The company sent letters to the top four sports supplement brands present in its stores, according to our sister publication The Grocer magazine, explaining the situation and asking them for their best terms.
It then decided to sever ties with USN (Ultimate Sports Nutrition).
“Although we have enjoyed an excellent working relationship with USN, we no longer feel its proposition supports the future direction of our business,” said NBTY group trading director Kyle Rowe.
USN managing director Jason Oakley said: “NBTY/Holland & Barrett appears immune to understanding our position, and so we have little choice other than to divert our energies and attention to retailers who prefer a more even-handed relationship to working with brands who attract consumers in droves.”
Oakley said USN had released 23 products this year and seen sales grow 45% to £25m (€29m) in the 12-month period to the end of February, 2013.
NBTY began to scrutinise its range after value-added taxes (VAT) were raised in the UK last year, in its desire to, “give customers the best value and quality”.
The other three sports nutrition brands are Optimum Nutrition, Maxinutrition and PhD.
The Holland & Barrett website breaks its sports nutrition section down into six sub-sectors:
- Protein supplements
- Amino acids
- Weight gain
- Creatine
- Sports energy & endurance
- Sports weight management