Supplemental growth.

• Author: Jost, Mark
• Position: NC TREND: Western Region

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Propelled by double-digit sales growth in recent years, Gaia Herbs is undertaking a $5 million expansion of its Brevard headquarters as customers seek natural remedies for everything from allergies to reducing stress. The provider of natural and organic herbal supplements generated $46 million in sales for 2015, part of a $37 billion U.S. industry, according to Nutrition Business Journal, a trade publication.

The 1,000-square-foot addition is not as much about size as it is about preparing for future growth, says Brian Traylor, director of operations. CEO Ric Scalzo started the company in 1987 in Massachusetts. Ten years later, it moved to Brevard, where about 150 of its 250 employees work at its main 35,000-square-foot manufacturing plant ("Nature Gets Nurtured," July 2014). Sales have increased annually at about 20% over recent years, Traylor says. "Obviously, a lot of positives come along with that, but one of the negatives is that you can quickly run out of space and capacity."

Gaia's 430 products are sold online and in about 2,300 stores nationwide, including large retailers such as Publix and Whole Foods and smaller independent health-food stores and co-ops. Best-sellers include Adrenal Health, which promotes sleep and helps the body cope with stress, and...