Direct selling
Founded in USA in 1959 by Rich DeVos and Jay Van Andel. One of the world's largest direct-sales businesses.
Company Ownership
Amway Corporation
USA
Alticor Inc
owns 100% of Amway Corporation
USA
Holding company
Owned by the families of Amway founders, Rich DeVos and Jay Van Andel. Alticor is the parent company of three distinct businesses: 1. Amway - since 1959, one of the world's largest direct selling brands. 2. Access Business Group LLC - a business services company specializing in the manufacturing and distribution of products for both Alticor and non-Alticor companies. 3. Alticor Corporate Enterprises - a holding company for the corporation's non-direct selling companies.
Company Assessment
(Last updated Oct 2024)
Praise
Criticism
Information
Amway Corporation
Praise
Criticism
Information
Illegal 'pyramid' scheme
Amway (formerly Quixtar) has been repeatedly criticised and taken to court for being a fraudulent 'pyramid' scheme. In 2010 Amway settled out of court and paid US$155 million in damages in such a case (Pokorny v. Quixtar).
Source: Bloomberg
(2010)
Microbeads scorecard
In 2016 Greenpeace East Asia ranked the world's 30 biggest personal care companies on their commitment to eliminating microbeads from their personal care products. The scorecard was based on four main criteria: commitment & transparency, definition, deadline and global application. This company was one of the lowest ranked.
Source: Greenpeace
(2016)
Guide to Healthy Cleaning grade (C-F)
EWG's Guide to Healthy Cleaning provides safety ratings for household cleaning products, with over 2,500 products rated from A (lowest concern) to F (highest concern). This company's score range is C to F, with 95% of products scoring a D or F.
Green Power Partner
This company is listed on the EPA Green Power Partnership website (USA) as using renewable energy for 64% of its electricity use at its headquarters and manufacturing facility in Michigan, USA.
Source: EPA
(2023)
CSR claims
This company has Corporate Social Responsibility claims on its website.
Source: company website
(2017)
Criticisms by bloggers
There are many independent websites criticising Amway and it's business practices. This one includes links to many more.
Source: blog site
(2011)
Alticor Inc
Praise
Criticism
Information
$1.5m class action settlement
In 2024 this company agreed to pay US$1.5 million to settle a class action lawsuit that alleges Alticor allowed funds in the Amway 401(k) plan to underperform and allowed excessive fees.
Source: Top Class Actions
(2024)
OpenSecrets.org profile
OpenSecrets.org tracks the influence of money on U.S. politics, and how that money affects policy and citizens' lives. Follow link to see this company's record of political donations, lobbying, outside spending and more.
Source: Open Secrets
(2024)
Company Details
Type:
Wholly-owned subsidiary
Revenue:
8.8 billion USD
(2016)
Employees:
19,000
(2016)
Subsidiaries:
Amway of Australia
Direct selling
Most of their products are manufactured and packaged by their parent company in USA.