Nature's Path

Nature's Path Foods, Inc.
Private corporation
Industry Organic food
Founded 1985
Founder Arran Stephens; Ratana Stephens
Headquarters Richmond, British Columbia, Canada
Area served
 42 Countries Worldwide
Key people
 Arran Stephens, CEO; Ratana Stephens, COO
Products Breakfast cereal; granola
Number of employees
 500
Divisions Nature's Path, Envirokidz, Que Pasa
Website us.naturespath.com

Nature's Path Foods, commonly known as Nature's Path, is a privately held, family-owned producer of certified organic foods. Originally known for its breakfast cereals, it now has a portfolio of more than 150 products. Founded in 1985 by Arran and Ratana Stephens, Nature's Path employs approximately 500 people, with manufacturing facilities in Canada and the United States and sales in more than 40 countries.[1] All of its products are vegetarian and certified organic. Nature's Path is a triple bottom line social enterprise, and has been recognized for incorporating the notion of sustainability into its business practices through its support of various charitable and eco-friendly initiatives.[2] The company is regularly named one of Canada's best employers.[3]

History

The company was started by Arran Stephens and Ratana Stephens in 1985 in British Columbia, Canada[1] and the first product was Manna Bread.[4] The Stephens' son, Arjan, and daughters, Jyoti[5] and Gurdeep,[6] currently work at Nature’s Path. Prior to opening Nature’s Path, Arran Stephens opened Canada’s first large organic supermarket in 1971, called Lifestream, and sold a successful line of natural products. Lifestream was sold to Kraft in 1981, but bought back by Stephens in 1995.[1] Nature’s Path employs approximately 350 people at its three facilities in Canada and the United States.[7]

Awards

Nature’s Path has been voted amongst Canada’s Best 50 Employers in Canada in 2007, 2009, 2011 and 2012,[3] and among Canada’s Greenest Employers in 2009, 2011 and 2012.[8]

Environmental sustainability

In 2008, the company purchased 2,240 acres of organic farmland[1] in Saskatchewan that it crop shares with family farmers. Nature’s Path serves as an outlet/processor for many independent organic family farmers representing approximately 100,000 organic acres.[9] Nature’s Path has been a staunch opponent of GMO proliferation since 2001,[10] and founder Arran Stephens was an early supporter and board member of the Non-GMO Project.[11] Nature’s Path products are tested to bear the Non-GMO Project Verified Seal.[12] The brand sponsored the Right2Know GMO March in 2011, and was active in supporting the failed Proposition 37, previously the California Right to Know ballot initiative, for mandatory GMO labeling in California[11] by contributing $600,000, plus time and support.[13]

Products

The company’s organic products are sold under the Nature’s Path®, Flax Plus®, EnviroKidz®, and Optimum® brand names in grocery and specialty foods stores in over 42 countries worldwide.[1]

All Nature’s Path products are certified organic[7] and vegetarian, many are vegan[14] and a large number are gluten free.[15]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Heimbuch, Jaymi (2008-10-31). "Arran Stephens of Nature's Path on Independence in the Fast-Consolidating Food Industry". TreeHugger. Retrieved 2013-04-02.
  2. ↑ "Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability News: Nature’s Path: A Quirkily Beautiful Shift Towards Sustainable Branding". Enn.com. 2010-06-21. Retrieved 2013-04-02.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "BC's Top Employers". Canadastop100.com. 2013-02-06. Retrieved 2013-04-02.
  4. ↑ "Pioneers of organic processing — Oregon Tilth". Tilth.org. Retrieved 2013-04-02.
  5. ↑ Diane Jermyn. "Sustainability runs deep in cereal-making family". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2013-04-02.
  6. ↑ "Marketing healthy food to young consumers is child's play". Just-food.com. Retrieved 2013-04-02.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Dag Falck". The Non-GMO Project. Retrieved 2013-04-02.
  8. ↑ "Canada's Greenest Employers". Canadastop100.com. 2012-04-20. Retrieved 2013-04-02.
  9. ↑ "Nature's Path Gardens for Good". Organic Gardening. Retrieved 2013-04-02.
  10. ↑ "How Magic Markers Are Messing Up Our Food System". Commondreams.org. 2001-06-20. Retrieved 2013-04-02.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 "Nature’s Path Supports Mandatory GMO Labeling". The Gourmet Retailer. Dec 7, 2011.
  12. ↑ "Verified Products". The Non-GMO Project. Retrieved 2013-04-02.
  13. ↑ "Uneasy Allies in the Grocery Aisle". The New York Times. September 13, 2012.
  14. ↑ ReLove Plan.et (2011-02-09). "♥☺ ReLove Plan.et ☺♥: Ⓥ Vegan Kitchen: Nature's Path Cereal Ⓥ". Reloveplanet.com. Retrieved 2013-04-02.
  15. ↑ Acosta, Rosie (2012-08-23). "Top 5 Gluten-Free Foods | Fox News Latino". Latino.foxnews.com. Retrieved 2013-04-02.

External links