IN PROFILE
G O : HIVITA also has a strong focus on Australian manufacturing and glass packaging. Why? Michael: Every HIVITA product is made in Australia and packaged in glass, and we are working to minimise our use of plastic across the wider group. That decision wasn’t made because we thought glass would make a good marketing story. It reflects the broader standards we want to apply to the company. We spend a great deal of time thinking about what goes into our products, so we believe it makes sense to think carefully about what they are packaged in as well. G O : You talk a lot about scientific validation. What does that mean in practice? Michael: Science has to be a fundamental part of what we do. Our formulations are informed by independent scientific research, but we also want to contribute to the evidence rather than simply referring to research that has already been conducted elsewhere. That is why we are now undertaking clinical research involving our own products in partnership with Professor Kamal Dua and his team at NICM Health Research Institute in Sydney. If we are going to talk about quality and
evidence, we need to be willing to invest in the work behind those words. G O : HIVITA is part of Happy Saba Group. How does the wider group influence the brand? Michael: Everything within Happy Saba Group comes back to what we call our three Ps: People, Planet and Philanthropy. We ask ourselves whether our decisions are good for people, whether we are being respectful of the planet and whether the success of the business "We want people to be able to look at a product and understand what they are taking. If you need magnesium, you can choose magnesium. The focus is on a particular ingredient rather than automatically combining it with a long list of others." allows us to contribute something meaningful back to the community. That philosophy influences everything from packaging and Australian manufacturing to the organisations and causes we support. Our group supports Australia Zoo’s conservation work and partners with food-rescue organisations including
SecondBite and FareShare. We also support scholarships for young people and refugees who may otherwise not have access to those opportunities. Away from the public spotlight, we also provide support to families who have someone facing serious illness. That is particularly important to us because wellness is about much more than the products people take. Sometimes it is about helping someone through an incredibly difficult period of their life. G O : After taking on a company with a 50-year history, do you feel a responsibility to its legacy? Michael: Absolutely. You don’t acquire a company with that sort of history and assume that everything starts with you. Our job is to take the principles that made the company valuable in the first place – trust, quality and simplicity – and make sure they remain relevant for today’s consumer. We want to build HIVITA carefully. We don’t need to have the biggest range or be the loudest brand in the market. We want to make products we believe in, support the independent health retailers and practitioners who educate consumers, invest in science and build a company whose purpose extends beyond financial results. If that means growing a little more slowly, we are comfortable with that.
"We ask ourselves whether our decisions are good for people, whether we are being respectful of the planet and whether the success of the business allows us to contribute something meaningful back to the community."
Left: Michael and Sally at NICM Research Institute.
Right: Steve Irwin Gala in Las Vegas.
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ISSUE 78 • 2026
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