NOW Foods

So here's the thing about NOW Foods-they've been around since 1968, which in the supplement world is basically forever. And they're still family-owned, which kind of matters when you're talking about a company that manufactures over 1,400 different products.

Founded as a family-owned company in 1968, NOW produces high-quality natural products at prices that everyone loves, and they're respected leaders in the natural products industry with a mission to provide value in products and services that empower people to lead healthier lives. But what really sets them apart isn't just the longevity-it's the scope. We're talking dietary supplements, essential oils, sports nutrition, natural foods, and personal care products all under one roof.

The company operates multiple manufacturing facilities in Illinois and Nevada, and here's where it gets interesting: their state of the art manufacturing facility has been GMP certified since 2000, and their quality testing labs are among the best in the industry. They're not just slapping labels on bottles. The company has over 1500 employees and its products are sold in more than 60 countries.

Notice how some supplement companies kind of dance around their testing procedures? NOW doesn't do that. They actually conduct over 19,000 tests per month on their products-yeah, you read that right. They've even been testing competitors' products bought on Amazon to expose adulteration issues in the industry, which is both bold and slightly terrifying when you think about what that implies.

The product range is genuinely massive. You want vitamin D3? They've got it. Organic chia seeds? Yep. Whey protein isolate? Check. Essential oils? Of course. It's like they looked at the entire natural products category and said, 'We'll do all of it.' And somehow they've managed to keep prices reasonable, which is kind of their whole founding philosophy.

What's interesting is how they've maintained that original mission from founder Elwood Richard-making natural products accessible and affordable. In an industry that's increasingly dominated by massive corporations and private equity buyouts, NOW has stayed independent and family-run. With more than 1,400 products NOW offers the most comprehensive selection in the natural products industry.

They offer free shipping on orders over $50, which is pretty standard these days, but it's the breadth of what you can actually order that's impressive. From amino acids to zinc supplements, from coconut oil to collagen peptides-if it exists in the natural products space, NOW probably makes a version of it.

The company's also been recognized multiple times as one of Chicago's Best & Brightest Companies to Work For, and they've won the Illinois Governor's Sustainability Award four times for water conservation efforts. So they're not just talking about being environmentally conscious-they're actually doing something about it.