Use these links to rapidly review the document
TABLE OF CONTENTS

Table of Contents

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

Commission file number: 0-21116

USANA HEALTH SCIENCES, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

3838 West Parkway Blvd., Salt Lake City, Utah 84120
(Address of principal executive offices, Zip Code)

(801) 954-7100
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
None

         Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes o    No ý

         Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Act. Yes o    No ý

         Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ý    No o

         Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Website, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes o    No o

         Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§ 229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of the registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.    ý

         Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer" and "smaller reporting company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

         Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes o    No ý

         The aggregate market value of common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant as of July 3, 2009 was approximately $189,833,000, based on a closing market price of $27.39 per share.

         There were 15,309,213 shares of the registrant's common stock outstanding as of March 8, 2010.

         Documents incorporated by reference. The registrant incorporates information required by Part III (Items 10, 11, 12, 13, and 14) of this report by reference to the registrant's definitive proxy statement to be filed pursuant to Regulation 14A for its 2010 Annual Shareholders Meeting.

Table of Contents

USANA HEALTH SCIENCES, INC.
FORM 10-K

For the Fiscal Year Ended January 2, 2010

INDEX

2

Table of Contents

        The statements contained in this report on Form 10-K that are not purely historical are considered to be "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"). These statements represent our expectations, beliefs, anticipations, commitments, intentions, and strategies regarding the future and include, but are not limited to, the risks and uncertainties outlined in Item 1A Risk Factors and Item 7 Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations. Readers are cautioned that actual results could differ materially from the anticipated results or other expectations that are expressed in forward-looking statements within this report.

PART I

Item 1.    Business

General

        USANA Health Sciences, Inc. ("we," "USANA" or the "Company") is a Utah corporation, founded in 1992 by Myron W. Wentz, Ph.D., that develops and manufactures high-quality, science-based nutritional and personal care products, with a commitment to continuous product innovation and sound scientific research. With operations in 14 markets worldwide, we distribute and sell our products through a network marketing system, which is a form of direct selling. Our customer base comprises two types of customers: "Associates" and "Preferred Customers." Associates are independent distributors of our products, who also purchase our products for personal use. Preferred Customers purchase our products strictly for personal use and are not permitted to resell or to distribute the products. As of January 2, 2010, we had 199,000 active Associates and 67,000 active Preferred Customers worldwide. For purposes of this report, we only count as "active" those Associates and Preferred Customers who have purchased product from USANA at any time during the most recent three-month period. Our net sales in fiscal year 2009 were $436.9 million, of which 89% were generated by Associates and 11% by Preferred Customers.

        Associates are encouraged to build and manage their own business group by recruiting, managing, and training others to sell our products. Associates are compensated on sales generated by their business group. They may also receive compensation by purchasing products at wholesale prices and reselling them at retail prices. We believe that network marketing is an effective way to distribute our products because it allows person-to-person product education, which is not readily available through traditional distribution channels. This personal touch enhances consumers' awareness of the health benefits of our products, as well as motivates them to live and support a healthier lifestyle. Additionally, we feel that network marketing appeals to a broad cross-section of people, particularly those seeking to supplement their income, start a home-based business, or pursue entrepreneurial opportunities other than conventional full- or part-time employment. We consider our high-quality products, compact product lines, rewarding compensation plan (the "Compensation Plan"), weekly Associate incentive payments, and distributor support and recognition to be attractive components of the overall USANA network marketing system.

        We sell products from two primary product lines: USANA® Nutritionals, which includes high-quality supplements and functional foods, and Sensé—beautiful science® ("Sensé"), a unique line of skin and personal care products. We also offer sales and marketing tools that are designed to assist our Associates in building their businesses and in selling our products. In 2009, the USANA® Nutritionals and Sensé™ product lines represented approximately 88% and 9%, respectively, of our total product sales. Sales from other items, the majority of which include marketing and sales tools, accounted for the remaining 3% of total product sales. We limit our product lines to include only science-based products that we believe can provide health benefits to a significant percentage of our customers. Additionally, while not required, our products are designed, manufactured, packaged, and labeled at levels that we believe are consistent with the more rigorous pharmaceutical standards.

3

Table of Contents

Recent Developments

        The difficult global economic environment and its effect on consumer confidence and spending was an external factor during 2009 that had a negative effect on our sales growth and overall business. This drop in consumer confidence and spending most significantly affected our results in the U.S. and Canada. During these difficult economic times, a number of our Associates, who are also consumers of our products, discontinued or reduced their product purchases. This loss of Associates had a negative effect on both net sales and the number of active customers. Another external factor affecting our global business in 2009 related to unfavorable changes in currency exchange rates. Fiscal 2009 was the first in several years in which our reported net sales were reduced by changes in currency exchange rates. With just over 65% of our sales in 2009 coming from markets outside the United States, exchange rate fluctuation reduced our net sales by approximately $17 million for the full year.

        In January 2009 we expanded our global reach and introduced our products for distribution in the Philippines, our 14th market. During our first year of operations in the Philippines we achieved net sales in this market of $6.5 million and added 4,000 new Associates. In addition to opening a new market, we also introduced three new products to our suite of science-based health products. We also reformulated our flagship products, the Essentials and HealthPak 100, adding new ingredients to keep up with the latest research in nutritional science.

        During the second half of 2008, in an effort to drive sales, we made a strategic decision to increase the incentives to our Associates. Accordingly, we added two new bonuses to our Compensation Plan. These two new bonuses were key growth drivers during 2009, particularly in our Asia Pacific region. They did, however, increase our Associate incentives expense in 2009.

Products

        Our primary product lines consist of USANA® Nutritionals and Sensé™. The USANA® Nutritionals product line is further categorized into three separate classifications: Essentials, Optimizers, and USANA Foods (formerly Macro-Optimizers).

USANA® Nutritionals

        The Essentials category includes core vitamin and mineral supplements that provide a foundation of advanced nutrition for every age group. The Essentials are designed to promote optimal health with high quality vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. To help meet the "essential" nutrient needs of children and teens during the years of development, when good nutrition is especially important, USANA offers: Usanimals™, a formulation of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants in an easy-to-take, chewable tablet for children who are 13 months to 12 years old; and Body Rox™, a nutritional supplement containing 31 essential vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and co-factors for adolescents who are 12 to 18 years old. USANA® Essentials for adults consists of two products: Mega Antioxidant, a balanced, high-potency blend of 30 vitamins, antioxidants, and other important nutrients to support cellular metabolism and to counteract free-radical damage; and Chelated Mineral, a complete spectrum of essential minerals, in balanced amounts and highly absorbable forms. The USANA® Essentials are included in the HealthPak 100™, a convenient pillow pack that also includes some key Optimizers. In addition, USANA's customers in the United States have the option of creating their own customized pre-packaged supplement regimen, similar to the HealthPak 100™, called MyHealthPak™. MyHealthPaks can include virtually any of the Optimizers and Essentials.

