City Market’s New Line of Vitamins and Supplements: 10 top reasons we chose Vitamer labs.
City Market’s new vitamin and supplement line has been unveiled in the Co-op’s Wellness department. Grocery and Wellness Manager Lynn Ellen Schimoler explains in more detail as to why she chose to work with Irvine, California based Vitamer Labs.
1. First, they are a manufacturer, which means that they make about 75% of what is offered in their line. They have been in the tablet/capsule manufacturing business since the early 20's and started manufacturing private label dietary supplements in 1975. I believe they are on the forefront of supplement manufacturing. Many national brands have great formulators, but then get someone else to manufacture their product.
2. Vitamer is registered with and monitored by the FDA; most supplement manufacturers cannot make this statement. The reason they are monitored by the FDA is because they are a pharmaceutical manufacturer.
3. Vitamer participates in the Natural Products Association's Good Manufacturing Practices audits. These audits are as stringent, if not more stringent than the FDA audit. Vitamer Labs worked with the Natural Products Association to help create this audit. They have been working with the same organization to help create the federally mandated Good Manufacturing Practices that are now required for all supplement manufacturers. Vitamin/Supplement industry looks to Vitamer as one of its leaders.
4. Vitamer educates the consumer right on the label. On the front panel there are structure function claims that help the consumer identify the use of a product. Then, on the side panel is even more educational information. This is highly unusual as it takes their regulatory department time to edit the labels so there aren’t any unlawful claims. Most manufactures don't have a regulatory department.
5. Microbiology labs are in each facility. These labs check for contaminants such as E.coli and salmonella, as well as making sure of the proper level of the probiotics we offer. All raw materials are tested for purity and identification. Raw materials stay in quarantine until they pass the tests. They test throughout the manufacturing process for dissolution times, disintegration times, friability, etc.
6. Vitamer guarantees the potency and purity to ‘best by dates.’ Amber colored glass bottles are coded making it easier for the consumer to read and understand. (This is not required in the industry.)
7. The sales team at Vitamer Labs is superior. When I spoke with other co-ops, this was very important to me. Basic topics such as follow up, keeping their word, providing easy to use sales tools and educational information are key to making sure our staff is well informed and able to answer questions from our members and customers.
8. When Vitamer introduces a new product they present a Key Features information page, a more detailed Technical Summary Sheet with referenced clinical studies mentioned, a product comparison page, and relevant clinical studies.
9. There is a registered dietician on staff who helps to formulate product as well as answer those sometimes tough consumer questions. She offers phone trainings so staff has access to her expertise.
10. Vitamer is science-based, introducing new items that are cutting edge, but also backed by good science, or thousands of years of use (such as some herbs).
1. First, they are a manufacturer, which means that they make about 75% of what is offered in their line. They have been in the tablet/capsule manufacturing business since the early 20's and started manufacturing private label dietary supplements in 1975. I believe they are on the forefront of supplement manufacturing. Many national brands have great formulators, but then get someone else to manufacture their product.
2. Vitamer is registered with and monitored by the FDA; most supplement manufacturers cannot make this statement. The reason they are monitored by the FDA is because they are a pharmaceutical manufacturer.
3. Vitamer participates in the Natural Products Association's Good Manufacturing Practices audits. These audits are as stringent, if not more stringent than the FDA audit. Vitamer Labs worked with the Natural Products Association to help create this audit. They have been working with the same organization to help create the federally mandated Good Manufacturing Practices that are now required for all supplement manufacturers. Vitamin/Supplement industry looks to Vitamer as one of its leaders.
4. Vitamer educates the consumer right on the label. On the front panel there are structure function claims that help the consumer identify the use of a product. Then, on the side panel is even more educational information. This is highly unusual as it takes their regulatory department time to edit the labels so there aren’t any unlawful claims. Most manufactures don't have a regulatory department.
5. Microbiology labs are in each facility. These labs check for contaminants such as E.coli and salmonella, as well as making sure of the proper level of the probiotics we offer. All raw materials are tested for purity and identification. Raw materials stay in quarantine until they pass the tests. They test throughout the manufacturing process for dissolution times, disintegration times, friability, etc.
6. Vitamer guarantees the potency and purity to ‘best by dates.’ Amber colored glass bottles are coded making it easier for the consumer to read and understand. (This is not required in the industry.)
7. The sales team at Vitamer Labs is superior. When I spoke with other co-ops, this was very important to me. Basic topics such as follow up, keeping their word, providing easy to use sales tools and educational information are key to making sure our staff is well informed and able to answer questions from our members and customers.
8. When Vitamer introduces a new product they present a Key Features information page, a more detailed Technical Summary Sheet with referenced clinical studies mentioned, a product comparison page, and relevant clinical studies.
9. There is a registered dietician on staff who helps to formulate product as well as answer those sometimes tough consumer questions. She offers phone trainings so staff has access to her expertise.
10. Vitamer is science-based, introducing new items that are cutting edge, but also backed by good science, or thousands of years of use (such as some herbs).