LOOV brings the power of Nordic berries to its clients

Six years now, the small Estonian company Loodusvägi OÜ has been exporting unique organic Nordic superfoods to Finland, Denmark, the United Kingdom, Hong Kong and other countries in Europe and Asia. Their products include wild berry powders, juices, mulled wines and raw forest honey.

The company has adopted the brand LOOV to export these clean and high-quality organic products, full of the power of Nordic nature. LOOV is a shortened version of the name Loodusvägi, which symbolises the healing power of pure nature that the company wishes to give its clients.

“Estonia is rich in pure nature and we find it very important to spread that message and mould Estonia’s reputation abroad,” says Export Manager Kristjan Õunamägi. So they are talking about Estonia as the home of clean nature and high-quality products on foreign markets using their forest products, full of the power of Nordic nature. Back home, where Loodusvägi is Estonia’s largest organic brand, organic product developer and marketer, they have a wider selection of organic products available.

What makes LOOV’s products so special?

“The chilly climate of the Nordic countries only gives us three months of potent sunshine. In this short period of time every plant has to grow very strong. They get enough power to survive the cold winters and extreme climate conditions. This is the reason why the berries grown in pristine Nordic forests are so powerful, and richer in nutrients compared to the cultivated varieties,” explained Õunamägi. “Thanks to their nutrient-rich content, powders and juices made from Nordic berries can be considered true superfoods!”

The wild-crafted forest berries used in LOOV’s freeze-dried berry powders and 100% pure juices are picked from certified organic sites in Estonia and Finland. Garden berries come from local organic farmers. The most exported berry in LOOV’s assortment is the blueberry, but people also love the lingonberry and the cranberry. Blackcurrant and chokeberry products are represented from the ranks of garden berries.

Clean ingredients, genuine berry taste

Freeze-dried berry powders are made from berries alone, nothing else is added. Powders contain all parts of the berries: the pulp, the skins and the seeds, dried at a temperature of –40 °C. This dried mixture is then milled into a nutritious powder. Freeze-drying is more effective in preserving the vitamins, colour, taste and water solubility of the powder than the hot air drying method. The result is nutrient-rich raw food.

The berry juices are pressed straight from berries, not made from concentrate. They do not contain anything else – the juices are not diluted with water, and no sugar or other additives are used. LOOV does not use enzymes during the production process to enhance extraction. To ensure they keep well, the juices are slightly pasteurised. Both juices and berry powders by LOOV are packaged in materials that are kind to your health and the environment.

This autumn, LOOV will be bringing out delicious berry crisps, a unique and healthy alternative to snacks loaded with additives. These high-quality crisps contain only a few carefully selected and clean ingredients, are gluten- and dairy-free, and low in sugar. To make them, some banana and raw cane sugar is added to berry puree, and the mixture is then dried at 60 °C until light crisps are formed. The crisps are 70% berry! Choose from raspberry, strawberry and blueberry crisps to awaken your taste buds.

Option to make private label products

The largest market for LOOV’s berry products and forest honey is the United Kingdom, where products are sold to end consumers through online stores such as Amazon and Buy Whole Foods Online. Over the years, LOOV has gained loyal customers, who value these powerful Nordic wild berries. Products are also exported to a Hong Kong retail chain, and in Finland and Denmark, the company works with long-term distributors. Cooperation in a similar vein is launching in Taiwan.

“We give foreign companies the chance to make private label products from Nordic super berries – we can supply the raw ingredient, which is the berry powder,” says Õunamägi. Berry powders are available in bulk and in bags of 2.5–15 kg. As they are freeze-dried, the berry powders keep fresh for a long time – two years. The company is ready to provide bulk raw ingredients for other private label products as well.

LOOV’s Nordic superfoods:

Freeze-dried raw berry powders:

• 90 g wild berry powder = 700 g wild berries
• Contains all parts of the berry: pulp, skin and seeds
• No sugar, no sulphites, no additives
• Dried at a low temperature to preserve all the precious nutrients
• Add to smoothies, oatmeal, energy balls, cookies, cakes, etc

100% pure berry juices:

• 500 ml = 1.1 kg of pure berry power
• Pressed directly from berries – no concentrates used
• No enzymes or additives used, no sugar or water added
• Cold-pressed and lightly pasteurised
• Dilute and sweeten according to taste or enjoy as is

What do the clients say?

• “These pure berry juices from Scandinavia are absolutely great. A refreshing change from the usual supermarket stuff loaded with added sugar, these are truly healthy products, rich in wonderfully natural flavour. This one can be drunk diluted with about as much water, or mixed into fruit cocktails to excellent effect.”
• “You cannot get these little chaps fresh where I live, so this freeze-dried powder is plan B. And it is lush. Tastes gorgeous, goes really well in just about anything you want – porridge, smoothies, puddings – whatever you like, really. It adds a tasty piquant buzz to your food.”
• “I have been looking for something like this for a while. Sometimes it is just not possible to find the fresh fruits. So this is the perfect alternative. I love raw food and this is perfect for adding to smoothies, drinks or desserts. My 6-year-old loves it with his vegan yogurt as it makes it so colourful, plus it tastes delicious!”

Read more: www.loovfood.com and www.facebook.com/loovfood/