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On January 16, on his first visit to Alabama, in addition to attending the inauguration of
Governor Kay Ivey, new Consul General Mio Maeda wanted to visit a Japanese company in Alabama. Arrangements were made for the Consul General to meet with executives of Pharmavite in Opelika, where the company explained its background and products, and a plant tour was provided. The meeting was hosted by Solanda Prather, who is Director of Plant Operations and a member of the JASA Board of Directors, and the Consul General was accompanied by Honorary Consul General Mark Jackson and JASA Executive Director Brian Hilson.
Pharmavite’s parent company is Japan-based Otsuka, one of the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies, with over $13 billion in annual sales. Pharmavite has seven U.S. facilities with a combined workforce of almost 2,000, including 562 at the Opelika plant. The Opelika facility, which was established almost a decade ago, is responsible for production, packaging and warehousing of Pharmavite’s Nature Made line-up of health products, recognized as the #1 pharmacist recommended vitamin and supplement brand. Nature Made Products are manufactured in tablet, softgel and gummy form. A few of the most recognizable Nature Made gummy products are “D3” to support bones, teeth and muscle, “Wellblends” to support restful sleep, and “C” to support the immune system.
The Opelika facility is located in Northeast Opelika Industrial Park off Interstate 85. The plant comprises 330,000 square feet and is in operation 24 hours/7 days per week. It produces, 14.2 million tablets, 13.4 million softgels and 7.7 million gummies per day. Annual production volumes range from over 2 billion gummies to almost 6 billion tablets, and the Opelika plant is Pharmavite’s only facility that produces gummy products. In addition to its impressive products and facilities, Pharmavite also has an outstanding workforce. Employees throughout the company average nine years with the company, and over 100 with more than 30 years with the Pharmavite.
The hospitality Pharmavite provided to Consul General Maeda, and the opportunity for him to see and learn about one of our State’s most impressive companies, was a perfect introduction for him to Alabama!
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