HEALTH COMPANIES
Soaring Weight Watchers trims itself down to WW
New York — Health and wellness company Weight Watchers is changing its name to WW, as CEO Mindy Grossman tries to draw more consumers to the weight-loss programme in a bid to extend momentum fuelled by Oprah Winfrey’s embrace of the brand nearly three years ago. Weight Watchers, which has been updating its technology and reshaping its diet plan, is the latest company to embrace its initials. And as Grossman puts her stamp on the brand, she’s pulling from a playbook used at Home Shopping Network, where she switched its name to HSN and turned the company from a staid shopping channel into a lifestyle brand. "We will go through a period where people will have to understand Weight Watchers reimagined," Grossman said in an interview last week at WW headquarters in Manhattan. There is mounting pressure on Grossman to prove she can sustain the Oprah-fuelled turnaround. The company’s shares have gained nearly 60% this year, after surging almost 300% in 2017 as advertisements featuring the m...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.