Terry Lemerond, the founder and longtime leader of Terry Naturally, has died at the age of 78, leaving behind a substantial legacy in the natural health, natural products, and dietary supplement industries.
Lemerond died on September 3, 2026, according to a tribute published by Whole Foods Magazine. News of his passing was also shared by Terry Naturally, where colleagues remembered him as a leader, mentor, teacher, storyteller, and compassionate friend.
The company said employees were heartbroken by his death and expressed gratitude for the decades of knowledge, guidance, and inspiration he shared with people throughout the industry. Colleagues also said they intended to continue the vision he developed around improving health through natural products and science-based approaches.
Lemerond spent nearly five decades working in the natural health field and became widely recognized for his interest in researching ingredients and developing formulations that brought together traditional natural ingredients and scientific research.
His professional journey began with ownership of a health food store before he moved into manufacturing and distribution. His work eventually led him to establish Enzymatic Therapy, a company through which he helped introduce and popularize several botanical and nutritional ingredients in the American market.
Among the ingredients associated with his work were glucosamine sulfate, standardized ginkgo, and saw palmetto. He was also recognized within the industry for his efforts to advance botanical standardization, an approach intended to improve consistency and quality in herbal products.
In 2007, Lemerond launched the Terry Naturally brand, which became known for formulations built around ingredients that had been clinically studied and products developed for specific health-related goals.
According to Whole Foods Magazine, Lemerond researched and developed more than 500 nutritional and botanical formulations throughout his career. His work helped establish him as a prominent figure in the natural-products business and expanded his influence well beyond the companies he founded.
His accomplishments were recognized through multiple industry awards and honors. Among them were the Natural Products Association’s 2008 Industry Champion Award, the 2013 SENPA President’s Award, and the American Botanical Council Champion Award in 2015.
In 2017, Lemerond was inducted into the Hall of Legends at Natural Products Expo West, further reflecting his standing within the natural-products community.
Although his professional accomplishments were extensive, tributes following his death have placed just as much emphasis on his personality and the way he treated other people.
Former colleagues described him as someone who cared deeply about employees, independent retailers, customers, and people throughout the broader natural-health community.
Cheryl Myers, who worked alongside Lemerond for 28 years, said his influence played an important role in her own decision to pursue a career in integrative health. She remembered his enthusiasm, sense of humor, generosity, and willingness to encourage people around him.
Other figures within the natural-products industry similarly remembered Lemerond as a pioneer who believed that business should involve more than sales and growth. They said he placed importance on people, education, purpose, and making a meaningful contribution to society.
Corrie Campbell also shared a personal tribute, remembering Lemerond as a deeply caring person who encouraged others to pursue healthier lives. Campbell recalled meeting him when she was 20 and described the support he provided to her family during difficult periods.
Stories such as these have highlighted a side of Lemerond that extended beyond his business achievements. For many people who worked with him or encountered him professionally, he was not simply a company founder but also someone willing to teach, mentor, encourage, and offer personal support.
His influence was especially significant among independent natural-products retailers. His commitment to education and his willingness to engage with retailers and industry professionals helped strengthen relationships throughout the sector.
Lemerond’s emphasis on education was another important part of his professional philosophy. He frequently focused on understanding ingredients, communicating their uses, and helping consumers and retailers make more informed decisions about natural-health products.
His colleagues now face the challenge of preserving that approach while continuing the businesses and initiatives he helped build.
For Terry Naturally, his death represents the loss of the individual most closely associated with the company’s identity and long-term vision. The organization has said that his team intends to continue working toward the mission he established.
For those who knew him personally, however, his legacy is likely to be measured not only by the products he developed or the companies he founded but also by the people he influenced throughout nearly half a century in the industry.
His career demonstrates the breadth of his impact, from health-food retail and manufacturing to product research, ingredient development, education, and mentoring.
At the same time, the tributes following his death show that his relationships were central to how many colleagues remember him. Descriptions of his humor, kindness, curiosity, and willingness to support others appear repeatedly in the memories being shared.
Lemerond leaves behind an industry that changed significantly during his lifetime. Natural products moved from a relatively specialized market into a much broader consumer-health sector, and he became one of the people who helped shape that evolution.
His work with botanical ingredients and formulation development contributed to the growth of the industry, while his support for independent retailers helped strengthen a network of businesses that played an important role in distributing natural-health products.
For the people who worked alongside him, his mentorship may ultimately prove to be one of his most enduring contributions. The professionals he encouraged and taught are now carrying forward knowledge and values that he spent decades developing.
As tributes continue to emerge, Terry Lemerond is being remembered as an entrepreneur and industry pioneer, but also as a teacher, mentor, storyteller, and friend.
His death at 78 closes a career that lasted nearly five decades and left a lasting mark on the natural-health industry.
The companies, colleagues, retailers, and professionals who were influenced by his work will now continue without him, while the vision he established remains part of the foundation he leaves behind.
For those closest to Terry Lemerond, his legacy is ultimately about more than business success. It is about the people he helped, the knowledge he shared, the relationships he built, and the belief that meaningful work should be used to make a positive difference in the lives of others.
His passing marks the end of an influential chapter in the natural-products industry, but the ideas, businesses, formulations, and people he inspired will continue to carry elements of his work forward.
