The Vitamin Shoppe® Announces New Chief Technology Officer

SECAUCUS, N.J., Jan. 7, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Vitamin Shoppe, Inc. (NYSE: VSI) an omni-channel, specialty retailer of nutritional products, today announced that Andrew Laudato has joined The Vitamin Shoppe as Executive Vice President, Chief Technology Officer effective immediately. Mr. Laudato brings to The Vitamin Shoppe over two decades of experience and will have responsibility for Information Technology, Enterprise Project Planning as well as Supply Chain.

Commenting on the appointment, Sharon Leite, CEO stated, "We have enhanced our team with a proven and recognized leader. Andy brings valuable experience and expertise to this role and was chosen for his industry knowledge, experience in company-wide technology transformations and his collaborative approach to change. In this new role, Andy will partner with leaders across the organization to help us innovate and provide solutions to meet the rapidly changing expectations of today's customer. His strong track record in managing technology initiatives will be crucial to The Vitamin Shoppe's success moving forward. We are thrilled to have a leader of Andy's caliber joining The Vitamin Shoppe and look forward to working with him."

Andy Laudato stated, "The digital shopping landscape is continuously evolving, and brands and retailers are challenged with keeping pace with changing consumer behaviors and expectations. In an omni-channel world, seamlessly integrating the supply chain with the in-store and digital shopping experience is a top priority. I have had the opportunity to work on many unique technology projects throughout my career and The Vitamin Shoppe's clear purpose of connecting with its customers sets it apart. I look forward to joining The Vitamin Shoppe and working with the teams at such a pivotal time."

Mr. Laudato began his career as a computer programmer and has been a Chief Information Officer for close to two decades. For the past two years, Mr. Laudato was Chief Information Officer at Brookdale Senior Living where he was a member of the executive leadership team with responsibility for all aspects of technology including back office, sales and marketing among other areas. Prior to that he spent 15 years as Chief Information Officer at Pier 1 where he led several key initiatives including creating and executing a comprehensive IT and corporate strategy and led an enterprise-wide process efficiency initiative. From 1990 through 2000, he was Director, Systems Development at Jo-Ann Stores and held the same role at LBrands earlier in his career. Mr. Laudato was past Chair of the National Retail Federation's (NRF) CIO Council. Additionally, in 2016 he was recognized by the NRF for his outstanding contributions to the retail industry. He has a B.S. degree, Computer Information Systems from DeVry Institute of Technology and a Certificate in Leadership Excellence from Vanderbilt University.

About the Vitamin Shoppe, Inc. (NYSE:VSI)

The Vitamin Shoppe is an omni-channel, specialty retailer and wellness lifestyle company based in Secaucus, New Jersey. In its stores and on its website, the Company carries a comprehensive assortment of nutritional solutions including: vitamins, minerals, specialty supplements, herbs, sports nutrition, homeopathic remedies, green living products, and natural beauty aids. In addition to offering products from approximately 700 national brands, the Vitamin Shoppe also carries products under The Vitamin Shoppe®, BodyTech®, True Athlete®, MyTrition®, plnt®, ProBioCare®, and Next Step® brands. The Vitamin Shoppe conducts business through more than 775 company-operated retail stores under The Vitamin Shoppe and Super Supplements retail banners, and through its website, www.vitaminshoppe.com.

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