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==History==
==History==


The company was started by [[Arran Stephens]] and Ratana Stephens in 1985 in British Columbia, Canada and the first product was Manna Bread.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://tilth.org/education-research/in-good-tilth-magazine/articles/2007/18v/pioneers-of-organic-processing |title=Pioneers of organic processing — Oregon Tilth |publisher=Tilth.org |accessdate=2013-04-02 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130226202045/http://tilth.org/education-research/in-good-tilth-magazine/articles/2007/18v/pioneers-of-organic-processing |archivedate=2013-02-26 }}</ref> The Stephens' son, Arjan, and daughter, Jyoti<ref>{{cite web|author=Diane Jermyn |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/careers/top-employers/green-employers/sustainability-runs-deep-in-cereal-making-family/article1994663/ |title=Sustainability runs deep in cereal-making family |publisher=The Globe and Mail |date= |accessdate=2013-04-02}}</ref> 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 Natural Foods, and sold a successful line of natural products. Lifestream was sold to Kraft in 1981, but bought back by Stephens in 1995.<ref name="treehugger1"/> In September 2018, Nature's Path announced plans to move their head office from Richmond to [[East Vancouver]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/natures-path-foods-vancouver-headquarters-relocation|title=Nature's Path Foods' moving headquarters to Vancouver|last=Chan|first=Kenneth|date=12 September 2018|work=[[Daily Hive]] Vancouver|access-date=12 September 2018}}</ref>
The company was started by [[Arran Stephens]] and Ratana Stephens in 1985 in British Columbia, Canada and the first product was Manna Bread.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://tilth.org/education-research/in-good-tilth-magazine/articles/2007/18v/pioneers-of-organic-processing |title=Pioneers of organic processing — Oregon Tilth |publisher=Tilth.org |accessdate=2013-04-02 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130226202045/http://tilth.org/education-research/in-good-tilth-magazine/articles/2007/18v/pioneers-of-organic-processing |archivedate=2013-02-26 }}</ref> The Stephens' son, Arjan, and daughter, Jyoti<ref>{{cite web|author=Diane Jermyn |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/careers/top-employers/green-employers/sustainability-runs-deep-in-cereal-making-family/article1994663/ |title=Sustainability runs deep in cereal-making family |publisher=The Globe and Mail |date= |accessdate=2013-04-02}}</ref> 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 Natural Foods, and sold a successful line of natural products. Lifestream was sold to Kraft in 1981, but bought back by Stephens in 1995.<ref name="history">{{cite web |last1=Monaco |first1=Emily |title=Nature's Path: Trailblazing the Organic Industry, One Breakfast at a Time |url=https://www.organicauthority.com/buzz-news/how-its-made-discovering-an-organic-trailblazer-natures-path |website=Organic Authority |accessdate=19 February 2020}}</ref> In September 2018, Nature's Path announced plans to move their head office from Richmond to [[East Vancouver]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/natures-path-foods-vancouver-headquarters-relocation|title=Nature's Path Foods' moving headquarters to Vancouver|last=Chan|first=Kenneth|date=12 September 2018|work=[[Daily Hive]] Vancouver|access-date=12 September 2018}}</ref>


==Awards==
==Awards==

Revision as of 20:59, 19 February 2020

Nature's Path Foods, Inc.
Company typePrivate
IndustryOrganic food
Founded1985
FounderArran Stephens; Ratana Stephens
Headquarters
Richmond, British Columbia
,
Canada
Area served
50 Countries Worldwide
Key people
Arran Stephens, CEO; Ratana Stephens, COO
ProductsBreakfast cereal; granola; granola bars; oatmeal; waffles; tortilla chips
Number of employees
650
DivisionsNature's Path, Envirokidz, Love Crunch, Que Pasa
Websitenaturespath.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 350 products. Founded in 1985 by Arran and Ratana Stephens, Nature's Path employs approximately 650 people, with manufacturing facilities in Canada and the United States and sales in more than 50 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]

History

The company was started by Arran Stephens and Ratana Stephens in 1985 in British Columbia, Canada and the first product was Manna Bread.[4] The Stephens' son, Arjan, and daughter, Jyoti[5] 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 Natural Foods, and sold a successful line of natural products. Lifestream was sold to Kraft in 1981, but bought back by Stephens in 1995.[6] In September 2018, Nature's Path announced plans to move their head office from Richmond to East Vancouver.[7]

Awards

Nature's Path has been voted among Canada's Best 50 Employers in Canada in 2007, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018[3] and among Canada's Greenest Employers in 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2018 and 2019.[8]

The Organic Trade Association recognized founders Arran and Ratana Stephens with the award for Growing Organic Leadership in 2013[9] and a Nature's Path farmer, Doug Crabtree, with the Farmer of the Year award.[10] Food in Canada recognized Nature's Path with the 2014 award for Leadership in Sustainability.[11]

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.[12]

The company became zero waste certified in 2010 and have committed to complete carbon neutrality by 2020.[12] It has pledged that all packaging will be reusable, recyclable or compostable by 2025.[13] 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.[14]

