Summit Nutritionals International® is a company based in the United States that manufactures and sells nutraceutical supplements worldwide. With over 20 years of experience in this industry, Summit Nutritionals International®’s main objective is to promote joint health.
César DePaço: Founder of Summit Nutritionals International®
César DePaço, a well-known Portuguese-American entrepreneur and philanthropist, ventured in the nutraceutical industry for the first time in 1997, when he created Summit Sourcing.
Summit Sourcing started as a US-based company dedicated to handling and selling all-natural nutraceutical supplements from organic cartilage, collagen, and chondroitin sulfate extracts.
At the time, César DePaço recognized the lack of supply of natural supplements in the North American market and he seized the opportunity to develop his company and compete with international manufacturers around the world.
The growing demand for organic health complements allowed further expansion and the restructuring of Summit Sourcing, which gave rise to a brand new company that would soon become a market leader: Summit Nutritionals International®.
Currently, this multinational company produces, sells, and delivers different types of nutraceutical and nutritional supplements extracted from animal cartilage and connective tissues.
During the Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) epidemic, also known as the “mad cow disease”, the use of cattle for tissue and protein extraction became unviable which threatened the chondroitin sulfate production.
CEO César DePaço ensured business continuity by promoting the use of alternative animals, such as poultry, swine, and even marine life to extract chondroitin sulfate and create substitute supplements until cattle was a viable solution again.
Even after the epidemic, César DePaço is committed to ensuring all bovine extracts are healthy and free from the disease agent that causes BSE. The entrepreneur is also keen on preventing waste by using animal parts that are not usually utilized for other purposes, such as the cow’s trachea.
César DePaço continued his philanthropic mission through Summit Nutritionals International®, granting a number of donations to non-profit health organizations mainly in the New Jersey area, where the entrepreneur resides with his family.
Moreover, César DePaço supports multiple police departments and public security causes throughout the United States by funding material and equipment, and donating K-9 agents when needed.
The Company: Summit Nutritionals International®
Summit Nutritionals International® Inc. is an industry leader in the production and delivery of powdered chondroitin sulfate in bulk.
Created by César DePaço in 2001, the company is a multinational specialized in manufacturing raw products used in the nutraceutical industry.
According to César DePaço, Summit Nutritionals International® is focused on ensuring strict quality control that guarantees customer satisfaction and a premium-quality product.
All supplements are exclusively manufactured in the United States and the company is certified by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the regulatory agency for food and pharmaceutical products in the United States.
Although the production is based in the United States only, César DePaço’s company has locations around the world. In addition to the Iowa factory and the New Jersey branch, there is also a Florida branch and even a European branch located in Portugal.
The European branch was temporarily based in the Portuguese capital, Lisbon, but relocated to the town of Cascais soon after. The goal of this branch is not only to sell nutraceutical products produced by César DePaço’s company in Portugal but also to market these products in the European context.
Regarding the choice of this branch office in Portugal, César DePaço confessed that, despite the location choice being strategic and logical since it occupies a key space in the European market, he still feels it’s another connection to his home country.
Summit Nutritionals International® exports its products worldwide. Between 30 to 40% of exports of the main supplement, chondroitin sulfate, are shipped to Brazil, Germany, Mexico, the United Kingdom, and Japan, among others.
What is chondroitin sulfate?
Chondroitin sulfate is a natural component of cartilage that was first discovered in 1930. Since then, it has been studied and used as an organic analgesic that prevents joint and ligament tissue deterioration and pain.
Chondroitin sulfates act like “liquid magnets".
It helps attract nutrient-filled fluids into the proteoglycan molecules inside the cartilage which promotes regeneration. These liquids also help preventing damage by working as a spongy shock absorber.
The company founded by César DePaço produces raw Chondroitin Sulfate from cartilage used in nutritional supplements.
Droi-Kon® Chondroitin Sulfate: A Product by Summit Nutritionals International®
As a dog lover, César DePaço also invested in the manufacture of feeds and supplements adequate for dogs under the Droi-Kon® brand, a Summit Nutritionals International® trademarked product that promotes healthy aging.
Droi-Kon® Chondroitin Sulfate is a premium soluble supplement based on chondroitin sulfate. It aids in the maintenance of healthy cartilage around the joints, promoting the formation of new cartilage and ligament tissue.
César DePaço's company is committed to producing and marketing a quality supplement, supported by multiple laboratory researches and inspected by the FDA.
This product is highly appreciated by the police departments of the United States, which are regular customers of Droi-Kon® Chondroitin Sulfate, in order to strengthen the health and mobility of their K9 units.