        The Optimizers category consists of our targeted supplements that are designed to meet individual health and nutritional needs. The Optimizers support cardiovascular health, skeletal/structural health, digestive health, and more and are intended to be used in conjunction with the Essentials. Products in this category include Proflavanol®, Poly C®, Procosa® II, CoQuinone® 30, BiOmega-3™, E-Prime™, BodyRox™—Active Calcium™ Chewable, Active Calcium™, PhytoEstrin™, Palmetto Plus™,

4

Table of Contents

Ginkgo-PS™, Garlic EC™, Visionex®, OptOmega®, PureRest™, and Hepasil DTX™. We also introduced two new Optimizers during the fourth quarter of 2009, a Vitamin D "booster" supplement and a probiotic supplement. The Vitamin D booster is a seasonal product that will be available during the winter months when many people experience decreased exposure to sunlight. The Probiotic product contains a proprietary blend of probiotic bacteria that has been clinically proven to survive the acidic environment of the stomach and to colonize the gastrointestinal tract. It is packaged in easy-to-carry, single-serve stick packs and is designed to be taken alone or added to cold beverages or food every one to two days to maintain digestive health and immune function.

        USANA Foods is our third USANA Nutritionals product line that includes low-glycemic meal replacement shakes, snack bars and other related products that provide optimal macro-nutrition (complex carbohydrates, complete proteins, and beneficial fats) in great tasting and convenient formats. USANA Foods can be used along with Essentials and Optimizers to provide a complete and healthy diet and sustained energy throughout the day. USANA Foods include Nutrimeal™, Fibergy®, and SoyaMax™ drink mixes, Nutrition Bars, and Rev3 energy drinks. Our RESET™ weight management program and the accompanying RESET kit are also part of the USANA Foods line. The RESET kit is conveniently packaged in a self-contained box with all of the USANA products that are needed to complete a five-day regimen designed to assist adults in losing weight and to begin a positive, long-term change in their diet.

Sensé—beautiful science®

        The Sensé-beautiful science product line includes premium, science-based, personal care products that support healthy skin and hair by providing advanced topical nourishment, moisturization, and protection. These products are designed to complement inner nutrition for the skin provided by the USANA® Nutritionals. Sensé products are manufactured with our patented, self-preserving technology, which uses a unique blend of botanicals, antioxidants, and active ingredients to keep products fresh, without adding traditional chemical preservatives. Products in this line include Perfecting Essence, Gentle Daily Cleanser, Hydrating Toner, Daytime Protective Emulsion, Eye Nourisher, Night Renewal, Serum Intensive, Rice Bran Polisher, Crème Masque, Revitalizing Shampoo, Nourishing Conditioner, Firming Body Nourisher, Energizing Shower Gel, and Intensive Hand Therapy.

All Other

        In addition to our primary product lines, we develop and sell materials and online tools that are designed to assist our Associates in building their businesses and in marketing our products. These resource materials and sales tools include product brochures and business forms that are designed by us and printed by outside publishers. In addition, we occasionally provide reprints of other commercial publications that feature USANA and may be used as a sales tool by our Associates. We also periodically contract with authors and publishers to produce or provide books, tapes, and other items that deal with health topics and personal motivation, which we then sell to our Associates. New Associates are required to purchase a starter kit, which contains USANA training materials that help them build their businesses. The kit includes an online training system that we call eApprentice, which was introduced during the third quarter of 2009. eApprentice was developed to provide new Associates with immediate access to network marketing training that is both simple to use and easy to understand. We do not pay any commissions on the sale of starter kits or sales tools.

5

Table of Contents

Key Products Sales Data

        The following table summarizes the approximate percentages of total product sales that were contributed by our major product lines for the last three fiscal years:

        The following table highlights sales data for our top-selling products as a percentage of total product sales for the last three fiscal years.

Geographic Presence

        Our products are distributed and sold in 14 countries. We present information for these countries in two geographic regions: North America and Asia Pacific, with three sub-regions under Asia Pacific. Countries are categorized into these regions as follows:

•

North America—



•

United States (including direct sales from the United States to the United Kingdom and the Netherlands)



•

Canada



•

Mexico



•

Asia Pacific—



•

Southeast Asia/Pacific—Australia-New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines*



•

East Asia—Hong Kong and Taiwan



•

North Asia—Japan and South Korea

*

Operations in the Philippines commenced in January 2009.

        Currently, a significant portion of our net sales are concentrated in the North America region, which represented 54.9% of net sales in 2009. The United States continues to be our largest market, representing 34.7% our total 2009 net sales. As a U.S.-based multi-national company with an expanding international presence, our operating results are becoming more sensitive to currency fluctuations, as well as economic and political conditions in markets throughout the world. Net sales reported for each geographic region are determined by the location from which the product shipment originates and are

6

Table of Contents

reported for the last three fiscal years in the table that follows. Additional financial information relating to our geographic regions can be found in Note N to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Research and Development

        Our research and development efforts are focused on developing and providing high quality, science-based products that reduce the risk of chronic degenerative disease and promote long-term health. Our research and development activities include developing products that are new to USANA and new to the industry, updating existing formulas to keep them current with the latest science, and adapting existing formulas to meet ever-changing regulations in new and existing international markets. Our scientific staff includes experts on human nutrition, cellular biology, biochemistry, natural product chemistry, and clinical research. These experts continually review the latest published research on nutrition, attend scientific conferences, and work with a number of third-party research institutions and researchers to identify possible new products and opportunities to reformulate existing products.

        In 2009, we continued our relationship with the Linus Pauling Institute ("LPI") at Oregon State University. Our goal is to better determine and understand the function and role of micronutrients such as vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants in promoting optimal health and preventing disease. As part of this relationship, our in-house research team works closely with LPI on nutritional and clinical research. In 2010, we plan to continue our research efforts with LPI and maintain our ongoing nutrition research in preventing oxidative stress, glycemic stress, and chronic inflammation.

        Our goal is to maintain a sharp focus on nutrition—both inside and outside the body—in promoting health and preventing chronic degenerative diseases. Because we believe in focusing primarily on key health issues within our society rather than on fads, we typically do not introduce a new product unless we believe that it can provide health benefits to a significant number of our customers. As a result, we maintain a focused and compact line of products, which we believe simplifies the selling and buying process for our Associates and Preferred Customers.

        We follow pharmaceutical standards established by the U.S. Pharmacopeia and other pharmacopeias in the development and formulation of our products. Our ingredients are selected to meet a number of criteria, including, but not limited to: safety, potency, purity, stability, bio-availability, and natural versus synthetic. We control the quality of our products beginning at the formulation stage, and we maintain our quality control through controlled sourcing of raw ingredients, manufacturing, packaging, and labeling. In fiscal years 2007, 2008, and 2009, we expended $3.4 million, $3.3 million, and $3.6 million, respectively, on product research and development activities. We intend to continue dedicating resources at similar levels for research and development in future years.

7

Table of Contents

Manufacturing and Quality Assurance

Tablet Manufacturing

        Tablet manufacturing is conducted at our Salt Lake City, Utah manufacturing facility. Our tablet production process uses automatic and semi-automatic equipment and includes the following activities: identifying and evaluating suppliers of raw materials, acquiring raw materials, analyzing raw material quality, weighing or otherwise measuring raw materials, mixing raw materials into batches, forming mixtures into tablets, coating and sorting the tablets, analyzing tablet quality, packaging finished products, and analyzing finished product quality. We conduct sample testing of raw materials, in-process materials, and finished products for purity, potency, and composition to determine whether our products conform to our internal specifications, and we maintain complete documentation for each of these tests. We employ a qualified staff of professionals to develop, implement and maintain a quality system designed to assure that our products are manufactured to our internal and applicable regulatory agency specifications.

