Vita Group Limited
{{Short description|Australian retailer}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Vita Group Limited
| type = Public company
| predecessor = Fone Zone
| founded = 1995
| founder = Maxine Horne, David McMahon
| hq_location_country = Australia
| industry = Telecommunications, Information Communication Technology, Technology Accessories, Athleisure
| subsid = Clear Complexions, Artisan Cosmetic Clinic's, AAG Ltd.
| website = {{URL|www.vitagroup.com.au}}
}}
Vita Group Limited (Vita Group) is an Australian retailer that operates under the brands of Artisan Aesthetic Clinics. Vita Group employs 400{{Cite news|url=http://www.smartcompany.com.au/lists/australias-top-30-female-entrepreneurs-2017/|title=Australia's top 30 female entrepreneurs 2017 - SmartCompany|date=2017-03-08|work=SmartCompany|access-date=2017-04-21|language=en-US}} people across its network of brands and is an ASX listed company that in 2020 reported revenues of $773.1 million.{{Cite web|title=Vita Group eyes acquisitions as FY20 revenue hits new high|url=https://www.arnnet.com.au/article/682332/vita-group-eyes-acquisitions-fy20-revenue-hits-new-high/|access-date=2021-01-06|website=ARN}}
Vita Group was founded by David McMahon and Maxine Horne. David McMahon was the CEO from 1995 to 2013.| Chief Executive Officer]]{{Cite news|url=https://www.arnnet.com.au/article/452271/mcmahon_leaves_vita_group/|title=McMahon leaves Vita Group|work=ARN|access-date=2017-04-26}} Vita Group was established to provide Australians with retail outlets where they could purchase mobile phones and other telecommunication products and services.{{Cite news|url=http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/australias-wealthiest-female-ceo-maxine-horne-admits-shes-driven-by-fear-of-failure/news-story/6614eaece4f5a32307f75c7c7d949761|title=Richest female CEO doesn’t feel ‘worthy’|access-date=2017-04-26}} The company commenced trading in 1995 as a Telstra Licensed Dealer under the brand Fone Zone, with its first store opening at Pacific Fair Shopping Centre on the Gold Coast. By 2005, Fone Zone had expanded to more than 100 stores Australia-wide and had listed on the Australian Stock Exchange.
In 2008, Fone Zone rebranded itself as Vita Group to reflect its expanded business focus beyond mobile phones, and David McMahon remained involved in the leadership of the company as CEO during this period. Maxine Horne became CEO following McMahon’s retirement in 2013.{{Cite web|url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/Business/Fone-Zone-launches-62-million-IPO/2005/09/27/1127804470473.html|title=Fone Zone launches $62 million IPO - Breaking News - Business - Breaking News|website=www.theage.com.au|language=en|access-date=2017-04-26}}
Background
From 2005 to 2008, Fone Zone continued to expand and diversify through acquisitions, purchasing Telstra dealer, One Zero Communications{{Cite news|url=http://www.buddeblog.com.au/news-and-views/fone-zone-acquired-one-zero-march-2005/|title=FONE ZONE ACQUIRED ONE ZERO - MARCH 2005 - BuddeBlog|date=2005-03-01|work=BuddeBlog|access-date=2017-04-26|language=en-US}} in 2005, and Apple reseller, Next Byte in 2007.{{Cite news|url=https://www.arnnet.com.au/article/188828/|title=Fone Zone buys Apple retail chain|work=ARN|access-date=2017-04-26}} In 2008, the company officially changed its name to Vita Group Limited.{{Cite web|url=https://www.telecompaper.com/news/fone-zone-changes-name-to-vita-group--615823|title=Fone Zone changes name to Vita Group|website=www.telecompaper.com|access-date=2017-04-26}}
In 2009, after nearly 15 years as a Telstra Licensed Dealer, Vita Group signed a Dealer and Master Licence Agreement with Telstra, which saw Vita acquire 100 Telstra branded stores.{{Cite news|url=https://www.arnnet.com.au/article/590362/exclusive-one-one-vita-group-ceo-maxine-horne/|title=Exclusive: One-on-one with Vita Group CEO, Maxine Horne|work=ARN|access-date=2017-04-26}}
