Author name: John LaRosa

Marketdata has tracked the weight loss market since 1989, and has witnessed the strong growth of franchising in the industry in the 1980s-1990s. However, that model no longer is viable, as explained below. “The diet industry’s growth model of the 1980s-1990s is no longer working. Brick & mortar commercial weight loss centers and franchises don’t […]

May 4, 2016 – According to Jim Chambers, the Company’s President and CEO.: “Leveraging the success of our new Beyond the Scale program, we expect to deliver revenue and profit growth for the full year 2016 and we are raising our earnings guidance to a range of $0.80 to $1.05 per share,” “Our first quarter loss

May 3, 2016 – Dawn Zier, President and CEO stated, “The Nutrisystem brand continues to resonate well with customers. Turbo10, Turbo shakes, and new flexible options drove better-than-expected first quarter results. “Looking ahead, we are focused on unlocking additional value to propel our future growth. We are on track to launch the South Beach Diet for the

Final figures are in. Personnel at Beverage Digest reported to Marketdata that the retail value of all carbonated soft drinks was $79 billion in 2015 (up 2.1%). The market share accounted for by DIET soft drinks, however,  fell 1.1% to 25%. That translates into a diet soft drink retail market worth $19.75 billion. That’s down

November 2015 – The American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) and groups including The Obesity Society (TOS) and Academy for Nutrition and Dietetics (AND), filed a complaint with U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) claiming the 27 states that deny coverage for bariatric surgery are in non-compliance with the Affordable Care Act (ACA)

March 10, 2016 — Medifast reported financial results, and management changes. Year – 2015 For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015, Medifast net revenue was $272.8 million as compared to net revenue of $285.3 million in 2014.  Take Shape For Life accounted for approximately 74.1% of net revenue, Medifast Direct accounted for 17.8%, Medifast

Feb. 26, 2016 – The company reported that 2015 revenues declined 16.3% to $1.16 billion, a huge drop. Fiscal 2015 net income was $32.9 million versus $117.8 million in the prior year. The firm has benefited from Oprah Winfrey’s investment and her being a new ad spokesperson, but not to the degree many were expecting.

Feb. 25, 2015 – NutriSystem reported strong results again for the year–a combination of increased revenues per client and longer length of stay, coupled with moderate price increases. The company also continues to innovate via new products and programs such as the Turbo 10 plan and Shake 360. Despite this, the market battered its stock

Dec. 18, 2015 – Nutrisystem (NTRI) announced that it has acquired the South Beach Diet brand from SBD Holdings Group Corp., for $15 million. Nutrisystem has also entered into an agreement with the South Beach Diet founder, Dr. Arthur Agatston, who will join the Nutrisystem Science Advisory Board. During 2016, in addition to growing its core

Dec. 18, 2015 –  Humana confirmed a 40% increase in monthly enrollment of its program with Weight Watchers for October, the same month Oprah Winfrey announced she was taking a 10% stake and Weight Watchers’ shares soared. “We did see an enrollment spike in our Weight Watchers program in October,” Humana spokesman Jeff Blunt said. “It’s