Passion with focus drives excellence and results for all stakeholders. 

—William Rowe, Nutrasource

Nutrasource, a leading life sciences company, empowers clients worldwide in the commercialization of health and wellness products through strategic guidance, expertise, and comprehensive services built on a foundation of robust science and regulatory confidence. Since its inception in 2002, Nutrasource has expanded from a humble single-desk office to a global Contract Research Organization (CRO) and consulting firm under the visionary leadership of William J. Rowe, the Co-Founder, President, and CEO. 

William Rowe, Co-Founder, President, CEO Nutrasource

Nutrasource is positioned in the heart of Southwestern Ontario’s agricultural, nutrition, and biotechnology research hub and currently employs over 150 staff. With hundreds of clients globally, our unique offering of clinical trial management, strategic and regulatory support services along with a state-of-the-art clinical trial site has been developed with one goal in mind–client success in the marketplace. Complementing these offerings, Nutrasource presents a series of third-party certification programs across various product categories: IFOS™, IKOS™, IPRO™, IGEN™, ICAP™, and NutraStrong™. 

By focusing first and foremost on the needs of its customers, Nutrasource has helped hundreds of health product companies globally develop, launch, and market safe, effective, high-quality products to better people’s lives through improved health and wellness.

Nutrasource Highlights

Nutrasource’s mission is clear: to bring health products to market with strong science and regulatory confidence. The health and nutrition landscape is ever-evolving, prompting brands to explore new categories, ingredients, and formulations to stay at the forefront of the industry. As a result, Nutrasource offers clients extensive expertise across a wide spectrum of health product markets, ranging from dietary supplements and pharmaceuticals to herbs and botanicals, foods and beverages, pet food, and animal supplements, and more.

As your trusted R&D department, Nutrasource is committed to addressing your most challenging scientific obstacles and helping you achieve your objectives. Whether your goals are straightforward and low-risk or complex and high-stakes, Nutrasource operates with a holistic approach that prioritizes quality and efficiency. With a diverse team of multidisciplinary leaders and seasoned scientific professionals, the diverse needs of our clients across various product categories and regulatory regions is catered to. By leveraging our experience in over 40 indications, Nutrasource strives to provide clients with the utmost support in navigating the intricacies of the industry and bringing health products to market with confidence.

 Focus on Leadership

William Rowe, the Co-founder, President, and CEO of Nutrasource and its subsidiaries, assumes a pivotal leadership role within the organization. With his charismatic demeanor and visionary mindset, Rowe’s executive guidance has been instrumental in the successful launch of services and the expansion of the company’s business portfolio. Boasting over two decades of experience in supporting the global marketplace in commercializing cutting-edge consumer health products, Rowe’s expertise has been indispensable in designing and implementing strategic solutions, as well as validating claims for Nutrasource’s clients through product certifications, clinical trials, and regulatory strategies. Additionally, Rowe has spearheaded the acquisition of two subsidiaries, further enhancing Nutrasource’s industry presence and capabilities. He also hosts the growing NutraStrong Campfire Nutrition podcast, where he engages in insightful interviews with leaders of the nutraceutical industry. Through his unwavering leadership and strategic vision, Rowe continues to chart a promising course for the company, aiming to empower valued customers in commercializing their innovative solutions to drive improvements in global healthcare. 

Company Differentiators

Nutrasource sets itself apart from the competition through its exceptional capabilities and scientific expertise, combining the strengths of an international Contract Research Organization (CRO) with the precision and quality of an in-house team. Unlike any other consulting firm in the dietary supplement sector, Nutrasource brings together an unparalleled depth of knowledge in nutrition, regulatory affairs, and pharmaceutical science to ensure clients achieve compliance and secure market entry. Notably, Nutrasource holds the esteemed distinction of being the first company in the nutraceutical industry to possess both the Institution-Wide Cannabis Research Licence and Controlled Substance License granted by Health Canada.

