New Look. New Attitude. New GNC.

General Nutrition Centers (GNC), the nation's leading retailer of nutritional supplements, officially unveiled a $20 million sweeping redesign for its 4,200 stores in the United States, marking the first time the entire chain has been redesigned simultaneously. The significant capital investment is the first in a multi-phase program to enhance the shopping experience for consumers in the retail supplement industry.

GNC is currently the market leader in the nutrition and supplement industry, with nearly 10 percent of the $15 billion market and generating more than $1 billion in sales in FY 2001. The new store format puts GNC in a prime position to capture an even greater market share of the retail supplement market, which is expected to grow significantly as more Americans try to adhere to healthier lifestyles. The comprehensive store redesign is central to the company's mission to help people live their best lives, because it directly addresses consumer concerns about having an inviting atmosphere at GNC stores.

"We redesigned the stores with consumers in mind," said Mike Meyers, president and CEO of GNC. "Our research told us shopping for nutritional supplements can be intimidating. The improved store format enhances GNC's image and the shopping experience by creating a more informative and user- friendly atmosphere for our customers.

"There are so many options now when it comes to vitamins and health supplements. We want consumers to turn to GNC as a partner in realizing their goal of a healthier and more balanced life."

The new stores feature distinctly marked organization of different product categories, making it easy for consumers to find items. In addition, stores have an information kiosk and brochure stand that offers detailed information about common health issues and problems.

"We view each GNC store as a resource for health, nutrition and supplement information geared to the everyday consumer," said Meyers. "With our brochures and kiosks, consumers now have a consistent, high-quality - and easy to understand - point of reference available to them."

The improved store format will help introduce broad-based, health-oriented consumers to the wide range of products GNC offers and the role those products play in helping people live their best lives, according to Meyers.

General Nutrition Corporation (GNC), based in Pittsburgh, PA, is the largest nation-wide specialty retailer of vitamin, mineral and herbal supplements, sports nutrition as well as many personal care and related products. GNC operates more than 5,300 retail outlets throughout the United States, including 1,360 domestic Franchise locations, and 26 foreign markets including Canada and Mexico. GNC is a wholly owned subsidiary of Royal Numico N.V., a world-wide market leader in specialized nutrition that includes infant and clinical nutrition and nutritional supplements. Headquartered in Zoetermeer, The Netherlands, Royal Numico's operations include manufacturing facilities in more than 50 countries and research facilities in the Netherlands, Germany, the UK, China, Australia and the USA.