Twinlab Consolidated Corp. is closing down its American Fork plant in favor of outsourcing its manufacturing. The firm’s parent company, Twinlab Consolidated Holdings of Boca Raton, Florida, made the announcement last week.
“As we work to transition to an outsourcing model, we anticipate that we will cease operations at the American Fork facility in the first half of 2018,” the company said in response to an inquiry about the timing of the closure. The company said that about 100 employees will be idled by the move.
“We have some of the best and most dedicated employees in the industry and we have been fortunate to have such supportive employees over the 24 years in American Fork. We greatly value their contributions and we are diligently working with the affected employees to provide them assistance and support as we navigate this transition,” the statement said.
Twinlab was created in 1968 when founder David Blechman used his expertise in the pharmaceutical industry to develop and market a liquid protein supplement. Working out of his family’s garage, he and his wife named their developing business Twinlab, after the couple’s two sets of twins. The company is now owned by Twinlab Consolidated Holdings, which also owns NutraScience Labs, a contract manufacturing company.
“We are streamlining our supply chain utilizing the model of our award-winning NutraScience Labs division,” said CEO Naomi Whittel. “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. Our focus, resources and operations will be directed toward continuing to innovate and grow market share within our leading consumer branded products.”
In addition to its namesake brand, Twinlab also manufactures and sells other product category brands like the Metabolife line of diet and energy products, the Twinlab Fuel line of sports nutrition products, Alvita teas and nutritional and anti-aging/wellness supplements under the Reserveage Nutrition label.