Learn More about Now Foods

The NOW® mission is - To provide value in products and services that empower people to lead healthier lives.

In 1948, with the natural food and supplement industry in its infancy, entrepreneur Paul Richard paid $900 for the purchase of Fearn Soya Foods—a Chicago based manufacturer of grain and legume-based products. This began a six-decade legacy of providing health-seeking consumers with high-quality, affordable nutrition products.

Here are some milestones in the history of NOW Foods.

1948 – Paul Richard purchased Fearn Soya Foods from estate of close friend Dr. Charles E. Fearn

1962 – First retail store opened by Elwood Richard in Elmhurst, IL

1968 – NOW Foods founded by Elwood Richard - 4500 sq ft within Fearn Soya

1974 – Al Powers joins NOW Foods

1975 – Retail stores adopt the name "Fruitful Yield"

1978 – NOW expands operations and moves to 7,000 sq. ft. Villa Park location

1983 – NOW introduces Max EPA, within 2 years sales catapult to an all time high.

1985 - Dan Richard joins NOW Foods and upgrades labels and catalogue.

1988 – NOW moves into a 12,000 sq. foot facility in Glendale Heights.

1991 – HealthCo, NOW's International division, is launched by David Richard.

1993 – NOW celebrates 25 years in business.

1994 – NOW expands again, to Mitchell Road location in Glendale Heights (45,000 sq. ft.).

1995 – Jim Emme joins NOW Foods as Plant Manager

1998 – NOW moves into state-of-the-art 203,000 sq. foot facility in Bloomingdale
           (project led by Lou Richard)

1999 – NOW wins an unprecedented 32 Vity Awards

2000 – NOW earns GMP certification, assigned A rating, and is certified Organic. 
        – NOW purchases Puresource in Guelph, Ontario.

2002 – NOW gains Kosher certification

2003 – NOW is named Manufacturer of the Year, by Nutrition Industry Exec.
        – NOW opens shipping facility in Sparks, NV

2005 – Elwood Richard retires - Al Powers named president
        – NOW acquires Burnham Labs, in-house manufacturing of personal care

2006 – NOW becomes the 1st for-profit business in DuPage Co. to fly the Earth Flag

2007 – NOW honored by NBJ for “Efforts on Behalf of Industry”, and “Educational Initiatives”
        – NOW purchases ICP-MS machine for the advanced testing of heavy metals

2008 – NOW celebrates its 40th Anniversary 
        – NOW named the #1 selling brand in the natural channel according to SPINScan Natural

2009 - NOW expands adding 45,000 sq. feet of manufacturing and laboratory space

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