Twinlab
Encyclopedia
Twinlab Corporation is an American
company which manufactures and markets vitamins, minerals, and bodybuilding
supplements. It was originally founded by David and Jean Blechman in 1968 and run by them and their sons – Neil, Brian, Ross, Steve and Dean. Using experience gained from over 20 years as a pharmaceutical salesman, David Blechman named the company for his two sets of twins and started marketing a liquid protein supplement from their family garage. Sales of Twinlab's only product skyrocketed in the 1970s, in part from the success of a 1976 book entitled The Last Chance Diet--When Everything Else Has Failed: Dr. Linn's Protein-Sparing Fast Program. Dr. Robert Linn was a Pennsylvania osteopath, who had begun prescribing for his overweight patients a program of fasting and four- to six-ounce daily doses of liquid protein. His book sold extremely well, and Dr. Linn's diet became the latest weight-loss fad diet. This led to increased sales for Twinlab's liquid protein. As with many fad diets, the fasting/liquid protein craze came to a halt when in late 1976 and early 1977 there were reports of the deaths of 58 people who had followed Linn's diet.
Following a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) investigation the associated coverage of the popular diet and its potential side effects by Newsweek, Parents' Magazine, and Science Digest, the liquid protein market bottomed out, and Twinlab's revenues declined sharply forcing the company to cut nearly all of its 150 person workforce.
In the 1980s Twinlab branched out formulating new vitamin and nutritional supplements and purchased a publishing company called Advanced Research Press, Inc. (ARP) publishers of the bodybuilding magazine Muscular Development
and several other magazines.
David Blechman retired in 1996, and passed the title of CEO to his son Ross, while the other sons were installed as corporate officers. He died on July 7, 2000. In 2001 Twinlab sold ARP to Steve Blechman
who then resigned from Twinlab.
After slumping sales in 2002, the company filed a voluntary petition for Chapter 11 reorganization with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York in September 2003. In 2004, Twinlab Corp., Twin Laboratories Inc. and Twin Laboratories (UK) Ltd. were purchased for $65 million by IdeaSphere Inc. Twinlab is based in Hauppauge, New York
with manufacturing facilities in Utah
.
Twinlab currently produces more than 500 different products.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
company which manufactures and markets vitamins, minerals, and bodybuilding
Bodybuilding
Bodybuilding is a form of body modification involving intensive muscle hypertrophy. An individual who engages in this activity is referred to as a bodybuilder. In competitive and professional bodybuilding, bodybuilders display their physiques to a panel of judges, who assign points based on their...
supplements. It was originally founded by David and Jean Blechman in 1968 and run by them and their sons – Neil, Brian, Ross, Steve and Dean. Using experience gained from over 20 years as a pharmaceutical salesman, David Blechman named the company for his two sets of twins and started marketing a liquid protein supplement from their family garage. Sales of Twinlab's only product skyrocketed in the 1970s, in part from the success of a 1976 book entitled The Last Chance Diet--When Everything Else Has Failed: Dr. Linn's Protein-Sparing Fast Program. Dr. Robert Linn was a Pennsylvania osteopath, who had begun prescribing for his overweight patients a program of fasting and four- to six-ounce daily doses of liquid protein. His book sold extremely well, and Dr. Linn's diet became the latest weight-loss fad diet. This led to increased sales for Twinlab's liquid protein. As with many fad diets, the fasting/liquid protein craze came to a halt when in late 1976 and early 1977 there were reports of the deaths of 58 people who had followed Linn's diet.
Following a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) investigation the associated coverage of the popular diet and its potential side effects by Newsweek, Parents' Magazine, and Science Digest, the liquid protein market bottomed out, and Twinlab's revenues declined sharply forcing the company to cut nearly all of its 150 person workforce.
In the 1980s Twinlab branched out formulating new vitamin and nutritional supplements and purchased a publishing company called Advanced Research Press, Inc. (ARP) publishers of the bodybuilding magazine Muscular Development
Muscular Development
Muscular Development is an American fitness and bodybuilding magazine first published in 1964. It was founded by Bob HoffmanBob Hoffman - athlete, nutritionist, weightlifter, coach and philanthropist - was born on a farm in Tifton, Georgia on Nov 9th 1898. His family stock was good. Bob was never...
and several other magazines.
David Blechman retired in 1996, and passed the title of CEO to his son Ross, while the other sons were installed as corporate officers. He died on July 7, 2000. In 2001 Twinlab sold ARP to Steve Blechman
Steve Blechman
Steve Blechman is a businessman and magazine publisher. He was at one time Executive Vice President of Twinlab. Blechman is currently the CEO, President, and sole owner, of Advanced Research Press, Inc. . ARP owns the bodybuilding magazine Muscular Development, and the fitness magazines Fitness Rx...
who then resigned from Twinlab.
After slumping sales in 2002, the company filed a voluntary petition for Chapter 11 reorganization with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York in September 2003. In 2004, Twinlab Corp., Twin Laboratories Inc. and Twin Laboratories (UK) Ltd. were purchased for $65 million by IdeaSphere Inc. Twinlab is based in Hauppauge, New York
Hauppauge, New York
Hauppauge is a hamlet and CDP in the Town of Islip and the Town of Smithtown in Suffolk County, New York, United States. The population of the CDP was 20,100 at the time of the 2000 census....
with manufacturing facilities in Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
.
Twinlab currently produces more than 500 different products.