A Small Pittsburgh Health Store Grows Into General Nutrition Centers, The Largest Heath Retail Chain In The World

General Nutrition Centers, or GNC as they are called in most shopping malls, is a retail outlet that specializes in the sale of nutritional products to improve the overall health of their customers.

GNC’s origins date back to 1935, when David Shakarian founded a small chain of health food stores in the Pittsburgh area. He called his health food stores, “Lackzoom”. In the 1960’s “Lackzoom” became known as the General Nutrition Centers and has since grown into one of the largest health retailers in the world. Since its conception by Shakarian in 1935, the General Nutrition Centers have changed ownership several times. While the ownership has changed several times, the main offices still remain located in the Pittsburgh area.

As A Retail Health Food Store, Supplements Are Designed For Customer Results

Most of the items on sale in the General Nutrition Centers are designed as weight loss, bodybuilding or nutritional supplements. General Nutrition Centers sells its own name brand of dietary supplements but also provides a wide variety of other retail companies products as well.

In addition to the dietary supplements, it is also possible to purchase magazine and health fitness books that focus on improving the overall health of the consumer. It is also possible to purchase vitamins, health and beauty aids and other natural remedies within the same store.

Currently General Nutrition Centers have over 6.000 locations in the United States as well as additional locations in over 49 other countries. These stores are a combination of corporate owned and franchise owned stores, with over 1,300 of the 6,000 stores being owned by a franchise arrangement.

General Nutrition Centers Provide Quality Service And Product Specific Education To Their Customers

For many customers that frequent the General Nutrition Centers, it is often an educational lesson as well as a shopping adventure. The staff is able to provide quality information in the types of dietary supplements and health aids that are being sold in the store. By informing and educating the consumer on the different products that are being sold, the consumer is more prepared to make an appropriate purchase and return later a satisfied customer. While there are other retail outlets that sell dietary supplements, it is the quality of the information available that had assisted into its growth as the top retail outlet worldwide for dietary supplements.