Sanitarium Health and Wellbeing Company#Up & Go
{{Short description|Business enterprise owned by the Seventh-day Adventist Church}}
{{Use Australian English|date=May 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
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{{Infobox company
| name = Sanitarium Health and Wellbeing Company
| logo = The_Sanitarium_Logo,_from_2018-19_onwards.png
| image = Sanitarium NZ Head Office 20231210 132310 01.jpg
| image_caption = Sanitarium New Zealand Head Office in Royal Oak, Auckland, 2023
| type = Private
| foundation = {{Sda|1898}}, in Melbourne, Victoria
| location = Berkeley Vale, New South Wales, Australia
Auckland, New Zealand
| key_people = {{ubl
|Kevin Jackson (CEO)
|Todd Saunders (Executive GM Australia NZ)
|Michael Barton (GM-New Zealand)
}}
| industry = Food
| revenue = A$300 million
| products = Weet-Bix
Up & Go
Peanut butter
So Good
Marmite
Alternative Dairy Company
| num_employees = 1700
| parent = South Pacific Division of Seventh-day Adventists
| homepage = [http://www.sanitarium.com.au/ Sanitarium Australia]
[http://www.sanitarium.co.nz/ Sanitarium New Zealand]
}}
{{Seventh-day Adventism}}
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The Sanitarium Health and Wellbeing Company is the trade name of two sister food companies (Australian Health and Nutrition Association Ltd[https://web.archive.org/web/20121009130343/http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=25667681 "Australian Health and Nutrition Association Ltd"], Bloomberg and New Zealand Health Association Ltd).[http://www.sanitarium.co.nz/terms-of-use "...New Zealand Health Association Limited trading as Sanitarium Health and Wellbeing Company..."], sanitarium.co.nz Both are wholly owned by the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
Founded in Melbourne, Victoria, in 1898,{{Cite web|url=http://ivu.org/history/australia/Vegetarianism%20in%20Australia%20a%20history.pdf|title=Vegetarianism in Australia: A History
|date=2010-06-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100616141252/http://ivu.org/history/australia/Vegetarianism%20in%20Australia%20a%20history.pdf|access-date=2019-11-21|archive-date=16 June 2010}} Sanitarium has factories in Australia and New Zealand, producing a large range of breakfast cereals and vegetarian products. All the food products it manufactures and markets are plant derived or vegetarian. Its flagship product is Weet-Bix sold in Australia and New Zealand.
History
During his time in Australia in the 1890s, William C. White convinced Seventh-day Adventist Edward Halsey, a baker at John Harvey Kellogg's Battle Creek Sanitarium, to emigrate to Australia.{{cite web |url=http://www.adventistreview.org/2002-1523/story2.html |title=Peddling Health |publisher=Adventistreview.org |date=6 June 2002 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120308111304/http://www.adventistreview.org/2002-1523/story2.html |archivedate=8 March 2012}}{{cite web|url=http://www.ivu.org/history/australia/Vegetarianism%20in%20Australia%20a%20history.pdf |title=Vegetarianism in Australia, A History |first=Edgar |last=Crook |publisher=Ivu.org |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100616141252/http://ivu.org/history/australia/Vegetarianism%20in%20Australia%20a%20history.pdf |archivedate=16 June 2010 }}
Halsey arrived in Sydney, New South Wales, on 8 November 1897.{{cite web |url=http://www.sanitarium.com.au/about-us/moments-that-made-us |title=Moments that made us |publisher=Sanitarium.com.au }} He rented a small bakery in Melbourne, and produced granola (made of wheat, oats, maize, and rye) and Granose (the unsweetened forerunner to Weet-Bix). Halsey and his team sold it from door to door as an alternative to the fat-laden and nutrient-poor foods popular at the time.
The business relocated to larger premises in Cooranbong, New South Wales, next to the campus of the seminary which became Avondale University College.{{cite web|url=http://adventist.org.au/about_adventists/history/adventism_in_the_south_pacific/australia/sanitarium_health_food_company |title=Sanitarium Health Food Company |publisher=Adventist.org |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101119152219/http://adventist.org.au/about_adventists/history/adventism_in_the_south_pacific/australia/sanitarium_health_food_company |archivedate=19 November 2010 }}
In 1900, Halsey transferred to New Zealand, where he began making the first batches of Granola, New Zealand's first breakfast cereal, Caramel Cereals (a coffee substitute), and wholemeal bread in a small wooden shed{{cite web|url=http://ketechristchurch.peoplesnetworknz.info/site/images/show/2216-edward-halseys-sanitarium-red-shed-1900s |title=Edward Halsey's Sanitarium Red Shed |publisher=Ketechristchurch.peoplesnetworknz.info |accessdate=2012-09-13}} in the Christchurch suburb of Papanui.{{cite web |url=http://www.sanitarium.co.nz/about-us/our-history |title=History |publisher=Sanitarium.co.nz }}{{cite web |url=http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/food-and-beverage-manufacturing/5 |title=Spreads and breakfast cereals|publisher=Teara.govt.nz }}
Sanitarium New Zealand and Sanitarium Australia are now separate companies, but work together.
