Business

Gaia Herbs adding 30 jobs in Mills River

By Bill Moss, Published: July 18, 2018

MILLS RIVER — Brevard-based Gaia Herbs, which has grown from a $2,000 startup in the Boston suburbs to a $50 million supplier of herbal supplements, announced Wednesday that it would expand its operations in Mills River, creating 30 new jobs and investing $12.2 million at a new facility in Broadpointe Industrial Park for office­s, production and warehousing.

The announcement came about an hour after the Henderson County Board of Commissioners authorized tax incentives for the company, several weeks after Mills River also OK'd property tax rebates.

Founded in 1987, Gaia employs more than 260 people and works with an extensive network of organic farmers, healthcare professionals, and research institutions globally to support its 31-year tradition of innovation in the herbal products industry. With a focus on sustainability and positive business practices, Gaia Herbs is a company dedicated to producing the highest quality herbal products in the world with an uncompromising commitment to purity, potency, and integrity. This ensures that any product labeled with the Gaia Herbs name is one that you can trust and feel good about putting in your body.

Gaia products are sold in local retail stores, including Ingles, Publix, Earth Fare, CVS, Food Matters Market and the Hendersonville Community Co-op.

“The new site provides an ideal location due to its close proximity to the Asheville Regional Airport, the I-26 Interstate, shipping hubs, as well as our existing facilities in Brevard and Mills River, allowing us to consolidate multiple leased facilities and increase operating efficiencies," said Brian Traylor, vice president of operations.

“Gaia Herbs is the perfect fit for Mills River. An agricultural based company expanding in the production realm is synonymous with the culture of our community," Mills River Mayor Chae Davis said.