        Our Salt Lake City manufacturing facility is registered with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ("FDA"), Health Canada, the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration ("TGA"), and other governmental agencies, as required. This facility is audited regularly by various organizations and government agencies to assess, among other things, compliance with Good Manufacturing Practice regulations ("GMPs") and with labeling claims. Based on these audits, our Salt Lake City manufacturing facility has received and maintains certifications from the Islamic Foods and Nutrition Counsel of America in compliance with Halal, NSF International in compliance with product testing and GMPs, and the TGA in compliance with the Therapeutic Goods Act of 1989.

        Historically, the manufacture of nutritional or dietary supplements and related products in the United States has required compliance with food-model GMPs promulgated by the FDA. In June 2007, however, the FDA published GMPs for dietary supplements, which became effective June 1, 2008. The dietary supplement GMPs are based on the food-model GMPs, with additional requirements that are specific to dietary supplements. We believe our manufacturing processes comply with the GMPs for dietary supplements.

Personal Care Manufacturing

        We manufacture the majority of our personal care products at our Draper, Utah manufacturing facility. The production process for personal care products includes identifying and evaluating suppliers of raw materials, acquiring raw materials, analyzing raw material quality, weighing or otherwise measuring the raw materials, mixing raw materials into batches, analyzing liquid batch quality, packaging finished products, and analyzing finished product quality. We conduct sample testing of raw materials, in-process materials, and finished products for purity, potency, and composition to determine whether our products conform to our internal specifications, and we maintain complete documentation for each of these tests.

        At our Draper facility, we have standard technology for producing batches of personal care items, and we have semi-automatic packaging equipment for packaging end products. We employ qualified staff to develop, implement, and maintain a quality system. Although the FDA has not promulgated GMPs for personal care items, it has issued guidelines for manufacturing personal care products. We voluntarily maintain compliance with the guidance established by FDA and the Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association.

8

Table of Contents

Third-Party Suppliers and Manufacturers

        We contract with third-party suppliers and manufacturers for the production of some of our products. These third-party suppliers and manufacturers produce and, in most cases, package these products according to formulations that have been developed by, or in conjunction with, our in-house product development team. These products include gelatin-capsuled supplements, Garlic EC™, OptOmega®, Rev3 Energy™ Drink, Probiotic, our powdered drink mixes and nutrition bars, and certain of our personal care products. Products manufactured at these locations must also go through quality control and assurance procedures to ensure they are manufactured in conformance with our specifications.

Quality Control/Assurance

        We conduct quality control processes in two in-house laboratories that are located in Salt Lake City, Utah. In our microbiology laboratory, scientists test for biological contamination of raw materials and finished goods. In our analytical chemistry laboratory, scientists test for chemical contamination and accurate levels of active ingredients in both raw materials and finished products. Both laboratories conduct stability tests on finished products to determine the shelf life of our products. Our laboratory staff also performs chemical assays on vitamin and mineral constituents, using United States Pharmacopoeia methods and other internally validated methods. In addition to our quality control and clinical laboratories, our headquarters facility also houses a laboratory designated for research and development.

Raw Materials

        Most of the raw ingredients that are used in the manufacture of our products are available from a number of suppliers. We have not generally experienced difficulty in obtaining necessary quantities of raw ingredients. When supplies of certain raw materials have tightened, we have been able to find alternative sources of raw materials, and believe we will be able to do so in the future, if the need arises. Accordingly, we are not subject to a single-source supplier for our required supplies of raw ingredients. Our raw material suppliers must demonstrate stringent process and product quality control before we use their products in our manufacturing process.

Distribution and Marketing

General

        We distribute our products internationally through a network marketing system, which is a form of person-to-person direct selling through a network of vertically organized independent distributors. Under this system, distributors purchase products at wholesale prices from the manufacturer for resale to consumers and for personal consumption. The concept of network marketing is based on the strength of personal recommendations that frequently come from friends, neighbors, relatives, and close acquaintances. We believe that network marketing is an effective way to distribute our products because it allows person-to-person product education and testimonials as well as higher levels of customer service, all of which are not as readily available through other distribution channels.

Structure of Network Marketing Program

        Associates.    A person who wishes to sell USANA products must join our independent sales force as an Associate. A person becomes an Associate by completing an application under the sponsorship of an existing Associate. The new Associate then becomes part of the sponsoring Associate's "down-line" sales organization. New Associates sign a written contract and agree to adhere to the USANA policies and procedures. Under the policies and procedures, Associates may not, among other things: (i) use deceptive or unlawful practices to sell USANA products; (ii) make deceptive or unlawful claims or

9

Table of Contents

representations concerning our products or Compensation Plan; and (iii) sell competitive products to other USANA Associates or solicit USANA Associates to participate in other network marketing opportunities. New Associates are required to purchase a starter kit that includes a detailed manual describing our business and products as well as our policies and procedures. We sell these kits at a nominal cost of less than US$50 in each of our markets. No other investment is required to become an Associate and start a home-based business with USANA.

        Once a person becomes an Associate, he or she is able to purchase products directly from us at wholesale prices for personal use and resale to customers. Our Associates are also entitled to build sales organizations by attracting and enrolling new Associates and establishing a network of product users. The sponsoring of new Associates results in the creation of multiple levels within our network marketing structure. Sponsored Associates are referred to as part of the "down-line" of the sponsoring Associate. Down-line Associates may also sponsor new Associates, creating additional levels in their network, but also forming a part of the same down-line as the original sponsoring Associate. As outlined below, Associates who are interested in earning additional income must successfully sell USANA products and establish a business network/down-line in order to qualify for commissions, including bonuses. Subject to payment of a minimal annual account renewal fee as long as they adhere to our policies and procedures, Associates may continue to distribute or consume our products until they voluntarily withdraw from our business.

        Preferred Customers.    We also sell directly to customers who purchase products only for personal use. This program is our "Preferred Customer" program. Preferred Customers may not resell or distribute our products. We believe this program gives us access to a market that would otherwise be missed, by targeting customers who enjoy USANA products, but who prefer not to maintain a distribution relationship with us. Although our policies prohibit Preferred Customers from engaging in retail sales of products, they may enroll as Associates at any time, if they desire. Preferred Customers are not eligible to earn commissions or to participate in our Compensation Plan.

Associate Training and Motivation

        Initial training of Associates about the products, the Compensation Plan, network marketing, and about USANA is provided primarily by an Associate's sponsor and others in their sales organization. We develop and sell training materials and sales tools to assist Associates in building their businesses, as well as provide reprints from other commercial publications that feature USANA and may be used as sales tools. We also sponsor and conduct regional, national, and international Associate events, as well as intensive leadership training seminars. Attendance at these sessions is voluntary, and we undertake no generalized effort to provide individualized training to Associates, although experience shows that the most effective and successful Associates participate in training activities. Although we provide leadership training and sales tools, we ultimately rely on our Associates to: (i) sell our products, (ii) attract new Associates and Preferred Customers to purchase our products, and (iii) educate and train new Associates regarding our products and Compensation Plan.

