Scott LaPorta - A Force behind Newly Acquired Sugarfina USA, LLC

Drawing on an executive leadership background spanning the healthy and functional beverages space, Scott LaPorta has guided companies such as Bolthouse Farms, Neuro Brands, and GT’s Living Foods. Helping to drive Bristol Luxury Group’s recent acquisition of Sugarfina as a co-investor, Scott LaPorta has taken a role with the luxury candy retail chain as chief executive officer.

Known for its innovative and exclusive product line featuring quality ingredients and iconic packaging, Sugarfina, Inc., built up a portfolio of gateway locations across North America and Hong Kong. Also selling through specialty retailers and department store shop-in-shops, Sugarfina is popular for corporate gifting and has developed a robust e-commerce presence.

The purchase of Sugarfina and its affiliates’ assets by Bristol Luxury Group was approved by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware in October 2019 and resulted in the creation of a new operating company, Sugarfina USA, LLC.

Mr. LaPorta characterized the deal as enabling Sugarfina’s distribution growth across multiple channels, while continuing to provide consumers with the “sweet luxury experience” they crave.

Bristol Luxury Group Acquires Candy Brand Sugarfina

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A California executive with an extensive background in healthy and functional beverages, Scott LaPorta until recently guided GT’s Living Foods as chief commercial and strategy officer. In November 2019, Scott LaPorta departed his leadership position with the kombucha maker to accept responsibilities as the CEO of Sugarfina USA, LLC, a chain luxury candy store.

This move coincided with the Bristol Luxury Group’s announcement of the acquisition of substantially all of Sugarfina, Inc., and its affiliates’ assets as part of a fast-unfolding bankruptcy process that took less than two months to complete.

The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware approved the transaction, which was spearheaded by the majority owners of Bristol, Paul L. Kessler and Diana Derycz-Kessler. In addition, Mr. LaPorta and Barlock Capital joined the Kesslers as co-investors.

As Scott LaPorta described it, going forward it will involve expanding distribution via a dynamic omni-channel strategy that will provide consumers with a “sweet luxury experience.” The candy brand already has gateway locations spanning Canada, Hong Kong, and the United States, as well as a presence in shop-in-shops at department stores and a strong e-commerce business.

The Probiotic and Medicinal Mushroom Benefits of GT’s ALIVE

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Scott Laporta is a Southern California executive who guides GT’s Living Foods as chief commercial and strategy officer, and manages a globally focused business. Leveraging past leadership experience with Bolthouse Farms and Neuro, Scott Laporta has positioned his company at the forefront of the fresh, healthy, functional beverage category.

Among the firm’s popular product lines is GT’s ALIVE, which has Ayurvedic traditions as its inspiration. The company’s offerings include flavors such as Mate Mint, Pu-Erh Root, Guayusa Turmeric, Black Lemon, and Cascara Spice.

All varieties of GT’s ALIVE are steeped in adaptogenic reishi

, turkey tail, and chaga medicinal mushrooms, as well as loose leaf tea. As a final step, Grade B maple and raw apple cider vinegar are added, creating a beverage that is probiotic, sparkling, and lightly sweet. This gentle flavor contrasts with the fermented tea kombucha, which has a tangier taste.

GT’s ALIVE contains a number of prebiotic and probiotic benefits, including nutrients such as minerals and enzymes that help aid digestion. In addition, the plant adaptogens support immunity and can help in boosting heart health and circulation, and reducing stress.

GT’s Living Foods’ Vegan, Probiotic VeggieKefir Shots

Drawing on an executive background in fresh food and beverages at companies such as Neuro and Bolthouse Farms, Scott Laporta has held a strategic leadership position with GT’s Living Foods since 2018. Among the products offered by Scott Laporta’s company are the savory probiotic shots VeggieKefir.

The production process for this product starts with handpicking and small-batch fermenting raw produce and kefir cultures in a brine that combines grey sea salt and purified water. After fermentation, the vegetables are fresh pressed in order to deliver powerful living shots of beneficial probiotics. 

