RiceBran Technologies’ Introduces NukaCha® Shake ‘n Go smoothie

Healthy, natural, non-GMO shake-and-drink smoothie comes to market

RiceBran Technologies (NASDAQ:RIBT and RIBTW), a global leader in the production and marketing of value added products derived from rice bran, today announced the launch of its new single-serve, shake-and-drink NukaCha® Shake ‘n Go.

NukaCha® Shake ‘n Go is convenient and nutritious, and meets seven of the top 10 “smoothie” trends of 2016.  The worldwide smoothie market is projected to move beyond $10 billion this year.

RiceBran Technologies’ NukaCha® formula pairs its process patented rice bran derivatives – a great source of non-GMO, gluten-free, non-allergenic, and vegan proteins, fiber, carbohydrates and healthy fat -, with green tea, one of nature’s best sources of natural anti-oxidants

In addition to RBT’s patented rice bran derivatives and green tea, the NukaCha® Shake ‘n Go includes anti-oxidant and vitamin-rich powdered wild blueberry, maqui berry and beet juice. The Greek Yogurt Shake ‘n Go adds nutritious Greek yogurt to the formula as an additional source of protein. While nutrition and taste get top billing for this new beverage, what’s most unique about this drink is that consumers add their own liquid – water, coconut water, almond milk or  milk – to the single-serve “shake and drink” bottle to create a fresh, delicious, customized smoothie they can simply shake and drink anytime, and easily take with them anywhere.

RiceBran Technologies’s NukaCha® Shake ‘n Go is healthy and convenient, and represents the next generation of the smoothie marketing, says Rice Bran Technologies’ SVP of Sales and Marketing, Mark McKnight. Reports show that smoothie drinkers, more than 50 percent of whom range in age from 18 to 34, want smoothies that offer personalization, transparency, convenience, and healthy ingredients and sugar alternatives, according to McKnight. “Consumers in the rapidly growing smoothie market want convenience, flexibility and choice. They are interested in healthy ingredients and want the flexibility to blend with water, coconut water, juice or even add additional ingredients,” he says.

By mixing the powdered beverage blends with the desired liquid at the time of consumption, the drink is as fresh and flavorful as it will ever be. RiceBran Technologies is producing its Shake ‘n Go under its own house brand, NukaCha®, as well as a line of white label products.

For consumer products companies, distributing powder-filled single serve bottles greatly reduces shipping costs because the powder-filled bottles weigh 80 – 85% less than liquid-filled bottles. Consumer products companies interested in increasing the sustainability of their beverages and using less fossil fuel for shipping will want to consider adding this powder-filled beverage option.

RiceBran Technologies – based in Scottsdale, AZ with plants in Montana, California, Louisiana, Texas and Brazil – developed the proprietary technology that captures the nutritional value of the bran and germ layers of rice immediately after it is milled, and then stabilizes the raw rice bran so it can be used as a low-glycemic, natural and minimally-processed source of protein, fiber, complex carbohydrates & healthy fats.

Of the four major crops that feed the world (corn, soy, wheat, and rice), rice is the primary source of nutrition for three billion people worldwide. In addition, most of the rice grown around the world is not genetically modified. Yet rice has been underutilized. The most nutritious parts of rice, the bran and germ layers, which are responsible for 70 percent of the nutritional value of rice, go largely unused. In the absence of stabilization, raw rice bran quickly spoils and is mostly used as animal feed or discarded.

Today, thanks to RiceBran Technologies, raw rice bran is being stabilized right at the mill and turned into  non-GMO, minimally processed, vegetarian/vegan “clean label” ingredients for healthy, natural consumer products. Stabilized rice bran is non-GMO, gluten-, soy-, and allergen-free. According to the USDA, rice bran has 20 times the nutritional value of white rice.

About RiceBran Technologies

RiceBran Technologies is a human food ingredient and functional food company focused on the procurement, bio-refining and marketing of numerous products derived from rice bran. RiceBran Technologies has proprietary and patented intellectual property that allows us to convert rice bran, one of the world’s most underutilized food sources, into a number of highly nutritious human food ingredient and animal nutrition products. Our target markets are human food ingredients and animal nutrition manufacturers and retailers, as well as natural food, functional food and nutraceutical supplement manufacturers and retailers, both domestically and internationally. As international awareness about the environmental costs of producing and eating meat increases — The United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization estimates the meat industry generates nearly one-fifth of the man-made greenhouse gas emissions that are accelerating climate change worldwide — the work of RiceBran Technologies is supporting  environmental sustainability and combating waste while globally providing a nutritious source of protein, carbohydrates, healthy oil and dietary fiber as food ingredients. In stabilized rice bran, RiceBran Technologies has created a second crop and food source without increasing the use of arable land or water. Rice bran is considered among the solutions to feeding an ever-expanding global population. More information can be found in our filings with the SEC and by visiting our website at www.ricebrantech.com.