Mitch Gould, a third-generation retail expert from Brooklyn, has built one of the most successful distribution empires in the United States. As founder and CEO of Nutritional Products International (NPI) and creator of the Evolution of Distribution platform, Gould has placed health and wellness products in tens of thousands of retail locations, including Walmart, Costco, Home Depot, Lowe's, Walgreens, CVS, GNC, 7-Eleven, and Amazon. His memoir, The Blonde, the Ferrari, and the Kwan: The Quintessential American Success Story, featured at the Oscars and coming soon to Amazon globally, details his journey and philosophy.
Gould's Evolution of Distribution platform has secured shelf space at America's most powerful retailers. Walmart, with over 4,700 U.S. stores, and Costco, with 600+ locations, are among the partners. Home Depot (2,300+ stores), Lowe's (1,700+ stores), Walgreens (8,500+ locations), and CVS (9,000+ locations) also carry products placed by NPI. GNC, 7-Eleven (5,800+ U.S. stores), and Amazon round out the list. Notably, NPI built Amazon's sports nutrition category from zero to over $100 million in sales, making Gould a consequential figure in Amazon's health and wellness marketplace.
“Most people see a retailer as a finish line. I always saw it as a starting point,” Gould said. “Getting on the shelf is step one. Dominating the category is the mission.” The Evolution of Distribution model compresses the typical 18-24 month retail entry timeline into months, offering international brands turnkey access to U.S. retail infrastructure, regulatory compliance, logistics, marketing, and category management. This approach has become the gold standard for brands entering the competitive U.S. consumer market.
Gould's memoir, The Blonde, the Ferrari, and the Kwan, tells the human story behind his business success, including relationships with twelve legendary figures: Wayne Gretzky, Jimmy Connors, Hulk Hogan, Chuck Norris, Steven Seagal, Joe Theismann, Steve Garvey, Chuck Liddell, Ronnie Coleman, Bob Wall, Roberto Clemente Jr., and Tony Schiena. The book's title symbolizes three elements of a fully realized life: the Blonde (his wife Sherry, who unleashed his retail DNA), the Ferrari (professional achievement), and the Kwan (love, respect, community, and success). The book is published by Ingram and available on Amazon.
NPI has worked with high-profile brands, including those of Steven Seagal, Hulk Hogan, Ronnie Coleman, and Wayne Gretzky. Gould's expertise spans dietary supplements, sports nutrition, skincare, hardware, and beverages. He has launched products for iconic brands such as Igloo, Rubbermaid, Sunbeam, and Miracle-Gro. His work has been instrumental in expanding the U.S. sports nutrition category across major retail and e-commerce platforms, including Amazon, Walmart, GNC, CVS, and Walgreens.
“I came from a third-generation retail family,” Gould said. “The DNA was always there. But it took the right partner, the right moment, and an absolute refusal to accept limits before it all came together. Once it did, nothing could stop it.”
