How Herbalife Nutrition Became the Top Ranked Brand In Weight Management and Wellbeing

Updated on September 9, 2023
world no1 nutrition company

Becoming a Premier Global Nutrition Company

Since its inception in 1980, Herbalife Nutrition has been on a mission to change people’s lives around the world through great nutrition and an effective business opportunity. What started as a small business venture is now a globally known and celebrated company with multiple awards and accolades to show for it.

Recently named the world’s #1 brand in weight management and wellbeing by Euromonitor International, an independent market research firm, Herbalife’s vow to provide high-quality, science-backed products have proven successful. It’s worth noting that the company has also held, for five consecutive years, the titles of being the world’s top brand in weight management, meal replacements, and meal replacement and protein supplements combined.

“Being named the top brand in the industry is an accomplishment shared by everyone involved in our unwavering pursuit to manufacture the best tasting, highest quality products,” said John Agwunobi, Chairman and CEO of Herbalife Nutrition. “We are committed to providing nutrition products that improve nutrition habits and make a lasting difference for people seeking a healthier lifestyle.”

Quality from Seed to Feed

Great products can only be created with great ingredients, which is why the company places such an emphasis on its Seed to Feed program, an initiative that ensures the quality, safety, purity, and consistency of each product from the source until it reaches the consumer. This commitment to quality is at the heart of everything Herbalife does, which amplifies one important element in their countless decades-long customer relationships: trust.

The company’s rigorous quality control systems and continuous monitoring ensure compliance with all government rules and regulations in the more than 90 markets where its products are sold. This led to the company winning the 2021 American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) Herbal Industry Leadership Award. Such an award is an acknowledgment of the company’s longstanding commitment to its gold standard of making the best nutritional products possible and recognizes its scientific research and ongoing contributions to consumer safety.

“It is truly an honor to receive this award and be recognized for the gold standard we’ve established in the industry,” said Gary Swanson, Senior Vice President of Quality Control at Herbalife Nutrition. “For 40 years, herbs and botanicals have been key ingredients in our products as we recognize the importance of embracing science and technology to develop the best nutritional products on the market while ensuring the trust of our consumers.”

Continuing their commitment to scientific leadership, Herbalife has also recently announced that experts from its staff of more than 300 scientists, as well as members from its Nutrition Advisory Board (NAB), will take part in upcoming worldwide nutrition and scientific conferences. These leading experts will present on various topics from the gut-brain connection to dietary supplement regulatory requirements and will participate virtually at several events during the first and second quarters of 2021.

“As a leading global nutrition company, we are proud and committed to having a distinguished scientific team to share our research and expertise while making strides in nutrition and food science worldwide,” said Dr. Kent Bradley, Chief Health and Nutrition Officer, Herbalife Nutrition.

A Portfolio of Science-Backed Products

Primarily known for its weight management category, and more specifically its star product, Formula 1 Healthy Meal Nutritional Shake Mix, Herbalife has become somewhat of a household name and shaken up the market with several new categories and products over the years. Aside from the well-known meal replacement protein shakes, Herbalife has also created its snack bars, vitamins, skincare, an Herbalife24 sports nutrition line, teas, aloes, and most recently, it entered the hemp-cannabinoid skincare market and the baked goods categories.

Thanks to this diverse portfolio of science-backed products, Herbalife accrues numerous global product awards each year, some of which include:

Korea: 2021 Most Trusted Brand by Digital Chosun Ilbo, a leading local media that’s sponsored by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. This is also the tenth consecutive year Herbalife Nutrition Korea has won this award.

Vietnam: 2021 Golden Product for Public Health for 16 products, which recognizes their product safety, quality, and efficacy and contribution to the local economy and community. This is also the sixth time they have received this award.

Korea: 2020 Empathy Management, which is the Product Quality Award in the “world-class product” category by Dong-A Ilbo and sponsored by government ministries.

Russia: 2020 Product of the Year for Formula 1 and Formula 3 weight management products.

Doing Good, Globally

Herbalife doesn’t hang its hat on these awards, however, because bringing good nutrition to people across the world doesn’t just happen as a part of their business model. As a global leader in nutrition, their impact is far-reaching, which is why they employ various corporate social responsibility programs that emphasize improving and empowering vulnerable communities.

Hunger, food insecurity, and malnutrition are complex issues that affect billions of individuals every day, and that number is on the rise. Through their Nutrition for Zero Hunger initiative and partnerships with non-profit organizations like Feed the Children, Herbalife is using its nutrition expertise to tackle these global challenges and provide meaningful solutions, resources, and education.

Since the launch of the Nutrition for Zero Hunger campaign in 2019, the initiative has reached 114 million people; more than 1 million nutritious meals have been donated or supplemented for children and families; over 800,000 Herbalife products have been donated, and 87,000 beneficiaries have been reached through nutrition education and dietary supplementation programs.

Support for Children in Need

The Herbalife Nutrition Foundation (HNF), created in 1994, is another vehicle with which the company is driving change. This global non-profit foundation is devoted to improving the lives of children in underserved communities by helping supply access to good nutrition, as well as nutrition education. They do this through their Casa Herbalife Nutrition Programs, which not only provide food to eat but the proper care and support that kids need.

Each year, HNF provides millions of dollars in funding and grants to 168 orphanages, hospitals, schools, and organizations in over 58 countries, and in 2020 alone, HNF was able to serve almost 220,000 children. Moreover, Herbalife’s pledge to “Build it Better” through their focus on Environmental, Social, and Governance issues has placed them in the position to receive more than 15 awards for their corporate social responsibility achievements and impact.

Who is the #1 Nutrition Company?

When it comes to answering the question, “Who is the #1 nutrition company,” or “world no1 nutrition company,” the numbers paint the bigger picture. In 2020, 5.3 million Herbalife protein shakes were consumed daily, while 1.9 billion shakes were sold globally. This ultimately translated into a record-breaking year with $5.5 billion in net sales for 2020, which was coincidentally the company’s 40th anniversary year. In the first quarter of 2021, Herbalife reported net sales of $1.5 billion, an 18.9% increase compared to the first quarter of 2020, raising full-year net sales guidance to 9% to 15% growth.

Such growth not only comes from the ingenuity and humanitarianism of the company but from the dedication of its vast base of entrepreneurial distributors as well. With independent distributors in more than 90 countries and 10,000 employees worldwide, Herbalife Nutrition provides a network of support where even its newest members can thrive. This network is what the company calls the “Distributor Difference,” highlighting those one-on-one, personal, and personalized interactions amongst the Herbalife community. With the mission being to improve individuals’ nutritional habits, distributors are trained to connect, communicate and provide customized experiences for each of their customers.

Through the company’s direct selling model, these distributors have the opportunity to let their entrepreneurial spirits guide them. Setting their schedules, being their own boss, and choosing between working full or part-time are just a few of the reasons Herbalife’s business opportunity is attractive. Gaining momentum with this particular business model doesn’t happen overnight. For some, it can take months or even years of hard work and dedication to move up on the company’s Sales & Marketing Plan. However, Herbalife does offer several seminars, conferences, and training events each year to ensure its distributors are building their business skills while upholding the highest standards and ethics.

The Editorial Team at Healthcare Business Today is made up of skilled healthcare writers and experts, led by our managing editor, Daniel Casciato, who has over 25 years of experience in healthcare writing. Since 1998, we have produced compelling and informative content for numerous publications, establishing ourselves as a trusted resource for health and wellness information. We offer readers access to fresh health, medicine, science, and technology developments and the latest in patient news, emphasizing how these developments affect our lives.