Olympics a fruitful time for snack firm

Wellington businessman Duncan Forbes hopes his slow-release energy snacks will help fuel New Zealand athletes to Olympic gold.

He said more than 20 New Zealand Olympians would be eating the all-natural Go Native fruit snacks in the lead-up to and during the Rio Olympics, which start in five days’ time.

He would not name individual Olympians, but said the company had previously supplied runners, swimmers, Black Sticks, Silver Ferns and Super Rugby players.

The company, which Forbes cofounded 21⁄ years ago, did not give away its goods to athletes and it had no sponsorship deals.

‘‘The teams at the Olympics are purchasing our products, it’s not like we’re hoping to get endorsement from them.’’

Go Native products are produced in Marlborough. They are made from fruit and vegetables and there are no artificial ingredients.

A 20 gram Go Native fruit bar equals one daily fruit serving.

‘‘The products available to sports people are often artificial, full of preservatives, loaded with refined sugar and made in a laboratory,’’ Forbes said.

‘‘If you’re going to do all this work to prepare your body for this greatest moment, why would you fill it with artificial junk when you can get the same power from a natural product?’’

High Performance Sport New Zealand nutritionist Dane Baker said it was crucial athletes had access to safe, high-quality nutrition.

‘‘We’ve used the Go Native fruit snacks for many seasons; athletes love them and we know they work.’’