Nature's Path

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, certified organic, and Non-GMO Project Verified. 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]

Nature's Path Foods, Inc.
TypePrivate
IndustryOrganic food
Founded1985 (1985)
FounderArran Stephens; Ratana Stephens
Headquarters
Richmond, British Columbia
,
Canada
Area served
42 countries worldwide
Key people
Arjan Stephens, President; Jyoti Stephens, Vice-President; Arran Stephens, Co-Founder and Board Member; Ratana Stephens, Co-Founder and Board Member
ProductsBreakfast cereal; granola, oatmeal, tortilla chips, toaster pastries, waffles
Number of employees
700
DivisionsEnviroKidz, Love Crunch, Que Pasa, Qi'a
SubsidiariesAnita's Organic Flour
Websitenaturespath.com

History

The company was founded by Arran Stephens and Ratana Stephens in 1985 in British Columbia, Canada,[1] and its first product was Manna Bread.[4] Previously, the Stephens' had founded Lifestream (1971) Canada's first large organic supermarket, and sold a successful line of natural products. Lifestream was sold to Kraft in 1981, but bought back by Stephens in 1995.[1] In September 2018, Nature's Path announced plans to move its head office from Richmond to East Vancouver.[5] The Stephens' son, Arjan, took over as President of Nature's Path in 2023.

Awards

Nature's Path has been voted among 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.[6]

The Organic Trade Association recognized founders Arran and Ratana Stephens with the award for Growing Organic Leadership in 2013[7] and a Nature's Path farmer, Doug Crabtree, with the Farmer of the Year award.[8] Food in Canada recognized Nature's Path with the 2014 award for Leadership in Sustainability.[9]

Environmental and social sustainability

Nature's Path helped to establish the Sustainable Food Trade Association and in 2009 was one of the first companies to sign onto the Food Trade Sustainability Leadership Association's Declaration of Sustainability to promote sustainable practices in the food industry.[10]

The company became zero waste certified in 2010 and have committed to complete carbon neutrality by 2020.[10] So far Nature's Path has successfully implemented practices that have diverted 92 per cent of their waste from landfills; reduced packaging saving 825,540 gallons of wastewater, 437 tons of paperboard, 7,464 million BTUs of energy and 1.4 million pounds of carbon dioxide; they have launched a supplier code of conduct for labor; empowered employees to take ownership of sustainability and green initiatives; and through their commitment to organic farming have kept over 418,000 lbs of chemical pesticides out of the soil.[11]

Nature's Path is committed to many charitable and social initiatives. Their Gardens for Good program awards three $15,000 grants to urban gardens to help educate and feed their communities every year – totalling $270,000 so far;[12] they hold an Eat Well Do Good foodraiser for food banks every year which has raised over $750,000 in food to date.[13] Additionally Nature's Path's Bite for Bite program commits $1 million to North American food banks[14] and through the EnviroKidz brand's 1% for the Planet affiliation, work to help save endangered species.[14]

Organic farming

The company has purchased of 2,880 acres (1,170 ha) of organic farmland[1] in Saskatchewan that it crop shares with family farmers (Fox Valley, Legend Farms, Tompkins Landing Heritage Organic Farms) as well as 2,760 acres (1,120 ha) in Montana[15] (at Wild Horse, Vilicus Farms – including partnership and apprenticeship program) for a total of 5,640 acres (2,280 ha) of organic farmland. Nature's Path serves as an outlet/processor for many independent organic family farmers representing approximately 100,000 organic acres (40,000 ha).[16]

Non-GMO support

Nature's Path has been a staunch opponent of GMO proliferation since 2001,[17] and founder Arran Stephens was an early supporter and board member of the Non-GMO Project.[18] Nature's Path products are tested to bear the Non-GMO Project Verified Seal.[19] The brand sponsored the making of documentary GMO OMG by Jeremy Seifert in 2013[20] and the Right2Know GMO March in 2011. The company was active in supporting the failed Proposition 37, previously the California Right to Know ballot initiative, for mandatory GMO labeling in California[18] by contributing $600,000, plus time and support, as well as supporting the Oregon and Colorado Right to Know campaigns in 2014.[21]

Products

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

All Nature's Path products are certified organic[22] and vegetarian, many are vegan,[23] and a large number are gluten-free.[24]

References
  1. 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. "BC's Top Employers". Canadastop100.com. 2013-02-06. Retrieved 2013-04-02.
  4. "Pioneers of organic processing — Oregon Tilth". Tilth.org. Archived from the original on 2013-02-26. Retrieved 2013-04-02.
  5. Chan, Kenneth (12 September 2018). "Nature's Path Foods' moving headquarters to Vancouver". Daily Hive Vancouver. Retrieved 12 September 2018.
  6. "Canada's Greenest Employers". Canadastop100.com. 2012-04-20. Retrieved 2013-04-02.
  7. Haumann, Barbara (2013-07-09). "Organic Trade Organization". Organic Trade Organization. Retrieved 2016-02-25.
  8. Burnham, T.J. (2014-09-15). "Montana Organic Grower Wins National Farmer of Year Award". Farm Progress. Retrieved 2016-02-25.
  9. Freedman, Tania (2014-04-01). "Food in Canada Announces Winners of 2014 Leadership Awards". Reuters. Retrieved 2016-02-25.
  10. Rose, Jennifer (Fall 2010). "Nature's Path: Small changes lead to big differences". Organic It's Worth It. The Organic Report. Retrieved 2016-02-25.
  11. Hoback, Jane. "Companies with a Cause: Nature's Path". New Hope 360. Retrieved 2016-02-26.
  12. "Apply Today to Win a $15,000 Gardens for Good Grant". EcoWatch. Retrieved 2016-02-26.
  13. "Eat Well Do Good Foodraiser features pop-up café and marketplace". Vancity Buzz. Retrieved 2016-02-26.
  14. McTavish, Valerie (2014-08-12). "Altruism for Breakfast: How Nature's Path Gives Back". Tuja Wellness. Retrieved 2016-02-25.
  15. Clark, Leilani (2015-01-28). "Growing Organic Cereal From the Ground Up". Civil Eats. Retrieved 2016-02-25.
  16. "Nature's Path Gardens for Good". Organic Gardening. Retrieved 2013-04-02.
  17. "How Magic Markers Are Messing Up Our Food System". Commondreams.org. 2001-06-20. Archived from the original on 2013-06-18. Retrieved 2013-04-02.
  18. "Nature's Path Supports Mandatory GMO Labeling". The Gourmet Retailer. Dec 7, 2011.
  19. "Verified Products". The Non-GMO Project. Retrieved 2013-04-02.
  20. "Nature's Path Presents 'GMO OMG'". Progressive Grocer. 2013-04-01. Retrieved 2016-02-25.
  21. "Uneasy Allies in the Grocery Aisle". The New York Times. September 13, 2012.
  22. "Dag Falck". The Non-GMO Project. Archived from the original on 2013-04-09. Retrieved 2013-04-02.
  23. ReLove Plan.et (2011-02-09). "♥☺ ReLove Plan.et ☺♥: Ⓥ Vegan Kitchen: Nature's Path Cereal Ⓥ". Reloveplanet.com. Retrieved 2013-04-02.
  24. Acosta, Rosie (2012-08-23). "Top 5 Gluten-Free Foods | Fox News Latino". Latino.foxnews.com. Retrieved 2013-04-02.
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