Back to black for Nature’s Sunshine Products in Q4

06-Mar-2012 - Last updated on 06-Mar-2012 at 13:36 GMT

Nature's Sunshine Products recently appointed Herbalife executive D. Wynne Roberts as president and chief operating officer

Utah-based direct selling supplements firm Nature's Sunshine Products (NSP) moved back into the black in the fourth quarter of 2011 posting a net profit on continuing operations of $7.6m vs a net loss of $0.4m a year ago.

Net sales were up 2.4% to $92.1m in the quarter (three months to Dec 31, 2011) and up 5.1% to $367.8m in the year (calendar year 2011).

Results breakdown

The firm’s subsidiary Synergy Worldwide, which makes and sells nutritional and personal care products, yesterday posted a 31% rise in net sales to $25.9m due to strong growth in the US, Korea and Europe.

NSP United States posted a 2.8% drop in net sales to $33.2m, which was blamed on the weak economy and changes to less profitable promotional programs.

NSP International meanwhile, posted an 8.3% drop in net sales to$33m, with higher sales in Russian markets offset by lower sales in Belarus, the Dominican Republic, Japan and Mexico.

Ex-Herbalife exec joins as president

NSP markets and distributes nutritional and personal care products through a global direct sales force of more than 600,000 independent distributors in 40+ countries.

The firm, which manufactures its own tablets, encapsulated herbal products, vitamins, food supplements and skin care products in Spanish Fork, Utah, was founded in 1972 by the Hughes family, who started encapsulating capsicum in the family kitchen.

It recently appointed former Herbalife executive D. Wynne Roberts as president and chief operating officer.