Emma's Best is a small but growing health food company.
It was started in 1995 by a married couple who were tired of working for large companies.
The two founders were Ed and Emma Smith, both health-conscious vegetarians(素食者).
Despite the risks, Ed and Emma wanted to start their own business.
They knew it would be hard work, but they were determined to try.
Their plan was to create a business that provided healthy food to busy people.
They wanted it to be something they could be proud of.
When they started the company, organic food was becoming more popular.
People were becoming more food conscious and worried about food safety.
In fact, people were willing to pay higher prices for food that was free of harmful chemicals.
In addition, an increasing number of people had little time to go shopping and cook at home.
They wanted meals that were healthy but easy to prepare.
There were very few frozen meals available at the time(当时), and none of them were vegetarian or organic.
There was a gap in the market.
Ed and Emma immediately saw the opportunity and launched(推出) their first product.
It was a frozen pasta meal with a mix of vegetables and a delicious cream sauce.
The market response was enthusiastic(热烈的) and profitable beyond their expectations.
Their product was an instant success.
To their surprise, it was soon being eaten by millions of people, not only vegetarians or those interested in organic foods.
It was being bought because it was easy to prepare and it tasted good.
And of course it was healthy.
Other products followed in rapid succession.
As a result, at the end of 5 years, the company was producing over 100 frozen meals.
Since then they have increased the number of meals to over 150, including pizzas, sandwiches and snacks.
Their foods are carried by natural food stores and supermarkets throughout(遍布) North America.
(They wanted their new company to be something they could be proud of.)
(People were willing to pay more for food that was free of harmful chemicals.)
health-conscious 英 [helθ ˈkɒnʃəs] 美 [helθ ˈkɑːnʃəs] 注重健康;注重健康的;重视健康的;有健康意识的
conscious 英 [ˈkɒnʃəs] 美 [ˈkɑːnʃəs] adj. 意识到;注意到;神志清醒的;有知觉的;有意识的;慎重的;有意的;刻意的
vegetarian 英 [ˌvedʒəˈteəriən] 美 [ˌvedʒəˈteriən] n. 素食者;吃素的人 adj. 素食者的;素菜的
organic 英 [ɔːˈɡænɪk] 美 [ɔːrˈɡænɪk] adj. 有机的;不使用化肥的;绿色的;有机物的;生物的;器官的;器质性的;官能的
harmful 英 [ˈhɑːmfl] 美 [ˈhɑːrmfl] adj. (尤指对健康或环境)有害的，导致损害的
frozen 英 [ˈfrəʊzn] 美 [ˈfroʊzn] adj. 冷冻的;冷藏的;冻僵;极冷;冰封的;封冻的;结冰的 v. (使)冻结，结冰;(使)冻住，冻堵;冰冻;严寒 freeze的过去分词
gap 英 [ɡæp] 美 [ɡæp] n. 开口;豁口;缺口;裂口;间断;间隔;间隙;分歧;隔阂;差距 vi. 造成缝隙;使成缺口;使豁裂豁开;张开;有缺口;露出裂口
launch 英 [lɔːntʃ] 美 [lɔːntʃ] v. 开始从事，发起，发动(尤指有组织的活动);(首次)上市，发行;使(船，尤指新船)下水 n. (航天器的)发射;(船的)下水;(产品的)上市;(事件的)发起;大型汽艇;机动大舢板;交通艇
pasta 英 [ˈpæstə] 美 [ˈpɑːstə] n. 意大利面食
sauce 英 [sɔːs] 美 [sɔːs] n. 调味汁;酱;讨厌的话(或举动);无礼的话(或举动) vt. 调味或加沙司于…;给…增加趣味或风味;〈非〉对…无礼
enthusiastic 英 [ɪnˌθjuːziˈæstɪk] 美 [ɪnˌθuːziˈæstɪk] adj. 热情的;热心的;热烈的;满腔热忱的
instant 英 [ˈɪnstənt] 美 [ˈɪnstənt] adj. 立即的;立刻的;速食的;即食的;速溶的;方便的 n. 瞬间;片刻;某一时刻
succession 英 [səkˈseʃn] 美 [səkˈseʃn] n. 一连串;一系列;连续的人(或事物);交替;更迭;继承;继任;(尤指王位的)继承权
snack 英 [snæk] 美 [snæk] n. 点心;小吃;快餐;易办到的事;“小菜一碟” v. 吃点心(或快餐、小吃)
throughout 英 [θruːˈaʊt] 美 [θruːˈaʊt] prep. 各处;遍及;自始至终;贯穿整个时期 adv. 始终;处处;在所有方面
