EAS is a distributor of creatine nutritional supplements with approximately 300 staff, annual sales exceeding $300 million, and offices/distributors in 54 countries.
History
EAS was founded in Pacific Grove, Monterey County, California in 1992 by a biochemist named Anthony Almada, and a businessman named Ed Byrd. After discovering the possible benefits for athletes of creatine monohydrate supplementation, in December 1992 they acquired a kilogram of creatine and began trials. In 1993 Almada and Byrd released the first commercially available creatine supplement, intended specifically for strength and muscle enhancement, under the EAS brand name Phosphagen. That same year their product caught the eye of Bill Phillips, publisher of Muscle Media 2000, and he began to write about its benefits in the "Natural Supplement Review" and his subscriber based newsletters. In 1994 he purchased EAS from Almada and Byrd. Bill Phillips was 100% owner of EAS until the sale to North Castle Partners. Phillips' subscriber base was the perfect platform from which to tout his new acquisition, and it was from here that EAS growth really began. He promoted the company's products through heavy editorial-style advertisements in MM2K, and, led by products like Myoplex, Phosphagen and HMB, this eventually made EAS one of the leading players in the nutritional supplement industry. In 1999North Castle Partners purchased EAS for $160 million. Phillips retained about a third of the company, which he sold in 2004. In 2005 EAS was purchased by Abbott Laboratories for approximately $320 million in a cash-for-stock transaction and now exists as a solely-owned division of Abbott, who also makes Similac and Ensure. EAS' product line under Abbott now focuses on sports bars and drink mixes, and other similar products. Abbott has expanded the stores offering EAS products from niche stores such as GNC to mainstream stores such as Walmart and Target. In March 2011 Abbott laboratories exited the European and the international market with the EAS brand. The exit included the closing of the Canadian and UK country businesses and regional distribution in Europe as well as Australia and New Zealand. European product manufacturing also ceased in 2011. As of August 2018 the brand is being discontinued by Abbott Laboratories.
