In the dynamic industry of nutritional supplements, few companies can boast the longevity and consumer trust that Yerba Prima has cultivated over its 40-year tenure in the industry. As a pioneer in fiber and wellness products, this venerable brand has long been synonymous with quality psyllium husks and an array of supplements designed to support digestive health and overall well-being.
Leading this established enterprise is Sigmund Brzostowski, who has served as Director of Sales. He has been working with the organization since 1999. Under Sigmund’s leadership, Yerba Prima has continued to emphasize product excellence and affordability, with his oversight extending to crucial aspects of the business, including production line design, product formulation, and quality control.
As we examine the top vitamin suppliers driving excellence in nutrition, Yerba Prima’s story illustrates both the enduring appeal of established brands and the ongoing need for vigilance and adaptation in meeting today’s exacting standards for supplement safety and efficacy.
Key insights from the following interview excerpts:
Can you tell us about your journey to become the Director of Sales at Yerba Prima? What inspired you to take on this role?
I started at Yerba Prima when I was 22 years old after looking for a teaching position out of college. I couldn’t find what I had graduated for, which led me into a sales office called Yerba Prima. I realized at a young age that I was born for sales. While Yerba Prima had been around for 40 years, we found rapid growth of placing the product in just about every key account in the US. We grew so rapidly I was promoted to Regional Sales Manager and quickly rose to National Sales Manager. Once we landed in every chain and key account we had set up to do business with, I was promoted to Director of Sales and oversee all Domestic and International Business now.
What has been your most significant achievement at Yerba Prima since you became Director of Sales?
The growth experienced landing key accounts like Sprouts, Whole Foods, Wegmans, Kroger just to name a few made me realize this is what my passion was all while being able to help people live a better life. We recently partnered with Publix just two weeks ago and will be rolling out in over 1200 of their stores. We are at a point where every major Grocery Store and Health Food store in the US carried our products. We also have amazing Internet Partners on all platforms like Amazon, Walmart.com to name. I have made it where you can purchase our products anywhere in the US now.
Can you describe your professional background prior to joining Yerba Prima? How did your previous experiences shape your leadership style?
I had zero sales experience previously. I was always great socially but just when I took that position, I realized I was a natural born salesman. After years of learning from my Mentor Jeff Van Hecke I learned what it took to not just be a salesman but a top salesman. I learned the products and competition inside and out so if you talked digestion health, I was equipped to handle anything throw my way. This has helped me rise to the ranks where I run sales for the whole company.
What challenges did you face when you first took over as the Director of Sales, and how did you overcome them?
We completely changed the way we looked at our business. It was just before the dawn of COVID, and business was rapidly being shifted to online platforms like Amazon. I was able to evolve with the industry and make sure we were prepared to handle that additional business all while protecting the stores that had built this industry from discount pricing that was occurring on the internet.
Yerba Prima focuses on innovation in nutrition. What specific innovations or products are you most excited about right now?
Right now, our focus has been and continues to be on giving our customers the high quality of ingredients. In our new age of compliance our focus is always on giving our customers a product they can trust. Yerba Prima has built a name with a brand that is associated with quality and a brand that you can trust.
How does Yerba Prima differentiate itself from other vitamin suppliers in the market?
We have built a brand that is associated with loyalty and quality for over 45 years. While other fibers out there have fillers, sugar and other ingredients, Yerba Prima’s top sellers which is our Psyllium has one Ingredient. Psyllium. No fillers, No Sugars. Just a top-grade Psyllium, that is why our products are so successful and work.
What role does sustainability play in Yerba Prima’s operations and product development?
We are always looking for new innovations in our category and have month planning meetings on any new items we may consider adding to our portfolio. Yerba Prima does not contract to manufacture any of its products. We produce everything in the house. While we use 3rd party testing companies we are also equipped with our own lab for testing.
How does Yerba Prima ensure the quality and efficacy of its products? What standards do you adhere to?
We manufacture everything in-house. While we are GMP certified through NSF along with having our Organic Certification we have our own testing lab and use third party testing to make sure everything coming in and going out is tested. Our customers can rest assured we take all steps to make sure they are getting quality products.
Looking ahead, what are your goals for Yerba Prima in the coming years?
Continued growth as we are expanding out to more conventional grocery as we will be rolling out in Publix’s the next few months. While we have always done business in the Natural Channel now our future will also include that conventional channel of grocery. As the Internet continues to grow, we are growing with it.
Social Media Campaigns along with all of our other marketing is always a focus to continue to grow and have new eyes on our products. 95% of all Americans are Fiber deficient and we will keep educating our consumers on all the benefits of fiber.
