A New Chapter for EMPWR: McMinnville Manufacturer Joins Vitamin Well Group

Jul 2, 2026

When the McMinnville Economic Development Partnership (MEDP) talks about supporting business growth, EMPWR has become one of the community's strongest examples of what long-term partnership can achieve.

Over the past several years, MEDP has had the privilege of working alongside EMPWR as the company expanded its McMinnville operations, invested in new manufacturing capacity, created hundreds of family-wage jobs, and strengthened its role as one of the city's largest private employers. Through regular business retention visits, workforce initiatives, permitting and development support, and with partners at Business Oregon, SEDCOR, and the MACC, MEDP has supported the company’s leadership in attaining economic development support for continued investment in McMinnville.

One of the most significant milestones came with EMPWR's $150+ million expansion of its McMinnville campus in 2026. The investment added new, state-of-the-art production lines, significantly increased manufacturing capacity, enhanced automation and operational efficiencies, and positioned the facility to meet growing global demand for nutrition and protein bars. The expansion also supported substantial workforce growth, with McMinnville employment increasing to more than 550 team members, making EMPWR one of the city's largest private-sector employers and an important contributor to the region's manufacturing economy.

The McMinnville facility has become a cornerstone of EMPWR's North American operations, producing high-quality nutrition products that are distributed across the United States and around the world. Beyond manufacturing, the company has demonstrated a commitment to workforce development by partnering with local schools, participating in career exploration events, opening its doors for McMinnville MADE Mayor's Tours, and collaborating with regional workforce initiatives to help introduce the next generation to careers in advanced manufacturing and food science.

Now, the company is entering an exciting new chapter.

Vitamin Well Group has announced an agreement to combine with EMPWR, bringing one of the world's leading manufacturers of nutritional and protein bars into its global organization. The transaction represents a strategic partnership built on years of collaboration, as EMPWR has long served as the manufacturing partner for Barebells, one of Vitamin Well Group's fastest-growing global brands.

The announcement underscores the remarkable growth of EMPWR. Since becoming an independent company in 2022, the organization has evolved into a global contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO), operating four manufacturing facilities across Europe and North America, serving more than 100 customers worldwide, and growing its workforce from fewer than 100 employees to more than 1,500. During that same period, the company expanded from one manufacturing facility to four, increased production capacity from one to 15 production lines, and invested more than €200 million ($228+ M US Dollar) in manufacturing capacity and operational excellence.

For McMinnville, this announcement reinforces the community's growing role in the global food manufacturing industry. Products manufactured here reach consumers around the world, demonstrating how investments made locally can have an international impact while creating quality careers close to home.

As EMPWR CEO Frederic Landtmeters noted, "Our long-standing partnership with Barebells has demonstrated what we can achieve together. Becoming part of Vitamin Well Group is a natural next step that creates new opportunities for our employees, customers and business."

Importantly, EMPWR will continue serving its existing customers while expanding opportunities for innovation, manufacturing capacity, and future growth as part of the Vitamin Well Group family.

At MEDP, we often say that economic development is about building lasting relationships. EMPWR exemplifies that philosophy. What began as supporting a growing manufacturer has evolved into celebrating a company that is helping position McMinnville on the global stage. As one of the city's largest employers and a leader in advanced food manufacturing, EMPWR demonstrates how companies can innovate, invest, and grow internationally while continuing to call McMinnville home.

We congratulate the entire EMPWR team on this exciting milestone and look forward to supporting the company's continued success as it begins this next chapter.