Study Finds That 3.3% of U.S. Adults, or 7.9 Million, Have
Purchased Herbalife Products for Personal Use within Past Three Months
Company Appoints New Vice President of Consumer & Distributor
Insights
LOS ANGELES -- (Business Wire)
Herbalife Ltd. (NYSE:HLF) today released the results of a study
conducted to determine the penetration of Herbalife distributors and end
users in the U.S. Herbalife engaged Nielsen, a leading global provider
of information and insights into what consumers watch and buy, to
conduct the research.
Conducted online during April and May of 2013, the survey was completed
without intervention from Herbalife and the Company’s sponsorship was
not disclosed. The survey was conducted among a nationally
representative sample of entirely adults, aged 18 and over in the U.S.,
and balanced by key demographic indicators from the U.S. census,
including age, gender, race, personal income and geographic region. With
a sample size of 10,525 consumers, the survey had a margin of error of
+/- 0.96%.
According to the research, 3.3% of the general population reported that
they had purchased Herbalife products within the past three months,
indicating that Herbalife currently has approximately 7.9 million
customers when projected to the total U.S. adult population. Herbalife
customers would include their distributor network, which totaled
approximately 550,000 in the U.S. as of the end of the first quarter
2013.1
“This survey, conducted by one of the world’s most respected research
organizations, confirms what we at Herbalife already know to be true:
that Herbalife’s products have a broad consumer base here in the U.S. –
nearly 8 million in the last three months – and that the majority of
individuals that purchase Herbalife products do so for personal
consumption,”1 stated Michael O. Johnson, Herbalife's
chairman and CEO. “Many of the national polls sponsored by major news
organizations during the recent presidential election relied on sample
sizes of 800 to 1,000 participants. Importantly, in this research, the
sample size of more than 10,000 consumers and the corresponding very low
margin of error give this survey strong credibility. Throughout our
33-year history, Herbalife has been committed to having a positive
impact on the lives and health of our consumers while addressing global
public health concerns: weight management and nutrition. We look forward
to continuing to create meaningful results and value for all Herbalife
stakeholders.”
Additional findings from the market research include2:
-
Past three month purchasers also claim to purchase Herbalife at a mean
rate of every 2.2 months.
-
Weight Management is the most commonly purchased type of Herbalife
product for personal use, with 95 percent of past three month
Herbalife purchasers claiming to have bought this type of product.
Johnson concluded, “We believe the results of this study substantiate
our belief that many of those who attack our model lack a clear
understanding of the direct selling industry, and Herbalife in
particular. Meanwhile, Herbalife continues to deliver record results in
sales and profitability as our independent distributors go deeper into
existing markets, developing more customers using our nutrition products
every day.”
Herbalife Names Vice President of Consumer & Distributor Insights
Herbalife also announced today that it has appointed Monica Wood as Vice
President, Consumer & Distributor Insights. In this role, Ms. Wood will
help advance Herbalife’s commitment to ongoing, in-depth market research.
Ms. Wood joins Herbalife from MWA, LLC, where she was an advisor to
research agencies and corporate departments across the financial
services, pharmaceutical and consumer sectors to develop best-in-class
practices, training programs and consultancy skills across marketing
research, consumer insights and data analytics. Prior to her role at
MWA, LLC, from 2005 to 2009 Ms. Wood held a number of marketing and
research positions at Novartis International AG, a Swiss multinational
pharmaceutical company, which ranked number two in sales among the
worldwide industry in 2010. Ms. Wood most recently held the position
Vice President of Global Marketing Services at the company from 2007 to
2009. Earlier in her career, Ms. Wood also held consumer insights,
commercial analytics and strategic planning positions at Toys “R” Us,
Inc., Edelman Public Relations, Wyeth and the Campbell Soup Company.
Ms. Wood received a BS in Education from the University of Florida, and
an MBA in Marketing from the University of Miami (Florida).
About Herbalife Ltd.
Herbalife Ltd. (NYSE:HLF) is a global nutrition company that sells
weight-management, nutrition, and personal care products intended to
support a healthy lifestyle. Herbalife products are sold in over 80
countries through and to a network of independent distributors. The
company supports the Herbalife Family Foundation and its Casa Herbalife
program to help bring good nutrition to children. Herbalife's website
contains a significant amount of information about Herbalife, including
financial and other information for investors at http://ir.Herbalife.com.
The company encourages investors to visit its website from time to time,
as information is updated and new information is posted.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Although we believe that the expectations reflected in any of our
forward-looking statements are reasonable, actual results could differ
materially from those projected or assumed in any of our forward-looking
statements. Our future financial condition and results of operations, as
well as any forward-looking statements, are subject to change and to
inherent risks and uncertainties, such as those disclosed or
incorporated by reference in our filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission. Important factors that could cause our actual
results, performance and achievements, or industry results to differ
materially from estimates or projections contained in our
forward-looking statements include, among others, the following:
• the resignation of our former independent registered public accounting
firm, its withdrawal of its audit reports with respect to certain of our
historical financial statements, and any difficulties we encounter
engaging a successor accounting firm;
• any collateral impact resulting from the ongoing worldwide financial
environment including the availability of liquidity to us, our customers
and our suppliers or the willingness of our customers to purchase
products in a difficult economic environment;
• our relationship with, and our ability to influence the actions of,
our distributors;
• improper action by our employees or distributors in violation of
applicable law;
• adverse publicity associated with our products or network marketing
organization, including our ability to comfort the marketplace and
regulators regarding our compliance with applicable laws;
• changing consumer preferences and demands;
• our reliance upon, or the loss or departure of any member of, our
senior management team which could negatively impact our distributor
relations and operating results;
• the competitive nature of our business;
• regulatory matters governing our products, including potential
governmental or regulatory actions concerning the safety or efficacy of
our products and network marketing program, including the direct selling
market in which we operate;
• legal challenges to our network marketing program;
• risks associated with operating internationally and the effect of
economic factors, including foreign exchange, inflation, disruptions or
conflicts with our third party importers, pricing and currency
devaluation risks, especially in countries such as Venezuela;
• uncertainties relating to the application of transfer pricing, duties,
value added taxes, and other tax regulations, and changes thereto;
• uncertainties relating to interpretation and enforcement of
legislation in China governing direct selling;
• our inability to obtain the necessary licenses to expand our direct
selling business in China;
• adverse changes in the Chinese economy, Chinese legal system or
Chinese governmental policies;
• our dependence on increased penetration of existing markets;
• contractual limitations on our ability to expand our business;
• our reliance on our information technology infrastructure and outside
manufacturers;
• the sufficiency of trademarks and other intellectual property rights;
• product concentration;
• changes in tax laws, treaties or regulations, or their interpretation;
• taxation relating to our distributors;
• product liability claims;
• whether we will purchase any of our shares in the open markets or
otherwise; and
• share price volatility related to, among other things, speculative
trading and certain traders shorting our common shares.
We do not undertake any obligation to update or release any revisions
to any forward-looking statement or to report any events or
circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of
unanticipated events, except as required by law.
1 The Nielsen study found that 87 percent of the 349
respondents (out of 10,525 total respondents) who purchased Herbalife
products for personal use in the past three months self-reported that
they did not purchase it from the company as a distributor.
2 Data collected among 349 respondents (out of 10,525 total
respondents) who claim to have purchased Herbalife products for personal
use in the past three months.

Contacts:
Herbalife Ltd.
Barbara Henderson, 213-745-0517
SVP, Worldwide
Corp. Communications
or
Amy Greene, 213-745-0474
VP,
Investor Relations
Source: Herbalife Ltd.
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