| Type | Retailers' cooperative |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1976, Norway, Iowa |
| Founder(s) | Rick Stuart |
| Headquarters | Norway, Iowa, United States |
| Area served | United States, Canada |
| Key people | Tony Bedard, CEO Clint Landis, CMO Bill Kooistra, CFO[1] |
| Industry | Consumer products |
| Products | Herbs, spices, foods, teas, personal care |
| Employees | 293 (2008) |
| Website | frontiercoop.com |
Frontier Natural Products Co-op is a wholesaler of natural and organic products, founded in 1976 and based in Norway, Iowa. It sells products under the Frontier, Simply Organic and Aura Cacia brands.[2] Products include culinary herbs, spices and baking flavors; bulk herbs and spices; and natural and organic aromatherapy products. Frontier manufactures and distributes products throughout the United States and Canada.[3]
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Frontier Natural Products Co-op is owned by its wholesale customers. These customers provide the capital for the business to operate and take responsibility as member/owners of Frontier through an elected board of directors.[4] Frontier places emphasis on co-op values, which they state are at the heart of their success. “The co-op structure has fostered our honest, responsible business practices that are increasingly valued in the marketplace.”[4]
In April 2007 Frontier introduced the Well Earth program to develop ethical sources for high-quality products. The program screens potential suppliers with an extensive questionnaire and on-site visits to evaluate product quality, operational sustainability, environmental practices and social responsibility. Suppliers accepted into the program work with Frontier to maximize agricultural, environmental and social initiatives, with ongoing financial incentives for improved performance in those areas. The Well Earth program also provides direct financial contributions as well as assistance with grants and other outside funding for social and environmental programs in grower communities.[5][6]
In July 2004 Frontier announced the addition of five USDA Certified Organic bulk teas that are also Fair Trade Certified through TransFair USA. Frontier will absorb the additional costs of the Fair Trade certification by offering the five teas – Jasmine, Ceylon Orange Pekoe, Darjeeling, Gunpowder and Black Chai – without a price increase.[7] Frontier currently offers over 30 Fair Trade certified products including herbs, teas, cocoa, sugar and vanilla. [8] TransFair USA's audit system, which tracks products from farm to finished product, verifies industry compliance with Fair Trade criteria. TransFair USA licenses companies to display the Fair Trade Certified label on products that meet strict international Fair Trade standards.[9]
In October 2001, Frontier introduced Simply Organic, a line of 100% certified organic foods. 1% of all Simply Organic sales go to organic agricultural causes and education.[10] Frontier offers certified organic spices and seasoning blends under the Frontier brand and certified organic essential oils and personal care products under the Aura Cacia Organics brand.[11]
Frontier has made a number of efforts to reduce energy consumption and waste reduction including biodegradable packaging and reduced-materials packaging.[12]
Frontier has been involved in preserving wild herbs and native plant species[16] by either physically rescuing plants in volunteer groups, financially supporting native plant rescues, re-establishing local tall-grass prairie and protecting plants from the practice of “wild-crafting” through sustainable cultivation methods.[17]