International News Briefs

The European Organic/Natural Food Promotion will be held in February and April 1999, in the Netherlands, the U.K., and Germany, which are all experiencing strong growth in the organic and natural foods industries. The promotion, at which companies may promote products directly or to which they may send European representatives or send products only, is sponsored by the Mid-America International Agri-Trade Council and the Western U.S. Agricultural Trade Association. Registration deadline for February events is Dec. 22. Contact Greg Cohen at MIATCO at 312.944.7777 x212, or via e-mail at gcohen@miatco.org.

Nu Skin Enterprises Inc. (NUS) next month will begin selling 28 skin and hair care products to distributors in Brazil, the company’s first operation in South America and a foothold to expand throughout the continent. With the addition, NUS products are sold in 27 countries.

Starbucks Coffee International, a wholly owned subsidiary of Starbucks Coffee Co. (SBUX), signed a licensing agreement with Beijing Mei Da Coffee Co. Ltd. to open retail locations in Beijing, with the first to open by 2Q99. SBUX also opened its first London store. Some 80 retail locations throughout the U.K. are planned by the end of the year.

USANA Inc. (USNA) of Salt Lake City announced plans to enter the European market with initial operations in the U.K. to commence within five months. USNA will acquire a 23,500-sq.-ft. facility in Milton Keynes north of London. U.K. operations will add to earnings before year-end 1999, the company said.

Irwin Naturals/4Health Inc. (HHHH), maker of Linus Pauling Vitamins, Nature’s Secret, Diet System 6, 151 Bar, and Harmony Formulas, announced a marketing and sales partnership with U.K-based Boots the Chemist (BTC), Europe’s largest pharmacy chain. The chain will feature Diet System 6 in all 1,200 stores in the U.K. and Northern Ireland.

Vitasoy International Holdings Ltd. has seen its shares surge on the Hong Kong stock exchange 40.6% to HK$2.70/share in August from a 1998 low of HK$1.92/share in June. Analyst Kent Chan at Salomon Smith Barney rates the stock as an Outperformer. Meanwhile analyst J. Walter Thompson in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, said 25% of consumers surveyed are cutting back on purchases of vitamins, but representatives of Hong Kong health food stores including Green Concern and Health Gate told the South China Morning Post that close relationships to their customers are helping them maintain sales through the economic downturn.

Herbalife International Inc. (HERBA) opened its PT. Herbalife Indonesia, a wholly owned company with exclusive distribution rights for Herbalife products. The company now operates in 38 countries. Indonesia’s direct sales market grew to $450 million in 1997.