Rexall 2Q Sales Soar

Rexall 2Q Sales Soar

BOCARATON, Fla.--Rexall Sundown Inc. (NASDAQ:RXSD) announced results for its secondquarter ended Feb. 29, highlighting a 27-percent increase in net sales. Revenuessoared to $176.3 million, up from $139 million sold in the comparable 1999quarter. Gross profit slipped one point as a percentage of sales compared to theprevious year, and operating expenses rose to 37 percent of sales, a one-pointincrease. Net income rose 4.7 percent to $17 million or $.26 per share from$16.2 million or $.24 per share.

"We are pleased with our second quarter results, which reflect thesuccess of our many initiatives to expand our leadership across multiplesegments within the nutritional supplement industry," said Damon DeSantis,president and chief executive officer. "Sales to retailers rose 43 percentor $40.5 million, including the contribution from MET-Rx of $17.9 million, whichrepresented only 7 weeks of sales since the closing of the acquisition in earlyJanuary."

The company attributed the bulk of increased sales to the acquisition ofMET-Rx, which was completed on Jan. 7, 2000, as well as to the introduction of acomplete line of Pokemon children's vitamins.

For more information, contact Donna Conners at (561) 241-9400.