In addition to VeggieKefir, which has a savory and spiced flavor, GT’s Living Foods also produces tangy CocoKefir, which is coconut-based. All of these products feature a proprietary blend of Lactococcus and Lactobacillus strains that are traditional to kefir in Russia and Eastern Europe. One percent or less of the total is yeasts that also support well-balanced microbiomes.

Unlike kefir associated with fermented milk, the probiotic grains used in VeggieKefir are 100 percent dairy-free and vegan.

Divine Desserts by GT's Living Foods

Scott LaPorta is currently the chief commercial and strategy officer of GT’s Living Foods. He previously spent seven years as president of Bolthouse Farms. Scott LaPorta manages all marketing and branding activities at GT’s Living Foods, a provider of healthy foods and drinks, including all natural smoothies. The company also provides recipes for healthy, tasty desserts.

One of the most popular desserts carried by GT’s Living Foods is the gingerberry cupcake served with coconut cream. The recipe, which can be completed in under an hour, consists of nearly two dozen all natural ingredients, including half a cup of GT’s KOMBUCHA Gingerberry, 48 ounces of full fat coconut milk, two tablespoons of dried ginger powder, and one cup of blueberries.

Individuals who are more interested in chocolate-based desserts can try GT’s Living Foods' Chocolate Layered CocoYO Parfait, made with GT’s COCOYO Pure. The unique, easy-to-make dessert includes a unique blend of cocoa powder and avocado, among other delicious ingredients. Additional desserts by GT’s Living Foods range from the Cran-Apple Chia Parfait to the Vegan Raspberry Cheesecake Bites.

A Brief Overview of What Kombucha Is and How It’s Made

With an MBA in finance from the Vanderbilt University Owen Graduate School of Management, Scott Laporta has progressive experience in developing start-ups into multi-national enterprises in the hospitality, gaming, apparel, and natural food and beverage industries. At present, he leads GT’s Living Foods as its chief commercial and strategy officer. Scott Laporta’s role at GT’s Living Foods is focused on promoting the company’s exclusive brand of naturally produced kombucha drinks.

Kombucha is a type of fermented tea produced by a symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY). The SCOBY is brewed into sugar and green or black tea and then fermented for a minimum of a week and up to a month. The resulting taste of the beverage ranges from sweet to tangy according to the length of the fermentation process. Some kombucha drinks are flavor enhanced with the addition of spices, herbs, and fruits, and as a byproduct of fermentation, the drink typically contains 0.5 to 3 percent alcohol. Rich in probiotics, kombucha is reported to enhance overall digestive health and also helps to boost energy levels due to its high levels of vitamin B.

Neuro Trim - Including Fiber Rich, Appetite-Curbing Glucomannan

Scott LaPorta is a well-established Southern California business leader who has guided turnaround efforts at a number of companies. In his present role as neuro Brands president, Scott LaPorta oversees a lineup of lightly carbonated beverages with specific health and lifestyle functions, from Neuro Protein to Neuro Trim.

Neuro Trim is low in calories and rich in antioxidants, and contains green tea extract, L-carnitine, and caffeine. Among the functional fibers contained in Neuro Trim are Fibersol2, chicory root inulin, and glucomannan.

Sourced from konjac roots that grow in northern Japan, glucomannan is a sugar that has a centuries’ old use in Japanese cuisine as a gelling and thickening agent. Able to “sponge up” water within the digestive tract, it expands through this absorption process into a fiber that takes up significant space in the stomach.

The result is both a sense of fullness and a curtailing of the body’s absorption of cholesterol and carbohydrates. In addition, the bulky fiber has a cleansing effect that is effective in controlling blood sugar, decreasing cholesterol, and eliminating constipation as it leaves the body. Within the context of Neuro Trim, this helps alleviate hunger before meals, while adding only a few calories.