GNC Franchising Expected to Grow Th...( Consumer demand for healthy lif...),Health

Consumer demand for healthy lifestyle drives new store openings

PITTSBURGH, Dec. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- For most people, the new year means a new resolution or two. For GNC, it means more new stores.

Annual growth in the supplement industry is expected to rise steadily through 2012, according to the Nutrition Business Journal, making now the perfect time for GNC to once again expand its store base and overall business: The company estimates more than 100 new stores will open within the year, with special emphasis on franchising opportunities.

An Ipsos-Public Affairs survey, funded by the Council for Responsible Nutrition and co-sponsored by GNC, showed that 65 percent of adult Americans consistently take dietary supplements. The growing industry is a result of the aging baby boomer population, which makes up approximately 50 percent of the total U.S. population, and growing health concerns. As more people become more conscious of health conditions in general, they become more proactive in preventive care. In short, more people are seeking out healthier lifestyles.

"As GNC grows, it maintains its position as the leader in the supplement industry," said Tom Dowd, executive vice president of store operations and development at GNC's Pittsburgh headquarters. "We're proud of our dedication to quality and we want to continue our growth in the minds of consumers. Research shows the GNC brand name has 94 percent recognition, and we look forward to building on that success."

The company's planned expansion is another milestone among its recent accomplishments. In early 2007, Entrepreneur magazine named GNC Franchising, Inc., the world's #1 franchise in the vitamins category for the 18th year in a row, and ranked the company #32 overall in its elite list of first-rate franchising opportunities. Additionally, GNC recently celebrated the opening of its 1,000th international location in Sofia, Bulgaria.

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