Kaire International Review and Profile

Kaire International is a long-running health and wellness network marketing company that dates to 1992. The original Kaire International, Inc. was incorporated in Nevada in October 1992 and distributed nutritional supplements and personal-care products through independent network marketers. The business expanded internationally during the 1990s, operating in markets that included the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. Kaire became particularly known for Maritime Prime, a nutritional supplement containing Pycnogenol®, an antioxidant extract derived from French maritime pine bark.

Kaire went through several ownership changes as the direct-selling industry consolidated. In February 1999, Natural Health Trends Corp. acquired substantially all of the assets of Kaire International through its Kaire Nutraceuticals subsidiary. The business subsequently operated through eKaire.com, Inc. as part of Natural Health Trends, alongside the company's larger Lexxus/NHT Global operation. According to a 2004 SEC filing, eKaire had approximately 3,600 active distributors and customers at the end of that year. On July 1, 2006, Natural Health Trends sold its ownership of eKaire.com and its interests in Kaire's Australian and New Zealand subsidiaries to Kaire International (Canada), Ltd., a company owned by longtime Kaire executive Michael Lightfoot. The transaction was valued at approximately $112,000, representing the book value of the subsidiaries.

The company's product line has changed considerably over the years but has remained focused on nutritional and wellness products. Earlier offerings extended into vitamins, nutritional supplements, skincare, personal care, weight management, and environmentally oriented household products. Today, Kaire's online store concentrates on a smaller group of wellness products, including Super Prime 120, Maritime Prime 180, SilverKaire Colloidal, and BioticKaire+. Maritime Prime, the company's longstanding flagship product, remains part of the current product line.

Kaire continues to operate a network marketing opportunity. Historically, distributors earned retail profits from products purchased at wholesale prices as well as commissions based on product purchases generated within their downline organizations. Current Kaire policies continue to refer to independent "Members," a Kaire business opportunity, and a Rewards Plan that pays commissions and bonuses based on product and service sales and the sponsorship of other participants who do the same. The company's policies also require members to present an income disclosure when discussing the opportunity and state that commissions are based on sales rather than purchasing products solely to qualify for bonuses or rank advancement.

Kaire remains in business through eKaire.com, Inc., with its current retail operation located at ShopKaire.com. The original www.kaire.com address is no longer functioning as the primary company website.