I believe in empowering teams to take ownership, encouraging open communication, and creating an environment where individuals can grow alongside the company. —Shane Durkee

Monterey Bay Herb Company (MBHC) is a leading supplier of herbs, botanicals, spices, and teas, serving the natural products, food & beverage, and wellness industries. Founded in 1997 and rooted in California’s rich herbal tradition, MBHC has grown into a trusted partner known for quality, consistency, and broad ingredient access.

Today, the company is led by Shane Durkee, CEO, who brings more than 30 years of experience in natural products, dietary supplements, ingredient innovation, and R&D leadership.

In 2026, MBHC expanded its capabilities through the acquisition of NP Nutra, adding access to nutraceutical ingredients, extracts, and proprietary blends, enhancing our ability to support customers seeking more performance-driven solutions.

Innovation and growth 

MBHC prioritizes responsible sourcing and strong supplier relationships to ensure the quality and integrity of its ingredients, helping a wide range of customers bring innovative, better-for-you products to market.

The mission at MBHC: to provide high-quality, trusted ingredients while helping customers innovate and grow. MBHC offers more than 1,000 ingredients across herbs, botanicals, spices, and teas, supported by global sourcing and flexible pack sizes—from small quantities to bulk. In-house capabilities include milling, blending, and co-packing, allowing the company to support a wide range of customer needs.

MBHC serves a diverse customer base across herbal products, functional foods and beverages, dietary supplements, and emerging wellness categories. With the addition of NP Nutra, MBHC is now able to extend into more advanced nutraceutical applications when customers require it.

Spotlight on strong partnerships 

“My leadership philosophy centers on building a business through people, relationships, and trust,” says Durkee. “I believe in empowering teams to take ownership, encouraging open communication, and creating an environment where individuals can grow alongside the company. Mentorship plays a key role sharing knowledge, fostering accountability, and helping others succeed. At the same time, we prioritize long-term decision-making, focusing on sustainable growth and strong partnerships rather than short-term gains.”

MBHC’s ability to combine breadth, flexibility, and service in a way that few others can help set it apart from the competition.

“We are not just a supplier,” Durkee explains. “We are a partner that helps customers navigate sourcing, formulation needs, and supply chain challenges. Our extensive ingredient portfolio, combined with operational capabilities like milling and blending, allows us to meet customers where they are and scale with them as they grow. Additionally, our relationship-driven approach sets us apart. We focus on responsiveness, transparency, and problem-solving while ensuring that customers can rely on us as an extension of their own team.”

A positive impact

MBHC is committed to making a positive impact across the company's employees, customers, and broader community. Internally, the company focuses on creating a culture that values respect, collaboration, and growth, and team members are encouraged to contribute ideas, improve processes, and build meaningful careers.

Externally, MBHC prioritizes responsible sourcing and strong supplier relationships to ensure the quality and integrity of its ingredients. 

“We also support a wide range of customers from established brands to emerging companies, helping bring innovative, better-for-you products to market,” says Durkee. “Through this work, we contribute to an industry focused on health, wellness, and improving everyday lives.”

The expansion of MBHC's capabilities through the addition of NP Nutra has strengthened its ability to serve customers seeking nutraceutical ingredients and more application-specific solutions.

Investing in the future

A key milestone has been the expansion of MBHC's capabilities through the addition of NP Nutra. This has strengthened the company’s ability to serve customers seeking nutraceutical ingredients and more application-specific solutions.

“In parallel, we are investing in operational improvements, including automation and efficiency initiatives, as well as expanding our sourcing network to better support customer demand,” Durkee shares. “We are also continuing to build out our digital and customer engagement strategies to enhance how we connect with and support our customers.”

Continuity without disruption

“One of the most important shifts for our business has been recognizing that our role goes beyond supplying ingredients, we are helping enable our customers’ success,” says Durkee. “This shift in mindset has led us to focus more on flexibility, responsieness, and partnership. It has also influenced how we’ve expanded the business, including bringing in capabilities like those from NP Nutra to better support evolving customer needs. Another key principle that has guided our growth is maintaining ‘continuity without disruption’ ensuring that as we evolve, we continue delivering the consistency and reliability our customers depend on.”

Words of wisdom

Stay focused on quality, relationships, and doing things the right way, Durkee advises. “The natural products industry continues to evolve quickly, but the fundamentals remain the same. Trust, integrity, and consistency matter. Companies that prioritize these values while continuing to adapt and innovate will be best positioned for long-term success. Above all, remember that the products we help create impact people’s health and well-being. That responsibility should guide every decision we make.”

Content paid for and provided by Monterey Bay Herb Company