The Supplement OWL is an industry initiative spearheaded by CRN, a product registry in which supplement companies can input information on their products, ingredients, and even documentation relating to a product’s manufacturing process.
It launched this spring, and currently has over 4,700 labels from both big and small companies, with 3,000 more labels at various stages of being entered into the system, CRN president and CEO Steve Mister told NutraIngredients-USA at the SupplySide West show in Las Vegas this year.
Eight people comprise the board, including both members and non-members of CRN. They represent multiple facets of the industry, from finished product companies to retailers to media companies.
“The Advisory Board brings together stakeholders from all corners of the supplement industry and provides a forum to discuss the forward progress of the Supplement OWL,” Mister said.
“The goal is to take a critical look at the registry and continually find ways to improve upon the successes already actualized, and find new ways to optimize the experiences of both users and participants.”
Appointees to the Supplement OWL Advisory Board are:
- Jeff Brams, general counsel and vice president, science & international, Garden of Life
- Michael Cleary, Ph.D., director of research and development, SmartyPants
- Mike Devereux, CEO, Nature’s Way
- Randy King, senior vice president, governance & compliance, New Chapter, Inc.
- Carlotta Mast, executive director of content & insights, New Hope Natural Media
- Steve Mister, president & CEO, CRN
- Guru Ramanathan, Ph.D., chief innovation officer and senior vice president, GNC
- Pam Walker, head of global sales, materials & ingredients, UL
Additionally, there are two non-voting technical advisors: Duffy MacKay, N.D., senior vice president of scientific and regulatory affairs at CRN, as well as Alec Miller, director of software development at UL, CRN’s partner in developing and administering the product registry.
“The majority of the appointees have been involved with the Supplement OWL since its inception,” said Mister. “Having an intimate knowledge of the roots of the registry, the members of this board will be able to offer insight and constructive feedback that speaks to the OWL’s past, present, and future.”
He added: “As the Supplement OWL continues to gain momentum throughout the industry, it’s crucial that the registry evolves to accommodate increased demand and participation. Though just six months old, the registry already contains an appreciable amount of product labels, and is being noticed by regulators, retailers, and other target audiences. Through its work and regular meetings, the Supplement OWL Advisory Board will ensure the registry lives up to its potential.”