Nestled in the heart of the Ottawa Valley sits one of the area’s best kept secrets: the St. Francis Herb Farm, a pioneering company in Canada’s natural health products industry.
St. Francis manufactures a wide array of certified organic herbal products just a two-hour drive from Ottawa in the Village of Combermere. This year, the company is celebrating its 30th anniversary.
“It’s a reflection of a commitment to quality and integrity within the business,” says Paul Rivett-Carnac, the president and CEO of St. Francis Herb Farm. He points to the company’s continuous growth and long reign in the Canadian market as indicators of its reputation as a highly trusted herbal medicine brand.
Rivett-Carnac took over the business from his parents four years ago, and now runs it with his wife, Caitlin. They live with their two young sons on their 50-acre farm near the village of
Barry’s Bay.
“I grew up on a farm, and it was such a great childhood experience for me,” says Rivett-Carnac. “That’s something I want to provide for our own children.”
Also in Barry’s Bay is the St. Francis Herb Farm R&D facility, as well as a 16-acre plot of land which will be the future site of the company’s new head office and manufacturing facility. Currently, both the head office and manufacturing space are located 15 minutes down the road in Combermere.
The second-generation family business currently employs 40 people in the Ottawa Valley, as well as 15 sales reps and four natural health-care advisers across Canada. St. Francis Herb Farm products can be found in health food stores and grocers across the country.
The company has grown and sourced premium herbs to create more than 200 products over the years. These range from herbal tonics to topical treatments and even a variety of healthy oils,
mineral and protein supplements. Among its best-sellers is its award-winning Deep Immune®, which is clinically proven as an effective defence against cold and flu.
Right from the outset, St. Francis was a pioneer in Canada’s organic standards movement, being among the first Canadian companies in the herbal industry to sell organic products.
As a company dedicated to soulful living, St. Francis Herb Farm has benefited greatly from being situated in the Madawaska Valley, in the heart of Renfrew County.
“We live authentically in many ways,” says Rivett-Carnac. “This business has really been an extension of our lifestyle.”
Would your business benefit from a change of scenery? Head to CountyOfRenfrew.on.ca to learn more.
