A1Supplements, the online sports supplement retailer, has been acquired by Gotham Cigars. The move enables A1Supplements to take full advantage of the country’s dramatic uptick in online shopping.
A1Supplements Founder and CEO Nick Saliba, who has worked on the business since 1997, is stepping away from his day-to-day responsibilities. The new Owner and CEO is Manny Balani, an experienced retail e-commerce executive who will apply the latest technologies to the business.
A self-taught businessman, Saliba built A1Supplements from the ground up to become a respected player in the sports supplement retail industry. “After being in this business for 30 years and proving that the impossible is possible, I was ready to pass the baton to this very impressive business person,” said Saliba. “I’m excited about what lies ahead for Manny, the dietary supplements industry and most importantly for A1Supplements.”
Saliba will continue with A1Supplements in an advisory capacity.
“His 30 years of experience in the supplements industry and the vendor relations he has built, are something you can’t buy. His involvement is key to bringing the company to the next level,” stated Balani.
Having created and built Gotham Cigars to become a premier direct-to-consumer online retailer, Balani said A1Supplements is an ideal fit for his skills and knowledge. “We had been looking to expand by entering into an ancillary category with products that are lightweight, shippable, consumable, and have a recurring revenue model. A1Supplements has a strong customer loyalty base and has always been a pioneer in the industry. There will be many quick wins as we maximize economies of scale.”
A1Supplements represents about 200 brands in approximately 500 categories.
Photo courtesy Men’s Health
