We live in a data-driven era where the informed consumer is king. This has led to a rapid rise in health-conscious shopping, not least by Tom Shieh, who is leading the charge at Rewind Greens toward creating top-shelf food products that are as delectable to eat as they are good for the body.
Caring for one’s nutritional health, in particular, has become an arduous endeavor. It often leaves people with food products that are nutritionally superior but lack the flavor and verve of inferior food options. Tom Shieh was such an enthusiastic customer for its products that he bought Rewind Greens when he heard the founder wanted to sell. We asked him about the importance of having an enjoyable product and how, moving forward, the best healthy products will be those that are delightful to consume.
Grit Daily: What got you involved in the health space?
Tom Shieh: There are a couple of sayings from Confucius that I love. The first is that “We have two lives, and the second begins when we realize we only have one.” The other is that “A healthy man wants a thousand things, a sick man only wants one.”
As an active person, my health is paramount to me. Nobody would allow their iPhone, laptop, or mobile device to operate at 20% battery life or capacity for long periods of time. We ideally want them to be as close to 100% as possible.
When it comes to our bodies and what we consume, though, we often tend to neglect our daily health and nutrition. We operate at that inefficient 20% mark. When you don’t have your health, it’s hard to operate at peak performance mentally, emotionally, physically, or spiritually.
As a father of three kids, I’m constantly working to provide them with healthy options when it comes to their food and drinks. As you can imagine, ensuring they eat their portion of vegetables doesn’t always happen every day, especially when they’re in school.
So, when I see my eight-year-old son making a green drink in the morning by himself (and not because I told him to), there’s a tremendous sense of mission and pride in what we’ve accomplished as a brand. And when I imagine this multiplied in countless families across the country, there’s a sense of excitement and purpose in what we’re working and building toward as a company.
Grit Daily: What inspired you to buy Rewind Greens rather than another green supplement business or starting your own line?
Tom Shieh: I started as a customer. In fact, I’ve been a loyal customer of Rewind Greens for three years now. I’m one of those unique user testimonials where I liked the product so much that I ended up buying the entire company.
As a fitness enthusiast, I was constantly looking for ways to add super greens to my daily intake. You know, things like spirulina, wheat grass, sea veggies, spinach, broccoli, blueberries, green seed extract, and ginseng. Most people nowadays just aren’t getting a balanced diet consistently due to work demands, travel demands, numerous activities — that kind of stuff.
In my quest to find something that could help provide me with a daily boost (almost like nutritional insurance), I tried about 15 different brands. Most of them tasted horrible. There were a couple that I tried to convince myself to like for a few months. It didn’t work.
So, when I saw a couple of friends on social media recommend a brand that their whole family (even their kids) enjoyed, I placed an order right away. To my surprise, Rewind Greens wasn’t just hype. I gave it to my three kids, and they all loved it too. Shortly after, I placed an order for over $1,000 of product and started giving it to friends and family. As a family, we’ve been drinking Rewind Greens to this day.
Then, late last year, I saw that the owner was exiting. I immediately jumped on a call that morning, and we went into a contract to acquire the company that very same day. That was the level of conviction I had in the product. For me, it wasn’t just about making money selling supplements. This is a passion project. It’s a phenomenal product that I truly believe in sharing with the world.
Grit Daily: Would supplements be such a big industry if people generally ate better diets?
Tom Shieh: If everyone generally ate better diets, then supplements certainly wouldn’t be as big of an industry. However, that’s a big “if.” The reality is that our food today no longer carries the same level of nutrition as it once did. Scientists believe that the source of the issue stems from current modern agricultural processes that optimize and increase crop yields. These processes often end up disturbing soil health, and when that happens, it makes the food grown there less nutritious. This makes it more important than ever to ensure you are getting the proper vitamins and minerals.
And then you have to compound that with the increasing amount of processed foods in larger portions, the busyness of the average family, and the constant effort to keep food prices reasonable. Add it all up, and it becomes vital to utilize supplements as a way to maintain a healthy nutritional uptake for you and your loved ones.
Grit Daily: Should people who are turning to supplements also be encouraged to eat more leafy greens?
Tom Shieh: Absolutely. It is generally recommended to have leafy greens as part of our overall diet. Whenever possible, it is ideal to get our nutrients directly from the source. If you can eat broccoli, spinach, wheatgrass, blueberries, carrots, and spirulina, then you should certainly consume it as a whole food.
Of course, the challenge comes when people cannot do this on a consistent and convenient basis. And this is where Rewind Greens comes in. It’s a safe, non-GMO, vegan, allergy-friendly option without nasty artificial colors, flavors, or sweeteners gumming up the nutrients. Our products are clean, and they’re formulated and assembled in the good old U.S. of A. And even though we prioritize health, they still come in incredible flavors that are as easy on the palate as they are good for the body.
Grit Daily: Green supplements are very popular. Is it simply because people associate the color green with health?
Tom Shieh: People certainly do associate the color green with health. However, that in itself does not ensure that everything that’s green is healthy. You can’t just shop based on product slogans and brand color palettes. You need to read the labels to see what’s inside, too.
Our products were meticulously formulated with a balanced blend of superfoods, vitamins, and minerals. While immaculate nutritional support is the starting point, we also obsess over ensuring that the end product tastes fantastic. Other brands tend to taste like grass. Not Rewind. We have countless testimonials of how many people love our flavor profile and blend, which has convinced me of something.
The future of the food industry is health-focused. We all know that. But it’s only the brands that can combine this health factor with genuinely delicious and enjoyable end products that will truly strike a chord with consumers.
When you drink Rewind Greens, you aren’t just doing your body and mind a favor. You can also count on it tasting delicious, which is something that will keep people coming back. They know they’re getting more than just nutrition. They’re enjoying the experience, too. It’s the whole package.
