Metromint Blog

creating the new

5/7/08
by Rio Miura, Founder of Metromint

When my eyes start opening wide and I start grinning after 10:00 pm, my husband Scott knows what is happening to me. "New ideas!” I don’t know why but I am always thinking about new products which are mostly related to food or beverage. I started to take notes of these ideas with my sketches for years and Metromint was one of them.

When I tried making the first Metromint, it was so funny. It happened at our kitchen one night….all of sudden I decided to put an Altoid in a glass of water, and then a big light hit! It was a moment that I will never forget. I am so excited about creating things— making a sand castle on the beach with my kids ( 6yr and 5yr) or new kinds of beverages for our business. Of course, the beverage making has more risk than the sandcastle making, but I have Scott. He covers various hurdles, letting me walk without having to worry about the challenges along the way— so I can still grin at 10:00pm. Scott and I are great team!

We recently became parents of #3. Baby Eri was born on March 14th at 4:44 am. It was such a fun time delivering Eri. I absolutely enjoyed every moment of the labor. And I am still thrilled doing all the work involved with having a new born in my life, and not enough sleep! Babies are a miracle & fascinating….I am so lucky to have one more chance to raise a person. Is this something to do with “creating?” Then yes, I love being a mom!

celebrating earth day

4/25/08
by Jenn Chan, Area Manager – Northern CA

Women with Metromint totebags at Oakland, CA Earth Day event

This week, we had the opportunity to participate in a few wonderful community Earth Day events sponsored by Whole Foods in the Bay Area. On Tuesday, at the South of Market location, big blue balloons decorated the sky and the side street was filled with people, artists, dancers, musicians, and a variety of vendors. The sample food and drinks were delicious! There were an array of garbage bins with signs instructing folks on differences between recyclable and compostable trash. Neighboring communities came out to enjoy the festive day.

Michele Thorne and I were sampling Metromint at our vendor booth and introduced one of our newest varieties: Chocolatemint. We received a great response from the tasters and some even thought the idea of chocolate mintwater was wild! The biggest highlight from our sampling station was giving away our free Metromint reusable tote bags. Everybody used our bags to fill their groceries and other vendor sample goodies. Just imagine the street filled with moving blue polka dots! Also, we were happy knowing that the tote bags were instantly useful and we hope the bags will be used over and over again.

Overall, Earth Day was full of love, conversation, and education. Good times!

my year as a metromint all-star

4/15/08
by Lauren Thies, Metromint All Star

Lauren Thies cycling in the Beaver Freezer Sprint Triathlon

I've definitely enjoyed my involvement with Metromint as an All-Star. This year there were a total of twelve participants, and I was one of two swimmers.

This past summer I had an amazing experience representing the U.S. National Team in Swimming at the Pan American Games in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. I was nominated the Women's Team Captain and came home with two Gold medals!

On April 5th, I participated in my first triathlon: OSU's annual Beaver Freezer Sprint Triathlon. It was my first competitive event since Brazil and the conditions were anything but tropical. The tri involved a 500 yard pool swim, 12 mile bike ride, and 3.1 mile run. Conditions were 44 degrees with winds in the high-teens... I was first out of the swim and ran to the transition area to grab my Metromint cycling jacket and get ready for the bike. Unlike swimming, where you actually rest between events, I now had to hop on a bike and try to average 18mph or better! With rain pricking my skin I tried to bear a smile. The run was great and I found my legs fairly quickly, which was suprising and nice. The event is very well run, nicely staffed and you can't beat the crowd supporting you every stroke, pedal, and step of the way— many thanks to the OSU Tri Club and supporters! I finished 2nd in my age group (25-29), and 9th overall out of 136 women. The woman who beat me in my age group was 1st overall for women— maybe I'll do triathalons more often?

Metromint is a great refresher while swimming, biking, running and doing Bikram yoga. I enjoy sharing both the product and the concept to my circle. I have been taking Metromint eveywhere I go— swim and yoga clinics, corporate special events, a run with a friend, family and social events. In my experience, kids enjoy Orangemint and Chocolatemint the best, my co-workers are nuts for Orangemint, my friends enjoy the mild taste of Lemonmint, and my family thinks Peppermint and Spearmint taste like mouthwash (I disagree!).

Stay hydrated, stay strong and keep believing in yourself and supporting those around you :)

a high tide floats all boats

4/8/08
by Matt Collins, CFO

Matt Collins, second from left, at Expo West 2006

In 2005, we attended the Natural Product's show in Anaheim for the first time. As all in the industry know, this is the show — both in terms of its impact in the natural foods market and its size. I always put up a good front in these types of situations and this was no exception; I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have some trepidation about competing with so many top notch products.