Associate Compensation

        As outlined below, our Compensation Plan provides several opportunities for Associates to earn compensation, provided they are willing to consistently work at building, training, and retaining their down-line organizations to sell USANA products to consumers. The purpose behind each form of compensation under our Compensation Plan is to reward Associates for generating product sales either directly or indirectly through their down-line sales organization and network of product consumers. We believe our Compensation Plan is among the most generous in the network marketing industry and distinctive for its weekly payouts to Associates.

10

Table of Contents

        Associates can earn compensation in four ways:

•

Commissions.  The primary way an Associate is compensated is through earning commissions. Associates earn commissions through generating sales volume points, which are based on product sales of their down-line sales organization. Sales volume points are assigned to each of our products and comprise a certain percent of the product price in U.S. dollars. To be eligible to earn commissions, an Associate must purchase a certain amount of product each month ("Qualifying Purchases"), which they may resell to consumers or use personally. Associates do not earn commissions on these Qualifying Purchases. Associates only earn commissions on the purchase of products by Associates in their down-line organization and Preferred Customers. Additionally, Associates do not earn commissions for simply recruiting and enrolling others in their down-line organization. Commissions are paid only when products are sold. We pay Associate commissions on a weekly basis.



•

Bonuses.  We offer Associates several bonus opportunities, including our leadership bonus, elite bonus, and matching bonus. Historically, leadership bonus has been our primary incentive bonus to Associates. However, in 2008, we introduced two new ways for Associates to earn additional compensation: elite bonus and matching bonus. These new bonus opportunities are based on a pay-for-performance philosophy and, therefore, are paid out when the Associate achieves the required performance measures.



•

Retail Mark-Ups.  As discussed previously, our Associates purchase products from us at wholesale prices and resell them to consumers at higher retail prices. The Associate retains the retail mark-up as another form of compensation.



•

Contests and Promotions.  We periodically sponsor contests and promotions designed to incent Associates to generate sales and grow their down-line organization and product users. These promotions are also based on a pay-for-performance philosophy and, therefore, are only paid upon the achievement of the promotion objectives.

        We endeavor to integrate our Compensation Plan seamlessly across all markets in which USANA products are sold, allowing Associates to receive commissions for global—not merely local—product sales. This seamless down-line structure is designed to allow an Associate to build a global network by establishing or expanding their down-line in any of the markets where we operate. We believe our seamless Compensation Plan significantly enhances our ability to expand internationally, and we intend, where permitted, to continue to integrate new markets into our Compensation Plan.

Industry Overview

        As both a manufacturer and a direct seller of nutritional and personal care products, we compete within two industries: nutrition and direct selling. The nutrition industry includes many companies that manufacture and distribute products that are generally intended to maintain the body's health and general well being, including the following:

•

Nutritional Supplements—products such as vitamins and minerals, specialty supplements, herbs and botanicals, meal replacements, dietary supplements, and derivative compounds;



•

Natural and Organic Foods—products such as cereals, milk, non-dairy beverages, and frozen entrees;



•

Functional Foods—products with added ingredients or fortification that are designed specifically for health or performance purposes; and



•

Natural Personal Care—products combining nutrition with skin care.

11

Table of Contents

        In its November/December 2009 issue, the Nutrition Business Journal ("NBJ") reported that global nutrition industry sales increased 8% to $270 billion in 2008 compared with 2007, with sales expected to rise another 6% to 10% in 2009. As noted in this issue, the 8% increase was down only slightly from the 8.6% compound annual growth rate achieved by the industry between 2001 and 2008. According to NBJ, in 2008 functional foods and beverages represented 36% of global industry sales, nutritional supplements represented 28%, natural and organic foods represented 26%, and natural and organic personal care and household products represented 10%.

        In its June/July 2009 issue, NBJ estimated that the United States nutrition industry sales increased 8.7% in 2008 to $101.8 billion. NBJ followed by noting that this increase was on par with or better than growth during any year between 2000 and 2005. According to NBJ, in 2008, functional foods and beverages represented 36% of industry sales in the U.S., natural and organic foods represented 29%, nutritional supplements represented 25%, and natural and organic personal care and household products represented 10%.

        We believe that the following factors drive growth in the nutrition industry:

•

The general public's heightened awareness and understanding of the connection between diet and health;



•

The aging population, particularly the baby-boomer generation in the U.S., who tend to use more nutritional supplementation as they age;



•

Rising health care costs and the worldwide trend toward preventative health care; and



•

Product introductions in response to new scientific findings.

        NBJ noted in a few of its issues published during 2009 that, despite the economic downturn over the last few years, the nutrition industry has fared well because of growing consumer interest in self care. In its June/July 2009 issue, it noted that dietary supplements in the U.S. have been particularly resilient because, as more people lose their jobs and ability to pay for healthcare, many are turning to supplements to remain healthy. The global recession has, however, presented more of a growth challenge for premium products.

        Nutritional products are distributed through six major sales channels:

•

Mass market retailers, including mass merchandisers, drug stores, supermarkets, and discount stores;



•

Natural health food retailers;



•

Network marketing;



•

Mail order;



•

Healthcare professionals and practitioners; and



•

The Internet.

        We distribute our products through a network marketing system, which is a common form of direct selling. According to the World Federation of Direct Selling Associations ("WFDSA"), the direct selling industry currently generates approximately $114 billion annually in worldwide retail sales, through approximately 65 million independent distributors.

        According to statistics compiled by the Direct Selling Association (the U.S. member of WFDSA), the United States remains the largest market for direct selling, with $29.6 billion in annual retail sales and 15 million independent distributors in 2008. Although retail sales in the direct selling industry declined slightly in 2007 and 2008, according to NBJ, as noted in its May 2009 issue, growth for nutrition companies selling via direct response and multi-level marketing was relatively flat in the U.S.

12

Table of Contents

during 2008. According to the Direct Selling Association, wellness products, which include nutritional supplements and functional foods, accounted for 22.7% of the U.S. direct retail sales in 2008 and personal care products accounted for 21.5% of such sales.

        We believe that, as a multi-national company, we are well positioned to capitalize on growth trends in markets around the world in direct sales, as both a developer and manufacturer of nutritional supplements and personal care products.

Operating Strengths

        Our principal objective is to be a leading distributor, developer and manufacturer of science-based nutritional and personal care products and to create a rewarding opportunity through network marketing for our Associates who distribute our products. Our strategy is to capitalize on our operating strengths, which include: a strong research and development program; in-house manufacturing capability; science-based products; an attractive Associate Compensation Plan; a scalable business model; and an experienced management team.

        Emphasis on Research and Development.    We have a technical team of approximately 20 individuals who contribute to our research and development activities. This team is made up of experienced scientists, including several holding Ph.D. degrees, quality engineers, and regulatory specialists. In our research and development laboratories, our scientists and researchers:

•

Investigate in vitro and in vivo activities of new natural extracts and formulated products;



•

Identify and research combinations of nutrients that may be candidates for new products;



•

Develop new nutritional ingredients for use in supplements;



•

Study the metabolic activities of existing and newly identified nutritional ingredients;



•

Enhance existing products, as new discoveries in nutrition and skin care are made; and



•

Formulate products to meet diverse regulatory requirements across all of our markets.

