GNC Teams With Sakar International for Branded Health and Wellness Product Line

CHICAGO, March 7, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- General Nutrition Company (GNC) today announced a license agreement with technology and consumer products manufacturer Sakar International for a line of more than two dozen branded health and wellness products. The line's initial merchandise offerings will range from heart rate and blood pressure monitors to weight scales, exercise accessories and electronic pill boxes.

The products will be distributed through drug stores, home stores, supermarkets, mass market retailers and other locations in addition to GNC stores, dramatically expanding GNC's presence in the retail channel. The first SKUs are scheduled to hit store shelves in Q4 2011. The agreement includes exclusive distribution throughout the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

Other products in the collection will include pedometers, thermometers, stopwatches, sunrise clocks, massagers, grooming products, soap dispensers, UV cleaning, humidifiers, air/water purifiers, MP3 workout cases and workout headphones. IMG Licensing, a division of IMG Worldwide, represents GNC exclusively across all areas for licensing.

"Until now, the GNC brand has been largely confined to our 7,100+ GNC stores," said Tom Dowd, Executive Vice President of Stores, Operations & Development for GNC. "This license reflects a strategic decision to leverage our strong brand recognition in order to provide consumers with health and wellness products offering GNC reliability regardless of where they are shopping."

"GNC is synonymous with health and wellness. It's a name that consumers trust," said Liza Abrams, Sakar Vice President of Licensing. "Partnering with GNC gives us an opportunity to join that circle of trust with a suite of products that helps people both monitor and improve their own health profiles."

Product prototypes are on display at Booth # L13144 at the International Home + Housewares Show that opened yesterday in Chicago.

About Sakar International

Sakar International Inc. designs and manufactures a wide range of technology, toy, and consumer electronic products. Founded in 1977, the company is the manufacturer of Vivitar camera equipment and accessories, a market leader in youth electronics, and a producer of licensed products for leading consumer brands. Products range from digital cameras and camcorders with related accessories to computer, iPod, GPS and gaming accessories, binoculars, MP3 players, clock radios, gift and toy electronics. The company is privately held and headquartered in Edison, N.J. For more information, visit www.sakar.com.  

About GNC

GNC, headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pa., is a leading global specialty retailer of nutritional products including vitamin, mineral, herbal and other specialty supplements and sports nutrition, diet and energy products.  As of September 30, 2010, GNC has more than 7,100 locations, of which more than 5,500 retail locations are in the United States (including 897 franchise and 1,983 Rite Aid franchise store-within-a-store locations), and franchise operations in 45 countries.  The company – which is dedicated to helping consumers Live Well – also offers products and product information online at www.gnc.com.

About IMG Licensing

IMG Licensing is the exclusive worldwide partner to many of the world's pre-eminent brands, trademarks and personalities in sports, media and entertainment. More information is available at www.imgworld.com

SOURCE Sakar International