Page 26 - Wilks NCG

Botanical

Sourcing Champion

Herbal Ingenuity
Expands Operations in Wilkesboro.

By Lydia Cobb
H eadquartered in Wilkesboro, Herbal Some of the herbs and plants are sourced

Ingenuity is a local powerhouse in
locally and include:
the global botanical industry. The
antimicrobial and antifungal properties;
business is a domestic and international buyer • Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis) –
and wholesale supplier of botanicals – plants immune stimulant
and plant parts – used for flavor, fragrance, • Wild Black Cherry (Prunus serotina) –
and medicinal and therapeutic properties. for popular tea products
The employees cut, sift, clean, and • Black Cohosh roots (Actaea racemosa) –
temperature-treat the plants and plant parts. for hot flashes in medicinal female
Herbal Ingenuity launched in 2015 from a prior hormonal support
business with partners who sold their shares. • Saw Palmetto Berries (L. Serenoa repens)
A decade ago, it was a staff of five people. – used in prostate medicine
“Our staff right now is 32 people,” said When you read a product’s ingredients you
Chris Kull, president of Herbal Ingenuity. “It’s may wonder what “other natural flavorings”
awesome that people have bought into the means. Kull explained that oak and maple
vision of growth, and helped promote the barks, for example, are widely used in flavor
values that motivate the place. There’s no extractions; they impart their own scents
room to compromise on honesty, integrity, and and tastes.
accountability in a small company. And the The company’s expansion this year comes
connection the business has with nature really with the generous assistance of an $85,000
helps to reinforce these values.” Building Reuse Grant from North Carolina’s
Herbal Ingenuity provides high quality, Rural Infrastructure Authority. The project
ethically sourced ingredients in bulk to includes renovating their warehouse facility
manufacturers of industry products that in Wilkesboro and adding a 10,000-square-
include dietary supplements, cosmetics, craft foot expansion, supported by a $1.08 million
brewing, cannabis, energy drinks, cosmetics, private investment.
pet food, culinary, homeopathic, equine, and Local support includes $28,630 in economic
tobacco. Herbal Ingenuity is committed to incentives from Wilkes County and Town
the standard that botanical sourcing needs a of Wilkesboro, coordinated by Wilkes EDC.
champion in North America that performs with The project will also generate increased tax
honesty and commitment to quality. revenue for the area, further benefiting the
The company works in all seasons with a community. The new building is intended
vast network of U.S. collectors and growers. for more storage space. They are adding
Their European partners have decades of additional machinery and equipment to the
expertise in delivering the correct species existing facility.
of herbs, seeds, culinary spices, and
essential oils.

22 Herbal Ingenuity Expands Wilkes Chamber of Commerce