| In 1983, the Jenny Craig Company was formed in | | | | Inc. is not meant to be viewed as a diet but as a |
| Australia by both Sid and Jenny Craig. Today the | | | | practical approach to help clients develop healthy |
| headquarters are located in California. In just a little | | | | eating habits and an active lifestyle. During the |
| more than 10 years, this hard driving couple were | | | | company's early years, their clients would meet with |
| able to build a company that generated over 36 | | | | a personal diet counselor and would purchase their |
| million dollars a year in business. It was obvious that | | | | food from Jenny Craig Inc. These food selections |
| small town, Louisiana native Genevieve (Jenny) | | | | were perfectly proportioned and calorie controlled. |
| Guidroz had become a star in the dieting industry. | | | | Clients could choose meals for breakfast, lunch, or |
| By 1998, there was a substantial drop in the earnings | | | | dinner. There were also desserts and snacks that |
| to 2 million dollars a year but the company managed | | | | were offered on this plan. Diet participants would also |
| to transform itself to fit the changing times. With a | | | | be required to attend support meetings twice a |
| revamped and updated approach, earnings began to | | | | week and discuss weight loss topics with a group |
| rise. This company has always shown the ability to | | | | that was led by a counselor. Today, pre-packaged |
| find ways to gain favor with the public. Much of this | | | | meals are still the central theme of the program and |
| success is directly attributable to the positive and | | | | now they can even be delivered to customers' doors |
| tenacious attitude of Jenny Craig. | | | | through the Jenny Direct program. |
| Genevieve, or Jenny as she is better known, | | | | Jenny Craig Inc. did not go public until 1991. During this |
| developed an early interest in fitness during the 60's | | | | period, some changes were made in their upper |
| when she was trying to lose weight that she had | | | | management ranks. The program was changed and |
| gained while pregnant. She opened her own fitness | | | | modernized. Clients were able to now choose the |
| club in New Orleans during this time and she operated | | | | classes that they felt were of most interest to them. |
| it until 1970. | | | | The company also started a video series that could |
| Then she became a staff member at Body Contours, | | | | be purchased for home use which instructed |
| which was another fitness center in the area. Body | | | | individuals about healthy diet choices and how to |
| Contours was a fitness center that was owned and | | | | integrate better eating habits into their daily lives. |
| operated by Sid Craig. The couple found that they | | | | Celebrities that have had success with this program |
| had much in common, fell in love and were married in | | | | would very often become paid spokespersons. |
| 1979. By working together, they were able to | | | | Among these were stars like Elliott Gould and Susan |
| develop a unique concept that would turn their | | | | Ruttan. The most recent Hollywood stars to endorse |
| struggling fitness operation into a multimillion-dollar | | | | Jenny Craig's program have been Kirstie Alley, Marie |
| business. | | | | Osmond, and Valerie Bertinelli. |
| The diet program that was developed by Jenny Craig | | | | |