By Caesar Vallejos
Eagle News Online Correspondent (EAGLE NEWS)
SINGAPORE – Los Angeles-based global nutrition company Herbalife (NYSE: HLF) is holding the South East Asia Extravaganza at the Singapore Expo, May 13-15, 2016.
With the theme “Product, People, Purpose, Performance”, the Extravaganza is attended by thousands of independent distributors from around the region including 904 delegates from the Philippines. Herbalife is present in 90 countries all over the world.
Nutrition is like fuel to your car
“Getting into nutrition is like going to a gas station and putting fuel into your car,” Michael O. Johnson, Chairman and CEO of Herbalife said.
Johnson is instrumental in growing the biggest meal replacement brand in the world from US$1.1 billion in 2003 to US$4.5 billion in 2016 by introducing industry leading standards in consumer protection and employing brand-building strategies like sports and fitness sponsorships, including LA Galaxy and international soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo.
The nutrition company offers a range of science-based weight management products, nutritional supplements and personal care.
“We offer choice and targeted solutions for all stages of life, at a time when consumers are actively seeking better ways to maintain good nutrition and well-being,” Johnson said.
Johnson has overseen significant investments in scientific areas of R&D, quality assurance, product safety and compliance. While offering these innovations, Herbalife creates a positive community to live a healthy active lifestyle that espouses the belief of 80% nutrition and 20% exercise.
Nutrition in social media
The idea of health is now being circulated widely in social media.
Ben Atkins, Vice President for Corporate Communications of Herbalife quoted Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook for learning some of its strategies directly from direct selling companies.
“There are 2.3 billion who are active in social media and 2 billion of these use their mobile phone,” Atkins said. He mentioned that this represents is a huge market to engage with.
“Social media is now the preferred channel for customers for lifestyle, nutrition and product information,” Atkins announced.
Atkins emphasized that one of the best practices in social media now includes producing and sharing bite-sized information, as short as 10-15 seconds.
Content, engagement and follow-up are the three key elements in social media where the idea of health and nutrition is best shared.
“Post, share, communicate and express for your enjoyment.” That’s how the nutrition system works for social media, one of the the Herbalife executives said.
Number 1 protein meal replacement company in the world
Luigi Gratton, VP for Nutrition Education and Development of Herbalife confirms that the company is now the number 1 protein meal replacement company in the world.
“Our products have higher protein content than the government mandated protein intake. You can’t live without protein. We need 75 to 100 grams of protein and if you are an athlete, you have to take about 120 to 150 grams a day,” Gratton advised.
“All of Herbalife’s products have under 300 calories. These plant-based, nutrients-dense products offer low calories with high nutrients,” Gratton emphasized.
Gratton was awarded a medical degree from Mount Sinai Medical School of New York University and a Diplomate of The American Board of Family Practice and The American Board of Physician Education.
