GNC Is Closing 200 Stores This Year

From Sears and Kmart to Toys R Us to Ann Taylor and Justice, lots of nationwide chain stores are shutting their doors. The latest is the vitamin store GNC, which announced on April 26 it will close about 200 stores in the U.S. and Canada this year.

GNC sells an assortment of heath and wellness items, like performance and weight management supplements, vitamins and health and beauty products. It has nearly 8,905 locations worldwide, with 3,385 in the U.S. and Canada. Some are standalone stores, including franchises, and some are stores-within-a-store located at Rite Aid pharmacies.

There is no word yet on which GNC locations, or exactly how many, will be closing or whether you can expect liquidation sales at the closing locations.

For now, the company said in a press release that efforts toward lease renegotiations and relocation opportunities are ongoing, which will affect the amount of stores that close.

While wellness is a booming industry, Racked noted, it would seem that customers are not necessarily turning to vitamin-specific chain stores for their vitamins and supplements anymore. Many wellness products are available at other nationwide stores like Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods, as well as online.

GNC’s closure announcement came just one day after sandwich chain Subway said it will be closing 500 stores in North America due to struggling sales in the U.S. as newer, more modern restaurants emerge.