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NBTY, the New York based manufacturer of nutritional supplements, has just announced that they have expanded their global reach by purchasing Julian Graves, the UK’s largest independent specialty natural foods manufacturer.

Julian Graves has a network of over 300 stores across the UK and has annual sales of over $120 million dollars. The acquisition will expand NBTY’s European division greatly from just over 600 stores, to well over 900 stores.

NBTY, one of the largest nutritional supplement makers in the US, currently sells products both the retail distribution and by independent distributors around the world through its subsidiaries such as Natures Bounty, Vitamin World, Puritans Pride and MET-Rx.

Just this past June, NBTY won a bidding war during which it acquired a bankrupt California competitor, Leiner Health Products,-www.leiner.com- That acquisition greatly expanded the company’s position in the U.S. The $25 million dollar purchase of Julian Grace enhances NBTY’s position as the number one supplement retailer in the UK and will allow the company to gain a greater market share.

“The acquisition of Julian Graves is an integral part of NBTY’s strategic plan to enhance its position as the number one supplement retailer in the UK and gain greater market share,” says NBTY chairman and CEO Scott Rudolph. “We continue to seek acquisitions which generate growth and further entrench NBTY as the worldwide leader in the nutritional supplement industry.”

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Nature’s Bounty, a subsidiary of NBTY - a global direct sales health and wellness company, is joining forces with several organizations to make their company and the earth, a little bit greener.

Natures Bounty, has just launched the Healthy You, Healthy Earth Campaign, which is a company wide plan to reduce their carbon footprint and become a more responsible, eco-friendly, and greener company.

For years Natures Bounty has tried to be aware of global environmental issues and has taken steps to make a difference including recycling projects- using recycled goods as well as recycling their own products. Now they have taken it up a notch by redesigning their packaging, switching to CFC lighting and using water based ink for all of their copying. Then company hopes that they can reduce their carbon footprint by 5 million pounds of CO2 per year.

Natures Bounty is also joining forces with several eco friendly organizations such as Trees for the Future, an environment group that plants new trees around the world, and The Go Green Initiative, an organization that educations children about the environment and way that they can help and protect the earth.

Natures Bounty is among several Network Marketing companies who are really focusing on Green initiatives. Shaklee, Mannatech, Ocean Grown and others have initiatives underway to reduce their carbon footprint and be more eco-friendly.

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NBTY (NYSE: NTY) announced their results for their fiscal third quarter and the numbers overall are good. The fiscal third quarter, which ended June 30th saw net sales improve 6% over the previous year. Net sales were $535 million compared to $503 million in 2007.

Net income for the fiscal third quarter ended was $46 million, or $0.72 per diluted share, compared to $51 million, or $0.74 per diluted share, for the fiscal third quarter ended June 30, 2007. While net sales increased, overall gross profit saw a slight decline as advertising costs rose.

During the third quarter, NBTY repurchased 600,000 shares of its common stock for $17 million. Last year, NBTY announced a share repurchase program, and for the fiscal year of 2008, NBTY has so far repurchased 6.7 million shares - another healthy sign of the company.

NBTY, which operates through retail locations, and through independent distributors, just recently purchased the assets of Leiner Health Products, a manufacturer of some major store brand vitamins. The purchase cost the company $371 million dollars.

The purchase of Leiner Products strengthens NBTY’s presence in the nutritional supplement market as well as their ability to provide top notch products for its consumers. The purchase of Leiner also gives NBTY four additional manufacturing plants, 4 in the US and one in Canada, allowing the company to expand their offerings.

NBTY has a large presence in the US and Canada that has grown exponentially over the last year with their acquisition of a major supplement retailer. They have seen sales steadily rise over the last few years both in retail and independent distributor sectors. This might be a company to watch in the future.

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NBTY the maker of Nutritional Supplements has just completed the purchase of virtually all assets of Leiner Health Products Co.

NBTY sells its products in retail stores, and through independent distributors. NBTY sells products under various other brand names including, Nature’s Bounty, MET-Rx and Solgar.

NBTY paid $371 million to purchase the assets of Leiner. The sale includes all of Leiner’s assets, including its U.S. store brand vitamins and supplements, as well as its Canadian subsidiary, Vita Health Products, Inc.

The buyout was announced a little over a month ago and stemmed from an auction of Leiner’s assets after the company had filed for bankruptcy.

NBTY Chairman and Chief Executive Scott Rudolph said the acquisition will enhance the company’s manufacturing capabilities and market presence.

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