Entrepreneur Carl DeSantis Spots Emerging Health Trend in 1970s

In 1976, entrepreneur Carl DeSantis created "Sundown," a product that met consumer demand for an effective yet inexpensive suntan lotion. Recognizing the increasing consumer interest in health and nutrition products, DeSantis then launched a vitamin mail order business from his home. The business grew so rapidly, that he eventually began selling an expanded line of more than 100 high-quality vitamins, minerals and nutritional supplements directly to retailers under the Sundown Vitamins® banner.

During the 1980s, Sundown’s reputation as a quality-driven nutritional supplement company continued to grow, and utilizing a multi-brand strategy, the Company quickly gained access to several different classes of trade including drug stores, food stores and mass merchandisers. In 1985, drawing upon the entrepreneurial spirit and Sundown philosophy of quality products, the Company acquired the Rexall® trademark.

Broad-Based Success Gains Momentum

In 1993, the Company began trading on the NASDAQ National Market as Rexall Sundown, Inc., a name that reflected the strength of Sundown's continuous growth and the tradition of consumer trust, quality and value, which it shared with the Rexall heritage. The initial public offering was recognized as one of the most successful of the year and ranked among the top 20 most successful IPOs of the decade by Investor's Business Daily.

Continuing the momentum of its broad-based success, in 1998 Rexall Sundown acquired Richardson Labs®, a leader in the diet and weight management supplement category and then in 2000, it acquired two of the most widely respected companies in the sports nutrition and nutritional bar categories, MET-Rx® and Worldwide® Sport Nutrition.

Rexall Sundown's rich entrepreneurial spirit continues to find expression in its broad range of products, intuitive and innovative response to health trends and scientific discoveries, and its commitment to providing products of the highest quality and value to consumers in every channel of distribution. The Company's unique ability to develop products in a timely manner, manufacture them under the strictest quality standards and bring them to market quickly has made Rexall Sundown the envy of the industry.