Sanitarium Health and Wellbeing

The Sanitarium Health and Wellbeing Company is a prominent health food organization founded in 1898 in Melbourne, Victoria. It was established by the Seventh-day Adventist Church to provide nutritious, plant-based alternatives to the diet of the time. The brand's origin is deeply linked to the Battle Creek Sanitarium in the United States, as its first baker, Edward Halsey, was trained there before moving to Australia to pioneer the local health food movement.

Today, Sanitarium operates as a dual entity with separate companies in Australia and New Zealand. Manufacturing is primarily concentrated in these two countries, with major facilities located in Berkeley Vale (New South Wales), Brisbane (Queensland), Carmel (Western Australia), and Auckland (New Zealand). The company produces some of the most iconic consumer brands in the region, including Weet-Bix, Up & Go, and the So Good range of plant-based milks.

Ownership remains entirely with the Seventh-day Adventist Church, specifically through the South Pacific Division of the Adventist Church. As of 2026, the company continues to operate as a 'profit for purpose' entity, where its earnings are used to support the church's charitable and health-focused missions. Due to its status as a religious and charitable organization, Sanitarium is famously exempt from company income tax in both Australia and New Zealand, a point that is often highlighted in regional economic discussions.