management, Inventages’ investment focus includes pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, medical food, nutrition, innovative processes and novel packaging technologies. Investing worldwide, Inventages operates from three offices around the globe in Auckland , Geneva and Nassau.

Driven to enrich and delight the world through foods and brands that matter, Kellogg Company (NYSE: K) is the world's leading producer of cereal, second largest producer of cookies and crackers and - through the May 2012 acquisition of the iconic Pringles® business - the world's second largest savory snacks company. In addition, Kellogg is a leading producer of frozen foods. Every day, our well-loved brands - produced in 18 countries and marketed in more than 180 countries - nourish families so they can flourish and thrive. With 2011 sales of more than $13 billion, these brands include Cheez-It®, Coco Pops®, Corn Flakes®, Eggo®, Frosted Flakes®, Kashi®, Keebler®, Kellogg's®, Mini-Wheats®, Pop-Tarts®, Pringles®, Rice Krispies®, Special K®, and many more.

MidOcean Partners is a premier private equity firm headquartered in New York which focuses on the middle market and manages three funds with total commitments in excess of $3.5 billion. MidOcean is committed to investing in high quality companies with stable market positions and multiple opportunities for growth. Targeted sectors include consumer, media and communications, business and financial services and industrial services. MidOcean utilizes its broad foundation of expertise in its focus industries to create value for its investors and partners. Relevant current and past investments include South Beach Diet, FreshPet, Agilex Flavors & Fragrances, Vitaquest International, Jenny Craig and Prestige Brands.

MOM Brands, formerly the Malt-O-Meal Company, is the largest family owned cereal company in the U.S. The company has produced quality cereal products since 1919 and manufactures many varieties of oatmeal, family favorite ready-to-eat and natural cereals as well as its original, farina-based hot cereal. Today, one in 10 servings of breakfast cereal eaten every day is a MOM Brands cereal. Dedicated to finding better ways to make a better breakfast at a better price, MOM Brands is continually innovating to produce, package and transport its cereals in ways that reduce environmental impact. Once a one-product company with the iconic brand Malt-O-Meal, MOM Brands is now a house of brands including Three Sisters cereal, Mom's Best Naturals, Bear River Valley, I Love Oats, Better Oats, Coco Wheats, Farina Mills, Sally’s and Naturally Nora.

Founded in 1984, Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc. (NYSE:NUS) is a direct selling company that distributes premium-quality anti-aging products in both the personal care and nutritional supplements categories. Headquartered in Provo, Utah, Nu Skin demonstrates its tradition of innovation through its comprehensive anti-aging product portfolio, independent business opportunity and corporate social responsibility initiatives. A global direct selling company, Nu Skin operates in 50 markets worldwide and has more than 785,000 independent distributors. The company’s global operations generated more than $1.33 billion in revenue during 2009, representing a 7 percent year-over-year improvement and earnings per share increase of 37 percent. In addition, Nu Skin’s stock price increased more than 150 percent in 2009. Nu Skin sells more than 200 products in the anti-aging, personal care and nutritional supplements categories. The company’s teams of more than 75 in-house scientists are located in three global research centers regularly collaborate with multiple leading research institutions, as well as world-renowned scientists who are members of the Nu Skin Anti-aging Scientific Advisory Board.

At PepsiCo, we believe being a responsible corporate citizen is not only the right thing to do, but the right thing to do for our business. Our mission is to be the world’s premier consumer products company focused on convenient foods and beverages. We seek to produce financial rewards to investors as we provide opportunities for growth and enrichment to our employees, our business partners and the communities in which we operate. And in everything we do, we strive for honesty, fairness and integrity.

Founded in 1971, Pharmavite LLC develops, manufactures, and sells high-quality vitamins, minerals and other dietary supplements and all-natural foods. Nature Made is the leading supplement brand in the food, drug, mass and club channels in the United States and the number one pharmacist recommended brand for letter vitamins and fish oil. Pharmavite is a subsidiary of one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies, Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., whose corporate philosophy is to create new products for better health worldwide.

Sanitarium Health & Wellbeing is committed to sharing health and hope for a better life. Sanitarium started making healthy, nutritious foods 115 years ago, and today its market-leading products include Weet-Bix, Up&Go and the So Good range of dairy-free milk alternatives. Sanitarium continues to research and innovate new products and improve current products to meet consumer needs and deliver great taste. Providing programs and resources for people to experience happy, healthy lives is also fundamental to Sanitarium’s mission. Whether it's the 'Sanitarium Weet-Bix Kids TRYathlon' series, (the world’s largest kids triathlon series under 16); the school breakfast club’s run in association with the various partners in Australia and New Zealand for children in need; or the free health and nutrition advice and resources offered by Sanitarium’s Lifestyle Medicine Services team, Sanitarium is passionate about making a difference.

