Follow the Legacy of Health
INTERVIEW
INDUSTRY EXPERT
Interview with Charlie DuBois, President & CEO of Standard Process
With 80% of the adult US population using nutritional supplements and tens of thousands of chiropractors and their patients utilizing Standard Process’s whole food supplements for 95 years and counting, TAC brings you a candid interview with Charlie DuBois, President & CEO of this third-generation, family-owned whole food nutritional supplement manufacturer.
Charlie DuBois started his career at Standard Process in 1983 doing various summer jobs, including hand-weeding the beet fields on the farm. In 1986, while studying electrical engineering at Marquette University, Charlie had the opportunity to help design the Standard Process manufacturing plant in Palmyra, Wl. He graduated from Marquette in 1988 with a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering and joined Standard Process full time in 1989 as a plant engineer. Charlie spent the next several years managing the engineering side of the production facility. In 1993, he became Executive Vice President until 1995 when he became president after his father Frank DuBois Sr., second generation Standard Process president, passed away. In 1996, the DuBois family became the third generation to own Standard Process, with Charlie carrying on the legacy of his great uncle, Dr. Royal Lee. Charlie completed his Master of Science in engineering management from the Milwaukee School of Engineering in 1998. He is honored to lead a company that is committed to carrying out Dr. Royal Lee's whole food philosophy so that health care professionals and their patients will continue to receive the best in whole food nutrition.
Charlie is proud to have won numerous awards for his contributions to the chiropractic profession. He has been a member of the Foundation for Chiropractic Progress (F4CP) Board of Directors since it was founded in 2003, and generously supports chiropractic universities.
In an interview with The American Chiropractor (TAC), Charlie DuBois (CD) shares his views on the past, present, and future of Standard Process.
TAC: What are you most proud of as president/CEO/owner of Standard Process?
CD: There are so many aspects about this company that I am proud of, I couldn’t just pick one. I am proud that Standard Process changes many lives every day. When I hear testimonials from practitioners and patients of how our products have become essential parts of their daily lives, it lets me know that we’re making a difference and living up to our mission. I am proud to see two of my children, Simone and Jack, following in my footsteps and taking an active role in the business. To see the fourth-generation learning, growing and enjoying working for Standard Process as much as I do is an incredible thing to watch.
TAC: How has Standard Process changed since being founded under Dr. Royal Lee?
CD: Standard Process has changed A LOT since we were founded in 1929. Technology and scientific advancements have come a long way since then. Some of the meaningful changes we’ve made include expanding our certified organic farm to 868 acres. A great majority of all raw plant ingredients that go into our products come from the Standard Process certified organic farm, just a mile up the road from our manufacturing plant. In 2018, we opened the Nutrition Innovation Center (NIC) located in Kannapolis, North Carolina. The NIC is dedicated to developing new products and continuing research and development on existing products. We’re always improving our operations to enhance efficiency for increased volume while preserving product efficacy. We currently run some of the most advanced equipment available to ensure we produce the highest quality supplement possible. We are seeking state-of-the-art equipment from all over the world. We currently have the fastest capsule filler available and the first of its kind in the world that fills up to 400,000 capsules per hour. We have gone from harvesting/drying a few gallons of buckwheat juice annually to over 200 thousand gallons per year. We still offer many of the same products that Dr. Lee invented. Catalyn, Standard Process’ first product, is still one of our top sellers. We’re still family owned, we’re still family focused. While we’ve grown considerably, we still have the same vision and we’re still guided by the same values. Maintaining this balance is how we will continue to change even more lives.
“We’re still family owned, we’re still family focused.”
TAC: Can you tell us more about being family focused?
CD: Honestly, I have always believed that you treat people the way you want to be treated. That is why Standard Process maintains such high-quality and dedicated employees. When I look around and see employees that have been working for Standard Process for more than 40 years, when I see generations of employees working together at Standard Process, I can’t help but think we must be doing something right to maintain such a family-focused atmosphere over all these years. We employ more than 600 people, which includes a nationwide team of more than 100 sales professionals. It becomes more and more difficult to keep the “family” together, but I will never stop trying to show ALL employees that they are valued, and they are part of the SP family.
TAC: What has chiropractic meant to the growth of Standard Process?
CD: Most of our customers are chiropractors. Chiropractic care is such a natural fit for Standard Process because so many of the practitioners understand the value of holistic health and whole food-based nutrition. We’re very happy that we’re able to work with like-minded professionals who take a proactive approach to patient care. Combining Standard Process products and chiropractic care is a win-win situation for the patient’s overall well-being and long-term health. We encourage customers to sign up for our educational tours of the manufacturing plant and certified organic farm to get the in-person, one of a kind, hands-on experience.
