Nature’s Path: Family-Owned, Responsible Consumerism

Founded in 1985 by Arran and Ratana Stephens, this family-owned consumer company sells cereal, oatmeal, and granola. While their products are delicious and wholesome, what makes the company stand out goes far beyond what they sell.

How Nature’s Path Gives Back

Each year, Nature’s Path donates an impressive $2 million worth of organic food to feed the hungry. They also financially support urban gardening projects that promote fresh organic food and help many local communities. And their dedication to the welfare of animals extends beyond even just promoting a vegetarian lifestyle; the company lends support to organizations working to protect the habitats of endangered species.

Nature’s Path also gives back through other initiatives, like their Bite4Bite™ program. Originally, this program donated over $1 million worth of food annually to food banks across North America. This contribution was recently increased to $2 million per year. Other organizations have helped Nature’s Path make the Bite4Bite program successful, including Feed The Children, Ruby’s Pantry, and Open Hands.

Valuing Sustainability

Nature’s Path is a big proponent of organic foods and sustainable farming. They’ve long been a pioneer of USDA-certified organic cereals. They have continually invested in converting farmland to organic practices, and they strictly adhere to regulations on organic farming. Eschewing harmful chemicals and practices, Nature’s Path prioritizes healthy soil to help keep ecologies in proper balance.

In 2008, Nature’s Path signed the Sustainable Food Trade Association’s declaration of sustainability, showing their dedication to reducing any negative environmental impacts of their operations. The company also won an award for all of its manufacturing facitilities being certified by the Zero Waste Business Council.

A Family-Owned Legacy

Nature’s Path is rooted in the values learned during co-founder Arran Stephens’s upbringing on his family’s organic berry farm. Arran’s father often told him to leave the earth better than he found it. Nature’s Path seeks to live that value. The Stephens family, including Arran, Arjan, Rimjhim, Jyoti, and Ratana, actively lead the company.

The company has been operating since 1985. In 1989, they opened North America’s first organic cereal manufacturing facility, and ten years later, Nature’s Path became the continent’s largest organic cereal manufacturer. In 2017, Arran Stephens was honored with the Organic Pioneer Award from Rodale Institute.

A Bright Future

Nature’s Path has consistently pushed forward in their determination to be a responsible consumer brand. This is evident in the awards and recognitions they have received and in their commitment to keep the business in the family, ensuring that their values are maintained in the company’s policies.

If you like grains for breakfast, check out Nature’s Path!