RICHMOND, Va., March 6, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Health Warrior, purveyor of Premium Chia seeds and Chia Bars™, is growing rapidly in the Chia superfood category, one delicious and nutritious product at a time. After the successful launch of its Premium Chia seeds and Chia Bars™ in 2012, Health Warrior is poised for another renaissance year of growth and genuinely healthy and delicious innovation. This expansion will be led by its growing roster of industry professionals, as Health Warrior moves into more key accounts across America.

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Health Warrior Chia Bars™ are the first - and only - bar on the national market today with Chia seeds as the primary ingredient. The mighty and ancient little Chia seed has taken root in the community of health-conscious consumers over the last twelve months; co-founders Nick Morris, Dan Gluck, and Shane Emmett started Health Warrior out of their own personal need for quality seeds in 2010. Former NCAA Division 1 athletes, the team discovered Chia seeds after reading about the Tarahumara Indian ultra-endurance athletes in the popular 2009 book Born to Run. After incorporating Chia into their daily diets and experiencing the health benefits first-hand, they knew they had to share Chia and its amazing story with the world. "Dan and Nick saw the Chia seed trend over the horizon and were 100% spot on. With our innovative, genuinely healthy Chia Bars, and high quality Premium Chia seeds (because all Chia is not created equal), we are excited to expand our distribution with great partner retailers and distributors in 2013," said Shane Emmett (CEO).

Following a 2012 nationwide launch in Whole Foods Market, Health Warrior is bringing its products to Chia-eaters across the country. Health Warrior Chia Bars will soon grace the shelves of fine retailers including Sprouts, Earth Fare, Natural Grocer's by Vitamin Cottage, Fairway Markets, Stop & Shop and Wegmans, as well as hundreds of top natural independent retailers from coast to coast. Currently available through distributors UNFI, Nature's Best, Kehe, and Haddon House, the company has also won key corporate and influencer accounts such as Google, Twitter, Equinox, Soul Cycle, and Barry's Boot Camp.  

Finally, Health Warrior proudly announces the addition of strong industry professionals to its team to complement the company's growth. Mike Quinn, a former Vice President of Sales at Kashi, has joined Health Warrior as the Vice President of Sales. Austin Harris, a former Associate Vice President of Investment Banking at BB&T Capital Markets, is the Vice President of Finance and Operations.

Kelly Flatley, co-founder of Bear Naked, and a member of Health Warrior's Advisory Board stated, "I thought Dan, Nick, and Shane were a bit nuts (if fun and enthusiastic) when they told me they were going to start a great "Chia Seed" company a couple years ago, but they talked me into helping and now it's one of the hottest categories in the natural food universe. I am equally impressed with their genuinely healthy and tasty products as the aspirational brand and loyal tribe they have grown."

Health Warrior currently sells white and black loose Premium Chia seeds as well as Chia Bars™ in three distinctly delicious flavors: Acai Berry, Coconut and Chocolate Peanut Butter. Later this year, exciting new flavors will be added to the Chia Bar™ family, and innovative new products will launch, further rounding out the Health Warrior Chia portfolio. More details will be available soon!

SOURCE Health Warrior