Metabolic Maintenance to celebrate new location

Ed Fitzjarrell had a big decision to make when it became clear that the company he founded, Metabolic Maintenance Products (MMP), had outgrown its longtime headquarters on Pine Street in Sisters: Should they stay or should they go?

"I wanted to move it, mostly for tax reasons," Fitzjarrell said. "I looked at Nevada, Texas. I was courted by the Nevada folks real hard."

But virtually none of the approximately 39 people employed by the nutriceutical manufacturer were willing to make a move. And that was a game-changing consideration for Fitzjarrell.

"Our biggest assets are our people," he said.

So the company started looking for the right space. Fitzjarrell had always admired the building that once housed Weitech and then Multnomah Publishing.

"It's the nicest building in Sisters, in my opinion," he said.

MMP purchased the building and moved its manufacturing and office operations there this spring. The move provided 32,000 square feet of space, nearly double that of the original Pine Street location. But it still may not be sufficient for the growing company.

"It's probably going to double within the next three to five years," Fitzjarrell said. "Then what are we going to do?"

That's an issue for another day. Right now, MMP is hosting an open house on Thursday, from 6 to 8 p.m. to celebrate the new space on Larch Street, across from the Sisters Post Office - and to give the community a glimpse of one of the most quietly successful operations in Sisters' "hidden economy."

Fitzjarrell notes that the company has been in Sisters for 22 years - yet few people know what they do. So folks can come out to the open house and enjoy food, beverages, and live music - and get "a behind-the-scenes glimpse of who we are."

MMP manufactures high-quality supplements, working directly with doctors and other healthcare providers.

"We were the first to make products with no binders or fillers - non-nutritive (components)," Fitzjarrell said. "We led the charge on that."

The company works with 18,000 doctors and takes their input on what they'd like to see in products that support their patients' health. Fitzjarrell notes that the company is currently sponsoring studies on the impact of diet and supplementation on chronic fatigue, autism and problem pregnancies.

The business model has put the company on a steady upward trajectory in sales and given it international reach.

And, with the acquisition of a new headquarters, Fitzjarrell has affirmed the company's commitment to operating out of Sisters.

For more information, visit http://www.metabolicmaintenance.com.

Author Bio

Jim Cornelius, Editor in Chief

Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.

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