Module 1: The Barlean's Origin Story & Heritage

The Family Journey

Every great company has an origin story. Barlean's starts on a fishing boat in the San Juan Islands, Washington.

Dave Barlean was a reef net commercial fisherman who founded Barlean's Fishery in 1972. He wasn't thinking about supplements or omega-3s—he was focused on delivering the freshest, highest quality fish possible. Dave was an innovator who reconfigured traditional canoe-style boats into catamaran-style vessels with live fish tanks right on board, revolutionizing the reef netting industry. He understood that freshness wasn't just about quality—it was about nutrition.

Back home, Barb (we call her Mom Barlean) was raising four children and running the business side, setting up a direct order system to deliver fresh salmon across the state within hours of being harvested.

Then their son Bruce discovered flaxseed oil's health benefits in the late 1980s. He read everything he could about omega-3 fatty acids and became passionate about how dramatically health could be improved. But there was a problem—a lot of the flax oil available back then was terrible. Many were rancid or poorly processed, just sitting on shelves oxidizing.

Bruce knew there was a better way. Dave could tell how passionate his son was and asked, "Do you think you could sell a barrel a week?" Bruce nodded yes. That was enough for Dave: "If people really need this stuff, we should provide it for them."

In 1989, Bruce and his parents Dave and Barb founded Barlean's Organic Oils, investing their life savings into the project. They set up headquarters in Ferndale, Washington—where we're still located today—with core values established right from the start: innovation and conservation.

The Industry Challenge

Traditional fish oils were often unpleasant in smell and taste—those fishy burps that made people dread taking their supplements. Flax oils were poorly processed, and many went rancid. Over-pressing was common because it produced higher yield, but it damaged the oil and resulted in a bitter taste.

And poor absorption meant no results. If your body can't absorb it, why bother taking it? These were the industry challenges Barlean's was built to solve.

The Barlean's Solution

Quality omega-3 nutrition done right. Fresh-pressed and cold-pressed to preserve nutrients. Protected from light, heat, and oxygen—the three enemies of oil quality. Light-protective bottles, nitrogen flushed to push out oxygen, and a lignan formula for added benefits.

The result? A pleasant, nutty taste that people actually enjoy. Not something they dread—something they look forward to.

The Barlean family applied fresh food handling principles to flax oil, the same thinking Dave used with his fish. Freshness first, always. They established relationships with organic farmers they could trust, and this changed how Americans experienced omega-3s.

Family Values & Giving Back

This is still a family-owned, mission-driven company after 35 plus years. Same Pacific Northwest quality manufacturing. Same values since 1989: quality over profit, transparency and integrity, sustainable practices, community impact, and innovation with purpose.

In 2013, Bruce and his parents formalized their charitable giving through Pathway to a Better Life, which you see in the Barlean's logo today. They've supported Vitamin Angels since 2006, providing nutritional support to at-risk mothers and children worldwide. They partner with Autism Hope Alliance, supporting families facing autism through education, financial support, and volunteerism. And they're deeply involved in the local Pacific Northwest community.

This isn't marketing fluff—it's what the family truly believes in.

Quality Commitment

Barlean's operates a GMP-certified facility in Ferndale, Washington with third-party testing for purity, potency, and safety. They use Non-GMO Project Verified practices, certified organic when possible. Everything is fresh-pressed and protected from light, heat, and oxygen using ISO testing protocols, including testing for heavy metals and contaminants.

Barlean's consistently exceeds industry standards. That's what the testing shows—and that's what they truly care about.

From Flax to Full Line

In 1989, it started with traditional flax oils. Barlean's became America's number one selling flaxseed oil—and still is today.

In the 2000s came fish oil innovation and emulsified technology with products like Omega Swirl. The 2010s brought kids products like Omega Pals, women's wellness formulas, and specialty formulas. Now in the 2020s, there's Mood Drops, algae oils, Seriously Delicious Multi, and a truly expanded wellness line—all built on the same foundation: quality, freshness, and delicious taste.

What This Means for Retailers

Barlean's offers a complete product line across multiple categories: omega-3 oils (fish, flax, and algae), women's wellness, kids nutrition, mood and stress support, immune support, digestive health, multivitamins, and specialty formulas.

The Barlean's customer experience:

• Established reputation for quality built over 35 plus years
• Great taste with no fishy flavor—customers look forward to taking their supplements
• Effective results customers can feel
• Family-owned authenticity
• Transparent practices and third-party verification
• Consistent quality every single time

When customers try Barlean's, they become Barlean's customers. That's the difference quality makes.

The Barlean's advantage for retailers:

• Strong customer loyalty—when someone finds Barlean's, they stick with it
• High repeat purchase rates
• Builds customer trust
• Reduces returns—products that work and taste delicious don't come back
• Enhances your store's reputation
• Brand recognition and educational materials to support your team
• Excellent customer service support whenever you need it

Why Freshness Matters

The fresh-pressed process means oils are pressed and protected from oxidation immediately, preserving beneficial omega-3s at maximum potency. The result is a pleasant, nutty taste instead of that bitter, fishy flavor people hate.

Ingredients you can trust: USDA certified organic when possible, Non-GMO Project Verified, no hexane extraction, no chemical processing. Truly organic, unrefined and unfiltered. The flax comes from the highest quality organic farmers with relationships built over decades.

Verified quality: Batch tested for purity, potency, heavy metals, contaminants, oxidation levels, and label claim accuracy. Independent verification through ISO-certified labs with certificates of analysis available for anyone who wants to see them.

State-of-the-art facility: Climate-controlled environment, advanced processing equipment, nitrogen-flushing technology, light-protected bottling, and quality checkpoints at every stage. This isn't a contract manufacturer somewhere else—this is Barlean's own facility with Barlean's own quality standards.

The Barlean's Promise

From our family to yours: We're committed to providing the highest quality nutritional supplements with integrity, transparency, and genuine care. Quality over profit, always fresh-pressed and third-party tested. Family-owned values. 35-plus years of trust.

That's what Barlean's stands for.

Questions? Contact us or visit Barleans.com. Our customer service team is ready to help with anything you need.

Up Next: Training 2 covers quality standards in detail—the testing, the certifications, and what makes Barlean's quality different from everyone else.