Martin & Pleasance has a longstanding history, with its origins dating as far back as 1855. Scroll through to see the key events of our history and how our business has continued to evolve with the passing of time.
1855
Where the story of Martin & Pleasance began – founded by Homeopath Mr Kidner in 1855 when he opened his homeopathic pharmacy at 85 Collins Street, Melbourne. Their portfolio consisted of Homeopathic remedies, Schuessler Tissue Salts and Herbal Creams.
1860
M Edward Gould bought the homeopathic pharmacy from Mr Kidner in 1860, renaming the business to ‘Gould & Son’.
1864
Mr R J Martin forms a partnership with ‘Gould & Son’, and soon becomes the sole proprietor of the business when Edward Gould returns to England, retaining the newly established name of ‘Gould & Martin’.
1878
Medically training Charles Pleasance joined forces with Mr Martin in 1878, at which time they renamed the pharmacy Martin & Pleasance. Mr Pleasance was of English heritage and would go on to be the first elected Lord Mayor of Melbourne. Mr Pleasance would go on to be the sole owner of the business in 1886.
1930
Started distributing Original Bach Flower Remedies by Dr Edward Bach, joining Martin & Pleasance original brands Schuessler Tissue Salts & Herbal Creams. The owners of Martin & Pleasance dealt directly with Dr Bach himself.
1992
Martin & Pleasance was acquired by the Holyman family, who still to this day retain ownership of this iconic business.
1998
Martin & Pleasance started distributing their products into New Zealand.
2011
Vital
Next to join the Martin & Pleasance family was perhaps their most iconic brand Vital, with 2 products under the brand, Vital Greens now Vital All-In-One and Vital Plant Protein.
2016
Martin & Pleasance formed a joint venture with Pauling Labs in Canada to launch Ener-C.
2019
Organic Formulations
Organic Formulations, a range of natural organic personal care & home care products, joined Martin & Pleasance.
2022
Green Nutritionals
Green Nutritionals, a globally respected leader in premium superfoods, joined the Martin & Pleasance family. Known for its commitment to purity, sustainability, and nutrient-dense formulations, this partnership strengthened our position in wholefood nutrition and expanded our offering of high-quality, naturally derived supplements.
2023
Anipal
Anipal, an innovative pet wellness brand developed by veterinarian Dr Stephanie Stubbe, became part of the Martin & Pleasance portfolio. Built on a foundation of scientific research and natural health principles, Anipal delivers targeted, evidence-based solutions to support the health and wellbeing of pets, reflecting our commitment to holistic care for the whole family.
2024
Ener-Life
Ener Life was launched as a new, forward-thinking range focused on everyday vitality and energy support. Debuting with Ener-B+ and Ener-D+, the range was developed to address modern lifestyle demands, combining essential nutrients with a science-backed approach to support energy production, immune health, and overall wellbeing.
