From Corporate to Clean Wellness: How Leslie Danford Built Vitaminis

I had a great time joining Save Me a Spot, the podcast that helps busy people fit wellness into their lives. Hosted by G & G, this episode dives into my journey of launching Vitaminis, from pivoting during the pandemic to creating whole-food-based wellness shots.

We talked about gut health, key nutrients, and how small, consistent choices impact overall wellness. Plus, I shared the behind-the-scenes of entrepreneurship—from product development to getting on store shelves.

G & G: Welcome to Save Me A Spot! Today, we have a special guest—Leslie Danford, founder of Vitaminis. She started her company during the pandemic, and we can’t wait to hear how she built it.

Leslie: Thanks for having me! I started Vitaminis in 2021 after losing my job in hospitality due to COVID. I was suddenly at home with my three kids, trying to make sure we were all eating well. I’ve always been a nutrition junkie—I believe if you get the right vitamins and nutrients, you stay healthier. But I struggled to find easy, whole-food-based vitamin options. Pills make me nauseous, and gummies are basically candy. That’s when I realized—why wasn’t there a better option?

G & G: That makes so much sense! So what did those first steps look like?

Leslie: I started by researching nutritional gaps. Immunity was top of mind during COVID, so I focused on an Immune Support shot with zinc, magnesium, and vitamin C—nutrients that are hard to get in a typical diet. For example, our shot has as much zinc as four avocados and as much magnesium as five cups of spinach. Then I developed a Gut Health shot with probiotics and fiber—the same amount as two cups of yogurt and a cup of broccoli. The idea was to make something effective, clean, and easy to take.

G & G: We love that! So you’re basically making sure people get essential nutrients without having to overhaul their entire diet?

Leslie: Exactly. It’s all about convenience without compromise. You don’t have to drink a massive green smoothie every day to get your vitamins. Just grab a Vitaminis shot and go.

G & G: We’re obsessed with gut health. You mentioned fiber and probiotics—how did you choose what to include?

Leslie: Gut health can feel overwhelming with all the talk about microbiomes. I simplified it: probiotics and fiber are the foundation. Our gut health shot includes spore-based probiotics that survive digestion and get deeper into your system. Fiber is essential too, and most people don’t get enough. That’s why we packed five grams of fiber into a single shot.

G & G: That’s amazing. Did you start with gut health, or was there another first product?

Leslie: I actually started with Immune Support because of COVID. At the time, everyone was focused on immunity, and I wanted to create something with the key vitamins people needed but weren’t getting enough of. I found that zinc and magnesium were both really difficult to get in a normal diet unless you were eating oysters or tons of dark leafy greens. So I formulated the immune support shot to fill that gap.

G & G: That’s so interesting. And your latest product?

Leslie: We’re launching Daily Greens next month! It’s a green apple-pear juice with vitamins from leafy greens, including vitamins A, D, E, and folate. Folate is especially important because so many people are deficient, and it plays a big role in health, especially for women.

G & G: We love it! How did you actually turn this idea into a business?

Leslie: I had the vision, but I needed experts. I worked with a food scientist to develop the formulas and ensure the products were shelf-stable without preservatives. Finding a co-packer was tough since most manufacturers don’t specialize in small bottles unless they do refrigerated products. I called over 75 co-packers before I found the right one in Texas!

G & G: Wow! And where can people find Vitaminis now?

Leslie: We’re in 180 stores, including Fresh Thyme and Fruitful Yield, and we recently launched in Mariano’s. We’re also on Amazon and our website, where we offer 12-pack subscriptions—our average subscriber stays for 15 months!

G & G: That’s amazing. Do you have more expansion plans?

Leslie: Yes! I want to create more bites and sips—like mini bars and chews with the same whole-food, no-added-sugar philosophy. But for now, I’m focused on getting our shots into more retail stores.

G & G: We can’t wait to see what’s next! Before we wrap up, what’s your biggest piece of advice?

Leslie: Small steps add up. Whether it’s improving your health, starting a business, or making a lifestyle change, don’t get overwhelmed by the big picture. Just focus on one small thing at a time, and eventually, you’ll look back and see how much progress you’ve made.

G & G: That’s so inspiring! Everyone, check out Vitaminis at Fresh Thyme, Mariano’s, or online—and follow Leslie for more wellness tips. Thanks for joining us!

Leslie: Thanks so much for having me!