Revenue was up, but behind the scenes all was not well at LifeStream. An awkward partnership led to the sale of the company and it eventually was acquired by Kraft/Phillip Morris. Fourteen years later, the Stephens family would repurchase LifeStream.
Ratana put in motion the inspiration for the Stephens’ next business venture, Nature’s Path Food, Inc. Ratana opened a new vegetarian restaurant, Woodlands, where she perfected the recipes for what would be Nature’s Path’s first products, including Manna Bread and Little Honey Cakes.