Company History

More about Purity Life Health Products...
In 1984, David and Elyse Chapman, partners in life and in work, combined their formidable entrepreneurial instincts and business savvy to create a unique company servicing the Canadian healthy industry. The model for Purity Life was based on David's vision of "empowering people to create well-being in their lives." Over the last twenty plus years, this vision has helped guide Purity Life to become Canada's number one supplier of natural health products, directly servicing over 5,000 health food, pharmacy and practitioner accounts across Canada through its office in Acton, Ontario.

Purity Life may have begun as a small distributor but through its commitment to customer and client satisfaction it quickly grew into a major player at home and abroad. With exclusive distribution rights for several renowned product lines, Purity is now an importer, marketer, broker and distributor extraordinaire. In October 2000, Purity's leadership and integrity was recognized with the 'Supplier of the Year' Award from the Canadian Health Food Association, Expo East.

As Purity evolved its business from simple distributor to value-added supplier, the next step was to establish its own line of products. Nature's Harmony™, which was acquired from Vita Health in November 2001, is a high quality brand of vitamins, minerals, herbs and specialty supplements available exclusively through health food stores. Treemenda™ is a quality Tea Tree Oil brand also available exclusively through health food stores. Vivitas™ is a line of innovative products, stylishly packaged and geared for the mass market.

Purity Life employs over 160 people, with 135 based in Acton (where David has been a life-long resident). Purity Life's philosophy of helping to empower people is also evident in their internal business practices, including profit sharing and a policy of hiring locally. One innovative employee perk is the partially subsidized on-site alternative health care clinic, which offers staff access to reflexology, Reiki, massage and iridology. In fact, Purity Life's reputation as an exemplary employer has drawn some of the industry's finest to Acton.

In September 2006, Purity took the next step necessary to grow and expand the business and agreed to be acquired by SunOpta Inc.  SunOpta Inc is a Canadian owned healthy products company, with a vision similar to those of David and Elyse Chapman.  SunOpta Inc. focuses on high-growth ethical businesses, with integrated business models in natural, organic, Kosher, specialty foods and now with the acquisition of Purity Life, a full line of natural health supplements and health/beauty products.  SunOpta currently has distribution centres across Canada, including locations in Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver.  SunOpta now has the largest warehouse network for organic and natural health products of any Canadian company.  Through SunOpta’s national distribution network we are able to service all types of retailers across Canada.  SunOpta has grown to be Canada’s largest full service provider of all things natural, organic and health related.

More about the man behind the business
David Chapman, the President and Founder of Purity Life Health Products, a SunOpta Company has a background in accounting and a passion for natural health. For the past twenty plus years, this passion has been the driving force behind Purity Life's success. David is a well-respected member of the Canadian health industry community. He has been a director on the supplier/manufacturers committee for the Canadian Health Food Association and is an active lobbyist with the Canadian government for regulatory changes in the natural products industry. David and his wife and business partner Elyse live in Acton Ontario where they also own a 200-acre certified organic farm.