Latest news with #Vitality
Telegraph
2 days ago
- Business
- Telegraph
How ‘Britain's most generous loyalty scheme' came unstuck
When Nick Thomas and his wife took out a health and life insurance policy with Vitality four years ago, like millions of others they were drawn to the generous rewards scheme. Unlike a traditional rewards programme where repeated spending eventually leads to a perk, Vitality rewarded members for having healthy lifestyle habits. Walking 7,000 steps a day, going to the gym or completing a Parkrun all earned points offering lucrative rewards for Thomas and his family such as free cinema tickets, an Amazon Prime membership and bags of Caffe Nero coffee. The scheme was a success on both sides. For Vitality, healthier customers claimed less while members benefited from better health and significant savings in the form of numerous perks. Thomas, like countless other members The Telegraph has spoken to, has nothing but praise for Vitality. 'It's been brilliant. I've encouraged other people to sign up because I've been so impressed with it all.' But all of that changed last month when Vitality decided to 'level up' its reward programme. Rather than earning rewards solely for healthy lifestyle choices, the insurance provider introduced a game whereby members would have to find a cartoon dachshund called 'Stanley' hidden behind 16 bushes. The monthly rewards they now earn are dependent on how many 'Stanleys' they find. The disapproval among Vitality's 1.9 million members has been swift. Online message boards reveal an avalanche of complaints about the 'silly game'. Facebook groups show members venting their frustrations and trying to share tips about how to find the hidden dogs. Criticisms range from members saying they feel infantilised to more serious accusations that the game amounts to a form of gambling, and is at odds with the company's aim to reward 'being active, eating healthily and maintaining good mental health'. Vitality strongly disputes the allegation that it amounts to gambling, as members do not stake money while playing. Martyn James, a consumer expert, says while it is not a form of gambling, it is part of a growing trend of 'gamification' – the process of using gameplay to make tasks more attractive and encourage engagement. He says: 'Unless Vitality can demonstrate that the odds show that people are getting the same amount of rewards then it's a smokescreen to hide the fact that benefits have been removed. 'That's before you consider the juvenile factor. It's fine if you are younger and don't mind hunting for a cartoon dog but as a grown adult, I find that quite patronising. I don't mind spinning a wheel every now and then, but you have to question what purpose does this serve?'
Telegraph
2 days ago
- Business
- Telegraph
How Britain's most generous rewards scheme fell apart
When Nick Thomas and his wife took out a health and life insurance policy with Vitality four years ago, like millions of others they were drawn to the generous rewards scheme. Unlike a traditional rewards programme where repeated spending eventually leads to a perk, Vitality rewarded members for having healthy lifestyle habits. Walking 7,000 steps a day, going to the gym or completing a Parkrun all earned points offering lucrative rewards for Thomas and his family such as free cinema tickets, an Amazon Prime membership and bags of Caffe Nero coffee. The scheme was a success on both sides. For Vitality, healthier customers claimed less while members benefited from better health and significant savings in the form of numerous perks. Thomas, like countless other members The Telegraph has spoken to, has nothing but praise for Vitality. 'It's been brilliant. I've encouraged other people to sign up because I've been so impressed with it all.' But all of that changed last month when Vitality decided to 'level up' its reward programme. Rather than earning rewards solely for healthy lifestyle choices, the insurance provider introduced a game whereby members would have to find a cartoon dachshund called 'Stanley' hidden behind 16 bushes. The monthly rewards they now earn are dependent on how many 'Stanleys' they find. The disapproval among Vitality's 1.9 million members has been swift. Online message boards reveal an avalanche of complaints about the 'silly game'. Facebook groups show members venting their frustrations and trying to share tips about how to find the hidden dogs. Criticisms range from members saying they feel infantilised to more serious accusations that the game amounts to a form of gambling, and is at odds with the company's aim to reward 'being active, eating healthily and maintaining good mental health'. Vitality strongly disputes the allegation that it amounts to gambling, as members do not stake money while playing. Martyn James, a consumer expert, says while it is not a form of gambling, it is part of a growing trend of 'gamification' – the process of using gameplay to make tasks more attractive and encourage engagement. He says: 'Unless Vitality can demonstrate that the odds show that people are getting the same amount of rewards then it's a smokescreen to hide the fact that benefits have been removed. 