Matt Garrett, SVP & General Manager, Nutramax Laboratories

Matt Garrett, senior vice president and general manager at Nutramax Laboratories, discussed a range of topics with Invest:, including the company’s continued expansion in this region and its commitment to community outreach programs that played a pivotal role in supporting the local community through the challenges of the pandemic.

What are some of the most significant milestones for Nutramax Labs in Lancaster County over the last 12 to 18 months? 

Over the past year and a half, we’ve experienced significant growth in the county — not just in terms of employee count and workforce development, but also through the continued physical expansion of our operations. Within the last 18 months, we cut the ribbon on a major expansion at our Lancaster headquarters, tripling our facility’s size. This included adding 110,000 square feet of packaging and warehousing space and 50,000 square feet of corporate office space. We also make incremental expansions within that footprint every year, and our growth here continues steadily.

On the community front, we’ve launched the second phase of our giving program, the 4:10 Initiative, which has had a meaningful impact locally. Over the past 18 months, we’ve re-envisioned the program to ensure we continue making a positive difference.

In May 2023, we opened our Global Distribution Center, located technically still in the county but near the Charlotte border. This 200,000-square-foot facility distributes our products to retailers, veterinary clinics, and online platforms. It currently employs nearly 60 people, representing a significant investment for us.

Additionally, in the fall of last year, we consolidated all of our manufacturing operations here in the Carolinas. When we moved here in 2010, we brought only our animal health manufacturing, leaving consumer manufacturing in Maryland, where the company was founded. Last year, we brought everything under one roof in the Carolinas, so all of our manufacturing now operates out of this region.

How has the company had a positive impact on the community?

The Fortune initiative began in 2020 when COVID first emerged. As a company, we quickly recognized that small businesses would bear the brunt of the economic challenges during this difficult time. Our founder, Dr. Bob, asked a pivotal question: How do we ensure these small businesses are still here when all of this is over? That question sparked the creation of the 4:10 Initiative, inspired by 1 Peter 4:10, which says, “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of God’s grace.”

For 32 years, that principle has been central to our philosophy. The Henderson family and the company as a whole recognize the blessings we’ve received, and with those blessings comes the responsibility to give back and help others. The 4:10 Initiative embodies that belief.

In 2020, when we had about 630 employees in Lancaster County, we launched the initiative by giving employees vouchers they could use like cash at small, family-owned restaurants in the area. Every two weeks, employees received vouchers valued at $10 to $15, depending on menu prices at each location. If an employee’s bill was $12.50, for example, the restaurant still kept the full $15. On average, 450 of the 630 vouchers were redeemed every two weeks, providing a significant boost to these businesses. You can imagine the impact — $15 multiplied by 450 adds up quickly for a small business.

We rotated through different restaurants every two weeks, and the feedback was overwhelming. The influx of customers helped these restaurants survive during a challenging time.

As the program evolved, we extended its reach beyond restaurants to include nonprofits, barbershops, beauty salons, first responders, volunteer fire departments, and other sectors in our small county. We focused on identifying ways to help them weather the storm.

Over the past 18 to 24 months, as the economy has improved, we’ve shifted our focus. Instead of helping small businesses stay afloat, we now prioritize supporting new businesses entering the county. We get to know them, engage in conversations, and, in some cases, incorporate them into the 4:10 Initiative. Providing vouchers to new businesses gives them immediate visibility with our now 750 employees in the county and provides a valuable burst of cash flow as they establish themselves.

Our community engagement is rooted in Nutramax’s core values: to glorify and honor the Lord, serve our employees, support the community, and pursue excellence. These values guide everything we do. Supporting the community isn’t just a program for us — it’s part of our DNA. With a team of smart, creative individuals and a genuine desire to make a difference, the 4:10 Initiative has become a meaningful way to live out our mission.

What are some trends or innovations in manufacturing quality control that are influencing your practices today?

At the core of our business is a steadfast commitment to quality differentiation. Founded by a pharmacist, a veterinarian, and a chiropractor — professionals who have dedicated their lives to improving the health of people and their pets — quality is not just a priority for us; it’s non-negotiable. We operate at pharmaceutical-grade quality standards, even though it’s not a requirement for the industry we’re in.

Our healthcare provider background drives us to ensure that our products work, whether for humans or animals. To achieve this, we control our manufacturing processes to deliver on every label claim, backed by a robust quality system. Supporting that system are significant investments in microbiology and chemistry, ensuring we consistently meet our claims with precision.

This approach defines how we operate. From a continued investment perspective, we are constantly expanding the technologies we use to monitor and uphold quality. As processes become increasingly digital, these advancements help us run the business more efficiently while maintaining our high standards.

Additionally, we leverage our quality systems as a driver of innovation, using them not only to ensure excellence but also to inspire and guide the development of new products and processes. Quality isn’t just part of what we do — it’s the foundation of how we innovate and grow.