Rooted in Community: Celebrating 45 Years Where Goodness Grows

By the Goodness Me! Team

Forty-five years. It’s hard to believe how much time has passed since we first opened our doors. When we look around our stores today—at the bright, colorful produce displays, the carefully curated supplement shelves, and the life changing conversations happening in the aisles—we are filled with immense gratitude.

We are grateful to you, our incredible customers, for inviting us into your homes and trusting us with your wellness journeys for nearly half a century.

We are also grateful for the roots we’ve put down. This 45th anniversary is themed "Goodness Grows Here," and that title isn’t just a slogan. It’s a reference to the bedrock of our business: long-term partnerships.

We never have been and never wanted to just be "another health food store." We set out 45 years ago to build a hub where real food and potent, honest education could intersect. And you can’t build a community alone.

Partners in Your Wellness Journey

At Goodness Me!, our standards are incredibly high. Our buyers don’t just look at ingredients lists; they want to know how the products were sourced, who made them, and why they matter. We call it “The Goodness Standard."

We’re honored that many of our closest brand partners have been with us for most – some all - of this journey. They don't just supply our shelves; they share our DNA.

Pfenning’s Organic Farm

If you’ve ever walked through our produce department and picked up a giant, crips head of Ontario Kale, you’ve likely experienced the work of Pfenning's Organic Farm – also celebrating 45 years this year!

Located just down the road in Baden, Ontario, the Pfenning family has been a cornerstone of the Goodness Me! story. They were "organic" long before it was a trend. Their commitment to the health of the soil and the displacement of synthetic chemicals mirrors our own founding mission.

When we talk about a "The Goodness Standard”, we’re talking about the peace of mind you get knowing exactly where your food comes from – and knowing you’re supporting an Ontario business. Because of our deep-rooted partnership with Pfennings, we can ensure that the food on your table isn't just organic; it’s local, it’s family-grown, and it’s harvested with a level of care that you can truly taste. They are a living reminder that when we nourish the earth, the earth nourishes us right back.

Dutchman’s Gold

We have always had a deep love for the sweetness only nature can provide. In the early days, if you wanted pure, unpasteurized honey, you had to seek it out. It’s been our privilege to share most of our journey with Dutchman's Gold, another fellow Ontario-based family company.

Like Goodness Me!, Dutchman's Gold has roots that go back decades (also right into the 1980s!). They believe that nature's bounty should be respected, which is why their honey is raw, natural, and utterly pure—retaining all the enzymes and pollens nature intended. When you buy their honey, you aren’t just supporting another local Ontario business; you’re supporting sustainable beekeeping and the vital work of pollinators that our entire planet relies on.

Genuine Health

When it comes to supplements, we’ve always looked for brands that prioritized the whole food approach, not just isolated chemicals. We are exceptionally proud of our decades-long relationship with Genuine Health.

This is another Canadian powerhouse that truly revolutionized the way people approach nutrition. They brought us greens+—an iconic, research-backed superfood formula that changed how we get our daily dose of vitality. Genuine Health’s commitment to evidence-based, clean ingredients mirrors our own dedication to evidence-based education and empowerment. They are key partners in helping you to take control of your vitality, naturally.

Martin & Pleasance

Goodness Grows Here is also about honoring the wisdom that came before us. This is where our relationship with Martin & Pleasance shines. While we are celebrating 45 years, Martin & Pleasance has a legacy stretching back over 150 years.

As pioneers in homeopathics, herbal remedies, and traditional medicine, they provide solutions that work with the body’s innate healing power. Their presence on our shelves is a promise to you that the oldest (and often most wise) traditions have a home at Goodness Me! They are a foundational part of how we support holistic well-being.

The Next 45 Years

We’ve seen a lot of trends come and go since we started. We’ve seen kale rise to fame, gluten-free and keto lifestyles become commonplace, and probiotics become essential conversation. But one thing has never changed: Our promise to you.

Looking ahead to the rest of 2026 and emerging topics with staying power like Perimenopause, GLP-1 boosters, Protein Maxxing, The Sober Movement, etc…..at the root of these topics, is you. We aren’t here without you, and you drive what is important and emerging in our industry by telling us what you need. We are so honored that what we get to do every day is listen to those needs and hopefully help you make small changes toward a happier, healthier life.

We are committed to providing you with an experience where you feel known, supported, and confident. Whether you are coming in for your weekly organic shop or you need an educated discussion about digestive health, the goodness starts here.

Happy 45th Anniversary, Goodness Me! family. Let’s keep growing goodness here, together.