Changing lives every day through whole-person health

Sanitarium Health Food Company was registered as New Zealand’s first health food company in 1901. Since then, we have remained committed to helping New Zealanders enjoy healthier and happier lives every day.

Image: Driven by Purpose for Over 125 Years

Guided by purpose

For more than 120 years, we’ve worked to make healthy, affordable food more accessible, while sharing nutrition knowledge and supporting communities to thrive.

Our philosophy goes beyond physical health alone. We believe true wellbeing comes from caring for the body, heart and mind together - a belief that continues to guide our unwavering philosophy of changing lives every day through whole-person health.

The ideas that inspired us

Long before Sanitarium began in New Zealand, visionaries like Ellen G. White and Dr John Harvey Kellogg in the United States of America were promoting the idea that people could ‘learn to stay well’ through healthier lifestyles and simple, nourishing food.

These ideas first inspired the establishment of Sanitarium in Australia in 1898 before the movement quickly expanded across the Tasman. In 1901, baker Edward Halsey arrived in Christchurch to begin producing health foods for New Zealand communities - laying the foundations for Sanitarium New Zealand and a philosophy centred on nutrition, wellbeing and community care.

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Image: nourishing generations since 1898

Nourishing generations since 1901

Sanitarium Health Food Company was officially registered in New Zealand in 1901, becoming the country’s first health food company.

Founded to help people live healthier lives through better nutrition, we began producing simple, nourishing foods while sharing health education with communities across New Zealand. Fast forward to today and that founding purpose continues to shape everything Sanitarium does.

Sanitarium through the years

We’ve always been guided by our overarching philosophy to respect and celebrate the infinite value created in each of us, by genuinely caring for the health, hope and happiness of every person.

Here’s how this philosophy has shaped Sanitarium from 1898 all the way until today.

1901

Edward Halsey arrived in New Zealand to prepare healthy foods for a small health home in Papanui, Christchurch. Working from a simple shed bakery, he produced the country’s first breakfast cereal alongside wholemeal bread and coffee substitutes. Local farmer Sidney H. Amyes helped fund the fledgling operation, while door-to-door salespeople introduced Sanitarium products to homes throughout Christchurch. In October 1901, the first Sanitarium shop opened in The Square, Christchurch, followed by Wellington and Auckland.

1906

As interest in healthier eating continued growing, Sanitarium opened the first Pure Food Café in Wellington, introducing customers to wholesome, plant-based meals, cooking demonstrations and nutrition education.

A second vegetarian café opened in Auckland in 1907, followed by Christchurch and Dunedin, helping make vegetarian cooking and healthy living more accessible to New Zealand families.

1909

Food manufacturing and retail operations were united under the Sanitarium Health Food Company Board, establishing the foundation for Sanitarium’s future growth across New Zealand.

The cafés and retail stores prospered for decades, becoming the forerunners to modern health food stores and an important part of Sanitarium’s health education work.

1912

Plans were made to move operations to a factory in Wellington, but when the move fell through, products were temporarily imported from Australia. By 1922, a new factory had been built in Christchurch to meet growing demand and introduce new product lines.

As production rapidly expanded through the 1920s, factory extensions were added to double capacity, while wholesale warehouses opened in Christchurch and Auckland.

1924

Sanitarium began importing British Marmite™, repacking it in Christchurch as demand steadily grew across New Zealand.

Around the same time, rival cereal and health food companies were emerging, increasing competition within the breakfast market.

1928-1930

A defining moment in Sanitarium’s history came on 30 October 1928, when the company secured ownership of the Weet-Bix™ brand and manufacturing operations in Australia. The deal also included an option over the GPL New Zealand business, which was later purchased in 1929.

Weet-Bix™ would go on to become one of Australasia’s most iconic breakfast cereals.

