Retired or Laid Off? Why Not Operate Your Own Business in 2009! Invest in YOU. ...

Retired or Laid Off? Why Not Operate Your Own Business in 2009! Invest in
YOU. Become an Entrepreneur!

GNC is offering anyone who is retired or laid off a 25% discount on the
initial franchise fee and a place in the supplement industry's strongest and
best franchise organization

PITTSBURGH, June 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Despite the challenging economic climate,
the supplement and self-care industry remains a $21 billion industry and
continues to grow at a rate of 4-6% each year and GNC is the largest global
specialty retailer of health and wellness, sports nutrition and diet products.
For the past 75 years, GNC has expanded its worldwide network of over 5,200
stores in the U.S. and 44 global markets.

Retirement or job loss does not have to be the end. Venture into
entrepreneurship with a franchise that has a proven system in place. Don't
worry about the guess work of a start-up business; GNC has been perfecting the
franchise system for the last 20 years.

GNC believes that retirement or loss of a job is a transition point for
beginning a new phase of life, and we have tailored a program to capture some
of the most talented, experienced, reliable and motivated people out there.
Recognizing that companies are offering early retirement packages and have
been laying off dedicated employees, GNC is offering 25% off the initial
franchise fee through September 30, 2009 to any qualified and interested
individual that is retired or laid off who is looking for a new career with a
strong and proven company. This is a great opportunity to start a GNC
franchise.

"At a time when many retailers are going out of business, cutting jobs and
closing locations, GNC sales are as strong as ever and the company continues
to expand its retail locations," says Executive Vice President of Store
Development Tom Dowd. "GNC is continuing to do very well, opening 237 stores
(in North America alone) within the last three years and another 50 plus
planned to open this year."

Annual growth in the supplement industry is expected to rise steadily through
2012, according to the Nutrition Business Journal, making now the perfect time
to open a GNC franchise. For the past 19 years in a row, GNC has been ranked
as the #1 franchise in the Supplement category and in 2008 was ranked 23rd
overall by Entrepreneur Magazine. Additionally, in 2008, when almost 6,000
retailers closed their doors due to lost sales, GNC produced positive sales
growth in both franchise and corporate stores.

As people become more conscious of health conditions in general, they become
more proactive about preventative care. More people are seeking - healthier
lifestyles. Life expectancy has increased 30 years in the last century and
people ages 54 - 63 account for $1.5 trillion spent on goods and services,
with two times the disposable income of any other age group. As people in
this age range continue to grow older, their main concern is health care costs
and living well.

Begin a new career as a GNC franchisee! There is financial support available
to qualified individuals.

To learn more about how you can be a part of this exciting and growing
business, visit www.GNCFranchising.com for more information.

About GNC
GNC, headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pa., is the largest global specialty
retailer of nutritional products including vitamin, mineral, herbal and other
specialty supplements and sports nutrition, diet and energy products. As of
March 31, 2009, GNC has more than 5,200 retail locations throughout the United
States (including 944 franchise and 1,733 Rite Aid store-within-a-store
locations) and franchise operations in 44 international markets. The company
-- which is dedicated to helping consumers Live Well -- also offers products
and product information online at www.gnc.com.

SOURCE GNC

Laura Brophy for GNC, +1-212-537-5177, ext. 2, lbrophy@marketcompr.com