GNC has unveiled a plan to expand in India through its partnership with Guardian Healthcare Services, an India-based pharmacy chain. GNC intends to sell products in approximately 4,000 new retail outlets across India by 2020. The retailer expects 1,000 outlets to add GNC products to their offerings this year.
The health, wellness and performance supplements retailer currently sells in approximately 50 retail locations, primarily in Guardian pharmacies. Guardian is the master franchise for GNC in India and holds exclusive distribution and marketing rights for its merchandise throughout the country.
GNC India also will market and sell its full product line through Guardian’s web site and via other e-Commerce players.
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When GNC India first partnered with Guardian in October 2017, the company launched the #BuildingBlocksofNutrition campaign to propagate scientific approaches to fulfilling nutrition intake, and to raise awareness around the benefits of complete nutrition.
India’s dietary supplements market is currently estimated to be worth $4 billion and is forecast to grow to $10 billion by 2022. GNC’s international business unit has been a key growth driver for the company in recent years. Revenues at this segment increased 14.1% on higher cross-border e-Commerce sales in China in Q4 2017.To accelerate this growth, GNC entered into a $300 million strategic partnership and joint venture agreement with China-based Harbin Pharmaceutical Group Holdings.