TAC: You mentioned the Nutritional Innovation Center (NIC) earlier. Can you tell us more about the research that Standard Process is looking forward to most in the future?
CD: We’re always looking for new ways to change lives, and that’s driven by our Nutrition Innovation Center. The NIC was established for advancing new product development and evaluating existing products through pre-clinical and clinical science. Our Discovery Lab is where we conduct new to the world pre-clinical research into the effects that plant phytonutrients have on human health, which in turn guides our product development and clinical teams. Our Science Kitchen serves as our hub for product development and helps us better understand the science behind food.
We’re also proud of our clinical research team and the clinical trials that they’ve been able to do that validate our claims and highlight new benefits. This vital research is then summarized and shared with our practitioners by our education team to build their confidence when recommending the products to their patients. Our team at the NIC even helps us analyze seed varieties in order to grow the types of crops that can be most nutritionally beneficial. They’re the team that’s leading the way and shaping the future of whole food nutrition.
TAC: What is it that makes Standard Process unique compared to other nutritional supplement companies?
CD: We’ve been changing lives since 1929, which gives us a rich history that we’re very proud of. That makes us leaders and pioneers. Our certified organic farm is one of the things that makes Standard Process unique. For example, we practice regenerative farming, which leaves the soil healthier than when we started. We know that organic farming might not be the easy or cheap way to farm, but we know it’s the right way. That said, we have found ways to make our operations run smoother. For example, we utilize many of the latest tools, including GPS technology, to plant and cultivate with higher accuracy. We just expanded our facilities by 10,000 square feet and added a new Refractance Window Dryer to help improve quality, delivery, and productivity when creating our products. It’s industry-leading, cutting-edge technology that we’re very excited about. We control quality every step of the way, due in large part to our vertical integration. We have and always will believe that the quality of soil and seed produces a quality supplement. Our products are very unique due to a historical proprietary manufacturing process to produce glandular extracts known as Protomorphogens (PMG's). This process is known to enrich nutritional components in USDA grade organ tissues. All of this is vitally important as we help practitioners support families on the journey to optimal health.
Nearly a Century in Support of Chiropractic
“For 95 years, we have been aligned with the chiropractic profession and are committed to supporting chiropractic now and for many years to come. I couldn’t talk about generosity without thinking of my mother Sylvia who always gave to those in need. She instilled in me the willingness to help others. Standard Process makes regular capital and sponsorship donations to chiropractic universities, supporting not only the schools but the students directly. We’ve also supported the Foundation for Chiropractic Progress from the beginning because we believe in their mission of creating a positive impression of chiropractic practitioners and their profession. Standard Process has made donations totaling well over $11M in support of the chiropractic profession. I believe that there is more to be done in the future.”
Charlie DuBois.
Continued on page 18
Continued from page 17
TAC: Does Standard Process use Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)?
CD: ABSOLUTELY NOT! We don’t use any GMOs. Standard Process is committed to the health-giving properties of whole food nutrition and using ingredients that have not been genetically modified. As part of this commitment, we first source ingredients from our own certified organic farm. Certified organic farming does not allow genetic engineering. When we can’t source ingredients from our farm, we are committed to selecting partners who offer ingredients that have not been genetically engineered. We rigorously evaluate all outside vendors and validate the raw ingredients they supply. In addition, we have an active research program for the development of non-GMO organic crops. The crops are developed for specific nutrition unavailable in the commercial marketplace and used as potent raw materials for SP products.
Standard Process was founded by Dr. Royal Lee in 1929.
The company’s first product, Catalyn®, remains one of the company’s top sellers to this day.
It contains multiple vitamins and minerals sourced from whole foods in order to provide complex nutritional supplementation.
Catalyn®, along with more than 300 additional Standard Process products, continues to help support nutritional gaps in the diet.
Standard Process'
5 Top Sellers were all formulated over 40 years ago! Tcdk about ‘tried and tested'!
Five Top-Selling Standard Process Supplements
Catalyn8
For general well-being. The first Standard Process product. Introduced in 1929.
Zypan®
Digestive support. Introduced in 1958.
Cardio-Plus® Cardiovascular support. Introduced in 1956.
Immuplex®
Daily immune health support. Introduced in 1984.
Drenamin®
Adrenal function and emotional balance support. Introduced in 1935.
To learn more about Standard Process visit standardprocess.com, call 800-848-5061, or email info@standardprocess. com.
If you are a chiropractor looking to start implementing SP products in your practice the first step is to apply for an account. From there, you’ll be partnered with a knowledgeable sales professional who can help you achieve your business goals. Standard Process also has a great educational team that hosts several virtual and in-person events throughout the year. These educators can help you learn more about SP products and the value they have so you can better implement the products in your practice and business model.
