Vitamix会社沿革

A Letter from our President & CEO

Jodi Berg, Ph.D

When I was asked to become the president of Vitamix in 2009, the company was already recognized as the market leader in blending technology. I realized that I was not just accepting a new position, but agreeing to steward a legacy. It is incredibly humbling to know that the successes we experience today have been made possible by the foundational leadership, passion, and commitment of the generations before us.

I wish I could give you a personal tour through the halls of our company, show you the family photos that hang here, and let you touch the logs of the home and office that my grandfather built by hand in the 1940s while keeping his business afloat, supporting the war effort, and raising a family. Some of my fondest memories took place inside these walls, including family reunions and listening in fascination as my grandfather would talk to customers on the phone, helping them knead bread dough in their Vitamix machines, which was very popular at that time.

Our customers are still the center of our world. As the fourth-generation president and CEO of Vitamix, our history is very personal to me, as it is for the hundreds of employees who design, perfect, and build our world-class blending equipment. Join me as we walk through this almost century-long, true American success story.

当社の歴史は1921年に始まりました。当時私の曽祖父は厳しい不況に直面しており、そしてその不況はすぐに大恐慌を引き起こしました。親しみから私たち全員に「パパ」として知られているウィリアム・グローバー・バーナードは、近代的なキッチン用品を販売するために国中を飛び回り始めました。彼がホールフードの栄養価を健康に結びつけるようになったのは、病気の友人を助けていたことが発端です。曾祖父は当時の社名をThe Natural Food Instituteに変更し、健康食品業界の先駆者となり、食品と健康について多くを学び、その知り得たすべての知識を人々に伝えていきました。そして、1937年、曾祖父はブレンダーという新しい製品に出会ったのです。健康的な料理が手早くかつ簡単に、しかも美味しく作れるこのブレンダーという製品の価値を、彼はすぐさま見出しました。曾祖父はこの新製品の販売に全力投球しました。そしてもう一人の曽祖父が、vitaは生命を意味することから「Vita-Mix」と命名しました。

Papa Barnard

1949年、祖父のビル・バーナードは曾祖父を説得し、曾祖父が始めたライブデモンストレーションを最新の広告形態であるテレビに持ち込みました。曾祖父はテレビが会社の広告手段に加わったことを歓迎し、国内初のインフォマーシャル制作者として歴史に名を残しました。数年後の1955年に祖父が会社を引き継ぐと、1964年に社名を正式にVita-Mixに変更し、祖父の息子のグローバーが入社しました。

Knowing the benefits of whole foods, Grandpa was determined to make healthy food preparation even easier and more delicious. The Vitamix became more powerful and versatile, setting it apart from any other product on the market. In 1969, he introduced the Vitamix 3600, the first blender that could make hot soup, blend ice cream, grind grain, and knead bread dough. My grandmother created hundreds of recipes for healthy alternatives to the foods we loved.

Thirty years later, my father, John Barnard, and his brother used their engineering backgrounds to make significant improvements to the performance and durability of the Vitamix product line—further developing the technology that allows families to pass their cherished Vitamix machines from one generation to another. In 1985, they developed the first Vitamix commercial blender, the Mix’n Machine. My dad’s vision then established us as the first high-performance blender in the food service industry—where our quality, performance, and value continue to set the bar. Today, a full line of commercial Vitamix machines can be found in gourmet restaurants and leading chains around the world.

Some of the lessons we learned along the way are still with us today. We continue to persevere to create the highest- quality product through customer input and advanced technology. We are steadfast in creating a better future through family values and healthy, delicious food. And we are committed to liberating and nourishing the zest for life.

What Papa Barnard realized decades ago is now common knowledge: The world can be a healthier and better place through whole-food nutrition. It is not just our torch, it is a passion held by many. Please join us in changing the way the world thinks about food, quality products, and customer service. We can make a bigger difference together. You, too, can be a part of our story.

皆様の健康と活力を願って。

Jodi Berg
President & CEO