As we went about setting up our booth the day before the event, I noticed a guy eyeing us from afar. He was wearing a t-shirt branded with a competitor’s logo. As he began to approach I thought to myself ‘game on’ and I braced myself for digs and challenges. Once he got closer, though, he surprised me by saying “nice booth”. Surely, this was a slam of some sort couched in a compliment. But I soon realized it wasn't. He introduced himself, we talked about the upcoming show, and it became clear that what he meant by “nice booth” was “nice booth”.

This is only one of many instances in which colleagues from other independent natural beverage companies have recognized our efforts and proven their willingness to offer genuinely thoughtful advice or a helping hand. Perhaps the reason it sticks out in my mind is something that this "competitor" said at the end of our conversation — a high tide floats all boats.

At that moment I realized that, as much as we are competing with one another, this is anything but a zero-sum game. The successful tapping of new markets by one of us benefits us all. This is good for our bottom lines, and it has created a solidarity of sorts in which competitors have also become good friends. A big thank you to Ike (Penta), Todd (Hi Ball), Chris & Adriana (Zola), Steve & Jeanette (Gus), Mike (Vita Coca) and all of the other folks who have helped to make this one of the most professionally and personally rewarding
jobs I’ve ever held….continued good luck in your (and our!) success.

employee wellness initiative

4/1/08
by Joe Villafuerte, Director of Human Resources

This year we are implementing a new health incentive for all Metromint employees, a Wellness Program. The program is aimed at assisting our local and remote employees in maintaining a healthier balance when it comes to their own wellness. The company’s goal is to help boost employee satisfaction, increase productivity, reduce healthcare costs and cut absenteeism. We are working toward the Partnership for Prevention's "Healthy Workforce 2010”, helping America achieve its health objectives for the year 2010.

Our SF based employees have the opportunity to partake in a local health club, offerings from area yoga and dance studios, and a weekly organic fruit delivery. Our Valencia and remote employees may also take advantage of reduced fitness memberships. More wellness initiatives are in the works.

cherry on top at expo west

3/24/08
by Adam Hertel, West Coast Regional Chain Accounts Manager

We have been busy catching our breath following the 2008 Natural Products Expo West show held March 14-16 at the Anaheim Convention Center. Expo West is the top natural food and beverage tradeshow in the country. This year’s event attracted a record attendance of 52,000 attendees and 3400 exhibitors. Metromint used this opportunity to launch our new Cherrymint variety, the sixth addition to the Metromint line-up.

We were thrilled by the positive response from retailers, distributors, and industry professionals. Combined sampling of our recent Chocolatemint release alongside Cherrymint turned out to be a hit with an Expo fan base already familiar with our other lines. Thanks to all of you who stopped by our booth to say hello!

in the spirit of wellness and outreach

3/19/08
by Michele Thorne, Wellness and Outreach Director

Wellness education and community outreach are not only the tenets this company holds close to the vest, but they happen to be the pillars of my work here at Metromint. I consider myself one of the lucky ones because I often get the privilege to meet you, our consumer. Whether through email, phone, photo or in person (which is always good), I am grateful to have the ability to replace the singular term consumer, with many individual personalities.

I have had the great fortune to meet many of you at trade shows, at events where I have facilitated a hydration or wellness class with one of our retailers, at wellness centers and hospitals, or even at schools and countless outdoor events benefiting numerous causes, people and organizations. Truth is, I am usually invited to teach something, but invariably, I always learn something too. Often after the event is over, and while I am returning to the office in our big Metromint van, I get sparked and motivated to continue learning and also reflect on what I have learned.

This past week I was really fortunate because I was invited to share some of my wellness experience with the students at Francisco Middle School. I was also able to meet some of you at the Natural Products Expo in Anaheim, where I co- facilitated an anti-inflammatory foods class with our very own Metromint All Star, Brooke Benlifer. AND I spent some time with over 100 members from a chapter of the West Coast Road Runners in southern California! What I learned, again, was how great it feels to give—whether it is information, water, a smile or thank you.

To teach and to learn is the quintessential way of reciprocity. You all give us so much enthusiasm and support. So, in the true spirit of wellness and outreach (and reciprocity), the next time you have an event at your store, school, center, office or group, think of us at Metromint and give us a chance to give back to you…and remember, STAY HYDRATED!

metromint cycling kicks off the new season

3/4/08
by Bruce Johnson, Metromint Cycling

"What is Metromint? Do you work there?" These are two of the most common questions that members of Metromint Cycling are asked while training all over the roads of the San Francisco bay area. The distinctive Blue Dots bring the team a lot of attention. While we don't technically work at Metromint, our philosophies are well aligned: choosing and promoting healthy lifestyles, building camaraderie by working together as a team, and setting and achieving goals through focus and discipline and fun, both on and off the bike.

