Vital Proteins
Comprehensive Brand Analysis
Fast Facts
Company History & Milestones
• 2013: Founded by Kurt Seidensticker in Chicago, Illinois after experimenting with ingestible collagen to support joint health; first sale in Nov 2013.
• 2014–2020: Rapid retail expansion in the U.S.; built out Chicago-area manufacturing; launched core Collagen Peptides (bovine) and Marine Collagen lines; introduced Vital Performance® sports nutrition and bars; appointed actor Jennifer Aniston as Chief Creative Officer in 2020.
• 2020: Nestlé Health Science agreed to acquire a majority stake (June 10, 2020), providing capital for international expansion.
• 2022: Nestlé Health Science completed full acquisition (Feb 21, 2022); Vital Proteins continued to operate from the Chicago area; Tracey Warner Halama served as CEO in 2022–2024.
• 2022: Achieved Certified B Corporation™ status (Dec 8, 2022), formalizing environmental and social accountability commitments.
• 2023: Voluntary Class II recall of one Costco batch (24‑oz Collagen Peptides; potential plastic from a broken lid), no injuries reported; distribution and quality controls updated.
• 2024–2025: Ongoing sustainability efforts (e.g., removing plastic scoops; BPA/BPS‑free packaging); international distribution across North America, Europe, and Asia under Nestlé Health Science portfolio leadership.
Product & Manufacturing Profile
Core Products
Collagen Peptides (bovine) powder; Marine Collagen (wild‑caught fish) powder; flavored collagen variants (vanilla, lemon, chocolate); collagen creamers and gummies; Vital Performance® line (Protein, Pre, Recover); occasional limited collaborations (e.g., bars).
Manufacturing Model
U.S. manufacturing centered in the Chicago metro area (Franklin Park, IL mailing address); combination of in‑house production and qualified contract manufacturers to support scale and international distribution under Nestlé Health Science.
Quality Certifications
Company manufacturing is NSF cGMP–certified; multiple SKUs (notably Vital Performance® and select Collagen Peptides variants) hold NSF Certified for Sport® listings; company certified as a B Corporation™ (Dec 2022).
Third-Party Testing
Products covered under NSF Certified for Sport® undergo third‑party screening for banned substances, identity, potency, and contaminants via NSF’s ISO/IEC 17025–accredited program; facility audited for cGMP compliance. Batch‑level COAs are not routinely published across the catalog; additional internal QA testing supports release.
Transparency
Ingredient Sourcing
Bovine collagen sourced from grass‑fed, pasture‑raised bovine hides (commonly from Brazil) and marine collagen from non‑GMO, wild‑caught cod (Pacific, Alaska). Brand emphasizes simple formulations without artificial colors/flavors.
Published Testing
Public-facing site outlines NSF certifications and cGMP status; a centralized, batch‑specific COA portal is not offered to consumers at time of writing.
Sustainability
Certified B Corp; packaging initiatives include BPA/BPS‑free containers and removing plastic scoops to cut plastic use; “social & environmental responsibility” commitments published. External investigations have raised risks around Brazilian bovine supply chains and deforestation; as part of Nestlé Health Science, the brand signals ongoing sourcing diligence and certification pursuits.
Trust Score
Trust Score: 4/10
Reasoning: Trust Score: 4/5
Reasoning: Vital Proteins benefits from NSF cGMP manufacturing, NSF Certified for Sport® product listings, and B Corp certification, indicating formalized quality systems and broader social/environmental governance. The brand is widely distributed and handled a 2023 single‑batch recall transparently with no injuries reported. Transparency is solid on certifications and sourcing narratives (grass‑fed/pasture‑raised; wild‑caught marine) but limited for routine, batch‑level COA disclosure. Additionally, credible investigations have linked parts of Brazil’s bovine supply chain to deforestation risks, a concern the brand and parent must continuously mitigate through due diligence. Overall reliability is high given systems, audits, and parent‑company oversight, with room to improve on batch‑specific public testing access and detailed supplier traceability.
Sources
- Nestlé Health Science completes full acquisition of Vital Proteins (press release, Feb 21, 2022)
- Nestlé announces majority stake in Vital Proteins (press release, June 10, 2020)
- Vital Proteins — Our Story (founding background)
- Inc. Magazine profile on founder & early operations (first sale Nov 2013; launch 2014; Chicago factory)
- Vital Proteins — Contact (Franklin Park, IL address)
- Food Business News: Nestlé finalizes acquisition; Chicago-based manufacturer
- Vital Proteins FAQ — manufacturing facility NSF cGMP
- NSF Certified for Sport — search results for Vital Proteins/Vital Performance listings
- Vital Proteins — Social & Environmental Responsibility (packaging, certifications commitments)
- Vital Proteins — B Corp certification announcement (company newsroom)
- B Lab directory — Vital Proteins LLC Certified B Corporation
- Vital Proteins sustainability update — removing plastic scoops
- Vital Proteins Marine Collagen product page — wild-caught cod sourcing (Pacific/Alaska)
- Vital Proteins blog — sourcing note (bovine from Brazil; marine wild-caught)
- 2023 recall coverage (Health.com): Costco batch recall details; no injuries
- ConsumerLab recall notice: Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides 24 oz (June 12, 2023)
- ABC News (GMA): Costco recall details and scope
- The Guardian investigation on Brazilian collagen supply chains & deforestation (mentions Vital Proteins)
- Nestlé Health Science brand portfolio page (Vital Proteins under NHSc)
Featured Ingredients
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