Tough January for Vitamin World

BOHEMIA, N.Y.—NBTY (NASDAQ:NTY) reported a 15-percent dive in Vitamin World revenues for the month of January, with a 10-percent dip in same store sales. Also down were sales at Puritan’s Pride, the company’s direct response business, which slipped 22 percent to $18 million. Bright spots for NBTY (www.nbty.com) included the wholesale/U.S. Nutrition division, which grew 6 percent to $76 million, and its Holland & Barrett European retail division, which jumped 26 percent to $55 million in revenues. Factoring in the ups and downs, overall revenue for January was up 5 percent to $168 million.