Sanitarium has factories in several locations, including Berkeley Vale in New South Wales; Carmel in Perth, Western Australia; Brisbane, Queensland; and Auckland, New Zealand. Weet-Bix was originally manufactured, from 1928, at 659 Parramatta Road, Leichhardt, where until recent times Sanitarium signage could still be seen. This factory predates the purchase of Weet-Bix by Sanitarium in 1930. Another factory was constructed for Sanitarium in Warburton, Victoria in 1925 to manufacture Granose. This factory was damaged by floods in 1934 and a new factory constructed and operational by 1938, producing Granose and later Weet-Bix until 1997. This factory was unusual because it had an on-site hydro-electricity plant which also supplied the township of Warburton.{{Cite web |date=2014-04-29 |title=Sanitarium Health Food Factory - Docomomo Australia |url=https://docomomoaustralia.com.au/sanitarium-health-food-factory/ |access-date=2023-09-06 |website=docomomoaustralia.com.au |language=en-US}} A factory was operating in Palmerston North in New Zealand, but closed in the late 1990s. The Hackney factory in Adelaide, South Australia was closed in October 2010, followed by the Cooranbong factory in 2018.{{cite news |last1=Hagen |first1=Darren |title=In Australia, Food Factory Plant Gets Ready for Closure |url=https://www.adventistreview.org/church-news/story5166-in-australia-food-factory-plant-gets-ready-for-closure |accessdate=23 January 2020 |work=AdventistReview |date=7 June 2017}}
In June 2017, Sanitarium caused controversy when it objected to a specialty shop-owner based in Christchurch, New Zealand, trying to import 300 boxes of Weetabix into the country. New Zealand Customs detained the boxes at the request of Sanitarium on the grounds the British-made Weetabix competed with and confused the branding of their own New Zealand-made 'Weet-bix'. Sanitarium faced a backlash in New Zealand as a result.{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jun/30/british-weetabix-seized-by-new-zealand-customs-in-breakfast-bowl-battle-with-rival |title=British Weetabix seized by New Zealand customs in breakfast bowl battle with rival |last=Roy |first=Elanor Ainge |date=30 June 2017 |work=The Guardian |access-date=30 June 2017}} After failing to come to a settlement, Sanitarium filed civil action against the shop owner. The case hearing began in the High Court at Christchurch on 30 July 2018.{{cite web |url= https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/105855369/Weet-bix-versus-Weetabix-stoush-hits-High-Court |title= Weet-bix versus Weetabix stoush hits High Court |first= David |last= Clarkson |date= 30 July 2018 |publisher= Stuff |accessdate= 31 July 2018}} Weetabix is also sold as "Whole Wheat Biscuits" in Australia (as international food).{{cite web|url=https://www.britishsweets.com.au/weetabix-whole-wheat-biscuits-cereal-430g|title=Whole Wheat (Weetabix) Biscuits (UK Breakfast Cereal) - British Sweets & Treats|access-date=2025-03-02}}
Tax exemption
Neither the Australia nor the New Zealand Sanitarium companies pay company tax on their profits, due to their ownership by a religious organisation.{{cite web|url=http://www.register.charities.govt.nz/CharitiesRegister/ViewCharity?accountId=580fe12e-831c-dd11-99cd-0015c5f3da29|title=Charities Services|accessdate=2 November 2014}}{{cite web | url=http://www.business.govt.nz/companies/app/ui/pages/companies/1503254/detail | title=New Zealand Health Association Limited (1503254) Registered | publisher=New Zealand Companies Office | accessdate=2 November 2014}} On their official website, Sanitarium defend their tax exemption with several points, stating they operate exclusively for charitable purposes, and that income tax exemptions are available to all companies and individuals in New Zealand who limit themselves to charitable purposes.{{cite web |url=http://www.sanitarium.co.nz/about-us/our-promise/sanitarium-charitable-purposes |title=Sanitarium gives its profits for charitable purposes |work=Sanitarium Health and Wellbeing Company |accessdate=4 May 2013}} However, the exemption has been criticised{{cite web |url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/opinion/render-unto-caesar/story-e6frg6zo-1111117136357 |title=Render unto Caesar |author=Wallace, Max |date=8 August 2008 |work=The Australian |accessdate=16 August 2011}}{{cite web |url=http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/rich-men-in-the-tax-free-kingdom-of-god/ |title= Rich men in the tax-free kingdom of God |author=Gomez, Frank |date=18 April 2011 |work=The Punch |accessdate=16 August 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110419203006/http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/rich-men-in-the-tax-free-kingdom-of-god/ |archive-date=19 April 2011}} and is considered unfair by their competitors.{{cite web |url=http://www.listener.co.nz/commentary/the-god-dividend/ |title=The God dividend |author=Blundell, Sally |date=2 February 2008 |work=listener.co.nz |accessdate=16 August 2011}}
According to their last annual return as of February 2019, businesses operated by the Seventh-day Adventist Church reported more than $10 million profit.{{Cite news |last=Blake-Persen |first=Nita |date=2019-02-20 |title=Is it time for charity-owned businesses to start paying tax? |language=en-nz |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/checkpoint/audio/2018683392/is-it-time-for-charity-owned-businesses-to-start-paying-tax |access-date=2020-08-14}}
Products
=Honey Puffs=
{{Main article|Honey Puffs}}
Honey Puffs is a wheat breakfast cereal coated with honey made in Australia and New Zealand.