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;[15] they hold an Eat Well Do Good foodraiser for food banks every year which has raised $1.5 million in food over the last 10 years.[16] Additionally Nature's Path's Bite for Bite program commits $1 million to North American food banks each year,[17] and through the EnviroKidz brand's 1% for the Planet affiliation, work to help save endangered species.[17]

Organic farming

The company has purchased of 2,880 acres of organic farmland[18] in Saskatchewan that it crop shares with family farmers (Fox Valley, Legend Farms, Tompkins Landing Heritage Organic Farms) as well as 2,760 acres in Montana[19] (at Wild Horse, Vilicus Farms – including partnership and apprenticeship program) for a total of 5,640 acres of organic farmland. Nature's Path serves as an outlet/processor for many independent organic family farmers representing approximately 100,000 organic acres.[20]

Non-GMO support

Nature's Path has been a staunch opponent of GMO proliferation since 2001,[21] and founder Arran Stephens was an early supporter and board member of the Non-GMO Project.[22] Nature's Path products are tested to bear the Non-GMO Project Verified Seal.[23] The brand sponsored the making of documentary GMO OMG by Jeremy Seifert in 2013[24] 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[22] by contributing $600,000, plus time and support, as well as supporting the Oregon and Colorado Right to Know campaigns in 2014.[25]

Products

The company's organic products are sold under the Nature's Path®, Love Crunch®, Qi’a®, Flax Plus®, EnviroKidz®, and Que Pasa® brand names in grocery and specialty foods stores in over 50 countries worldwide.[26]

All Nature's Path products are certified organic[27] and vegetarian, many are vegan,[28] and a large number are gluten free.[29]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Fifty Years of Pioneering the Organic Food Industry". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 19 February 2020.
  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. ^ a b "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. ^ Diane Jermyn. "Sustainability runs deep in cereal-making family". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2013-04-02.
  6. ^ Monaco, Emily. "Nature's Path: Trailblazing the Organic Industry, One Breakfast at a Time". Organic Authority. Retrieved 19 February 2020.
  7. ^ Chan, Kenneth (12 September 2018). "Nature's Path Foods' moving headquarters to Vancouver". Daily Hive Vancouver. Retrieved 12 September 2018.
  8. ^ "Canada's Greenest Employers". Canadastop100.com. 2012-04-20. Retrieved 2013-04-02.
  9. ^ Haumann, Barbara (2013-07-09). "Organic Trade Organization". Organic Trade Organization. Retrieved 2016-02-25.
  10. ^ Burnham, T.J. (2014-09-15). "Montana Organic Grower Wins National Farmer of Year Award". Farm Progress. Retrieved 2016-02-25.
  11. ^ Freedman, Tania (2014-04-01). "Food in Canada Announces Winners of 2014 Leadership Awards". Reuters. Retrieved 2016-02-25.
  12. ^ a b 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.
  13. ^ Goldberg, Max. "Nature's Path Becomes the First Organic Brand to Join Loop, a Shipping Platform Which Eliminates Packaging Waste". Living Maxwell. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
  14. ^ Fusaro, Dave. "Green Plant of the Year 2018: Nature's Path". Food Processing. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
  15. ^ "Apply Today to Win a $15,000 Gardens for Good Grant". EcoWatch. Retrieved 2016-02-26.
  16. ^ Makan, Jami. "Nature's Path hosts event benefitting food-insecure middle schoolers". The Northern Light. Retrieved 19 February 2020.
  17. ^ a b McTavish, Valerie (2014-08-12). "Altruism for Breakfast: How Nature's Path Gives Back". Tuja Wellness. Retrieved 2016-02-25.[permanent dead link]
  18. ^ Cite error: The named reference treehugger1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  19. ^ Clark, Leilani (2015-01-28). "Growing Organic Cereal From the Ground Up". Civil Eats. Retrieved 2016-02-25.
  20. ^ "Nature's Path Gardens for Good". Organic Gardening. Retrieved 2013-04-02.
  21. ^ "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.
  22. ^ a b "Nature's Path Supports Mandatory GMO Labeling". The Gourmet Retailer. Dec 7, 2011.[permanent dead link]
  23. ^ "Verified Products". The Non-GMO Project. Retrieved 2013-04-02.
  24. ^ "Nature's Path Presents 'GMO OMG'". Progressive Grocer. 2013-04-01. Retrieved 2016-02-25.[permanent dead link]
  25. ^ "Uneasy Allies in the Grocery Aisle". The New York Times. September 13, 2012.
  26. ^ "50 years pioneering the organic food industry". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 19 February 2020.
  27. ^ "Dag Falck". The Non-GMO Project. Archived from the original on 2013-04-09. Retrieved 2013-04-02.
  28. ^ ReLove Plan.et (2011-02-09). "♥☺ ReLove Plan.et ☺♥: Ⓥ Vegan Kitchen: Nature's Path Cereal Ⓥ". Reloveplanet.com. Retrieved 2013-04-02.
  29. ^ Acosta, Rosie (2012-08-23). "Top 5 Gluten-Free Foods | Fox News Latino". Latino.foxnews.com. Retrieved 2013-04-02.
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