'That's before you consider the juvenile factor. It's fine if you are younger and don't mind hunting for a cartoon dog but as a grown adult, I find that quite patronising. I don't mind spinning a wheel every now and then, but you have to question what purpose does this serve?' The Telegraph is aware of numerous members who have written to Vitality to complain, but so far the company has shown no signs of reverting the changes in responses to these letters. Thomas is one such member who has flagged his concerns with Vitality. 'I wondered if it was just me who was getting annoyed but looking online, I thought thank goodness it's not just me. 'My wife and I joined after we sat down with a financial adviser and we were drawn in by a policy that rewarded healthy living. That's why a lot of people join it. 'But with this they have created a childish game which is completely based on luck. There is an unfairness to it all. I can earn 160 points in a month [the maximum] and end up with fewer rewards than someone who has earned 48 points. 'I'd love for them to be transparent. If they need to cut costs and therefore reduce the number of benefits, just be open about that. Equally, if they need to increase costs because of the level of benefits, it's best to be open and transparent with members rather than doing [this] which annoys people.' The changes to the reward programme are complex. Previously, members were able to earn up to 160 points in a month with weekly and monthly rewards available. For example, if members earned 12 points a week, which could be achieved by walking more than 7,000 steps for four days, they could redeem a drink of their choice at Caffe Nero. For 12 points, they could also enjoy a weekly film rental from Rakuten. Earning 48 points in a month unlocked a free cinema ticket at Odeon or Vue, and until January 2024, reaching 160 points every month gave you a free Amazon Prime membership. Under the new system, some health-based points rewards remain. Earning 12 points in a week can be transferred for either a free Caffe Nero drink and 25pc off Itsu food or 50pc off a cinema ticket. But rather than incentivising members to earn as close to the maximum number of points as possible in a month to reach the best rewards, these are all now linked to playing a computer game where luck determines what prizes you earn. As long as a member earns 12 points each week out of a maximum of 40, they are entered into the game where they are shown 16 square tiles known as 'bushes' – behind four of which is a dog. When members open the game, the first bush shakes to reveal where the first dog is hidden. It then leaves members with three chances to find three dogs hidden behind 15 bushes. At the end of the month, if a member finds four dogs, they earn one reward, if they find eight dogs, they earn two prizes and if they find 10 dogs, they earn the maximum of three prizes. David Rowe, a programme manager from Hertfordshire, has reluctantly played the game each week. However, both last month and this month, he has found seven dogs, leaving him one short of collecting two prizes. Márton Balázs, a probability professor at Bristol University, explains there is a good reason why members like Rowe keep falling short of earning two prizes. Balázs has calculated that assuming a member played the game four times in a month and they always find the first dog which the game prompts, they have only got a 13.4pc chance of finding eight dogs. To earn three rewards, equivalent to finding 10 dogs, the odds of winning are even smaller at 0.96pc – giving members a one in 103 chance of winning the maximum prize, although Vitality strongly refutes these calculations. Rowe added: 'I looked up the chances of finding all four dogs and you've got a one in 455 chance. You are almost five times more likely to match three numbers in the National Lottery than find all four dogs in a week on this game,' he says. Rowe, who has been a member for the past eight years and pays £600 annually for his policy, is considering leaving. 'My policy is up for renewal in September. I will investigate changing and see what else is out there. If I can get an insurance policy that is half the price of what I am paying now, I'd think, 'Why would I not do that because that money I'm saving I can just spend on cinema tickets or an Itsu meal instead?'.' Thomas and his wife are also considering the value of their £1,460 annual bill, but he is hopeful that Vitality might yet listen to the rising anger of members. 'I've never questioned leaving before but if things haven't changed by August or September, then I think we'll go elsewhere'. A Vitality spokesman said the scheme continued to offer 'significant value' to consumers. Nick Read, managing director, said: 'The update to the Vitality Programme ensures more customers are taking steps to improve their health, with over 53,000 additional members now more physically active than they previously were. 'The impact of this is transformational – many more people will live in better health for longer. It also continues to offer significant value, over and above the market-leading health and life insurance we provide.'
