Diet Center Workers Seeking New Jobs

About 120 employees of the Diet Center in Rexburg are scrambling for new jobs following the company’s announcement that it will move its headquarters to Pittsburgh.

Allan Stewart, president of American Health Co., parent company of Diet Center, said the company is entering into a management contract with its leveraged buyout sister, General Nutrition Inc.

Under the contract, General Nutrition will provide management and operating services to American Health Company, but Diet Center will remain a separate entity, and General Nutrition will refer clients to Diet Center, he said.

Stewart said the change means that the Rexburg and Scottsdale, Ariz., operations are being merged and relocated to Pittsburgh within the next few weeks.

Employee retention, relocation and severance plans will be announced in a few days, he said.

Jim Liljenquist of Diet Center in Rexburg said all of the Rexburg employees will be terminated with only a few given the chance to relocate to Pittsburgh.

Liljenquist expects that the move will begin within the next few weeks and should be completed in September.

Diet Center owns several buildings and land in Rexburg and officials indicated that it will be sold.