When Bill Brown, Chairman of Central Garden & Pet, reflected on the legacy he hoped to leave, he didn’t just think about profit margins or productivity metrics—he thought about the health of his people.
After meeting renowned physician Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn and learning how diet could prevent and even reverse heart disease, Brown asked a simple but powerful question: What if our employees had access to that same opportunity?
That question became the catalyst for a bold experiment: could a company-led Food as Medicine program improve the health of employees struggling with chronic conditions? The answer, it turns out, was a resounding yes.
A Clinical-Grade Wellness Program, Built for the Real World
In partnership with PLANTSTRONG by Metabite, Central launched a 12-week Intensive Therapeutic Lifestyle Change program—designed not as a perk, but as a serious, outcomes-driven intervention.
Participants received:
- Medically tailored pantry kits stocked with shelf-stable, whole-food, plant-based staples
- Live weekly group coaching and daily habit tracking via a supportive, AI-enhanced app
- Weekly video lessons to explain the science of transformation
- At-home biometric testing and devices to track clinical progress
- A supportive community to reinforce accountability and encouragement
“We’re not trying to convert all 7,000 employees,” said Dawn Hutchins, Wellness Program Director at CGP. “We’re focused on reaching the ones who need it most—and giving them a safe, educational space to make a powerful choice for their health.”
Measurable Outcomes, Transformative Impact
The results went far beyond expectations:
- Multiple cases of type 2 diabetes remission
- Average weight loss of 4.4%, with some employees shedding over 30 pounds
- Significant medication reductions for blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar
- Up to 23% LDL cholesterol reductions, with 75% of participants improving lipid panels
- Clinically significant blood pressure drops, requiring downward adjustment of meds
“These weren’t abstract wins,” said Rip Esselstyn, founder of PLANTSTRONG. “These were life-changing outcomes, happening in real time, in real people—and all driven by the power of food.”
A New Era of Employer Health Strategy
As a self-insured employer, Central Garden & Pet recognized that health benefits should do more than cover illness—they should create health. That’s why they’ve now expanded the program to reach more employees and build on the momentum of their pilot.
“It’s not just wellness,” said Esselstyn. “It’s outcomes. It’s reversing disease with food, and it’s proving that a nutrition-focused behavior change program can be clinically meaningful, scalable, and equitable.”
