Heartland Food Products Group
Heartland Food Products Group is a global leader in the consumer packaged goods industry, producing low-calorie sweeteners, coffee, coffee creamers, and liquid water enhancers. As the maker of Splenda Sweeteners, the company helps people live healthier lives by making it easier to reduce sugar.
Company facts
- Founded
- 1991
- Headquarters
- United States
- CEO
- Ted Gelov
About
In 1991, Ted Gelov, a Purdue University graduate and entrepreneur, started his first business manufacturing plastic packaging and novelties in southern Indiana. The company evolved over time, moving into producing small containers for the food industry and co-packing for larger food brands. Gelov and his team noticed an opportunity in the food industry that wasn't being fully addressed - helping consumers reduce sugar without sacrificing taste. This insight would eventually transform the company from a packaging manufacturer into a global leader in low-calorie sweeteners and functional foods. The pivotal moment came in 2004 when Heartland became the first company to develop a private label sucralose sweetener to rival the fast-growing SPLENDA Brand. This innovative spirit continued in 2011 with the launch of the first private label liquid water enhancer. But the company's transformation reached its zenith in 2015 with the landmark acquisition of the SPLENDA Brand from Johnson & Johnson. Today, Heartland Food Products Group is a global CPG leader, employing over 1,200 people across manufacturing facilities in Indianapolis, Mexico, and the Netherlands, helping millions of people live happier, healthier lives by making it easier to reduce sugar.