WUXI, CHINA, Oct. 23, 2015 – Amway announced the opening of its $13 million Amway Botanical Research Center (ABRC) in Wuxi, China today. The company will study plants associated with Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) at the site for potential future use in its health and beauty products.
Built on 34-hectares (84-acres) of farmland, the ABRC includes an advanced laboratory, large greenhouse and will be used for research on soil nutrients, plant physiology, extract quality standards and processes.
“Our Nutrilite™ brand of vitamins and dietary supplements were first formulated after the brand’s founder, Carl Rehnborg, observed how the use of plants and botanicals in China promoted optimal health and natural balance,” said George Calvert, Amway’s chief officer of global R&D and supply chain. “The new ABRC is our effort to research and understand Chinese botanicals to a greater extent– using the most advanced technology and scientific practices – and integrate the findings into our products.”
The opening of the ABRC completes a five-year process to develop the site. For three years, Amway examined numerous locations in an effort to find optimal growing conditions that could match high standards at the company’s certified organic farms in Brazil, Mexico and the United States. Many of the company’s product ingredients are grown on these farms’ 6,400 acres, and at certified partner farms.
Following selection of the Wuxi location, the site was optimized over a period of more than two years and facilities were built to support the examination and research of crops harvested from the land.
About Nutrilite™
Nutrilite™ exclusively by Amway is the world’s #1 selling brand of vitamins and dietary supplements* developed for personal daily vitamin and mineral nutrition, heart health, strong bones and weight management. Backed by 80 years of science and research, the Nutrilite™ team has perfected a proprietary “seed to supplement” practice to preserve quality and maximize the consistency, efficacy and safety of its products. The Nutrilite™ brand is the only global vitamin and mineral brand to grow, harvest and process plants on its own certified organic farms*, located in the United States, Mexico and Brazil.
* Source: Euromonitor International Limited, www.euromonitor.com/amway-claims.
About Amway
Amway is a $10.8 billion direct selling business based in Ada, Michigan, USA. Top-selling brands for Amway are Nutrilite™ vitamin, mineral and dietary supplements, Artistry™ skincare and color cosmetics and eSpring™ water treatment systems – all sold exclusively by Amway Business Owners. Global sales in 2014 made Amway the #1 direct selling business in the world, according to the Direct Selling News 2015 Global 100. The company’s annual sales figure includes revenue from direct selling operations and other business holdings. For company news, visit globalnews.amway.com.
