ALACER: From the Latin word for quick, eager, lively

These adjectives certainly described Jay Patrick, who founded Alacer Corp. in 1972 at the age of 60. Patrick built the company into a leading producer of vitamin C products over the next three decades until his passing in 2003. Today, Alacer produces and sells more than 400 million packets of Emergen-C® brand dietary supplements annually.

During his leadership of Alacer, Mr. Patrick drew on his varied background as a writer, chemist, engineer, businessman and even a performer. He built a close relationship with Dr. Linus Pauling, who won a Nobel Prize for his research into the benefits of vitamin C. Patrick appeared alongside Pauling on radio and television programs to discuss the benefits of vitamin C. His passion and dedication for vitamin C continues to benefit people worldwide.

In 1978 Emergen-C effervescent powdered drink mix was introduced as “the champagne of nutritional drinks” and featured the 1,000 mg of vitamin C as mineral ascorbates that came to be Alacer’s signature formulation. It was a novel delivery system for vitamins and minerals, providing consumers with a fast, fun way to boost their health and energy. Across the 30-year history of Emergen-C, consumer awareness of the brand has grown through word-of-mouth, peer-to-peer sampling and the passionate support of health and natural retailers. Over the past few years, Alacer has initiated national radio and television advertising to accelerate consumer trial of Emergen-C. In the past 12 months over 5 million new consumers have tried the Emergen-C brand for the first time.

Based in Foothill Ranch, Calif., Alacer’s mission is to build on its legacy of innovation by providing the world with nutritionally enhanced products that support an energetic, healthy lifestyle. The company is a leader in the vitamin C industry with expanded product lines, new distribution channels and state-of-the-art production facilities in Foothill Ranch and Chicago. Under the direction of President and CEO Ron Fugate, sales of its Emergen-C fruity, fizzing drink mix brand have increased 33 percent from May 2007 through April 2008 and are responsible for all the growth in the U.S. vitamin C category.

Emergen-C is available in 19 varieties of drink mix nutritional supplements, two tablets and four ready-to-drink beverages. The products are sold in health food stores, supermarkets, drug stores, mass merchandisers and club stores nationwide. With a rich history of innovation and an eye to the future, Alacer is proud to produce a wide selection of nutritionally enhanced products that provide fast, fun ways for consumers to boost their health and energy, naturally.

Mission Statement: To build on our legacy of innovation by providing the world with nutritionally enhanced products that support an energetic, healthy lifestyle.