Our Story

60 Years in the Health Food Business. 30 Years in Palm Beach Gardens.

At Nutrition World, health and wellness aren’t just our business. They’re part of our family history. What began as a family health food store in New Jersey in 1966 has grown into a passion spanning generations, communities and countless customers who have become part of our extended family.

In 2026 we’re celebrating two milestones: 60 years in the health food business and 30 years serving Palm Beach Gardens. The industry has changed tremendously, but the values that started it all haven’t.

Where It All Began: Joy Health Foods, 1966

In 1966, the Cohen family opened Joy Health Foods in Asbury Park, New Jersey. Back then, natural foods and supplements weren’t on every supermarket shelf. Independent health food stores were where people came to ask questions, discover new products and get help from people who cared.

Bruce was six years old when his family entered the business. He grew up surrounded by vitamins, herbs and conversations about nutrition, and by fifteen he was running a health food store on his own, an early start that shaped his whole career.

Bringing Nutrition World to Florida

In 1972, the family opened the first Nutrition World in Fort Pierce. Over the following years, Bruce worked alongside his parents, brother and sisters running stores across the Treasure Coast and Palm Beach County, in Fort Pierce, Port Saint Lucie, Stuart, Tequesta and West Palm Beach. Each store had its own personality, but all shared the same philosophy: a broad selection of quality natural products, affordable prices and personal service.

A New Chapter in Palm Beach Gardens: 1996

In 1996, Bruce and Maureen Cohen opened Nutrition World in Palm Beach Gardens together. Maureen brought her own natural products experience from the Canadian Health Food Association, a nonprofit supporting retailers and suppliers, which complemented Bruce’s lifelong experience in health food retail.

Thirty years later, we’re still serving the same community. We’ve watched Palm Beach Gardens grow, welcomed new neighbors, and seen children who once came in with their parents become customers themselves. Some of our customers have shopped with us for decades, and that loyalty means more than we can express.

Our Employees and Customers Make Us Who We Are

We’re fortunate to have an amazing team who bring knowledge, kindness and personality to the store every day. Their willingness to go the extra mile and make everyone feel welcome is a big part of what makes Nutrition World special.

And we truly believe we have some of the best customers anywhere. Over the years we’ve shared stories, laughter, celebrations and sometimes life’s harder moments, and formed friendships that reach well beyond the checkout counter. We couldn’t have reached these milestones without you.

Real Help in a World of Choices

Vitamins and supplements that were once found almost only in health food stores are now sold everywhere. But more choices don’t always make finding the right product easier. We take the time to help you compare products, understand your options and make informed decisions, whether you’ve taken supplements for decades or are just getting started. It’s the same approach our family took at Joy Health Foods.

Over 10,000 Products, Great Prices and Special Orders

Our shelves hold vitamins, minerals, supplements, herbs, natural and organic foods, sports nutrition, natural skin and personal care, household essentials and natural pet foods, including our own Vitality Works and Nutrition World lines. If we don’t carry something, just ask and we’ll special order it whenever we can.

We keep prices competitive with everyday low prices and a biweekly sales flyer with great deals. You can sign up for our email sales flyer to see the latest deals.

A Story Close to Our Hearts

Read about the day Bruce gave his best friend Ron a kidney: Ron & Bruce’s Story.

Looking Forward

We’re proud of our history and very excited about the future, including our new website. Very soon we will be opening the online shopping feature which will allow you to place orders for shipping or in store pickup, as well as local delivery. We’re still a family-run health food store that believes in quality products, fair prices and treating people with care and respect.

To our employees, past and present, and to our customers, whether you’ve shopped with us for thirty years or just discovered us: thank you for being part of our story.

— Bruce, Maureen and the Nutrition World Family