Today our parent company announced annual sales for Amway and its sister companies, and it was another record year.
Alticor sales of US$8.4 billion for 2009 represent a 2.3 percent increase over 2008. We’ve posted sales increases nine out of the last 10 years, and our growth rate would have been higher if not for currency fluctuations. Without the negative currency impact, we would have grown nearly 6 percent. Our China, India, Southeast Asian and Korean affiliates posted strong sales and our reinvented Latin American affiliate grew more than 60 percent.
We believe a focus on innovation is what’s propelling our business forward. A big part of our strategy is reaching consumers where they are – whether through an iPhone app in the United States or sachets of shampoo in South Africa. Or launching new product lines to meet the needs of consumers, like beautycycle in Europe and Ertia in Latin America. We’re even bringing in new talent and expertise to help us grow.
These investments in transformation and innovation are paying off in increased sales and market share. And another record year.
As I always say Keep it up Amway, We are with you…