        Our scientists and researchers also conduct double-blind, placebo-controlled, clinical studies which are intended to further evaluate the efficacy of our products. In addition, we work with outside research organizations to further support various aspects of our research and development efforts. One of these organizations is the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University. Our work with the Linus Pauling Institute will advance the science of human nutrition and health, provide us with valuable information to formulate and upgrade our nutritional products, and better advise our customers on how to use USANA products. We have also funded clinical research programs at Boston University, the University of Colorado, the University of Utah, and Sydney University in Australia. Additionally, our Scientific Advisory Council, comprised of health care professionals worldwide, provides us with valuable insights into product applications and efficacy. It is through our internal research and development efforts and our relationships with outside research organizations and health care providers that we can provide what we believe to be some of the highest quality health products in the industry.

        In-house Manufacturing.    We manufacture products that account for approximately 75% of our product sales. We believe that our ability to manufacture in-house our own products is a significant competitive advantage for the following reasons:

•

We can better control the quality of raw materials and finished products;



•

We can more reliably monitor the manufacturing process to better guarantee potency and bioavailability and to reduce the risk of product contamination;



•

We can better control production schedules to increase the likelihood of maintaining an uninterrupted supply of products for our customers;

13

Table of Contents

•

We are able to produce most of our own prototypes in the research phase of product development; and



•

We are better able to manage the underlying costs associated with manufacturing our products.

        Science-based Products.    As a result of our emphasis on research and development and our in-house manufacturing capabilities, we have developed a focused and compact line of high-quality health products that we believe provides health benefits to our customers. Our products have been developed based on a combination of published research, in vitro and in vivo testing, in-house and third-party clinical studies, and sponsored research. Additionally, we design, manufacture, package, and label our products in a manner that we believe is consistent with the more stringent pharmaceutical standards, rather than the standards set for dietary supplements.

        Attractive Associate Compensation Plan and Support.    We are committed to increasing our product sales by providing a highly competitive compensation plan to attract and retain Associates who constitute our sales force. We believe that our Compensation Plan is one of the most financially rewarding in the network marketing industry. We further incent our Associates by paying incentives on a weekly basis. Additionally, our Compensation Plan is a global-seamless plan, meaning that Associates can be compensated each week for their business success in any market in which they have a down-line organization where we conduct business. During the third quarter of 2008, we announced two enhancements to our Associate Compensation Plan as further discussed under "Growth Strategy—Attract and Retain Associates" below. These enhancements provide additional opportunities for our Associates to earn income through our Compensation Plan.

        To support our Associates, we sponsor meetings and events throughout the year, which offer information about our products and our network marketing system. These meetings are designed to assist Associates in business development and to provide a forum for interaction with some of our Associate leaders and with members of the USANA management team. We also provide low-cost sales tools and resources, which we believe are an integral part of building and maintaining a successful home-based business for our Associates. For example, during the third quarter of 2009, we introduced a new on-line training system, called eApprentice. This system was designed to make training in USANA's network marketing system readily available and both simple to use and easy to understand. This training system will assist new Associates by providing detailed training about the industry and a deeper understanding of USANA's products and compensation plan.

        In addition to Company-sponsored meetings and sales tools and resources, we maintain a website exclusively for our Associates, where they can keep up on the latest USANA news, obtain training materials, manage their personal information, enroll new customers, shop for products, and register for Company-sponsored events. Additionally, through this website, Associates can access other online services to which they may subscribe. For example, we offer an online business management service, which includes a tool that helps Associates track and manage their business activity, a personal webpage to which prospects or retail customers can be directed, e-cards for advertising, and a tax management tool.

        We also believe that recognition is an important factor in supporting and retaining our Associates. We understand that being a successful USANA Associate requires hard work and dedication. We frequently hold a variety of contests and promotions, rewarding our Associates for their achievements to help motivate them and recognize their efforts. We also celebrate key achievements and rank advancements of our Associates. We believe that our recognition programs and contests greatly contribute to our ability to retain our Associates.

14

Table of Contents

        Business Model.    We believe that our business model provides, among others, the following advantages:

•

Our business model does not require a company-employed sales force to sell our products, and we experience a minimal incremental cost to add a new Associate;



•

Commissions paid to our Associates are tied to sales performance;



•

Because payment is required at the time an Associate or Preferred Customer purchases product, accounts receivable are avoided on the sale of products;



•

We have a monthly product subscription program known as "Autoship," which provides a stream of recurring revenue, (for the year ended January 2, 2010, this program represented 45% of our sales); and



•

We can readily expand into new international markets with only moderate investment because we generally maintain only one administrative and customer support office and one or two warehouses in each of these markets.

        Experienced Management Team.    Our management team includes individuals with expertise in various scientific and managerial disciplines, including nutrition, product research and development, international development, marketing, customer network development, information technology, finance, and operations. This team is responsible for supporting growth, research and development, international expansion, strengthening our financial condition, and improving our internal controls.

Growth Strategy

        We seek to grow our business by pursuing the following strategies:

        Attract and Retain Associates.    Our Associates are the key to the growth of our business. Accordingly, we must continue to attract and retain Associates. For this reason, our management team maintains a close working relationship with our Associate leaders. In addition to our Annual International Convention and our Asia Pacific Convention, we hold several regional events in key growth areas to provide support and training to new Associates. Additionally, we continue to increase our investment in these events and in the marketing of our Compensation Plan to aid Associates in improving the productivity of their businesses. To assist our Associates in growing their businesses, we announced at our Annual International Convention in 2008, two enhancements to our Associate Compensation Plan. The first is an Elite Bonus, which was designed to reward and motivate our top income-earning Associates and create competition among them, leading to growth in sales. The second enhancement is a Matching Bonus, which provides another opportunity to our Associates to earn income by receiving a matching commission from USANA when any new Associate they sponsor reaches the status of Platinum Pacesetter and earns a commission. This Platinum Pacesetter status is achieved within the first six weeks after enrolling with USANA.

        Enter New Markets.    We believe that significant growth opportunities continue to exist in markets where we currently conduct business and in new international markets. New markets are selected following an assessment of several factors, including market size, anticipated demand for USANA products, receptiveness to network marketing, and the market entry process, which includes consideration of possible regulatory restrictions on our products or our network marketing system. We have begun to register certain products with regulatory and government agencies in preparation for further international expansion. Wherever possible, we expect to seamlessly integrate the Compensation Plan in each market to allow Associates to receive commissions for global—not merely local—product sales. This seamless down-line structure is designed to allow an Associate to build a global network by creating a down-line across national borders. We believe our seamless Compensation Plan significantly

15

Table of Contents

enhances our ability to expand internationally, and we intend, where permitted, to integrate the future markets that we open into this plan.

