Making Quality Affordable

By Jim Emme, President, NOW Foods

At NOW we have heard the following question from retailers and consumers for many years: How can NOW’s products be any good if they are selling them for less than the more expensive brands? 

I’m pleased to have the opportunity to discuss this topic, and my answer is this: We are passionate about making quality products affordable. Our whole intent is to make it so that when compared to many other brands, NOW is the best-value brand in the industry.

How do we do this? We do not do it by compromising the quality and performance of the products we manufacture. NOW sources the same raw materials from the same vendors that the other brands buy from, so the quality of our ingredients is the same. The NOW manufacturing procedures are GMP compliant. NOW has earned an NPA Audited “A” rating since 2000. We operate in a modern, state-of-the-art facility. The skills and capabilities of the NOW technical personnel and laboratories are equal or better than those of anyone in the industry. All of these capabilities allow NOW to produce products that are some of the best available to the consumer. This is also supported independently by the significant number of awards NOW has received in recent years.

How do we keep our costs lower? We buy used equipment when possible, and our expert engineering staff restores the machines to our exacting specifications. Each of the components will often be in a more accurate and safe condition than when it was brand new, yet it will have cost only a fraction of a new machine, reducing our manufacturing costs. There are few if any companies other than NOW that can do this. NOW also takes the time to review our processes for safety, quality, and efficiency. We measure our performance in regular intervals, continuously reducing variation to become better at what we do. This measuring allows us to improve our processes, resulting in a better quality product manufactured more efficiently. The simple act of doing things right the first time not only ensures higher quality, but it also reduces product costs. All of these efforts enable NOW to deliver better value products to our customers.

The world economy is in bad shape, and some experts say it could get worse. While consumers are cutting back on their spending, they are also concerned about the safety and quality of the products they put in their bodies. NOW products are the best solution for retailers and consumers who want to live healthier lives by using the best quality products at a fair price.

We invite you to visit us at our Bloomingdale, Illinois facility. You will then have the opportunity to see firsthand all of the things we do to make quality NOW products at an affordable price.