Seventure Partners invests in European start-ups with high growth potential, with an amount of investment from 0.5 million euros up to 20 millions euros per firm from seed to later stage rounds. Seventure is a subsidiary of Natixis Private Equity which manages more than 4 billion euros in private equity. Seventure invests in two business areas: IT and Life Sciences.

Founded in 1999, Sherbrooke Capital is a venture capital firm that provides growth and expansion capital to emerging companies in the Health and Wellness industry exclusively. We look for companies that possess already-developed products and services based upon proven science, with a proprietary position due to intellectual property or a strong brand franchise. Sherbrooke’s unique constellation of Health and Wellness expertise combined with the resources resident in our investment team have resulted in a leadership position in this market. We have particular interest and expertise in healthy consumables, with a focus on food, beverage and personal care products companies; active lifestyle; bioactives and ingredients; animal care and nutrition; consumer services and education; delivery systems; non-invasive medical devices and food safety. Portfolio companies include Angie’s Kettle Corn, Ciao Bella, Farmigo, Halfpops, VetCentric, Advanced BioNutrition, Boathouse Sports, Affinnova, and TransMedics. Former portfolio companies include Izze Beverage (acquired by Pepsi), FoodShouldTasteGood (acquired by General Mills), Immaculate Baking (acquired by undisclosed buyer), Cooke Pharma (acquired by United Therapeutics), Outside The Classroom (acquired by EverFi), and Oregon Chai (acquired by Kerry Foods).

Soho Flordis International (SFI) is an international provider of natural health solutions. An Australian registered company, SFI is building an international community of leading companies, herbal and medical experts, scientists and researchers to collaborate in the development of natural medicines with high specific evidence. SFI advocates the concepts of ‘specifically clinically proven natural medicines’ meaning that the clinical evidence is specific to the finished product. SFI has developed partnerships with renowned research centres, universities and governments. SFI is actively looking for partners to rapidly build a global presence together. SFI’s Mission is to become internationally known as the leading provider of patient solutions in clinically proven natural medicines, promoted through healthcare professionals, supported by leading edge research and innovation, and endorsed by world class opinion leaders. SFI will provide a wide range of natural medicines which are specifically clinically proven. Specifically clinically proven means that the EXACT product has been proven safe and effective in clinical studies.

Stratum Nutrition is “Empowering Product Innovation” with functional and specialty ingredients for foods, beverages and dietary supplements. Stratum offers a portfolio of branded, value-added ingredients that are progressive, safe and reliable. These ingredients are based on consumer need, supported by science and the backing of a trusted multi-national company. Our specialty ingredient portfolio focuses on specific health platforms including: bone & joint health, cardiovascular health, digestive and immune health. Stratum Nutrition is a Novus International business and as such, we support the Corporate Mission to make a clear difference in sustainably meeting the growing global needs for nutrition and health with a Vision to help feed the world affordable, wholesome food and achieve higher quality of life. We believe in the “Triple-S bottom line” of service, solutions, and sustainability - working continuously to create new products and programs. Stratum leverages the Novus core competencies in nutritional research and innovation as well as the corporate commitment to sustainability by considering economic, environmental and social factors.

Suan Farma Group is a leading marketer of active ingredients for the pharmaceutical, nutritional, food and veterinary industries throughout the world. Our complete and experienced team is glad to guide all ingredients throughout the development process, including regulatory aspects, so our customers' formulas reach the intended markets without delay. With a presence in more than 40 countries, we offer customized delivery programs and fair competitive cost. Additionally we have created an investment fund, Suan Farma Biotech SGECR, to help with the development of novel ingredients within the broad term of the Health Science industry. To date, we have invested in 9 European projects in new pharmaceutical development, drug reprofiling, new drug delivery systems, functional foods and biomarkers.

Tate & Lyle is a global provider of distinctive, high quality ingredients and solutions to the food and beverage industry.  Currently we serve 93 of the top 100 food and beverage companies globally. Through our large-scale, efficient manufacturing plants, we use unique technologies to turn renewable crops into distinctive, high quality ingredients for our customers. These ingredients add taste, texture, nutrition and increased functionality to products that millions of people around the world consume every day. Our Innovation and Commercial Development team develops speciality Sweetener, Texturant and Health & Wellness solutions. Our product development is supported by our open innovation team with a broad, global network of innovative product, technology and clinical research partners.

The Corporate Venturing Group at Unilever has built a portfolio of private equity and venture capital investments in the technology and branded consumer areas. Unilever, with $65 billion in annual sales, is one of the world’s most successful and influential branded consumer products companies. Unilever’s 400 brands span personal care, home care, refreshment and foods and are sold in over 170 countries. Unilever is the global market leader in all the refreshment and foods categories in which the company operates: Savory, Spreads, Dressings, Tea and Ice Cream. Unilever innovation efforts are extensive. Unilever employs an R&D team of over 6,000 scientists and engineers, leading research and new product development at 6 global research centers and 13 global product development centers, along with regional centers throughout the world.