Marines

Open for business

15 Oct 2004 | Lance Cpl. Christopher Sam Vega Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune

Need help getting that lean, tone physique you've always wanted? Looking to lose weight, but tired of all those diets that never seem to work?

A new General Nutrition Center just opened in the Marine Corps Exchange on base, to help servicemembers with health, fitness and nutrition.

"I am real excited about this partnership," said Thomas Slaughter, the regional sales director for GNC. "This will be beneficial to both parties because GNC will get a lot of sales and servicemembers will get the quality products GNC offers."

The longtime nutrition store is the largest nationwide specialty retailer of vitamin, mineral and herbal supplements, along with sports nutrition supplements, as well as many personal care and related products. GNC operates more than 5,000 retail outlets throughout the United States.

Stories have been opened on various bases, however this is the second largest store on a military installation.

The store on base is a fully stocked store including: vitamins, minerals, herbs, natural remedies, sports nutrition, preventative nutrition and products for weight management. Along with all the products the store also has fully trained GNC sales associates on hand who are able to answer questions.

The new GNC store is located next to the food court in the MCX, in the same area as the old nutrition store that was owned by Marine Corps Community Services.

"The nutrition store that was located in the MCX sold local nutrition items and only selective vitamins and minerals," said John Causey, the exchange manager. "With GNC here, servicemembers will be able to get the best supplements they want and need."

According to the GNC website, www.GNC.com, "the mainstay of general nutrition resides in its complete selection of vitamin and mineral products."

As well as the great products, the GNC on base also offers a special discount to all servicemembers. Servicemembers can apply for a GNC gold card to receive a 20% discount on all purchases made at any GNC located on a military base.

"The discount is just our way to show our appreciation to the servicemembers," said Slaughter.

The servicemember discount is only good at GNC stores on military installations; in other GNC stores the discount is only good the first week of every month.

"This store is the second largest GNC store on a military installation, but we think it's going to be the number one in sales," said Causey.