The Gerber Products Company is a leading American manufacturer of baby food and related infant care items, operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Swiss multinational corporation Nestlé. The company is the dominant U.S. baby food brand, known for its extensive product line and commitment to early childhood nutrition research.
Company Overview and History
Gerber was founded in 1927 in Fremont, Michigan, when Dorothy Gerber began hand-straining fruits and vegetables for her seven-month-old daughter, a time-consuming process she suggested her husband, Daniel Frank Gerber (owner of the Fremont Canning Company), automate. The commercial production of strained baby foods began in 1928, and the company quickly became a national success.
In 2007, Nestlé acquired the Gerber Products Company for $2.4 billion, integrating Gerber into its global nutrition research network and expanding its reach to over 80 countries. The company maintains a strong focus on research-backed nutrition through initiatives like the Feeding Infants and Toddlers Study (FITS).
Products and Offerings
Gerber offers over 190 products designed for different developmental stages, from infants to toddlers.
Baby Food:
The core business includes a wide variety of strained fruits, vegetables, meats, cereals, and juices available in glass jars, plastic tubs, and pouches. Product lines are tailored to age-appropriate feeding stages, such as “Sitter” (2nd Foods) and “Crawler” (3rd Foods). The company also offers an organic line called Tender Harvest and food options for toddlers under the Gerber Graduates brand.
Baby Care Items:
In addition to food, Gerber sells various non-food products under the Gerber and NUK brand names.
Feeding Accessories:
This includes baby bottles, nipples, pacifiers, teethers, breast pumps, and bottle warmers.
Health and Safety:
Products also include items like tooth and gum cleansers, vitamin drops, and various safety latches and mirrors.
Apparel and Insurance:
The “Gerber” trademark is licensed to two separate entities:
Gerber Childrenswear LLC:
Sells infant and toddler apparel, including the well-known Onesies® brand bodysuits.
Gerber Life Insurance Company:
Sells life insurance products and operates under license from Gerber Products Company after being sold to Western & Southern Financial Group.
Quality and Commitments
Gerber emphasizes product quality, safety, and nutritional value, adhering to standards often stricter than those set by the FDA. The company is committed to sustainable practices, including a “Clean Field Farming” approach to sourcing ingredients and striving for 100% nationally recyclable or reusable packaging by 2025. Many of its products have received Clean Label Project certifications for purity.