A Q&A with the Brain Behind Vitacost Brands

by | Updated: August 21st, 2017 | Read time: 3 minutes

Like your own household, the Vitacost family of brands features a little something for everyone. Not only are we known for our quality supplements at an exceptional value, but the Vitacost name can be found on a variety of foods, sports nutrition, skin care and even pet products. To learn more about the ever-expanding assortment, we sat down with Vitacost Senior Manager of Product Development for Corporate Brands, Terry Papadopoulos.  

 

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How many products in total are under the Vitacost brand umbrella?

We have over 1,300 products within the Vitacost family of brands (1,311 to be exact!). About half of our assortment is, as you might guess, supplements. The next largest category is food, though our beauty and skincare assortment is also quite strong – in a gentle-on-skin kind of way.

What are the top 10 best-selling Vitacost brand items?

Great question! Some of these may surprise you. Here they are, starting with the most popular:

Vitacost Turmeric Extract Curcumin C3 Complex® with Bioperine®
Vitacost Mega EFA® Omega-3 EPA & DHA Fish Oil
Vitacost Shirataki Angel Hair Pasta (non-GMO & gluten-free)
Vitacost Extra Virgin Organic Coconut Oil (the big tub of 54 fluid ounces!)
Vitacost CoQ10 – 100 mg
Vitacost Probiotic 15-35
Vitacost Shirataki Fettuccine Pasta (non-GMO & gluten-free)
Vitacost Organic Pure Matcha Green Tea Powder
Vitacost Organic Hemp Seed Shelled & Raw
Vitacost Organic Pumpkin Seeds Shelled & Raw

Where do you source raw ingredients for Vitacost brand products?

We are continuously making updates to improve the sourcing or potency of a nutrient. The exact location varies, though, where some ingredients come from within the U.S. and some outside of the U.S. Our goal is to source the absolute best quality ingredient at the best possible price – sometimes certain ingredients can only be grown/harvested in certain places. For instance, ROOT2 Chios Mastic Gum is authentically sourced from Chios Island, Greece, where it was first discovered. Though it now grows in a couple other countries, Chios mastic gum is a Product of Protected Designation of Origin (PDO), which protects the Chios reputation as Designation of Origin.

Where are Vitacost brand supplements manufactured?

As always, all Vitacost® supplements adhere to the FDA’s Current Good Manufacturing Practices (CMPGs), ensuring they’re manufactured to high standards of potency, purity, efficacy and safety. We partner with the best manufacturing facilities throughout North America. Certain facilities specialize in particular delivery forms (capsules vs. softgels), so we prefer to partner with the best-suited manufacturer for that product.

What’s the reason for using icons on the supplement bottles?

The main goal is to make choosing supplements easier for the customer. One way to do that is to make each product’s key attributes stand out. We feel these recognizable graphics represent those in the simplest way possible.

Are there any new Vitacost products you’re especially excited about?

I’m happy to say yes! During our rebranding process, we managed to add a few brand new products to the assortment, including ROOT2 Turmeric + Joint Support and ROOT2 MegaNatural® BP™ Grape Seed Extract. I’m really excited to introduce ROOT2 Shilajit Extract Featuring PrimaVie®! We even have snack and protein bars on the horizon, so stay tuned for more.

If there’s only one thing you could tell customers about Vitacost® brand products, what would it be?

That’s a tough one, but I’d have to tell them about our Potency, Purity & Pride. When we’re formulating products – whether it be supplements, skin care, snacks and sports nutrition – our team strives to deliver the most effective potency without compromising the purity of our ingredients. We take a lot of pride in what we do here and hope every customer benefits from our products. We guarantee you will love your Vitacost brand purchase, or we’ll make it right.

Have more questions about our Vitacost brand products? Leave them in the comments below!