        Introduce New and Re-formulate Existing Products.    Our research and development team is continually reviewing the latest scientific findings related to nutrition, conducting in-house research and clinical trials, looking at new technologies, and attending scientific conferences. If, in the process, we see potential for a new product or ingredient that provides a measurable and important health benefit, and if we believe this benefit can be realized by our customers, we will generally pursue development of that product. During the third quarter of 2009, we launched upgraded versions of our flagship products, Essentials and HealthPak. These products were updated to provide much higher levels of vitamin D (recent research shows that most Americans are chronically deficient for this important nutrient), higher levels of iodine, more resveratrol, and more alpha lipoic acid. All of these improvements help to keep USANA on the cutting edge of nutritional science. Additionally, we introduced newly formulated extra-strength tablets, which include higher doses of four of our core optimizers. These extra-strength tablets are exclusive to our fully customizable supplement system, MyHealthPak. We also introduced a probiotic product, and Vitamin D booster, a seasonal product that will be available every year during the winter months.

        Pursue Strategic Acquisitions.    We believe that attractive acquisition opportunities may arise in the future. We intend to pursue strategic acquisition opportunities that would grow our customer base, expand our product lines, enhance our manufacturing and technical expertise, allow vertical integration, or otherwise complement our business or further our strategic goals.

Product Returns

        Product returns have not been a material factor in our business, totaling approximately 1.5% in 2007, and 1.6% in both 2008 and 2009. Because our emphasis on satisfaction is a hallmark of our business model, we permit Associates to return any unused product from their first purchase within the first 30 days following their purchase for a 100% refund of the sales price. Thereafter, any returned product that is unused and resalable is refunded up to one year from the date of purchase at 100% of the sales price, less a 10% restocking fee. According to the terms of the Associate agreement, return of product where the purchase amount exceeds $100 and was not damaged at the time of receipt by the Associate may result in cancellation of the Associate's distributorship. Depending upon the conditions under which product was returned Associates and Preferred Customers may either receive a refund based on their original form of payment, or credit on account for a product exchange.

Major Customers

        Sales are made to independent Associates and Preferred Customers. No single customer has ever accounted for 10% or more of net sales in any fiscal year. Associates may sell our products only in countries where we have approved the sale of our products.

Compliance by Associates

        We continually monitor and review our Associates' compliance with our policies and procedures as well the laws and regulations applicable to our business. Part of this review entails an assessment of our Associates' sales activities to ensure that Associates are actually selling products to consumers. Our policies and procedures require Associates to present our products and the USANA opportunity ethically and honestly. Associates are not permitted to make claims about our products or Compensation Plan that are not consistent with our policies and procedures and applicable laws and regulations. The majority of our Associates must use marketing and promotional materials provided by USANA. Associates who have achieved a certain leadership threshold are permitted, however, to

16

Table of Contents

produce marketing and promotional materials, but only if such materials are approved by USANA prior to use.

        From time to time, some Associates fail to adhere to our policies and procedures. We systematically review reports of alleged Associate misbehavior. Infractions of the policies and procedures are reported to our compliance group, who determine what disciplinary action is warranted in each case. More serious infractions are reported to our Compliance Committee, which includes USANA executives. If we determine that an Associate has violated any of our policies and procedures, we may take a number of disciplinary actions, such as warnings, fines or probation. We may also withdraw or deny awards, suspend privileges, withhold commissions until specific conditions are satisfied, or take other appropriate actions in our discretion. More serious infractions may result in termination of the Associate's purchase and distribution rights.

        We believe that Associate compliance is critical to the integrity of our business, and, therefore, we are aggressive in ensuring that our Associates comply with our policies and procedures. As explained above, when an Associate fails to comply with our policies and procedures, we may terminate their purchase and distribution rights. From time to time, we become involved in litigation with an Associate whose purchase and distribution rights have been terminated. We consider such litigation to be routine and incidental to our business and will continue to be aggressive in ensuring that our Associates comply with our policies and procedures.

Information Technology

        We believe that the ability to efficiently manage distribution, compensation, manufacturing, inventory, and communication functions through the use of sophisticated and dependable information processing systems is critical to our success. Our information technology resources are maintained primarily by our in-house staff to optimally support our customer base and core business processes. Our IT staff manages an array of systems and processes which support our global operations 24 hours a day and 365 days a year. Three of our critical applications include the following:

•

A web-based application that provides online services to Associates, such as training sessions and presentations, online shopping, enrollment, Company and product information, and other tools to help Associates effectively manage their business and down-line organizations.



•

A web-enabled order-entry system that handles order entry, customer information, compensation, the hierarchy of Associates, returns, invoices, and other transactional-based processes.



•

A fully integrated world-wide Enterprise Resource Planning ("ERP") system that handles accounting, human resources, inventory management, production processes, quality assurance, and reporting requirements in a multinational environment. This Oracle-based ERP system supports global data integrity and multinational corporate governance and compliance.

        Our web applications are supported by a clustered environment and a redundant system outside of our home office, which serves as a disaster recovery site.

Regulatory Matters

        Product Regulation.    Numerous governmental agencies in the United States and other countries regulate the manufacturing, packaging, labeling, advertising, promoting, distributing, and the selling of nutrition, health, beauty, and weight management products. In the United States, advertisement of our products is regulated by the Federal Trade Commission ("FTC") under the FTC Act and, where such advertising is considered to be product labeling by the FDA, under the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act ("FDCA") and the regulations thereunder. USANA products in the U.S. are also subject to regulation by, among others, the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and

17

Table of Contents

the Environmental Protection Agency. The manufacturing, labeling, and advertising of our products are also regulated by various governmental agencies in each country in which they are distributed. For example, in Australia, we are subject to the Therapeutic Goods Administration and, in Japan, to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare.

        Our largest selling product group includes products that are regulated as dietary supplements under the FDCA. Dietary supplements are also regulated in the United States under the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 ("DSHEA"), which we believe is generally favorable to the dietary supplement industry. Some of our powdered drink, food bar, and other nutrition products are regulated as foods under the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act of 1990 ("NLEA"). The NLEA establishes requirements for ingredient and nutritional labeling including product labeling claims.

        Under these regulations, a dietary supplement that contains a new dietary ingredient (defined as an ingredient not on the market before October 15, 1994) must have a history of use or other evidence of safety establishing that it is reasonably expected to be safe. The manufacturer must notify the FDA at least 75 days before marketing products containing new dietary ingredients and must provide the FDA with the information upon which the manufacturer has based its conclusion that the product has a reasonable expectation of safety.

        Historically, the manufacture of nutritional or dietary supplements and related products in the United States has required compliance with food-model GMPs promulgated by the FDA. In June 2007, however, the FDA published GMPs for dietary supplements, which became effective June 1, 2008. The dietary supplement GMPs are based on the food-model GMPs, with additional requirements that are specific to dietary supplements. We believe our manufacturing processes comply with these GMPs for dietary supplements.

