The facility was the only manufacturing plant in the company’s line-up of businesses, where it made products for its own brands including Twinlab, Alvita, and Reserveage Nutrition.
“We are currently reviewing existing manufacturing partners and evaluating some new ones, to match each product with a manufacturing partner who can deliver the consistent and high-quality level of service that is synonymous with our brands,” a spokesperson told NutraIngredients-USA.
“Our goal is to ensure all customers will be serviced appropriately and seamlessly during this transition.”
In a press release, the company said that the closure will help “streamline operations to maximize shareholder value.”
Increasing focus on the brands
CEO Naomi Whittel added that the closure will also help the company focus on its finished product brands.
“Twinlab is one of the world’s most recognized supplement brands, and both the Reserveage Nutrition and Alvita brands are known market leaders. Our focus, resources, and operations will be directed toward continuing to innovate and grow market share within our leading consumer branded products,” she said.
“We are streamlining our supply chain utilizing the model of our award-winning NutraScience Labs division. This allows access to exclusive technologies, processes, and capacity to deliver excellence in customer service and care while at the same time optimizing our cost structure in support of investment behind our brands.”
Ups and downs for the manufacturing plant
The manufacturing plant’s fate was up in the air back in 2015 when former CEO Tom Tolworthy negotiated a management buyout with private equity investors and holders of the company’s debt.
It was eventually kept in the company by acquiring the book of business of contract manufacturer Nutricap Labs, giving the plant access to the latter’s customer base.
In 2016, the plant was where Whittel invited Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes for a tour, telling NutraIngredients-USA that the invite was based on her belief that the industry needs to embrace the ecosystem.
“By that I mean regulators, legislators, consumers and suppliers. They are all part of that and we need to embrace every part in order to regain consumer trust,” she said.