Leo Burnett Orchard bags GNC India’s biz, unveils ‘Start Strong’ campaign

Mumbai: Guardian Healthcare, one of the largest health and wellness supplements retailers in India and the master franchisee for GNC products in the country, has awarded its creative duties to Leo Burnett Orchard. The business was won after a multi-agency pitch, and will be handled by Leo Burnett Orchard’s Mumbai office. GNC is a leading nutrition and wellness supplements brand globally, with over 80 years of expertise in the nutraceuticals industry.

As a brand, GNC is devoted exclusively to helping its consumers improve the quality of their lives. Its product range includes protein, performance supplements, weight management supplements, vitamins, herbs and greens, and wellness supplements. Leo Burnett Orchard will now create awareness and build brand salience by focusing on leading GNC Pro Performance 100% Whey Protein to the status of ‘flagship brand’.

The first campaign for the Pro Performance 100% Whey is especially designed for beginners in the world of fitness. An integrated marketing campaign–Start Strong–has been unveiled to promote GNC’s 100% whey protein supplements.

Speaking about the campaign Shadab Khan, CEO of GNC India said, “The supplementation market in India is still at a very nascent stage and people lack the knowledge about how the right supplementation can fuel their performance. We believe that there is a need to educate people on how, along with discipline and hard work, consuming the right protein is extremely important to achieve their fitness goals. GNC Pro Performance 100% Whey Protein is the basic kick-starter protein that has been specially formulated for beginners, to maximise their fitness goals. We are confident that our new campaign with John Abraham, on GNC Pro Performance, will help inspire youngsters to take a holistic view of health and nutrition and thereby, choose the right supplements.”

Speaking about the campaign Amod Dani, Executive Creative Director Leo Burnett Orchard said, “A lot of people who workout have icons they look up to. The beginners, however, lack the right direction and the right mentorship. John Abraham is a fitness icon; his disciplined approach to building and maintaining his physique has always been an inspiration to many. We brought this very inspiration to life with John’s poster coming alive and him motivating his protégé’s workout with a balance of hard work coupled with right supplementation. Workouts are built on a strong mentor-protégé relationship, and that’s what we have reflected in the film; John as the mentor-in-chief coaches his protégé and shows him the real meaning of ‘Start Strong’.”

Speaking about the new business and campaign, Manav Rai Ahuja, VP & Branch Head – Mumbai, Leo Burnett Orchard, said, “We are really excited to have GNC in our fold. They are the global leaders in nutraceuticals. Each GNC product is the result of an intensive scientific research process ensuring full effectiveness. Today, more and more people are conscious about their physicality. We, therefore, have a huge number of people joining gyms but an equal number of people dropping out. Through this campaign we want to speak to people who are in their early stages of fitness exploration. The ‘Start Strong’ proposition sharply focuses on the importance of choosing the right beginning that yields desired results and motivates people to continue their efforts. This is GNC’s first mass media campaign and we are ensuring that it becomes a huge success by using our unique Power of One capabilities.”

The film aims to firmly establish GNC Pro Performance as the better protein supplement, specially designed for beginners to maximise their fitness goals. People new to fitness want to take charge of their life, feel better about themselves and look more physically aesthetic but are mostly unaware of the right methods and supplements which will help them achieve their goals. With ‘Start Strong’, the brand wants to help consumers start their fitness journey on the absolute right note. Popular Bollywood actor John Abraham is featured in the commercial.