Red 8 was established in the late 1990’s, born out of athlete Jim Bedwell’s passion for sport, fitness and healthy lifestyle.
Jim’s sporting achievements include 6 New Zealand Ironmen (top 10 finish), 3 Hawaiian Ironmen (sub 9.5 hour) and 2 Japanese Ironmen (top 20 finish), the Longest Day – Speights Coast to Coast and the Xerox challenge (top 10 finish).
With this experience as an elite athlete and body builder came an intense interest in protein and a belief in healthy nutrition, that has grown into a thriving nutritional business.
In 1999 Jim wrote and published a book on modern nutrition and supplementation (Mike Kerrisk co-wrote the nutrition section.) This book can still befound in many healthfood stores.
Red 8 produces products that are not only for sports people, but for everybody who needs help getting their diet right.
Red 8’s Protein Plus range has been developed to provide the ‘missing link’ in dietary supplements – protein. Protein Plus range of products offer a variety of protein options that can be used as delicious shakes or as ingredients in cooking. In the range you will find healthy energy food drinks for kids, fortified protein shakes for over 50s as well as a range of non-dairy and gluten free protein sources for those suffering intolerances or allergies.
Red 8 products contain no artificial colours and sweeteners – it is New Zealand’s most natural range of protein supplement products.
Red 8 products are made in New Zealand to the highest quality standards, by the same people who make Thompson’s supplements and with the expertise of some of New Zealand’s leading independent nutritional experts.
Red 8 is now committed to working with Daniel Healey Director of Performance Nutrition High Performance Sport NZ and Gavin Clearkin Senior Performance Nutritionist High Performance Sport NZ in developing and trialling supplements for New Zealands top tier athletes in team and individual sports.
Red 8 is a niche products company where the emphasis is on product development rather than product marketing.
New products must be functional within existing ranges and fit into the Red 8 philosophy.
Red 8 Philosophy
1. Foundation Products
Foundation products are developed with a strong emphasis on healthy nutrition practices. The emphasis is keeping it simple and looking for healthy raw material choices.
2. Sports Products
Sports products are designed based on producing the best all-round product for its intended purpose. A strong emphasis is placed on value for money.
3 . High Performance Sport NZ Products
These are the elite products that are developed by the brains trust from the High Performance Sport NZ. Products identified by or developed in conjunction with High Performance Sport NZ. The top tier supplements. There are no constraints in developing these products but must fall in line with philosophy 1.