        In general, our personal care products, which are regulated as cosmetic products by the FDA, are not subject to pre-market approval by that agency. Cosmetics, however, are subject to regulation by the FDA under the FDCA adulteration and misbranding provisions. Cosmetics also are subject to specific labeling regulations, including warning statements, if the safety of a cosmetic is not adequately substantiated or if the product may be hazardous, as well as ingredient statements and other packaging requirements under the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act. Cosmetics that meet the definition of a drug (i.e., that are intended to treat or prevent disease or affect the structure or function of the body), such as sunscreens, are regulated as drugs. Over-the-counter ("OTC") drug products, including cosmetics, may be marketed if they conform to the requirements of the OTC monograph that is applicable to that drug. Drug products not conforming to monograph requirements require an approved New Drug Application ("NDA") before marketing may begin. Under these provisions, if the agency were to find that a product or ingredient of one of our OTC drug products is not generally recognized as safe and effective or is not included in a final monograph that is applicable to one of our OTC drug products, we would be required to reformulate or cease marketing that product until it is the subject of an approved NDA or until the time, if ever, that the monograph is amended to include such product. If such an agency ruling were to become final, we would be required to stop marketing the product as currently formulated. Whether or not an OTC drug product conforms to a monograph or is subject to an approved NDA, the drug must comply with other requirements under the FDCA, including GMPs, labeling, and the FDCA's regulations regarding misbranding and adulteration. We believe our products comply with these regulations.

        Advertising of our products in the U.S. is subject to regulation by the FTC under the FTC Act. Section 5 of the FTC Act prohibits unfair methods of competition and unfair or deceptive acts or practices in or affecting commerce. Section 12 of the FTC Act provides that disseminating any false advertisement pertaining to drugs or foods, which includes dietary supplements, is an unfair or deceptive act or practice. Under the FTC's Substantiation Doctrine, an advertiser is required to have a "reasonable basis" for all objective product claims before the claims are made. Failure to adequately

18

Table of Contents

substantiate claims may be considered either deceptive or unfair practices. Pursuant to this FTC requirement, we are required to have adequate substantiation for all material advertising claims that we make for our products in the U.S.

        In recent years, the FTC has initiated numerous investigations of and actions against companies that sell dietary supplement, weight management, and cosmetic products. The FTC has issued guidance to assist companies in understanding and complying with its substantiation requirement. We believe that we have adequate substantiation for all material advertising claims that we make for our products in the U.S., and we believe that we have organized the documentation to support our advertising and promotional practices in compliance with these guidelines. However, no assurance can be given that the FTC would reach the same conclusion if it were to review or question our substantiation for our advertising claims in the U.S.

        The FTC may enforce compliance with the law in a variety of ways, both administratively and judicially, using compulsory process, cease and desist orders, and injunctions. FTC enforcement can result in orders requiring, among other things, limits on advertising, corrective advertising, consumer redress, divestiture of assets, rescission of contracts, and such other relief as the agency deems necessary to protect the public. Violation of these orders could result in substantial financial or other penalties. Although, to our knowledge, we have not been the subject of any action by the FTC, no assurance can be given that the FTC will not question our advertising or other operations in the U.S. in the future. Any action in the future by the FTC could materially and adversely affect our ability to successfully market our products in the U.S.

        The Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002 ("Bioterrorism Act") includes several provisions that have resulted in additional regulatory compliance issues for us in the U.S. For example, one provision in the Bioterrorism Act requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to develop regulations that mandate that domestic and foreign facilities, which manufacture, process, pack, or hold food for human or animal consumption in the United States, register with the FDA. On November 24, 2003, we fulfilled this requirement by registering with the FDA. Another provision of the Bioterrorism Act mandates that the FDA receive prior notification of all food importation. Although some of our raw materials and other certain manufactured product may originate outside of the United States, we procure these items from entities in the United States. From time to time, we may bring consumable products that we have sent from our Salt Lake facility to our international locations back into the United States from one or more of these locations. When bringing these products back into the United States from any international location, we are also required to comply with this notification requirement.

        In December 2007, the Dietary Supplement & Nonprescription Drug Consumer Protection Act went into effect and requires manufacturers of dietary supplement and over-the-counter products to notify the FDA when they receive reports of serious adverse events occurring within the United States. We have an internal adverse event reporting system that has been in place for several years and believe that we are in compliance with this law.

        In markets outside the United States, prior to commencing operations or marketing products, we may be required to obtain approvals, licenses, or certifications from a country's ministry of health or comparable agency. Approvals or licensing may be conditioned on reformulation of USANA products for the market or may be unavailable with respect to certain products or product ingredients. We must also comply with local product labeling and packaging regulations that vary from country to country. Foreign regulatory requirements have not placed a significant burden on our ability to operate in current foreign countries.

        We cannot predict the nature of any future laws, regulations, interpretations, or applications, nor can we determine what effect additional governmental regulations or administrative orders, when and if promulgated, would have on our business. Future changes could include requirements for the

19

Table of Contents

reformulation of certain products to meet new standards, the recall or discontinuation of certain products that cannot be reformulated, additional record keeping, expanded documentation of the properties of certain products, expanded or different labeling, and additional scientific substantiation. Any or all of these requirements could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and operating results.

        Network Marketing Regulation.    Laws and regulations in each country in which we operate prevent the use of deceptive or fraudulent practices that have sometimes been inappropriately associated with legitimate direct selling and network marketing activities. These laws include anti-pyramiding, securities, lottery, referral selling, anti-fraud and business opportunity statutes, regulations, and court cases. Illegal schemes, typically referred to as "pyramid," "chain distribution," or "endless chain" schemes, compensate participants primarily or solely for the introduction or enrollment of additional participants into the scheme. Often these schemes are characterized by large up-front entry or sign-up fees, over-priced products of low value, little or no emphasis on the sale or use of products, high-pressure recruiting tactics, and claims of huge and quick financial rewards requiring little or no effort. Generally these laws are directed at ensuring that product sales ultimately are made to consumers and that advancement within sales organizations is based on sales of the enterprise's products, rather than on investments in the organizations or on other criteria or activity that are not related to retail sales. Where required by law, we obtain regulatory approval of our network marketing system, or, where approval is not required or available, the favorable opinion of local counsel as to regulatory compliance.

        In addition to federal regulation in the United States, each state has enacted its own "Little FTC Act" to regulate sales and advertising. Occasionally, we receive requests to supply information regarding our network marketing plan to regulatory agencies. Although we have, from time to time, modified our network marketing system to comply with interpretations of various regulatory authorities, we believe that our network marketing program is in compliance with the laws and regulations relating to network marketing activities in our current markets. Nevertheless, we remain subject to the risk that, in one or more of our present or future markets, the marketing system or the conduct of certain Associates could be found not to be in compliance with applicable laws and regulations. Failure by an Associate or by us to comply with these laws and regulations could have a material adverse effect on our business in a particular market or in general. Any or all of these factors could adversely affect the way we do business and could affect our ability to attract potential Associates or enter into new markets. In the United States, the FTC has been active in its enforcement efforts against both pyramid schemes and legitimate network marketing organizations with certain legally problematic components, having instituted several enforcement actions resulting in signed settlement agreements and the payment of large fines. Although, to our knowledge, we have not been the target of an FTC investigation, there can be no assurance that the FTC will not investigate us in the future.

