Restaurant Association Surrey Canada

Arran Stephens has been at the leading edge of the organic food movement for most of his 7 decades. He and wife Ratana co-founded Nature’s Path Organic Foods in 1985—with roots going back to Goldstream Berry Paradise—the family farm on Vancouver Island where Arran and older brother Godfrey (sculptor/artist/boatbuilder/storyteller were raised by their Mum & Dad, Gwen & Rupert.

Arran pursued a career in fine arts through painting and poetry, and had two major exhibitions before age 21. After returning from seven transformative months in India with his revered meditation teacher, Sant Kirpal Singh Ji Maharaj, starting with only $7, he established Canada’s first vegetarian restaurant in 1967 that, over three decades, served millions of meals. In 1968-9, he returned to India, was introduced to, and married Ratana. In 1971, he opened LifeStream Natural Foods, which became Canada’s largest natural organic foods company. After a partnership impasse that led to its sale in 1981, Arran and Ratana went on to found Nature’s Path out of the back of their restaurant, and then bought back Lifestream from Kraft/Philip Morris in 1995.

Today, Nature’s Path is North America’s largest organic and independent cereal company with state-of-the-art factories in BC, WA and WI, employing hundreds of valued team members and providing markets for scores of independent organic family farmers via their delicious non-GMO cereals, granola bars, waffles, mixes and toaster pastries. The company produces many gluten-free products that taste great and made with simple, wholegrain ingredients. Through an unwavering commitment to quality, product excellence, mutual respect, sustainability and authenticity, Nature’s Path has been rewarded with great public trust. In November of 2012, Que Pasa Mexican Foods joined the NP family (arguably the best tasting organic corn tortilla chips and salsa anywhere!)

Bucking the M&amp trends in the organic foods industry, Nature’s Path remains family owned and independent, committed to bettering the world we all share.

Arran & Ratana have four children and four grandchildren.

Daughter #3, Jyoti is Director of Human Resources and Sustainability. She and Alex Ejsmont, lawyer and entrepreneur were married in a beautiful ceremony August 31, 2013, and are currently honeymooning in Bali!

Son Arjan is Executive VP of Sales, Marketing and Innovation. He is married to Dr. Rimjhim Duggal-Stephens, MD, who is doing further studies in homeopathy and naturopathy.