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
VITALITY ANNOUNCES FOURTH QUARTER AND YEAR END RESULTS
TSXV Trading Symbol: VPI VANCOUVER, BC, June 2, 2025 /CNW/ - Vitality Products Inc. (TSXV: VPI) (the "Company" or "Vitality"), a manufacturer, marketer and distributor of premium vitamins and supplements, is pleased to report its financial results for the fourth quarter and the fiscal year ending January 31, 2025 and highlights: 37% sales increase in Q4 72% gross margin in Q4 46% decrease in annual net loss and 62% decrease in Q4 net loss Sales of the Company's premium natural health products for the three months ended January 31, 2025 increased 37% to $235,278 (2024 - $171,704). The Company's gross margin on its sales for the three months ended January 31, 2025 was $170,314 or 72% of sales (2024 - $125,794 or 73% of sales) as the Company continues to have strong gross margins due to the uniqueness of its natural health products. The financial results of the Company for the three months ended January 31, 2025 show a net loss of $11,388 or $0.00 per share compared to a net loss of $30,020 or $0.00 per share for the same period last year. The Company's general selling expenses for the three months ended January 31, 2025 increased to $35,799 (2024 - $29,932). The Company's general and administrative expenses for the three months ended January 31, 2025 increased to $142,320 (2024 - $123,683). The Company is focused on expanding distribution and growing sales in Canada and the United States while maintaining its overall operating efficiencies. The financial results of the Company for its year ended January 31, 2025 show a net loss of $146,063 or $0.00 per share compared to a net loss of $269,038 or $0.01 per share for the same period last year. Sales for the year ended January 31, 2025 increased 1% to $792,773 (2024 - $787,223). The Company's general selling expenses for the year ended January 31, 2025 decreased to $124,399 (2024 - $197,964). The Company's general and administrative expenses for the year ended January 31, 2025 decreased to $578,830 (2024 - $626,392). The Company continues to evaluate, research and develop new products for future distribution including exploring new markets for its products. Management has explored multiple business opportunities for international sales, potential acquisition or mergers with similar businesses including AI, digital health applications, and product lines. Management continues to look at opportunities to grow the business. More information about the Company is available on and The Company's audited financial statements and management's discussion and analysis for the years ended January 31, 2025 and 2024 are available on SEDAR+ at About Vitality VITALITY® is an award-winning line of clean vitamins and supplements, marketed to natural health retailers and health and wellness conscious consumers. Manufactured in Canada and currently sold in natural health stores and online, the products are non-GMO and third party tested for quality. Following the proven success of the line through repeat orders and same store sales growth, the Company is focused on expanding distribution and growing sales in-store and online; evaluating, researching and developing new products for future distribution; and exploring new markets for its products. To view our products, visit: On behalf of the Board ofVITALITY PRODUCTS INC. "Cheryl A. Grant" (signed) __________________________________ Cheryl A. Grant, President & CEO Forward-Looking Information Information set forth in this news release involves forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that relate to future, not past, events. In this context, forward-looking statements often address a company's expected future business and financial performance, and often contain words such as "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "expect", and "intend", statements that an action or event "may", "might", "could", "should", or "will" be taken or occur, or other similar expressions. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, the following risks: risks associated with marketing and sale of securities; the need for additional financing; reliance on key personnel; the potential for conflicts of interest among certain officers or directors with certain other projects; and the volatility of common share price and volume. Forward-looking statements are made based on management's beliefs, estimates and opinions on the date that statements are made and except as required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change. Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements. THE FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS NEWS RELEASE REPRESENTS THE EXPECTATIONS OF THE COMPANY AS OF THE DATE OF THIS NEWS RELEASE AND, ACCORDINGLY, IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE AFTER SUCH DATE. READERS SHOULD NOT PLACE UNDUE IMPORTANCE ON FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION AND SHOULD NOT RELY UPON THIS INFORMATION AS OF ANY OTHER DATE. WHILE THE COMPANY MAY ELECT TO, IT DOES NOT UNDERTAKE TO UPDATE THIS INFORMATION AT ANY PARTICULAR TIME EXCEPT AS REQUIRED IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE SECURITIES LEGISLATION. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. SOURCE Vitality Products Inc. View original content to download multimedia: Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Hospitality Net
29-05-2025
- Business
- Hospitality Net
The Bright Group Announces Opening of The Dayton Vitality Hotel, a Tech-Enabled Lifestyle Hotel Connected to the Dayton Convention Center
