Company history
- Inception. Weight Watchers was conceived by Jean Nidetch, a housewife and mother living in Queens, New York City, who had been overweight most of her life and had tried pills, …
- Launch, IPO, and sale to Heinz. Nidetch and the Lipperts launched Weight Watchers Inc. …
- Private-equity acquisition and second IPO. …
- 2015-18. …
Does Oprah Winfrey own weight watchers?
Feb 04, 2022 · Diet Company Weight Watchers Has Changed Hands Many Times. By Robin Hill-Gray. Feb. 4 2022, Published 8:29 a.m. ET. Weight-loss company Weight Watchers (now WW) has changed hands several times …
What is Weight Watchers’s business model?
Jan 10, 2018 · The general public, with 1.79% stake, is a relatively minor group of shareholders in WTW. This size of ownership, while considerably small for a public company, may not be enough to change company…
Who is the CEO of Weight Watchers?
Jan 26, 2022 · The company is publicly owned and traded on the New York Stock Exchange. In 1999, a European investment firm purchased 80 percent of Weight Watchers. Heinz retains a stake in the food products division. The company’s primary products are low-calorie, frozen meals and other weight loss-focused items. The rebranding helped the company’s stocks soar.
How is Oprah doing on Weight Watchers?
Does Oprah Winfrey still own WW?
What percentage of Weight Watchers is owned by Oprah?
How much does Oprah make from Weight Watchers?
Who is the CEO of Weight Watchers?
Who owns the most shares of Weight Watchers?
| Stockholder | Stake | Shares owned |
|---|---|---|
| Invus Public Equities Advisors LL… | 21.15% | 14,818,300 |
| BlackRock Fund Advisors | 11.17% | 7,829,997 |
| The Vanguard Group, Inc. | 10.21% | 7,153,861 |
| Senvest Management LLC | 6.55% | 4,589,460 |
How much did Oprah invest in Weight Watchers?
Is WW making money?
Why does Weight Watchers go by WW now?
Is Mindy Grossman still with WW?
Who will replace Mindy Grossman on Weight Watchers?
How much is the public stake in WTW?
The general public, with 1.79% stake, is a relatively minor group of shareholders in WTW. This size of ownership, while considerably small for a public company, may not be enough to change company policy if the decision is not in sync with other large shareholders. Private Equity Ownership.
Do hedge funds have a significant stake in WTW?
In the case of WTW, investors need not worry about such volatility considering active hedge funds don’t have a significant stake. However, we should dig deeper into WTW’s ownership structure and find out how other key ownership classes can affect its investment profile.
Who created Weight Watchers?
Weight Watchers was conceived by Jean Nidetch, a housewife and mother living in Queens, New York City, who had been overweight most of her life and had tried pills, hypnosis, and numerous fad diets, all of which only led to regained weight. In 1961, at the age of 38, she weighed 214 pounds and an acquaintance mistook her for being pregnant.
When did Weight Watchers start?
With Nidetch as president and evangelist, Nidetch and the Lipperts launched Weight Watchers Inc. in Queens in 1963, renting public meeting venues and initially charging participants $2 (the price of a movie at the time) per weekly meeting; the first official meeting, in May 1963, attracted 400 attendees. Nidetch led groups and trained others to lead groups as well.
Who is WW International?
WW International, Inc., formerly Weight Watchers International, Inc., is a global company headquartered in the U.S. that offers weight loss and maintenance, fitness, and mindset services such as the Weight Watchers comprehensive diet program. Founded in 1963 by Queens, New York City homemaker Jean Nidetch, …
Who founded WW?
Founded in 1963 by Queens, New York City homemaker Jean Nidetch, WW’s program has three options as of 2019: online via its mobile app and website, coaching online or by phone, or in-person meetings. In 2018, the company rebranded to “WW” to reflect “its development from focusing on weight loss to overall health and wellness.”.
How many weight watchers franchises were there in 1968?
By 1968, the company had 91 franchises in 43 states, and to expand further overseas Al Lippert took the company public as Weight Watchers International Inc.; the initial 225,000 shares, offered at $11.25 a share, began trading enthusiastically, rising to over $30 by the end of the first day.
When did the company move away from diet?
In the mid 1970s , the company moved away from simply dieting and more toward “eating management”, developing tailored options to meet the varying needs of its members, including a specialized food plan for the management of weight-loss plateaus, and a maintenance plan.
Did Oprah Winfrey join Weight Watchers?
In October 2015, Oprah Winfrey partnered with Weight Watchers. Winfrey bought a 10% stake in the company, became its spokesperson, joined its board of directors, and lost weight on the program, plus she helped launch a new holistic lifestyle and fitness program called “Beyond the Scale”.
What is Weight Watchers International?
Weight Watchers International, Inc. is one of the most recognized and trusted brand names among weight-conscious consumers. Weight Watchers provides commercial weight management services through a global network of Company-owned and franchise operations and offers innovative, digital weight management products through its websites, mobile sites and apps. These services and products are built on the Company’s weight management program, which helps millions of people around the world lose weight through sensible and sustainable food plans, activity, behavior modification and group support. Weight Watchers has an unparalleled network of service providers to assist members on their journey and also offers a wide range of products, publications and programs for those interested in weight loss and healthier living.
Is Mindy Grossman a powerful woman?
