When Frank Cantone’s father was a racehorse trainer, one of his clients was in the supplement industry.
“I was fascinated by supplements, what they can do for the body and mind and the market for them,” Cantone says. “I liked what it stood for―better health, better mindset, more focus.”
“So I became an expert at it.”
After six years in the industry and learning what previous manufacturers were lacking from a service standpoint as well as identifying what the industry needed next in capabilities, Cantone turned all his attention into creating and growing SMP Nutra into what it is today: “the Most Responsive Manufacturing company wither over 500 stock products and customer capabilities in many formats,” Cantone told California Business Journal.
“The industry is continuously growing and you can see that through any downturn in the economy. It has steadily increased because people always want to get healthier and be better versions of themselves.”
The public image of the supplement industry continues to remain tenuous. Are the supplements so many take on a daily basis actually working? Or are they all placebo?
Despite the resounding success of the supplement industry, there are many that still distrust the very nature of the health-boosting supplements that take the forms of vitamins and gummies.
Can nutrients from food truly be replaced by a pill a day?
A Harvard research study states that the supplement industry is “likely to remain the Wild West of American health.”
“At SMP, our biggest priorities are food safety and product effectiveness,” Cantone says. “Each of our products is rigorously tested during the production process, all to ensure that our supplements are top-of-the-line in both quality and safety. Our partnership with the FDA is proof of that.”
Many studies do not deny the effectiveness of supplements for much of the American population. According to a 2020 ConsumerLab study on buyer purchase history for such supplements, Vitamin D, magnesium, and fish oil remain the trinity of most popular purchases for many Americans.
Healthline reports that these vitamins, among other plant-oriented adaptogens, are seeing such a surge in popularity because of these supplements’ tendencies to reduce stress, improve sleep quality, and support overall mental health.
One fact is clear: supplements will be a staple in the United States for the foreseeable future.
The CDC acknowledged that 57.6% of adults used dietary supplements on at least a monthly basis. Further, age is certainly a factor in reliance on supplements for necessary vitamins and nutrients, with 80.2% of women over 60 using such supplements regularly.
SMP Nutra, which manufactures supplements in a 277,000-square-foot GMP-registered facility, is registered with the FDA, one of the governing bodies of the supplement industry. That means SMP Nutra’s products meet the national government’s standard for supplement quality.
“Better health is truly what drives us,” Cantone says. “Whether we’re making a few thousand units for a new customer or filling our facilities with a massive order for a long-standing client, our team never cuts corners. That’s what makes us different as a manufacturing partner.”
The company received an ‘A’ on its National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) audit, meaning another level of security for each of the ingredients before the final products hit the shelves.
“Each ingredient is tested for identity, potency, microbials, and heavy metals,” Cantone says. “After each of the ingredients is broken down and blended together by our team of scientists, another round of quality checks comes into play.
“Once that finished dosage is done,” he adds, “that product will be tested again for all of those same parameters. So, before anyone gets their hands on a supplement bottle, there’s a lot of work that goes into it before it’s ready for the consumer.”
SMP Nutra’s facilities feature:
● The most modern machinery for nutraceutical manufacturing.
● State of the art industrial HVAC systems keeping air filtered, clean, and humidity and temperature-controlled.
● Three laboratories with a team of scientists whose sole job focuses on GMP-mandated raw material testing, label analysis and final product quality assurance.
● SMP’s raw material warehouse stores over $20M of various large quantities of raw nutraceutical material.
In addition to an emphasis on food safety, Cantone’s dedication to his company’s success is reflected in SMP Nutra’s operational efficiency.
“The element that distinguishes us is our product variety and being first to market with most of those products. We are unique in the space because we have the ability to perform all tasks
needed to produce your product, such as manufacturing, compliance, graphic design, and fulfillment. We consistently come up with game-changing, winning formulas.”
A constant challenge for Cantone is finding the right people―experienced, creative and dedicated. “You want to have the right people in the right positions – and you want to retain them,” he says. “I’ve started companies and grown companies where they almost grow too fast―by the time you need someone, you needed them a month ago. We’ve been blessed with our judgment and decision-making so far―and we do everything we can to ensure that remains the case. Our proactive mindset is what gives us the edge, and we’re always on the lookout for the next big thing.”
SMP is growing its portfolio of business to over $100 million in annual revenue — and Cantone maintains a steady eye on the future. “I think it’s going to be a lot of innovation,” he says. “Gummies are extremely popular right now. Something we did in the last six or eight months is become one of the first private-label suppliers to offer vitamin and supplement jelly beans. I think about this space and its future constantly―and I love what I do,” he concludes. Whether it’s the people who work for SMP or the customers who work with SMP, finding those winning products is what keeps me up at night and feeling excited.”
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