The benefits of partnering with Nutrasource are extensive. Through customized service packages designed to meet the unique needs of each organization, Nutrasource begins with the end in mind: the claim. For clinical trials, Nutrasource adopts a “pharma-lite” approach where key aspects from the pharmaceutical industry are adopted to provide clients with opportunities for prolonged market access, additional claims, further regulatory classifications, and future development opportunities. With vast global experience across various markets, from functional beverages and probiotics to pharmaceuticals and omega-3s, Nutrasource stands as a reliable and versatile partner, equipped to navigate the intricacies of diverse industries and deliver exceptional results.

Making a Positive Impact

At Nutrasource, the company’s impact goes beyond its exceptional services and industry leadership. The company values its employees, placing a strong emphasis on personal and professional growth. Nutrasource provides a people-first environment, where staff members have the opportunity to cultivate their careers, thrive in an energizing team setting, and learn from the industry’s foremost experts in clinical research, pharmaceutical development, and nutritional science. Regardless of their long-term objectives, Nutrasource is dedicated to uncovering employee passions and fostering skill development to pave the way for success.

The company also implements internal programs and committees to further enhance employee experiences. A mentorship program offers ongoing training and coaching by seasoned leadership staff, providing invaluable guidance and support. Additionally, Nutrasource fosters a sense of community and well-being through internal committees such as the social committee, joint health and safety committee, sustainability committee, and others tailored to specific technical areas. These initiatives not only promote employee engagement and collaboration but also contribute to a positive company culture, enabling Nutrasource to make a meaningful impact on the professional and personal lives of its valued team members.

Marking 20 Years

Over the past 21 years, Nutrasource has achieved remarkable growth and significant milestones. Initially established as a diagnostic company with a focus on selling omega-3 blood level tests correlated to heart disease, Nutrasource expanded its services to encompass clinical trials, third-party certifications, and regulatory consulting. Throughout its journey, the company’s unwavering commitment to teamwork has been its foundation for success. Even amidst the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Nutrasource’s strong teams enabled the company to weather the storm and expand its staff complement with a less than 10% voluntary attrition rate.

SGS and Nutrasource

Very recently, SGS, the world’s leading testing, inspection, and certifications company, acquired a 60% stake in Nutrasource. This development immediately allows Nutrasource’s clients to access a platform for analytical services and regulatory/quality compliance from food to pharmaceuticals worldwide. Beyond simply servicing North American and some select countries, Nutrasource’s client can access many different regions simultaneously. The move also allows for both parties to expand their respective outreach in new service areas and create a full solution platform for the nutrition industry like never before available in the services sector. 

Recent Breakthroughs 

NutraStrong™: To further solidify its position as a comprehensive third-party certification provider in the nutraceutical industry, Nutrasource introduced NutraStrong™ in 2022. This certification serves as a gatekeeper against misleading claims and inaccurate or false Certificate of Analysis (COAs), ensuring that customers receive quality products. The four pillars of NutraStrong™: testing standards, label compliance, manufacturing quality, and corporate values.

Apex Trials: In January, Nutrasource launched Apex Trials, formerly known as the Nutrasource Clinical Trial Site. With combined team experience of conducting over 1,300 clinical trials, Apex Trials serves as a premium clinical trial site. Conducting studies in the pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industries, Apex Trials continues to uphold Nutrasource’s commitment to excellence and innovation.

Companion Animal Services: To assist companies with getting pet food or animal supplements to market efficiently, Nutrasource expanded to provide guidance and scientific research in the areas of animal nutrition, animal health, and veterinary medicine. 

Words of Wisdom

“Over a 21-year continuum from a single idea to being acquired by the largest firm in the field, the key has been to stay focussed on the main objective, creating the world’s largest services provider to the nutrition industry,” Rowe says. “While the services have developed and changed over time, the strategic goal and vision has never waivered. Furthermore, providing strategic value and insights to our clients beyond simply running projects has assisted Nutrasource in having that extra level of client engagement, which creates strong rapport and long-term success. Most importantly, giving staff room to explore ideas, careers and development into new areas keeps staff level engagement at a premium. Our team continues to be passionate about their work and keen to ensure client success as part of the delivery process. Passion with focus drives excellence and results for all stakeholders.”