Vita Group continued to expand from 2010 to 2015, entering the information and communication technology (ICT) sector through acquiring Camelon IT,{{Cite web|url=https://www.crn.com.au/news/updated-telstra-partner-acquires-qld-reseller-for-46m-357146|title=Updated: Telstra partner acquires Qld reseller for $4.6m|website=CRN Australia|access-date=2017-04-26}} which it later rebranded to Vita Enterprise Solutions.{{Cite news|url=https://www.arnnet.com.au/article/579279/vita-enterprise-solutions-increases-its-focus-solutions-cloud-services/|title=Vita Enterprise Solutions increases its focus on solutions, Cloud and services|work=ARN|access-date=2017-04-26}}
By mid-2015, the company had nearly 150 points of presence across Australia, including 100 Telstra Licensed Stores, 16 Telstra Business Centres, five Fone Zone outlets, 16 One Zero stores and 12 Next Byte stores.{{Cite news|url=https://www.arnnet.com.au/article/590362/exclusive-one-one-vita-group-ceo-maxine-horne/|title=Exclusive: One-on-one with Vita Group CEO, Maxine Horne|work=ARN|access-date=2017-04-26}}
In December 2015, Vita Group made the decision to close its Next Byte brand.{{Cite web|url=https://www.itnews.com.au/news/next-byte-brand-to-disappear-as-apple-reseller-shuts-down-412875|title=Next Byte brand to disappear as Apple reseller shuts down|website=iTnews|access-date=2017-04-26}}
In 2016, the company announced the extension of its Telstra Dealer and Master Lincence Agreement to 2020.{{Cite web|url=http://www.couriermail.com.au/business/shares-in-maxine-hornes-vita-group-surge-as-profit-grows-on-expanding-telstra-stores/news-story/0f7cda6d5b3c6991ee2b29fab5b37b9a|title=Subscribe {{!}} couriermail|website=www.couriermail.com.au|access-date=2017-04-26}}
The following year, Vita Group further diversified, expanding into the non-invasive medical aesthetics sector by acquiring Clear Complexions.{{Cite web|url=https://www.businessnewsaus.com.au/articles/vita-group-diversifies-into-skin-treatment-business-in--9-5m-deal.html|title=VITA GROUP DIVERSIFIES INTO SKIN TREATMENT BUSINESS IN $9.5M DEAL|website=Business News Australia|access-date=2018-07-24}} In 2018, the group added to its portfolio in this market by acquiring Artisan Cosmetic & Rejuvenation Clinic, Fortitude Valley{{Cite news|url=http://www.proactiveinvestors.com.au/companies/news/196211/vita-group-expands-skincare-offering-by-acquiring-artisan-clinic-in-brisbane-196211.html|title=Vita Group expands skincare offering by acquiring Artisan clinic in Brisbane|work=Proactiveinvestors UK|access-date=2018-07-24|language=en}} and by launching its own premium medical aesthetics brand, Artisan Aesthetic Clinics.{{Cite web|url=https://myaccount.news.com.au/sites/couriermail/subscribe.html?sourceCode=CMWEB_WRE170_a_GGL&mode=premium&dest=https://www.couriermail.com.au/business/vita-group-boss-now-rolls-out-a-national-network-of-cosmetic-medical-clinics/news-story/4efd546a35b828f6ebf2e346b42175c3?nk=928cb00c71cb6da77088afafb31cdf0e-1546907499&memtype=anonymous|title=Couriermail.com.au {{!}} Subscribe to The Courier Mail for exclusive stories|website=myaccount.news.com.au|access-date=2019-01-08}}
Today, Vita Group has more than 130 points of presence across Australia, consisting of Telstra Licensed Stores, Telstra Business Centres, and Fone Zone outlets.{{Cite web|url=http://www.couriermail.com.au/business/shares-in-maxine-hornes-vita-group-surge-as-profit-grows-on-expanding-telstra-stores/news-story/0f7cda6d5b3c6991ee2b29fab5b37b9a|title=Subscribe to The Courier-Mail|website=www.couriermail.com.au|access-date=2017-04-26}} The company also operates the brands, Sprout,{{Cite web|url=https://www.crn.com.au/news/vita-group-buys-new-telstra-stores-for-fone-zone-brand-ceo-maxine-horne-looks-ahead-452902|title=Vita Group buys new Telstra stores for Fone Zone brand, CEO Maxine Horne looks ahead|website=CRN Australia|access-date=2017-04-26}} Artisan Aesthetic Clinics, and Vita Enterprise Solutions.
References
{{Reflist}}