As a blogger, I have opportunities to join forces with companies in both the food and supplement industry. I’m very selective about the products I share on my blog and use in my life. I was thrilled last week to attend the NOW Foods Ambassador event in Chicago. There is so much I want to share with you all and an awesome giveaway too!
Let’s start with a little history of NOW Foods. In 1968, NOW Foods was founded under the belief that good health was not a luxury available only to the wealthy. For the past forty-five years, we have made it our life’s work to offer health food and nutritional supplements of the highest quality, at prices that are fair and affordable to all those who seek them.
Today, NOW Foods is one of the top-selling brands in health foods stores, an award-winning manufacturer, a respected advocate of the natural product industry, and a leader in the fields of nutritional science and methods development. And while we have grown considerably over the past four decades, one thing has never changed – our commitment to providing products and services that empower people to lead healthier lives.
So 24 bloggers converged on NOW Foods last week. Some I knew and the others I had the pleasure to meet. We all arrived on Thursday and were greeted with an awesome welcoming committee from NOW and delectable snacks. We all got settled and hung out by the pool before meeting up for dinner. We had a lovely time listening to their executives share a personal perspective on the company and their passions. I love the family-owned culture. It’s always been something I gravitate towards.
The next morning, I was excused from the group workout due to my crutches/brace and inability to participate. Afterwards, we all met up for breakfast and then headed out to the NOW Food labs/warehouse.
Okay this pretty sums up why I love NOW Foods! Great vision, mission and values.
I wanted to share my tour with you all through my pictures. It was so educational and amazing. So let’s get started…
We started the tour where the product comes in and are tagged prior to testing. All ingredients are tested extensively. If they pass – they continue on in the process of development, if not – they are returned to the source. What really impressed me is the extensive level of testing and the value of the products. What a concept!
Even their warehouse technology was second to none. Their machinery is guided by sensors so it doesn’t bump into the boxes of ingredients. Spotless and a well-oiled machine. 
All of the tags on the stainless containers are indicative of testing phases for each ingredient.
We had many opportunities to chat with the scientists about formulations of products throughout the tours.
Had to take a fun selfie with my friends runonveg and fitalicious.
One of many labs we were able to view. They have over 40 million dollars invested in their laboratories.
I was thrilled to see testing in the tea room. My favorite!
So neat to see bottling and packaging up of their products.
You know you’re doing something right when your formulations and testing have become the industry standard!
So after we toured the first facility we headed off to their main offices/culinary building for lunch/information session on nutrition and “food squads” and finally into their kitchens! Loved this so much.
Whole Foods catered lunch. So good!
Talking about “food squads” and the future growth of gluten free and vegan living.
Then to the kitchen. We were introduced to all of their food lines they offer. So many wonderful gluten free items! Plus about 28-30 new items coming out in November – can’t wait. We taste tested different oils (sadly I thought I had photos of this – well I did on Snapchat – and then built some Mason Jar salads for our plane ride.
We concluded our tour speaking with one of their extremely talented chefs. It was fun to speak to her about nutrition, flavors and food combinations. I loved it so much that I clearly was immersed in conversation and lacking in photos. Sorry about that.
Please join in on the Now Official #NOWgetfit Twitter chat June 16th at 9p EST. Can’t wait!!!
Transported back to the airport and headed home. NOW for the giveaway…
When we arrived in Chicago, NOW Foods welcomed us with an insane welcome package of their products. They are sharing the same package with one of my friends for a giveaway.
To enter:
Leave a comment on this post or my Instagram post with this giveaway.
U.S. resident.
Random winner will be announced Sunday, June 12th.
Winner has 48 hours to contact me via email (robin@kneadtocook.com) to supply their mailing address.
AND here is what one lucky winner will receive:
All full-sized products. Vary from food items to fitness supplements.
That’s it from here! Good luck to everyone 🙂
Thank you Fitfluential and NOW Foods for this sponsored trip/event. I was truly amazed at the amount of research, knowledge, experts & testing that goes into each of their products. Their value based pricing is beyond impressive for the superior quality of each product. All opinions and views discussed in this blog post are mine.
This post is sponsored by FitFluential on behalf of NOW Foods.
— Knead to Cook
Love this post – so cool! Fingers crossed 🙂
Good luck!!! It’s an amazing giveaway.
Wow, so nice to learn about the committed team of folks at NOW foods…makes me appreciate their products even more now.
So true Kasey!! Best of luck!
Would love to try these!
Good luck!!! It’s an amazing giveaway.
I have always wanted to try NOW foods products! I love their message! Hoping for the best!
Best of luck Eda!!! Such a fun giveaway 🙂
What an awesome opportunity Robin! It sounds like a great and reputable company. I hope I get a chance to try their products.
Amy, Good luck!! Products are available at Whole Foods and most health food retailers. Great product selection! oxo
Looks like a great trip! Would love to try these products, and share with friends!
Blessings, Kim
Good luck!!! It’s an amazing giveaway.
Love Now Foods!
Me too!! I had no idea of the product scope they had. Love how dedicated they are to product quality and value. Good luck!
Glad to learn about an amazing company.
Good luck!!! It’s an amazing giveaway.
I am a vegetarian and never get enough of what I need! You totally inspire me!!
