In 2018, NOW, Bloomingdale, IL, – the largest independent and family-owned manufacturer of natural products in the U.S. health food store channel – will begin celebrating 50 years as a manufacturer dedicated to its mission of providing products and services that empower people to lead healthier lives. 
 
A whole year of anniversary events and programs are planned. NOW will have an array of giveaways, special events to thank retailers, and will provide special retailer in-store support materials. The company will increase their already substantial philanthropic donations by fifty percent. NOW is creating a variety of themed assets including monthly videos, website content and social media posts highlighting key components of their ongoing commitment to such issues as sustainability, value, advocating for consumer health freedom, supporting health, quality and philanthropy. Topping all this off will be an exciting consumer instant-win game designed to drive traffic and excitement in retail stores. Details of the program will be announced in January.
 
“We feel such gratitude to all the individuals through the decades that have been part of the NOW story, from employees to retailers to consumers who have made NOW a key part of their healthy lifestyles,” said NOW CEO Jim Emme. “The Richard family’s continued commitment to the NOW mission, and staunch support of the natural channel retailer, positions the company for another equally gratifying 50 years.”
 
NOW was founded in 1968 by Elwood Richard, with the goal of making healthy and quality products accessible and affordable for everyone. Started as a small, local operation in the Western suburbs of Chicago, Illinois, today NOW is a trusted natural products manufacturer with distribution in more than 60 countries, offering more than 1,400 high-quality and affordable products, from functional foods and supplements to sports nutrition and health and beauty products, and essential oils. NOW’s industry-leading quality control and assurance programs, which includes conducting more than 16,000 tests each month on raw materials and finished products in their state-of-the-art lab complex, ensures that what’s on the label is in the bottle or package. 
 
NOW is still privately owned by the Richard family today. According to Dan Richard, Elwood’s son and vice president of global sales and marketing, family is truly the litmus test for the company’s vast product portfolio. “We only make products we feel good about giving to our own families, so we know the products we bring to market meet our high standards,” he said.
 
What’s more, remaining a family-owned independent company is also vital to the company’s growth strategy for the next 50 years, and even beyond. “We are a for-profit company, but maintaining our independence enables us to make decisions that are not just profit oriented, which could include taking a hit on sales because the product will not be available, or even taking a lower margin on sales to make our products more affordable,” added Mr. Richard.  “Health and wellness shouldn’t have a high price tag, and we’re doing what we do because we’re passionate about making good or better health a goal anyone can achieve.”