What it does: Sells and markets all-natural and organic goods while specialising in natural food and health products. The company owns three other brands: Wine Story, a fine and rare wine retailer, Bow and Wow, a niche market for cats and dogs, and Planet Grapes, an upscale restaurant and wine shop.
Best known for: Being the first all-natural products retailer in the Philippines. This homegrown health store is ever-present at the country's major malls and urban centres in Metro Manila, Cagayan De Oro, Davao, Pampanga, and Cebu.
Staff stats: Around 300 employees in 30 stores nationwide as of 2019.
The good bits: Extensive training and benefits, friendly and supportive management, and the opportunity to work for a company that actively cares for the environment
The not-so-good bits: Work-life balance may be an issue. Insiders mostly complain about long hours and a six-day workweek.
Hiring grads with top marks in: A number of entry-level roles are open to graduates from any field, but more specialised roles require graduates from any medical field (eg Pharmacy, Nursing, Nutrition); Animal Science, Veterinary Medicine, and science-related courses; Business-related courses (eg business management, accounting); IT-related courses (mathematics, computer science).
Healthy Options began in 1995 with its first branch in Shangri-La Mall, Mandaluyong City. Launched by highschool classmates Romy Sia and Christian Tan, the brand started out as 106-square meter store manned by four employees.
In 1996, the first Healthy Options Newsletter was published. The publication would later become the Healthy Options Lifestyle News Digest -- an in-house magazine that tracks medical and nutrition journals, research, and conferences to allow readers to take full control of their health.
In 1999, the brand's expansion continued with its first store opening in Ayala Center, Cebu. During this year, the brand partnered up with US FDA registered pharmaceutical company Vitamer Laboratories. This partnership allowed the brand to manufacture and package its own Healthy Options in-house brand of supplements.
In 2017, Healthy Options expanded its flagship Shangri-La store with a new concept developed by a premier design agency from Paris and launched its line of allergen-free and gluten-free private label grocery products.
In 2019, the biggest Healthy Options store opened at Uptown Mall, Taguig. Today, Healthy Options has been around for over 24 years as one of the biggest health stores in the country with over 32 branches nationwide.
As a health advocate, Healthy Options prefers to hire graduates who espouse its values of health and fitness (eg non-smokers, individuals with weight proportional to height), especially for client-facing jobs.
The recruitment process varies from role to role, but graduates may expect a series of formal interviews with HR representatives, store managers, and/or in-house teams.
Healthy Options' internship program allows graduate students to explore different roles where they can hone their skills and understand their strengths. Interns will be placed in specific departments to work on company projects while being guided by mentors.
An above-average salary with various fringe benefits that may include on-the-job skill development and mentoring, external and in-house training, product discounts, health and life insurance, paid leave, performance incentives, and monthly and yearly incentives.
The brand claims to have a low attrition rate, and this may be attributed to several factors. Healthy Options promotes a culture of growth and learning by offering career opportunities and support inside work and out while putting a premium on training. The company chooses to promote from within, selecting outstanding performers to move up the ranks.
Healthy Option's social contributions focus on health, animal welfare, and the environment. The brand supports all-natural personal care products that never subject animals to harm or testing, protects the environment by recycling, avoiding single-use plastic, using sustainable materials and reducing food waste, and promoting health by supporting sustainable farming.