In 2013, Forbes magazine named Ms. Grossman one of the world’s 100 most powerful women, an honor she has received three times. In 2011, she was named Corporate Innovator of the Year at the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year® Florida Awards. In both 2010 and 2011, Mindy was ranked by the Financial Times as one of the top 50 women in world …
Who is Mindy Grossman?
From 2008-2017, she served as Chief Executive Officer of HSN, Inc. and a member of the company’s Board of Directors. Ms. Grossman joined IAC, HSN’s former parent company, in 2006 as CEO of IAC Retail. Earlier career highlights include serving as Global Vice President at Nike, Inc., President and CEO of Polo Jeans Company, Vice President of New Business Development at Polo Ralph Lauren Corporation, President of Chaps Ralph Lauren, and Senior Vice President of Menswear for Warnaco, Inc. She also held senior positions at Tommy Hilfiger and Oxford Industries.
What is Weight Watchers?
Weight Watchers is the leading provider of Online subscription weight management products in the world. In addition, Weight Watchers offers a wide range of products, publications and programs for those interested in weight loss …
What is Weight Watchers International?
Weight Watchers International, Inc. is the world’s leading commercial provider of weight management services, operating globally through a network of Company-owned and franchise operations.
Who is Jean Nidetch?
NEW YORK (April 29, 2015) – Jean Nidetch, founder of Weight Watchers International, Inc., cultural icon and innovator who inspired millions around the world to live a healthier lifestyle and achieve weight loss success, died today at her home in Florida.
Where is Jean Nidetch Women’s Center?
In addition to Weight Watchers, she established the Jean Nidetch Women’s Center and Scholarship program at the University of Nevada in Las Vegas for students who have overcome adversity to achieve their academic goals and the Jean Nidetch Dissertation Award at the University of California at Los Angeles.
How much did Oprah invest in Weight Watchers
In 2015, Weight Watchers announced one of its most significant — and most famous — investors yet: Oprah Winfrey. According to the company’s report, Oprah invested $43.20 million for 6,362,103 shares. At the time, one share cost $6.79.
How much money has Oprah made on Weight Watchers
Since her initial investment, Oprah has seen a significant return. According to Business Insider, Oprah made millions off the bet with a total profit amounting to $300 million. “Including the initial investment of $43 million, her full stake is now worth more than $500 million,” the publication reports.
The face of Weight Watchers
Several reports state that Weight Watchers didn’t make Oprah money, Oprah made Oprah money. In addition to investing big money, Oprah also became the face of Weight Watchers and her “I love bread” commercials paid off tremendously.
How much did Oprah Winfrey sell in Weight Watchers?
Oprah Winfrey Sells Millions of Dollars of Slumping Weight Watchers Stock. Oprah Winfrey sold more than $16 million of stock in WW International earlier this month, both from a personal account and through her foundation. The weight-loss and wellness firm’s shares have tumbled in the face of the coronavirus pandemic.
Does Oprah own WW stock?
The Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation doesn’t currently own any WW stock. Winfrey didn’t respond to a request for comment made to a law firm that is listed as her contact on her SEC forms. The latest transaction is her first sale in a couple of years.
How much did Oprah Winfrey sell WW International shares?
Oprah Winfrey recently disclosed the sale of more than $16 million of WW International shares. The media icon made the sale through both a personal account and the Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation.
How much did Winfrey sell WW shares?
The most recent previous sale was in March 2018, when Winfrey sold 2 million WW shares for $120.1 million, a per-share average price of $60.10. She had gifted 361,000 WW shares to her foundation, which sold them for $22.6 million, or $62.56 each on average.
Overview
Company history
Weight Watchers was conceived by Jean Nidetch, a housewife and mother living in Queens, New York City, who had been overweight most of her life and had tried pills, hypnosis, and numerous fad diets, all of which only led to regained weight. In 1961, at the age of 38, she weighed 214 pounds and an acquaintance mistook her for being pregnant. She entered a free 10-week weight-loss program sponsored by the New York City Board of Health’s obesity clinic. The program was …
Business model
Weight Watchers’ business model is one of a subscription-based program of support, plus a variety of purchasable products, media, services, and technologies. Its brand identity has been framed around Weight Watchers being a community, and its website is intrinsic to its effectiveness. Particularly in the 21st century, the company has increasingly marketed itself as a health and wellness brand rather than a weight-loss brand, and its dietary plans emphasize fruits…
Reception
As of July 2018, Weight Watchers was the most widely used commercial diet in the world. In addition to the U.S., as of 2018 it had operations in countries including Canada, the UK, Germany, Switzerland, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Sweden, Australia, New Zealand, and Brazil. Its main long-term competitors in the commercial weight-loss company genre are Jenny Craig and Nutrisystem. Weight Watchers has been included in U.S. News and World Report’s rankings for 4…
Leadership and spokespersons
Weight Watchers’ founder Jean Nidetch was the company’s President from 1963–1973.
Al Lippert was CEO of Weight Watchers from 1963–1981. From 1978–1999, Weight Watchers was a subsidiary of Heinz. Charles M. Berger was CEO of Weight Watchers from 1982–1994, having previously been its President. Since 1999, the CEOs of Weight Watchers have been: Linda Huett 2000–2006; David Kirchhoff 2007–2013; Jim Chambers 2013–2016; and Mindy Grossman
See also
• List of diets
External links
• Official website
• Official website