Type Retailers' cooperative Area served United States, Canada Founded 1976 | Industry Consumer products Founder Rick Stewart | |
Headquarters Norway, Iowa, United States Key people Tony Bedard, CEO
Clint Landis, CMO Products Herbs, spices, foods, teas, personal care Profiles | ||
Created in the corridor frontier natural products co op
Frontier Co-op is a cooperatively owned wholesaler of natural and organic products, founded in 1976 and based in Norway, Iowa. It sells products under the Frontier Co-op, Simply Organic and Aura Cacia brands. Products include culinary herbs, spices and baking flavors; bulk herbs and spices; and natural and organic aromatherapy products. Frontier Co-op manufactures and distributes products throughout the United States and Canada.
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Environmental and social sustainability
In April 2007, Frontier Co-op introduced the Well Earth sustainable sourcing program to develop ethical sources for its products. The program screens potential suppliers with an extensive questionnaire and on-site visits to evaluate product quality, operational sustainability, environmental practices and social responsibility. Suppliers accepted into the program work with Frontier to maximize agricultural, environmental and social initiatives, with ongoing financial incentives for improved performance in those areas. The Well Earth program also provides direct financial contributions as well as assistance with grants and other outside funding for environmental and social programs in grower communities.
Fair Trade
In July 2004, Frontier Co-op announced the addition of five USDA Certified Organic bulk teas that are also Fair Trade Certified through TransFair USA. Frontier absorbed the additional costs of the Fair Trade certification and offered the five teas – Jasmine, Ceylon Orange Pekoe, Darjeeling, Gunpowder and Black Chai – without a price increase. Frontier Co-op currently offers over 36 Fair Trade certified products including herbs, teas, cocoa, sugar and vanilla. TransFair USA's audit system, which tracks products from farm to finished product, verifies industry compliance with Fair Trade criteria. TransFair USA licenses companies to display the Fair Trade Certified label on products that meet strict international Fair Trade standards.
Organics
In October 2001, Frontier Co-op introduced Simply Organic, a line of certified organic foods. The company also offers organic spices and seasoning blends under the Frontier Co-op brand and organic essential oils and personal care products under the Aura Cacia brand.
Corporate responsibility
Frontier Co-op has made a number of efforts to reduce energy consumption and waste reduction, including biodegradable and reduced-materials packaging.
Frontier Co-op has been involved in preserving wild herbs and native plant species by either physically rescuing plants in volunteer groups, financially supporting native plant rescues, re-establishing local tall-grass prairie and protecting plants from the practice of “wild-crafting” through sustainable cultivation methods.