Dr. John A. A. Thomson, inventor of SUPERthrive, will celebrate his 100th birthday November 23.

SUPERthrive inventor to celebrate 100th birthday

Dr. John A. A. Thomson, inventor of SUPERthrive, will celebrate his 100th birthday November 23.


Thomson developed the SUPERthrive formula in 1939 and founded Vitamin Institute to market and sell it. Seventy-two years later, he is still active in the operations.


After finding the proper balance of SUPERthrive’s 50 vitamins and hormones, Thomson has changed little in the secret formula over the years.


Holding a Ph.D. in biochemistry, Thomson has collected awards and commendation for his lifetime of work. In 1940, SUPERthrive received the Science & Industry Gold Medal at The Golden Gate International Exposition in San Francisco. The Lifetime Achievement Award from the Lawn & Garden Marketing & Distribution Association came in 2006, and in 2009 Thomson collected Sustainable Environmental Education’s Environmental Awareness Award.


SUPERthrive was used by the U.S. government during World War II to transplant mature trees for defense plant camouflage; plant and sustain low-dust turf landing fields; improve soil conditions where salt interfered with plant success; develop vital drug- and oil-bearing plants domestically; and increase production of necessary guayule rubber.

When asked about his primary philosophy of life, Thomson sums it up by saying, “My whole idea is to try to leave the world better off for wherever I touch it.”