Watsonville, CA Company Named 'Exporter of the Year' by U.S. Export Promotion Magazine

February 3, 2010 – Nordic Naturals, Inc. has received a 2010 Exporter of the Year award from ThinkGlobal Inc., publisher of Commercial News USA, the official export promotion magazine of the U.S. Commerce Department.

Located in Watsonville, California, Nordic Naturals, Inc. is an international leader in omega-3 fish oils and essential fatty acid (EFA) blends. The company has built a strong reputation in the omega fatty acid category and has demonstrated environmental responsibility in its production processes. Nordic Naturals has more than 150 fish oil products, including liquids, soft gels, and children's chewables – all in natural triglyceride form.

"Since 1996, Nordic Naturals has been the industry leader in fish oil supplementation," said Jean-Philippe Sidaner, Export Manager for Nordic Naturals. "The company has set the standard of excellence in the areas of purity, freshness, taste, and sustainability. In 2003, we began exporting to Canada and the UK. Today, we export to more than 25 countries on six continents."

Nordic Naturals was founded by Norwegian born Joar Opheim, MBA. Having been born and raised in Arctic Norway where the fishing industry is a crucial part of both commerce and academia he has always been aware of the importance of pure omega-3 fatty acids in the diet. Opheim developed patented fish oil technologies for improving the taste, purity, and molecular structure of the oils, which helped shape industry standards. Nordic Naturals' award-winning omega oils are available in patented natural fruit-flavored softgels in a variety of shapes and sizes, as well as in pleasant-tasting liquids. Products are sold to medical professionals and directly to consumers in retail stores and on Nordic Naturals' website. The company also produces products for dogs and cats that are sold through veterinary offices, specialty pet stores and boutiques, and online.

"Our goal is to develop long-term relationships with passionate and motivated international partners and to carry out our mission of health and wellness," said Sidaner. "Nordic Naturals is honored to have received the 2010 ThinkGlobal, Inc./Commercial News USA Exporter of the Year award."

Commercial News USA is a catalog-style magazine that reaches more than a quarter million readers in 176 countries worldwide. Awards were given to one U.S. company in each of 11 industry categories. Privately held Nordic Naturals was named Exporter of the Year in the Health and Beauty category. All Exporter of the Year award winners will be profiled in the May-June 2010 issue of the magazine.

Criteria on which winners were selected included the total number of documented export transactions completed in 2008, the total percentage increase in sales in 2008 compared to 2007, exports as percentage of total sales, the company's commitment to exporting, the company's commitment to customer service, and the company's innovation and originality in marketing products or services. To be eligible for the award, a company must currently be exporting from the United States.

Gregory Sandler, publisher of Commercial News USA, said that the success of Nordic Naturals, Inc. indicates clearly how American companies can benefit from exporting. "American companies that want to grow and to expand beyond their current trading areas need to consider opportunities outside of the U.S.," said Sandler. "World markets offer real potential for U.S. exporters."

Information about the Exporter of the Year awards, including profiles of all the winning companies, is available online at www.exporteroftheyear.com. The current issue of Commercial News USA is available online at www.thinkglobal.us.