1930s-1940s

As demand for Sanitarium products continued growing, factory operations expanded across Christchurch, Auckland and beyond. During World War II, petrol shortages led Sanitarium to install charcoal-burning gas producers onto delivery vehicles to keep products moving across the country.

Fuelled by the growing success of Weet-Bix™, Sanitarium widened its product range and expanded operations further following the war years.

1940

Production of Puffed Wheat began in New Zealand after “puffing guns” were shipped from Melbourne. The process required significant experimentation and changes to factory walls before successful production could begin.

Puffed Wheat quickly became one of Sanitarium’s most popular cereals and remained a favourite for generations of Kiwi families.

1952

A new factory was built in Palmerston North to help Auckland and Christchurch factories meet growing demand for flake biscuits and cereal products.

The expansion reflected the increasing popularity of Sanitarium products throughout New Zealand households.

1961

A new factory opened in Royal Oak, Auckland, introducing automation processes and modern machinery designed to increase production capacity for the future.

In 1964, the site became Sanitarium New Zealand’s Head Office.

1967

The Auckland factory had been producing corn flakes using grits prepared in Australia until government import restrictions threatened the future of the product line.

Sanitarium responded by installing its own grit-producing machinery in New Zealand, allowing local production to continue and expand.

1970s

Direct deliveries were gradually phased out during the 1970s as Sanitarium partnered more closely with supermarkets and retail chains.

At the same time, cooking demonstrations and nutrition education continued introducing New Zealanders to healthier meals and vegetarian cooking.

1985

The “Kiwi kids are Weet-Bix kids” jingle launched in 1985, quickly becoming one of New Zealand’s most recognisable advertising campaigns and cementing Weet-Bix™ as a breakfast icon for generations of Kiwi families.

1986

After decades of soy milk research and experimentation, Sanitarium launched So Good™ in 1986. The product helped pioneer plant-based milk alternatives in New Zealand and Australia.

Today, So Good™ has evolved into one of Australasia’s leading plant-based milk brands.

1987

As the era of retail health food stores drew to a close, Sanitarium launched the Sanitarium Nutrition Service to continue supporting nutrition education and healthy living initiatives.

The service provided recipes, cooking demonstrations, nutrition advice and educational resources for communities across New Zealand.

1992

Sanitarium established the Sanitarium Weet-Bix Kids TRYathlon in New Zealand, encouraging Kiwi kids to get active, build confidence and develop healthy habits through sport.

The event was later recognised by Guinness World Records as the world’s largest triathlon for under-16s.

1998

Inspired by changing breakfast habits and increasingly busy lifestyles, Sanitarium launched UP&GO™ - a world-first liquid breakfast containing protein, fibre, vitamins and minerals designed to help fuel busy mornings.

UP&GO™ quickly became one of Australasia’s most successful breakfast innovations.

2000s

Sanitarium expanded its community partnerships across New Zealand, supporting initiatives focused on nutrition, education and wellbeing.

Long-term partnerships with organisations including the Graeme Dingle Foundation to support youth mentoring and development, and with KickStart Breakfast programme partners Fonterra and the Ministry of Social Development helped deliver breakfast programmes and support healthier communities nationwide.

2011

The Christchurch earthquake caused significant damage to Sanitarium’s Christchurch factory, which was later closed in stages. Marmite™ production eventually moved to Auckland.

The temporary Marmite™ shortage that followed became one of New Zealand’s most talked-about food moments.

2010s

Sanitarium continued evolving to meet changing health needs, launching products including Gluten Free Weet-Bix™ and Weet-Bix™ Cholesterol Lowering.

During this time, Sanitarium was repeatedly recognised as one of New Zealand’s most trusted breakfast brands.

Today

Today, Sanitarium New Zealand remains owned and operated by New Zealanders, producing products enjoyed locally and in markets around the world.

While Sanitarium continues innovating through new products, nutrition education and community partnerships, its purpose remains the same — helping New Zealanders eat well and live well through nutritious food, education and community support.