First Eco Shoppe Opening in Austin on May 21

Environmentally dedicated store chooses Austin, TX for first retail location

NORTH BERGEN, N.J., May 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Eco Shoppe has announced that
Austin, TX will be the site of the very first Eco Shoppe store in the country.
Eco Shoppe is a new concept store, dedicated to bringing the best in green
living products directly to consumers through exciting new stores as well as
on line at www.EcoShoppe.com. The store will open in Austin on May 21 and is
owned and operated by The Vitamin Shoppe.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090518/NY18805LOGO )

"Austin's dedication to green living makes it a perfect choice for the very
first Eco Shoppe," said Steve Rolfes, Director of Eco Shoppe stores. "With
the introduction of Eco Shoppe, there will be one destination delivering
products, services, and education for living a green life -- all in one
place."

The Eco Shoppe store will be located at 10225 Research Boulevard Ste 900 in
the Arboretum area in Austin, TX. The store is 4,400 square feet. The
official grand opening will be May 21, 2009 at 9:00 am.

As a part of the opening week, 10% of the sales will be donated to Earth Share
of Texas. Earth Share of Texas, based in Austin, supports the work of 70
local, state, national and international environmental and conservation
organizations through workplace giving programs across Texas.

The Eco Shoppe experience combines inspiration with information. Each Eco
Shoppe merchandise category is designed to offer the functional,
action-oriented approach to green living. Departments include apparel, home &
garden, gifts, office, pets, kids & baby, yoga and conservation.

"Eco Shoppe has the most extensive collection of eco products anywhere by any
retailer," added Rolfes. "We're looking forward to opening the doors to the
Austin community this week."

Products in Eco Shoppe are purchased from fair trade and/or small independent
eco friendly manufacturers as well as familiar leading eco brands like Klean
Kanteen, Under the Canopy, Kassatex, Born Free, Bambu Home, Built, and
Caldrea. Eco Shoppe will also feature local Austin vendors such as Olive
Green Dog and Mod Green.

Eco Shoppe is expecting to receive LEED certification as the store has been
designed to take advantage of an environmentally responsible vision. The
fixtures have 42% recycled content. All composite wood products are FSC
Certified with no added Urea-Formaldehyde. All glues and adhesives are
low-VOC. Plus, Eco Shoppe is utilizing many unique materials including Ice
Stone, Avonite and Alkemi solid surfaces for different areas in the store.

Rapidly renewable materials used in the store include Bamboo composite
products and veneers, as well as solid Douglas fir lumber. There are no
protective surfaces on the interior signage.

Eco Shoppe will also make most of their signs on specially made "seeded
paper." This seeded paper goes through a special manufacturing process where
actual wildflower seeds are embedded into the paper. This special paper is
100% post-consumer recycled paper. The soy based ink printing is done in-store
with an eco-friendly printer that doesn't hurt the seeds.

Once Eco Shoppe is done using the sign, it will be cut up and given out free
to customers. Customers can then plant the paper and watch beautiful flowers
grow. "It's a great concept," said Rolfes, "and a terrific way to make good
use of signs while helping plant more flowers."

About Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc.

Vitamin Shoppe is a leading specialty retailer and direct marketer of
nutritional products based in North Bergen, New Jersey. The company sells
vitamins, minerals, nutritional supplements, herbs, sports nutrition formulas,
homeopathic remedies, green living products, and health and beauty aids to
customers located primarily in the United States. The company carries
national brand products as well as exclusive products under the Vitamin
Shoppe, BodyTech, MD Select, and VS Basics proprietary brands. The Vitamin
Shoppe conducts business through more than 400 company-owned retail stores,
national mail order catalogs, and websites, www.VitaminShoppe.com,
www.Bodytech.com, and www.EcoShoppe.com and has a social community site at
www.VSconnect.com.

SOURCE Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc.

Susan McLaughlin of Vitamin Shoppe/Eco Shoppe, press@vitaminshoppe.com,
+1-866-921-4443