Hi Jill! Hope recovery is going well. You’re in my prayers. Good luck in the giveaway!
Great post!
Thanks and best of luck!!
Great post! Thanks for sharing. I have only tried one or two of their products but they were great and I would love to try more. They have a great seem like a great company.
So gret Mary!! Good luck in the giveaway!
I’ve been a fan of NOW since 2001. Their selection and prices are fantastic. It’s the brand I choose first when at the health food store.
I agree. I’ve used their products for years and it was amazing to see the science behind it all. Good luck!
Looks like you had such a fun trip!! Thanks for sharing all of these photos. It’s so great to see behind the scenes of a big company and get a glimpse of where our products actually come from! And really cool stats on Vegans and Marathoners!!
I was so excited about that too! Good luck on the giveaway!
Love the variety of products in the package – so much to try 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
This looks like such a fun and healthy event.
Really a fantastic experience Cheryl. I learned so much. Best of luck!
Nice review of a trusted brand!
Mary Ellen, Thank you and best of luck to you in the giveaway!
The lunch buffet looks so good! I usually approach a buffet and have to walk away empty handed. I think I could have made a piled high plate there!
Christa, It was hard with crutches but I managed a full plate of goodness. 🙂 Ha! Best of luck!
I’m such a big ‘ol geek…that looks so cool (and interesting)!!
Definitely an amazing opportunity for all of you!
Oh, and I am so glad you are on the mend!
Hi Michelle, Best of luck in the giveaway and I’m twinning on the geek comment. LOVE this stuff.
I love NOW products!
NOW that’s a giveaway! I use their vitamins (C, Iron), but hadn’t ventured out to try some of their other products, I’ll have to know, looks like a great company to support!
Wow! This looks like an amazing prize! Would love to win!
Hope you are feeling better!
Now products are SO great! This is an awesome giveaway…thank you SO much : )
Thanks Angie! Good luck!
Great post and great experience
I have used and currently use this brand of products. i find it high quality and often look for this brand for best pricing.
High quality and value is what they are all about. Best of luck on the giveaway!
This giveaway is AMAZING!! The liquid coconut oil is something I could really use right now. Is that balsamic vinegar in the dark slender bottle? I love using that on salads! Thanks for hosting this contest 🙂
Ohhh that’s Pumpkin Seed Oil. So good on salads. Best of luck!!
I am not sure I like this post very much. Not enough pictures of your beautiful face!
Ha. You are too sweet. 🙂 Crutches and pics were hard. Best of luck with the giveaway. Such amazing products. ox
What a fun trip and experience. I didn’t know their products extended past oils. Glad to learn more about a company encouraging healthy living.
Wow! I had no idea NOW Foods also had food items. I always associate them with vitamins and supplements. Thank you so much for the opportunity to win this awesome giveaway. It’ll be a great way to sample a little bit of everything they have to offer.
Vivienne, ME TOO!!! The gf/vegan brownies are the best I’ve ever tried! All the food and nuts…. so good. Best of luck!
They look like they are very dedicated to wellness.
Totally dedicated on a whole new level. Such a great company. Good luck!!
Looks like an amazing company! I hope I get to try it all!
Good luck Brenda!!
I love now foods! I’ve taken their vitamins a lot!
Amy, that’s awesome! Good luck to you!
What an awesome experience for you, Robin. Thank you for sharing it with all of us. Since I started following you on Instagram I’ve found myself becoming more aware of what goes into my food. Thanks for this awesome giveaway!
Adrienne, This makes me so happy! Stay tuned for more giveaways soon 🙂
Looks like a fun tour. Very informative.
This looks amazing! It sounds like you had a lot of fun there! I would love to win this :).
Thank you for the sweet comment. The winner was announced Monday on my IG but I will update my blog post here. Stay tuned for more fun giveaways 🙂
I have never heard of the brand before but I am so happy to get to know and try their products.
So happy to share!! oxo
Thank you for the info and great giveaway. Our family in GF and I am vegan. So hard to find great vegan giveaways. Love the blog. Found tou on IG. Fingers crossed to win.
Thank you for the sweet comment. The winner was announced Monday on my IG but I will update my blog post here. Stay tuned for more fun giveaways 🙂
this is awesome! i’d love to win
Me, me, pick me!!
:)Thank you for the sweet comment. The winner was announced Monday on my IG but I will update my blog post here. Stay tuned for more fun giveaways oxo
Thanks for your blog and the giveaway!
Thank you for the sweet comment. The winner was announced Monday on my IG but I will update my blog post here. Stay tuned for more fun giveaways 🙂
What great information! Here’s hoping for a win, however even without being chosen…what a GREAT company!
dude i need this
Thanks for sharing your experience at at the Now Foods facility. I knew they had a huge variety of products but thought they were mostly outsourced. I am even more of a fan now that you have shared your tour experience! Great giveaway also!
Thank you for the sweet comment. The winner was announced Monday on my IG but I will update my blog post here. Stay tuned for more fun giveaways 🙂
what a great opportunity to learn and meet up with some great people. Love this recipe and I often clean my fridge out to discover some great meals to be made xoxo
Agreed! I love seeing behind-the-scenes and all the research. Hope you have a blessed day! oxo