Doing Good, Works.
Now more than 40,000 member-owners strong, we’re dedicated to sourcing the highest quality spices, herbs and botanical products through our Frontier Co-op®, Simply Organic® and Aura Cacia® brands — all while creating life-changing opportunities for our growers, employees and their families. We’re driven by a simple purpose: to do good by our people and planet. And to create a stronger company built on a commitment to quality and sustainability.
WE'RE FRONTIER CO-OP®
a MEMBER-OWNED co-op, responsible to PEOPLE and PLANET.
At Frontier Co-op®, we believe that business should be used as a force for good in the world. To us, this commitment to doing good is not charity. It's an important part of who we are as a co-op, and it's how we do business. We conduct our business with passion and integrity, and our goal is to have a positive impact in the world both socially and environmentally. Your support of our co-op helps us live our purpose every day.
We were the first major herb and spice distributor to recognize and actively promote the value of organics. Through our Well Earth sustainable sourcing program, we support growers around the world with technical expertise, and financial support.
We also believe we have a responsibility to protect the health and well-being of our employees.
COMMITMENT TO QUALITY
To ensure the highest quality for our consumers, we set high standards for our products, and have established internal testing processes and capabilities to ensure the integrity of our products. We handle product carefully from receiving through processing and all the way to distribution to guarantee safe, high-quality products.
RESPONSIBLE SOURCING
Through our Well Earth® sustainable impact sourcing program, Frontier Co-op builds relationships with our sourcing communities, strengthens the resilience of our farmers and supply chain, and increases our social and environmental impact. We work closely with our partners to ensure they’re utilizing sustainable business practices, investing in value addition, and producing a lasting supply of high-quality product.
BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT
As an employer in rural Iowa, we recognize that there are a variety of barriers individuals in our region face to gaining and maintaining employment. Our role is to help break down those barriers to the best of our ability by ensuring our employees have access to important support services.
OUR FAMILY OF BRANDS
We are Frontier Co-op® — 50,000 member owners strong and a powerful force of good in the world. We are committed to smallholder farmers and sustainable, regenerative agricultural practices. As a responsible herb and spice brand with global reach and a broad culinary and wellness portfolio, we are driven by our mission to put people and planet before profits.
Simply Organic® is the original all-organic spice brand that lives up to the promise of its name in all that we cultivate and bring to the table. We believe in nourishing lives and preserving the Earth for generations to come, all through inherently better food. Pure and simple.
When it comes to pure essential oils, it all begins at the botanical source. Aura Cacia® is committed to delivering essential oils from all over the world with integrity and botanical authority.
Management Team
Management Team Frontier has assembled a team of managers with both the business skills and personal qualities to maintain the high standards for products, service and responsibility that have been the company's tradition. Tony Bedard Chief Executive Officer Tony Bedard joined Frontier Co-op in 1991 as head of Operations and was named Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in 2003.
On Earth Day and Every Day
At Frontier Co-op®, we believe that we have a responsibility to people and planet — every day. We are committed to addressing the impact we have on our world, and conducting business in a way that minimizes our environmental footprint.
Well Earth
Well Earth is Frontier Co-op’s sustainable impact sourcing program. Well Earth projects enable us to build relationships in our sourcing communities, strengthen resilience of our farmers and supply chain, and create life-changing social and environmental impact in communities around the world.
What is Organic?
Frontier Co-op was one of the first suppliers to actively advocate organic products and organic agriculture — and we're thrilled with the strong and steady growth of organics in the natural products, and now mainstream, marketplace. We carried our first organic products in 1978, and became a certified organic processor as soon as that program was available.
Our Growers
We meet personally with growers whenever possible and create partnerships built upon our mutual respect for quality botanicals and sound social and environmental practices
Our Well Earth sustainable sourcing program is built on the expertise we've gained from over three decades of experience buying botanicals from all over the world. The direct relationships of Well Earth allow us to develop effective and meaningful social giving projects for our grower communities.
Fair Trade Certified™ Products
People Helping People For millions of farmers around the world, Fair Trade Certified™ products mean thriving communities, kids in school, and a healthy environment. By purchasing Fair Trade Certified products, you support the farmers who grow and provide quality tea, cocoa, vanilla, sugar, herbs and spices.
What is a Co-op?
What is a Co-op? Frontier Co-op has been a member-owned cooperative supporting natural living since 1976 — owned by stores and other organizations that buy and sell our products. We feel the insights and values we gain from this special relationship with our owners are at the heart of our success.
Our History
Each year, Frontier Co-op gives back 4% of its pre-tax profits to causes and organizations around the world that inspire wellness in communities where our products are produced. 1970-79 Begin selling herbs and spices to local co-ops as a two-person operation in a small riverside cabin.
Frontier Co-op Giving Fund
The Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation administers the Frontier Co-op Giving Fund, which is a donor-advised fund. This means that Frontier Co-op makes recommendations on grants, and the Community Foundation is responsible for ensuring that the grants meet regulations and for handling the grant-making process.