Vireo combined university research, commercialization support, domestic manufacturing and central market access to bring innovative health products from the AgWorks Corridor to more than 60,000 retailers. 

Vireo shows what can happen when research and production exist within the same connected business ecosystem of the AgWorks Corridor. Working with University of Nebraska Medical Center researchers and UNeMed, the university’s technology-transfer division, the company developed and commercialized research that supports its performance and wellness product lines. 

From its headquarters in Plattsmouth, Nebraska, Vireo manufactures human and pet health products and operates the first creatine manufacturing facility in the United States. Its location provides access to local talent, responsive business partners and interstate connections that help the company reach consumers nationwide.  

At a Glance 

• The company: Vireo, a manufacturer of human and pet performance and wellness products headquartered in Plattsmouth, Nebraska 
• The collaboration: Vireo worked with university researchers to develop and commercialize university research 
• The production: The company operates the first creatine manufacturing facility in the United States 
• The reach: Vireo products are sold through more than 60,000 retailers 
• The workforce: Vireo employs more than 50 people locally 

Why the AgWorks Corridor Worked 

• Domestic production strengthened the supply chain: Manufacturing creatine in Plattsmouth gives Vireo a U.S.-based production capability in a category historically dependent on overseas suppliers. 
• Central access supported nationwide distribution: Nearby interstate connections and a central U.S. location allow the company to manufacture products and ship them efficiently in every direction. 
• A responsive business network reduced friction: Vireo founder Mark Faulkner described a region where companies are often only one connection away from someone who can provide guidance or help solve a problem.  

What the Vireo Story Demonstrates

Vireo shows how the AgWorks Corridor can support the complete commercialization process. 

The advantage was not one isolated resource. It was the combination of: 

• Research expertise from a major academic medical center 
• Technology-transfer support that helped move research toward the market 
• A local workforce supporting production and growth 
• Interstate access from a central national location 
• A responsive network of academic, public and private-sector partners 
• Distribution reaching more than 60,000 retailers 

For companies commercializing agricultural biotechnology, performance nutrition or other research-driven products, Vireo offers a clear example of what the integrated ecosystem of AgWorks Corridor can make possible.