GNC is the world’s largest specialty retailer devoted solely to manufacturing and selling vitamins and nutritional supplements. They have nearly 5,000 company-owned and franchised retail stores located in all 50 states and more than 35 foreign markets.
GNC’s exceptional growth and success rates can be traced back to one man’s dream. In 1935, David Shakarian opened a little health food store in Pittsburgh, PA., called Lackzoom, which specialized in healthy foods like yogurt, honey, grains and “health sandwiches.”
His idea quickly caught on. With a half-dozen Pittsburgh stores operating by the 1960s, Shakarian decided to open locations in other states and changed the company name to General Nutrition Centers. Soon after, GNC began producing its own vitamin and mineral supplements.
Today, GNC maintains its commitment to quality by rigorously testing and producing cutting-edge products at one of the biggest, most modern vitamin and supplement manufacturing facilities in the United States.
Contact Information
300 Sixth Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
800-766-7099
Fax: 412-288-2033
Chuck on July 13th, 2005 at 1:23 pm
I know they’ve been around forever, but I can’t say that I like even their generic products. Never been to a GNC that didn’t seem like a bunch of overpriced health junk.
I just wouldn’t go to one of them.
So I’d hate to recommend anyone purchase one of their franchises.
I DO go to health food stores to get supplements… a locally owned one.. so I’m not against them all.
But just seeing the name GNC just brought out a negative response for some reason!
Brian on July 30th, 2005 at 12:31 pm
I really agree that GNC is not my choice store. They are WAY overpriced especially with all the online stores that sell the same product make up with a substantially less price.
Dan on January 28th, 2008 at 2:17 pm
What do you think of Complete Nutrition? They are similar to GNC, but seem to have better, more reasonably priced products.