Mitch Gould, founder and CEO of Nutritional Products International, described visiting Walmart headquarters as one of the defining moments of his career, comparing it to walking onto the field to play the Super Bowl. For Gould, who has spent decades helping global brands enter and expand in the U.S. retail market, the Bentonville visit represented the pinnacle of retail achievement, founded by Sam Walton and built by grit, vision, and execution. The visit occurred during the rollout of Steven Seagal's Lightning Bolt Energy Drink, a project that epitomized NPI's ability to move quickly from concept to shelf. Working with Seagal—a world-renowned actor, martial artist, and master herbologist—Gould developed an all-natural energy drink infused with Tibetan goji berries, Asian cordyceps, and B vitamins.
Gould assembled a world-class beverage team, designed the packaging, and managed the launch strategy that landed Lightning Bolt in 3,500 Walmart Supercenters, along with major distribution through 7-Eleven and Amazon. The meeting in Bentonville was unforgettable, as Walmart recognized the scale of the opportunity presented by a product backed by one of the biggest action stars on the planet. Striking the deal was not just about getting on the shelf but about making history. Behind the scenes, Gould's wife Sherry coordinated the complex logistics that achieved a 99% Walmart fill rate, ensuring Lightning Bolt consistently met the retailer's strict performance standards. Walmart grades on execution, requiring flawless delivery beyond just making the sale.
Gould's Walmart journey continued with a later trip to Bentonville, where he returned with Steven Seagal to meet with Walmart's international beverage division. Gould in his crisp navy-blue suit and Seagal in a burgundy Nehru jacket made an unforgettable impression, resulting in approval to expand Lightning Bolt into Walmart's Asian and Central American markets. This second visit showed how far the project had come, from concept to international expansion through the world's largest retailer, proving that anything is possible when combining vision, persistence, and execution. The success of Lightning Bolt became one of many landmark moments in Gould's storied career.
Through NPI and its sister company InHealth Media, Gould has orchestrated U.S. launches for hundreds of brands and celebrities—from Hulk Hogan and Ronnie Coleman to Wayne Gretzky—leveraging his proprietary 'Evolution of Distribution' model. This system seamlessly integrates sales, marketing, and logistics to help brands penetrate the American market with speed and efficiency. Whether it's a celebrity brand or a small international startup, this process levels the playing field, which made the Walmart success possible and why NPI continues to be the go-to partner for companies ready to compete in the biggest retail arena on earth. The implications of this announcement highlight how strategic partnerships and efficient distribution models can enable products to achieve rapid scale in competitive retail environments, serving as a blueprint for other brands aiming for national and international reach.
