Worlds Largest Multilevel

ADA, Mich., March 9  — Amway’s parent company, Alticor Inc., announced record sales of more than US$8.4 billion for the year ended Dec. 31, 2009, which was a 2.3 percent increase over 2008. Sales were negatively impacted by foreign currency fluctuations, which in local currency grew 5.9 percent.

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The company also made gains in another key measure. Said Van Andel: “In 2009, we increased our market share in the direct selling industry, and continued to drive improvements and adjustments to our business that will help us, and our distributors, succeed over the long term.”

Strong regional sales in China, India, Southeast Asia, and Korea continued in 2009, while the 2008 relaunch of the Latin American market yielded a second year of more than 50% percent increase in volume in the region. Visible work has been done to strengthen and reposition Amway in established markets such as Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa, making the region one to watch for 2010.

In the North America market, continued transformation was marked by investments in visibility, training and consumer access. In November, the company launched an ordering “app” for Apple® iPhone, product information and sales support via podcast, and training apps on iTunes®. North America is also the first to implement a new web commerce platform, which will begin a global rollout later in 2010.

“More than ever before, Amway is a truly global company,” DeVos said. “As markets outside the United States continue to develop, we are learning constantly how to better support consumers in many different cultures. Then we take the best lessons we learn in each market and figure out how to apply them around the world.”

Amway does not generally release individual market sales or disclose profitability.

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“In 2010, we will continue to change the way people see Amway,” said DeVos. “We are finding new ways to articulate our values and our opportunity so that we can connect to entrepreneurs and product consumers around the globe.”SOURCE Amway Corporate Communications