The Bright Group announces the opening of Dayton Vitality Hotel, a modern, lifestyle property directly connected to the Dayton Convention Center via skywalk. The tech-forward hotel is set to become a key driver in the city's downtown revitalization, blending convenience, design, and community-focused amenities for business and leisure travelers alike. The Dayton Vitality Hotel offers Vitality's signature guest experience with self-check-in, along with a seamless blend of functionality, design, and mindful hospitality. The hotel features a pool, advanced fitness center, thoughtfully designed guest rooms, a wellness-inspired atmosphere, and vibrant communal spaces including a rooftop bar with sweeping city views, catering to both leisure travelers and business professionals. The property also features expansive meeting and event spaces, offering an ideal venue for conferences, corporate gatherings, and social events just steps from Dayton's central business district. "We are thrilled to bring the Vitality experience to Dayton, a city experiencing exciting growth," said Deniz Dorbek Kocak, CEO at The Bright Group. "This hotel embodies our vision of elevated, purpose-driven hospitality in cities on the rise, and Dayton is exactly that. The Bright Group's investment in Dayton underscores its commitment to supporting cities that are not only growing but doing so with vision, community, and innovation at the forefront." The Dayton debut follows the successful opening of Vitality Memphis in Summer 2024 and marks the brand's second flagship. The Bright Group plans five additional Vitality openings through 2026, with confirmed locations including: Marietta, GA - Targeting a late-August 2025 debut Orlando, FL; Tulsa, OK; and Reading, PA - Scheduled for phased openings through 2025 and 2026 Hotel website
Techday NZ
26-05-2025
- Business
- Techday NZ
Vitality partners with FICO to offer personalised digital care
Vitality has partnered with FICO to provide personalised digital healthcare journeys for its one million members. The collaboration sees the implementation of the Vitality Care Hub, which is built on FICO Platform and aims to streamline and personalise the process of accessing healthcare services for members, from GP referrals to physiotherapy and mental health support. The Care Hub enables digital claims submission and management, resulting in a marked shift from telephone to online claims initiation. Vitality reports that fewer than 28% of member claims are now started over the phone, compared to over 90% in 2019. The shift toward a digital-first process has allowed specialist claims teams to dedicate more time to complex cases requiring personal support. The insurer has integrated a suite of FICO tools to facilitate data-driven decisions using real-time insights. This has reduced the need for manual intervention by agents, improved the efficiency of claims processing, and lowered operational costs. By minimising the risk of human error, Vitality can handle a higher volume of complex claims such as chemotherapy treatments, while also supporting scalability as claim volumes rise. Annabel Simmons, Head of Healthcare Programs at Vitality, explained the rationale behind the move: "At Vitality we understand that no two patients are the same. Some members prefer a no-nonsense, straightforward, and self-managed approach to healthcare, while others require more handholding and empathy. We wanted to offer personalised healthcare journeys that cater to these individual preferences." Simmons added, "Upgrading our system wasn't just about moving to the cloud — it was about unlocking the potential for growth by allowing our teams to focus on what they do best: providing excellent healthcare services and improving patient outcomes. We realised we were limiting our possibilities by staying with our old system. Our upgrade with FICO is already paying for itself and will continue to drive value for years to come." The adoption of a cloud-based microservices architecture, which integrates across services such as life insurance and member reward schemes, allows Vitality to offer tailored journeys for members. The system also provides traceability of decisions and consistency in outcomes. Care Hub is intended to complement the work of Vitality's specialist claims teams by enabling fast digital pathways for customers whose needs are more routine, while reserving human resources for complex cases. The insurer states this approach manages demand efficiently, helping to maintain customer satisfaction and drive operational savings that can be reinvested into key services. Vitality is also using FICO Business Outcome Simulator to test and preview the likely outcomes of rule changes in real time. This enables the business to understand potential impacts before changes are implemented, both at the operational level and for members. Nikhil Behl, President, Software at FICO, commented on the project: "The collaboration between FICO and Vitality has enabled the kind of personalised digital-first approach that is transforming healthcare services. By focusing on personalisation, automation, and operational efficiency, Vitality is building a future-proof system that meets the diverse needs of its members while driving sustainable growth." FICO Platform provides open architecture and integrated capabilities for organising data, generating insights, and executing operational actions. FICO was recently recognised as a Leader in the IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Decision Intelligence Platforms 2024 Vendor Assessment.
