Overview
Garden of Life is a leading organic and whole-food supplement brand founded in 2000 in West Palm Beach, Florida. The brand pioneered the concept of “whole food” vitamins and is known for its commitment to organic, non-GMO, and RAW (unprocessed) formulations.
In December 2017, Garden of Life was acquired by Nestlé Health Science through the $2.3 billion acquisition of Atrium Innovations. The brand continues to operate as a premium organic supplement line within Nestlé’s portfolio.
Key Facts
- Founded: 2000
- Founder: Jordan Rubin
- Headquarters: West Palm Beach, Florida, USA
- Parent Company: Nestlé Health Science (since 2017)
- Acquisition: Via Atrium Innovations for $2.3 billion
- DSLD Products: 1,100+ products
- E-commerce Ranking:
- Amazon: #6 by total reviews (881,988 reviews)
- Certifications: USDA Organic, Non-GMO Project Verified
Corporate History
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 2000 | Founded by Jordan Rubin in West Palm Beach, FL |
| 2008 | Vitamin Code line launched |
| 2012 | MyKind Organics line introduced |
| 2014 | Dr. Formulated line launched (with Dr. David Perlmutter) |
| 2017 | Acquired by Nestlé via Atrium Innovations ($2.3B) |
| 2021 | Nestlé acquires Bountiful Company brands (adds Solgar, Nature’s Bounty) |
| 2025 | Remains one of Nestlé’s premium VMS brands |
Ownership Structure
Nestlé S.A. (Switzerland)
│ • Global food & beverage conglomerate
│ • Founded: 1866
│
└── Nestlé Health Science
│ • Health & nutrition division
│ • Acquired Atrium Innovations 2017
│ • Acquired Bountiful Company brands 2021
│
├── Premium VMS Brands (focus area)
│ ├── Garden of Life® (organic/whole food)
│ ├── Pure Encapsulations® (hypoallergenic)
│ └── Solgar® (premium vitamins)
│
├── Other VMS Brands
│ ├── Nature's Bounty®
│ ├── Vital Proteins®
│ ├── Douglas Laboratories®
│ └── Minami®
│
└── Garden of Life LLC
│ • West Palm Beach, FL
│ • Focus: Organic, whole food supplements
│
└── Brand Portfolio
├── Vitamin Code®
├── MyKind Organics®
├── Dr. Formulated®
├── RAW Probiotics®
├── Primal Defense®
└── Sport®
Brand Portfolio
Main Brand: Garden of Life
DSLD Brand ID: 416 Core Products: 362
Major Sub-brands
| Sub-brand | Focus | DSLD Products |
|---|---|---|
| Vitamin Code | Whole food vitamins | 183 |
| MyKind Organics | USDA Organic certified | 164 |
| Dr. Formulated | Expert-designed formulas | 96 |
| RAW Probiotics | Live probiotics | 43 |
| Dr. Formulated Probiotics | Probiotic blends | 40 |
| Baby | Infant supplements | 27 |
| Primal Defense | Probiotic classics | 25 |
| Wild Rose | Cleanse programs | 23 |
| Minami | Omega-3 (acquired) | 17 |
| Sport | Athletic performance | 8 |
| Wobenzym N | Systemic enzymes | 8 |
Total DSLD Products: 1,100+
Product Philosophy
Core Principles
- Whole Food Based: Vitamins from real foods, not synthetics
- Organic: USDA Organic certified products
- Non-GMO: Non-GMO Project Verified
- RAW: Unprocessed, no high heat
- Clean Label: No artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives
- Third-Party Tested: Independent quality verification
Certifications
- USDA Organic
- Non-GMO Project Verified
- NSF Certified for Sport (Sport line)
- Certified B Corporation
- Certified Vegan (select products)
- Certified Gluten-Free (select products)
Market Position
Competitive Advantages
- Organic Leadership: Pioneer in organic supplements
- Whole Food Formulas: Differentiated from synthetic vitamins
- Premium Positioning: Higher price point, quality focus
- Nestlé Resources: Global distribution and R&D support
- Strong Brand Loyalty: Dedicated organic/natural consumer base
E-commerce Performance
| Platform | Products | Total Reviews | Ranking |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon | 241 | 881,988 | #6 |
Key Products (Amazon)
Top performers by review count:
- Vitamin Code multivitamins
- Dr. Formulated Probiotics
- RAW Organic Protein
- MyKind Organics vitamins
- Sport Organic Plant-Based Protein
Manufacturing
Primary Location: West Palm Beach, Florida
Garden of Life products are manufactured in FDA-registered, GMP-certified facilities with focus on:
- Organic ingredient sourcing
- Cold processing (RAW standards)
- Third-party testing
- Traceability
Sister Brands (Nestlé Health Science VMS)
| Brand | Focus | Relationship |
|---|---|---|
| Pure Encapsulations | Hypoallergenic supplements | Sister brand |
| Solgar | Premium vitamins | Sister brand (via Bountiful) |
| Nature’s Bounty | Mass market | Sister brand (via Bountiful) |
| Vital Proteins | Collagen | Sister brand |
| Douglas Laboratories | Professional supplements | Sister brand |
| Minami | Omega-3 | Integrated into GOL |
Founder Story
Jordan Rubin founded Garden of Life after overcoming Crohn’s disease through nutrition and natural remedies. His personal health journey inspired the company’s mission to create real, whole food supplements.
Key publications:
- The Maker’s Diet (bestselling book)
- Patient Heal Thyself
Post-Acquisition Status
Since the Nestlé acquisition in 2017:
- ✅ Maintained organic and non-GMO certifications
- ✅ Continued B Corporation status
- ✅ Kept Florida headquarters
- ✅ Expanded distribution globally
- ⚠️ Some consumer concern about corporate ownership
Data Sources
- Garden of Life Official Website
- Garden of Life Blog - Nestlé Acquisition
- Nestlé Press Release
- DSLD Database (1,100+ products across 34 brand variants)
- from_the_refinery investigation
Generated by DogTag System | Last verified: 2025-12-20