In the Asia Pacific region, where USANA generated 72 percent of its sales last year, the Philippines and China are currently the nutrition company’s two hottest markets.
Wrapping up an Asian tour in Manila this weekend, USANA CEO Dave Wentz told The Manila Times that the Philippines, where the company launched in January 2009, is outpacing all other markets in the region. In the first quarter of 2015, Southeast Asia Pacific revenue rose 10 percent to $45.3 million—a fifth of USANA’s quarterly revenue. Wentz was in the country to meet with up-and-coming leaders and share the company’s vision with a gathering of 13,000 Filipino distributors.
He was particularly excited to connect with the young entrepreneurs in attendance. As the son of USANA Founder Myron Wentz, the younger Wentz began working for the company in 1992. Before taking on the role of CEO in 2008, he held a series of executive positions within the company. That experience taught him lessons—including the importance of personal growth—that he hopes to pass on to the next generation of entrepreneurs.
The young CEO is fresh off a one-year leave from USANA, which he took to recharge and spend time with his family, including a South African safari trip.
“With 19 countries and traveling all the time, I do miss my children growing up,” Wentz told the Times. “And now the management team is so good, and I trust them completely, so Aug. 2 last year I took a leave and told management we’ve got great, capable people to run the business.”