As the 2008 bicycle racing season begins, Metromint Cycling is putting all the right pieces in place: hours of training on our local roads, coaching from Whole Athlete, technical bike support from Montano Velo and Big Swingin Cycles, and on the bike nutrition from Clif Bar Inc. More importantly, we're building relationships that are a prerequisite to performing well together as a team. The women held their training camp in December, and the men headed to San Luis Obispo in January for their training camp. The all-team camp returned to Petaluma in late-January during the epic rains which flooded many areas in Sonoma County. The sun broke through at the right moment and we had some epic, beautiful cycling both days, taking us along the north coast and through the Napa valley area.

One way to develop as a cyclist and take the team to the next level is to compete in tougher events, against tougher competitors. This year Metromint Cycling is excited about our initiative to travel across the United States and compete in some of the top races in the U.S. which are open to amateur athletes. These include classics such as Nature Valley Grand Prix in Minnesota, the International Tour de Toona in Pennsylvania, the International Cycling Classic (aka Superweek) in Wisconsin, Mt. Hood, Elkhorn and Cascade Cycling Classics in Oregon, and Manhattan Beach Criterium and San Dimas Stage Race in California. Already there have been some positive early results in big races: Fred Stamm and Sean Rhea, both cat 2 racers, headed to Arizona to compete in Valley of the Sun Stage Race. They posted impressive early season results with Fred winning the road race, and Sean taking 8th overall for the general classification (GC). We're excited about the opportunity to take the team to a new level.

One big race that we want to highlight is the recent first ever Tour of California Women's Criterium, held in Santa Rosa, on February 18. Three of our cat 2 women, Jane Robertson, Elis Bradshaw, and Amanda Eaken fired up to put on a brilliant display against some of the best women on the national circuit. You can read about their adventures on our team website.

See you out on the road!!!

valentine's day recap

2/25/2008
by Moselle Hindle, Marketing Manager

When was the last time a stranger wished you “Happy Valentine’s Day?” On Thursday February 14th, more than 250 people got a Happy Valentine’s Day wish from me, and I was amazed at the happiness my random act of Metromint kindness generated! The smiles. The laughs. Maybe it was the bottle of Chocolatemint I was offering them. Maybe it was the idea that a stranger would be wishing them Happy Valentines Day. Or maybe it was my bright red wig.

Whatever it was, the entire San Francisco-based Metromint staff was out spreading Metromint love— from King Street Cal Train station to Union Square. We handed out over 2500 bottles of our new Chocolatemint Metromint and in return, received smiles, thanks, laughs and, yes, even a romantic offer or two for dates!

The feedback we received was mostly positive. Our newest variety, Chocolatemint, may seem a little unusual but, believe me, it’s just as delicious and refreshing as our other varieties. Of course, some people do not want to mix their water with chocolate and will not try it at all. Maybe they don’t like chocolate, or maybe they assume it is sweetened. I think they would be surprised if they did taste it. If you haven’t tried it already, you’ll have to see for yourself.

We’re looking forward to getting a lot of feedback from the natural food stores, cafes, and restaurants on both Chocolatemint and a new soon-to-be-released variety which, as Scott mentioned last week, will feature red dots. We’ll be at Natural Products Expo West in Anaheim, CA from March 14 – 16th. If you’re planning on going there, stop by our booth, #2572.

some things never change

2/11/2008
by Scott Lowe, President/CEO

It’s funny to think back just a couple years ago. There was just one product
(Peppermint!) and five employees. We did everything ourselves; from
designing the bottle and label, to selling it into individual stores, to
paying the bills, to doing handouts around the city (see above).

Now in the fourth year of our business, 2008 is already flying by as
January is a month of the past, and February is off to a solid start. This
month, we’re releasing our fifth variety, Chocolatemint, so keep your eyes
out for it. It will be arriving in select stores around the country, just in
time for Valentine’s Day. I have to say, Rio did it again, creating what I
believe is the most innovative beverage to hit the market in years.
Definitely give it a try. In fact, if you happen to be in San Francisco on
Valentine’s Day, be on the lookout for the Metromint van and the Metromint
staff doing a handout around the city...just like the old days.

What else is on the horizon at Soma? Much more, of course. First, Howard and
the crew at the plant have nearly perfected the commercial production of the
sixth variety in the Metromint family – you should expect to see its red
dots show up in early summer. Also, for over a year now, we’ve been working
on another cutting edge creation, and if we can get it just right, we may
offer a sneak preview before the end of 2008. Of course, I need to leave out
the specifics, but it goes without saying that this new release will be one
of a kind and will work for all of you who maintain a healthy, active
lifestyle.

I also want to be sure and say a sincere thank you to our supportive
community, from those of you who send your resumes looking to work
with us, to those of you who proudly show your bottle of Metromint to our
sales team in the field – keep it coming!