Brand Overview#
Starwest Botanicals is one of the largest suppliers of organic herbs and spices in the United States. Founded in 1975 as a small herb shop in Sacramento, California, the company has grown into a major importer, processor, and supplier of bulk dried organic herbs, culinary spices, teas, herbal extracts, and essential oils.
History#
- 1975: Founded as a small retail herb shop in Sacramento, California
- 1979: Built first herb mill for in-house processing control
- 1980: Began importing herbs internationally and supporting organic herb industry
- 1981-07-01: Incorporated as Starwest Botanicals, Inc.
- 1989: Became Certified Organic Processor (decade before USDA NOP)
- 2021-06-03: Acquired by Incline Equity Partners (~$106.6M deal)
- 2022-10-03: Received $3.5M Series D funding
- 2022: Rebranding announced - “Meet the New Starwest Botanicals”
Corporate Structure#
- Legal Entity: Starwest Botanicals, Inc.
- Holding Company: Starwest Botanicals Holdings LLC
- Current Owner: Incline Equity Partners (since June 2021)
- Former Ownership: Family-owned (Joerger family)
- Headquarters: 161 Main Ave, Sacramento, CA 95838
- Employees: 51-200
Key People#
- Cole Daily: Chief Executive Officer
- Van Joerger: President
- Isaac Joerger: Vice President
Product Focus#
- Product Count: 2,000+ certified products, 3,000+ SKUs
- Categories: Bulk herbs, spices, teas, essential oils, herbal extracts
- Sourcing: 50+ countries worldwide
- Customers: 10,000+ customers (retailers, manufacturers, e-commerce sellers)
Business Model#
- Retail: Direct-to-consumer via website
- Wholesale: B2B with up to 40% discount, Net 30 terms
- Commercial: Large quantity orders for manufacturers
Certifications#
| Certification | Status |
|---|---|
| USDA Organic | ✅ Certified Organic Processor (since 1989) |
| QAI | ✅ Quality Assurance International certified |
| SQF | ✅ Safe Quality Food certified |
| Kosher | ✅ Kosher Certified Facility |
| Fair Trade USA | ✅ For tea products |
| Non-GMO | ✅ Verified |
| Prop 65 | ✅ Compliant |
Retail Presence#
| Channel | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Official Website | ✅ Active | Primary sales channel |
| Amazon | ✅ Active | Bulk herbs storefront |
| PureFormulas | ✅ Active | Health retailer |
| Chinese Herbs Direct | ✅ Active | Specialty retailer |
| Herbs Direct | ✅ Active | Specialty retailer |
Facilities#
- Warehouse: 150,000+ sq. ft. of modern warehouse and production space
- Inventory: 1,000,000+ pounds of herbs and spices in stock
- Labs: In-house laboratories + independent third-party testing
- Capabilities: Processing, packaging, quality control
Quality Standards#
- Rigorous third-party testing for heavy metals, pesticides, purity
- Repeated lab testing throughout receiving process
- Global supplier network with thorough vetting
- Work with certified organic farmers in 20+ countries
Financial Information#
- 2021 Acquisition: ~$106.6 million (Incline Equity Partners)
- 2022 Funding: $3.5M Series D
- Investors: Incline Equity Partners, Cordish Dixon Private Equity Fund I, Churchill Asset Management, TPG Twin Brook
Investigation Notes#
- DSLD Presence: 266 products in database
- UPC Prefix: Not standardized (bulk supplier with varied packaging)
- BBB Status: Accredited, A+ rating
- Business Type: B2B supplier with retail arm
Status Determination#
| Criterion | Finding |
|---|---|
| Official Website | ✅ Active (starwest-botanicals.com) |
| Retail Availability | ✅ Multiple channels |
| DSLD Presence | ✅ 266 products |
| Recent Activity | ✅ 2022 rebranding, continued operations |
| PE Ownership | ✅ Incline Equity Partners (active investment) |
Status: active (High Confidence)
Relationships
From this profile →
- → Owned by: Incline Equity Partners (external) (2021-06)
- → Formerly owned by: Joerger Family (external) (1975)
Live Data (Census)
E-Commerce Presence
Amazon
266 products
Top Reviewed Products
- 7,622 reviews Starwest Botanicals Organic Ground Turmeric Root Powder - Curcumin Spice for …
- 7,622 reviews Starwest Botanicals Organic Ground Turmeric Root Powder - Curcumin Spice for …
- 6,721 reviews Starwest Botanicals Organic Elderberries - Dried Elderberries for Syrup, Tea, …
iHerb
46 products
Top Rated Products
- Organic Turmeric Root Powder, 1 lb (453.6 g)
- Organic Kelp Powder, 1 lb (453.6 g)
- Organic Triphala PWD (Trifala) Blend, 1 lb (453.6 g)
Regulatory Data (DSLD)
- Total Products
- 0