Does iHerb Make Its Own Products?

A common question customers ask is: Does iHerb make its own products?

The answer requires understanding how modern supplement retail works.

Retailer vs Manufacturer

iHerb is primarily an online retailer. It sells thousands of products across many brands. Most of these brands are independent supplement companies.

However, iHerb is also associated with certain exclusive brands.

This does not automatically mean iHerb operates physical manufacturing plants for every product.

Contract Manufacturing Explained

Many supplement companies use contract manufacturers.

This means:

• A third-party facility produces the supplement.
• The brand controls the formula and specifications.
• Manufacturing follows regulatory standards.

In many cases, exclusive iHerb brands follow this model.

Exclusive Brands vs Owned Factories

Owning a brand is different from owning a factory.

A company may:

• Own brand trademarks
• Control product formulation
• Outsource manufacturing to certified facilities

This is common in the supplement industry.

Read further what brands does iHerb own?

Why Companies Use Contract Manufacturers

Contract manufacturing allows:

• Specialized production standards
• Cost efficiency
• Regulatory compliance support
• Scalable production

This contributes to iHerb's pricing efficiency.

Are iHerb-Associated Products Lower Quality?

Not necessarily.

Quality depends on:

• Manufacturing facility certification
• Testing standards
• Ingredient sourcing
• Regulatory oversight

Read more details about iHerb's manufacturing quality control.

Is iHerb a Manufacturer Like Pharmaceutical Companies?

No. iHerb does not operate as a pharmaceutical company producing prescription drugs.

It operates as:

• A retail platform
• A distributor
• A brand partner

How This Relates to Legitimacy

Questions about manufacturing often overlap with safety concerns. That's why we've covered extensively the topic of why iHerb is legit.

Conclusion

iHerb does not function primarily as a traditional manufacturer. It operates as a retailer with exclusive brand relationships, often using contract manufacturing partners that follow regulatory standards.