=Marmite=
{{Main article|Marmite (New Zealand)}}
Marmite is a food spread made in New Zealand. It is made from yeast extract, by-product of beer brewing.
=So Good (soy beverage)=
So Good (also known as SoGood or So-Good) is a brand of non-dairy beverages, foods, and desserts that are lactose, cholesterol and gluten-free.{{cite web|url=http://sogood.sanitarium.com.au/nutrition|title=So Good Nutrition|work=sanitarium.com.au|accessdate=19 July 2015}} So Good is manufactured by Sanitarium Health and Wellbeing Company in Australia and New Zealand.{{cite web|url=http://www.sanitarium.com.au/products/milk-alternatives/so-good-chilled|title=Soy Milks|work=sanitarium.com.au|accessdate=19 July 2015}} In Canada, it was prepared by Earth's Own. So Good is sold in India by Life Health Foods.{{Cite web|title=Life Health Foods - bringing you So Good a delicious range of almond milk|url=http://www.lhf.co.in/|access-date=2021-03-05|website=Life Health Foods|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|title=So Good and Soy Milky|url=http://www.healthymilk.co.in/hello-world/|access-date=2021-03-05|website=So Good and Soy Milky|language=en-US}}
In Australia, So Good produces soy milk, as well as almond milk and almond and coconut milk. They also produce flavoured soy milk and frozen soy desserts.{{cite web|url=http://sogood.sanitarium.com.au/|title=Sanitarium So Good|work=sanitarium.com.au|accessdate=19 July 2015}}
In India, So Good produces almond milk and almond and coconut milk, in addition to soy milk. They also produce flavoured soy milk, flavoured almond milk, and fortified soy milk.
=Up & Go=
Up & Go is the brand of a range of liquid breakfast products manufactured and marketed by Sanitarium Health and Wellbeing Company. The brand was the first product that established the category of liquid breakfast in supermarket and convenience stores in Australia and New Zealand. Many other brands have entered the category since the late 1990s, and forced the brand to defend its market share.{{cite web|url=http://www.foodanddrinkbusiness.com.au/news/liquid-breakfasts-up-and-going-strong|title=Liquid breakfasts: up and going strong|accessdate=16 October 2014}}
In June 2013, Choice magazine released a study of 23 liquid breakfast products questioning the validity of claims that were made by manufacturers including Up & Go claims regarding fibre content.{{cite web|url=http://www.choice.com.au/media-and-news/media-releases/2013-media-releases/liquid-breakfasts-should-up-and-go.aspx|title=Liquid breakfasts should up and go|accessdate=16 October 2014}} Sanitarium defended Up & Go in a release citing the current code of practice for nutrient claims that a product must contain a minimum of 3 g of dietary fibre per serving to be considered "high in fiber" and Up & Go contained 3.8 g of fibre per 250-ml serving.{{cite web|url=http://www.foodmag.com.au/news/up-go-claims-are-healthy-sanitarium-hits-back-at-c|title='Up & Go claims are healthy', Sanitarium hits back at Choice|work=Food Magazine|accessdate=16 October 2014}}
=Weet-Bix=
{{Main article|Weet-Bix}}
Weet-Bix is a wheat breakfast cereal made in Australia and New Zealand and in South Africa by Bokomo.
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
Further reading
{{Portal|Companies|Food|Drink}}
- Parr, R., & Litster, G. (1996). [https://books.google.com/books?id=5dSsAAAACAAJ "What Hath God Wrought!": The Sanitarium Health Food Company Story]. Sanitarium Health Food Company. {{ISBN|0646259792}}. 463 pages.
External links
- [http://www.sanitarium.com.au Sanitarium Australia]
- [http://www.sanitarium.co.nz Sanitarium New Zealand]
{{Authority control}}
Category:Food manufacturers of Australia
Category:Food manufacturers of New Zealand
Category:Vegetarian companies and establishments
Category:1898 establishments in Australia
Category:Food and drink companies established in 1898