Cape Town – US-based General Nutrition Corporation (GNC), the largest global specialty health and wellness retailer, will launch in South Africa later this month through an exclusive franchise agreement with the Clicks Group.
GNC’s international range of vitamins, supplements, sports nutrition and slimming products will be available in over 50 Clicks stores from late February.
The first GNC stand-alone store will open at Cresta Shopping Centre in Johannesburg on 1 April. A further three stores will be opened in 2014.
GNC Holdings is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: GNC) and is headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The group has more than 8 400 outlets, including over 6 300 retail locations in the USA, and franchise operations in 55 countries. Revenue for the 2013 financial year totalled $2.43 billion.
Clicks Group CEO, David Kneale, said it was pleasing that a global retailer of GNC’s stature has selected Clicks as its partner to launch its first stores in Africa.
“As South Africa’s leading health and beauty retailer Clicks is committed to offering world class products and premium brands to consumers. Our relationship with GNC will allow us to capitalise on the increasing trend to self-medication. In our experience customers are becoming more health and lifestyle conscious, opting for preventative rather than curative medicine.
“We are proud to have attracted another high profile international brand to the country which will support our organic growth strategy in the health and beauty markets,” said Kneale.
Clicks Group successfully introduced UK-based retailer, The Body Shop, into South Africa in 2001. The chain now has 46 stores across the country as well as capsule ranges in over 70 Clicks stores. The Body Shop is also operated by the Clicks Group under a long-term franchise agreement.
Sean Kristafor, general manager of GNC South Africa, said besides offering customers world class vitamins, sports nutrition and weight loss products, GNC will give Clicks access to extensive research and development, product innovation and global health and wellness trends.
He said GNC aims to set the standard in the global nutritional supplement industry. “GNC is committed to providing quality sports nutrition products that do not contain banned substances and that adhere to World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) standards.”
Kristafor said GNC’s philosophy of ‘living well’ aims to ensure that customers make the most of their lives, their health and their fitness. “GNC’s products address the needs of modern consumers who want to improve their quality of life and who place a major focus on personal health and preventative self-care.”
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Issued by Tier 1 Investor Relations on behalf of the Clicks Group
For further information kindly contact
Graeme Lillie, Tier 1 Investor Relations 021 702 3102 / 082 468 1507