2020 has been a tumultuous year for people around the world, especially due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. It comes as no surprise that many of  Vitamin Retailer magazine's most popular stories this year have to do with the subject of the pandemic and its effects on the natural products industry. Another popular subject was the closure or bankruptcy of some of the industry's large businesses, as well as the 2020 Vity Award results. Below are some of Vitamin Retailer's most popular stories of the year:

Vitamin D Linked to Low Virus Death Rate, Study Finds
A new study has found an association between low average levels of vitamin D and high numbers of COVID-19 cases and mortality rates across 20 European countries....read more.

Colorado Governor Orders the Closure of Health Food Stores
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis in contravention of guidance from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), ordered the closure of health food stores during the COVID-19 public health crisis. Gov. Polis’s order will restrict access to a wide range of essential products sold by health food stores, including...read more.

New Bill Prohibits the Sale of Popular Nutritional Supplements in New York
The Natural Products Association (NPA) is calling for the New York state legislature to reject a proposal that would prohibit the sale of popular nutritional supplements like protein powder....read more.

Impact of Coronavirus on the Natural Products Industry
The new strain of coronavirus grabbing headlines and generating health concerns around the world was given an official name by the World Health Organization (WHO) on Feb. 11, 2020: COVID-19....read more.

Industry Members Respond to Earth Fare and Lucky’s Market Closures
On Feb. 3, Earth Fare, the North Carolina-based specialty natural and organic grocery store and full-service supermarket, announced that it will begin inventory liquidation sales at all of its stores....read more.

NOW Phases Out Use of Magnesium Stearate and Gelatin Capsules
NOW (Bloomingdale, IL), the largest independent and family-owned manufacturer of natural products in the U.S. health food store channel, said in its goal to continually making product improvements, will transition away from...read more.

Bankruptcy Court Approves Sale of GNC
Pennsylvania-based GNC Holdings Inc. received legal permission to sell itself to Chinese sponsor Harbin Pharmaceutical in bankruptcy court, despite recent resistance from...read more.

VR Coronavirus Survey Shows Zinc Is Top-Seller During Pandemic;
Health Food Stores Face Significant Business Challenges Due To COVID-19
Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic earlier this year along with the resulting “shelter at home” and “social distancing” orders for U.S. citizens, health and natural food retailers have experienced (and reacted to) many challenges to their ability to service customers—and for some stores serious threats to the survival of their businesses....read more.

GNC Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy
According to Bloomberg, Pennsylvania-based GNC Holdings Inc. filed for bankruptcy protection with the aim of selling itself and closing stores after its latest effort to manage its debt load unraveled amid the coronavirus pandemic, the company announced on Tuesday....read more.

2020 Vity Awards
Vitamin Retailer (VR) magazine once again polled its retailer readers on their top-selling products and best sales and merchandising support to compile its 2020 Vity Awards. After all, who is better qualified to determine the industry’s bestselling products than the people who sell them?...read more.