        In April 2006, the FTC released a proposed New Business Opportunity Rule. As initially drafted, the proposed rule would have required pre-sale disclosures for all business opportunities, which may have included network marketing compensation plans such as ours. However, in March 2008 the FTC issued a revised notice of proposed rulemaking, which indicates that the New Business Opportunity Rule as drafted will not apply to multi-level marketing companies. The comment and rebuttal periods regarding the proposed rule have closed, but the FTC has not yet issued a final rule. The New Business Opportunity Rule is currently only a proposed rule and may change before it is implemented, if it is implemented at all. If this proposed rule were adopted as it is currently proposed, it would not require us to change any of our current marketing practices.

20

Table of Contents

        We cannot predict the nature of any future law, regulation, interpretation, or application, nor can we predict what effect additional governmental legislation or regulations, judicial decisions, or administrative orders, when and if promulgated, would have on our business. It is possible that future legal requirements may require that we revise our network marketing program. Such new requirements could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and operating results.

        Transfer Pricing Regulation.    In the U.S. and many other countries, we are subject to transfer pricing and other tax regulations that are designed to ensure that appropriate levels of income are reported by our U.S. or international entities and are taxed accordingly. We have adopted transfer prices, which are supported by a formal transfer pricing study for the sale of products to our subsidiaries in accordance with applicable transfer pricing laws. In addition, agreements between our subsidiaries and us have been entered into for services and contractual obligations, such as the payment of Associate incentives that are also supported by the same formal transfer pricing study. If the U.S. Internal Revenue Service or the taxing authorities of any other jurisdiction were to successfully challenge these agreements or require changes in our standard transfer pricing practices for products, we could become subject to higher taxes and our earnings may be adversely affected. The tax treaties between the U.S. and most countries provide for competent authority relief to avoid any double taxation. We believe that we operate in compliance with all applicable transfer pricing regulations. There can be no assurance, however, that we will continue to be found to be operating in compliance with transfer pricing regulations or that those laws will not be modified, which may require that we change our operating procedures.

Competition

        We compete with network marketing companies for distributors, and with manufacturers, distributors, and retailers of nutritional products for consumers. On both fronts, some of our competitors are significantly larger than we are and have greater financial resources and better name recognition than we do. We compete with these entities by emphasizing the underlying science, value, and superior quality of our products, the simplicity in our product offerings, and the convenience and financial benefits afforded by our network marketing system and global seamless Compensation Plan.

        Our business is driven primarily by our distributors, whom we refer to as Associates. Our ability to compete with other network marketing companies depends, in significant part, on our success in attracting and retaining Associates. There can be no assurance that our programs for attracting and retaining Associates will be successful. The pool of individuals interested in network marketing is limited in each market and is reduced to the extent other network marketing companies successfully recruit these individuals into their businesses. Although we believe that we offer an attractive opportunity for our Associates, there can be no assurance that other network marketing companies will not be able to recruit our existing Associates or deplete the pool of potential Associates in a given market.

        We believe that the leading network marketing company in the world, based on total sales, is Amway Corporation and its affiliates, and that Avon Products, Inc. is the leading direct seller of beauty and related products worldwide. Leading competitors in the nutritional network marketing and nutritional product industry include Herbalife Ltd., Inc.; Mannatech; Market America, Inc.; Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc.; NBTY, Inc.; and Schiff Nutrition International, Inc. Based on information that is publicly available, 2008 net sales of the aforementioned companies range from $191 million to $10.6 billion. We believe there are other manufacturers of competing product lines that may launch direct selling enterprises that will compete with us in certain product lines and in the recruiting of Associates. There can be no assurance that we will be able to successfully meet the challenges posed by this increased competition.

21

Table of Contents

Intellectual Property

        Trademarks.    We have developed and we use registered trademarks in our business, particularly relating to our corporate and product names. We own 14 trademarks that are registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Federal registration of a trademark enables the registered owner of the mark to bar the unauthorized use of the registered mark in connection with a similar product in the same channels of trade by any third-party anywhere in the United States, regardless of whether the registered owner has ever used the trademark in the area where the unauthorized use occurs. We have filed applications and own trademark registrations, and we intend to register additional trademarks in countries where USANA products are or may be sold in the future. Protection of registered trademarks in some jurisdictions may not be as extensive as the protection in the United States.

        We also claim ownership and protection of certain product names, unregistered trademarks, and service marks under common law. Common law trademark rights do not provide the same level of protection that is afforded by the registration of a trademark. In addition, common law trademark rights are limited to the geographic area in which the trademark is actually used. We believe these trademarks, whether registered or claimed under common law, constitute valuable assets, adding to recognition of USANA and the effective marketing of USANA products. Trademark registration once obtained is essentially perpetual, subject to the payment of a renewal fee. We therefore believe that these proprietary rights have been and will continue to be important in enabling us to compete.

        Trade Secrets.    We own certain intellectual property, including trade secrets that we seek to protect, in part, through confidentiality agreements with employees and other parties. Even where these agreements exist, there can be no assurance that these agreements will not be breached, that we would have adequate remedies for any breach, or that our trade secrets will not otherwise become known to or independently developed by competitors. Our proprietary product formulations are generally considered trade secrets, but are not otherwise protected under intellectual property laws.

        Patents.    We have three U.S. patents. Two of our patents relate to the method of extracting an antioxidant from olives and the byproducts of olive oil production. These patents were issued in 2002 and will continue in force until December 20, 2019. In 2003, we entered into a licensing agreement with a supplier to make olive extract using our patented process. Our third patent relates to a method of self preserving our Sensé™ line of personal care products. This patent was issued in May 2007 and will continue in force until August 5, 2024.

        We intend to protect our legal rights concerning intellectual property by all appropriate legal action. Consequently, we may become involved from time to time in litigation to determine the enforceability, scope, and validity of any of the foregoing proprietary rights. Any patent litigation could result in substantial cost and divert the efforts of management and technical personnel.

Seasonality

        We believe that the effect of seasonality on results of operations is not material.

Backlog

        Our products are typically shipped within 72 hours after receipt of an order. As of March 8, 2010 we had no significant backlog of orders.

22

Table of Contents

Working Capital Practices

        We maintain sufficient amounts of inventory in stock in order to provide a high level of service to our Associates and Preferred Customers. Substantial inventories are required to meet the needs of our dual role as manufacturer and distributor. We also watch seasonal commodity markets and may buy ahead of normal demand to hedge against cost increases and supply risks.

Environment

        We are not aware of any instance in which we have contravened federal, state, or local laws relating to protection of the environment or in which we otherwise may be subject to liability for environmental conditions that could materially affect operations.

Employees

        As of March 8, 2010 we had approximately 930 employees worldwide, as measured by full-time equivalency. Our employees are not currently represented by a collective bargaining agreement, and we have not experienced work stoppages as a result of labor disputes. We believe that we have a good relationship with our employees.

Additional Available Information

        We maintain executive offices and principal facilities at 3838 West Parkway Boulevard, Salt Lake City, Utah 84120. Our telephone number is (801) 954-7100. We maintain a World Wide Web site at www.usanahealthsciences.com. The information on our web site should not be considered part of this report on Form 10-K.

        We make available, free of charge at our corporate web site, copies of our annual reports on SEC Form 10-K, quarterly reports on SEC Form 10-Q, current reports on SEC Form 8-K, proxy statements, and all amendments to these reports, as soon as reasonably practicable after such material is electronically filed with or furnished to the SEC pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act. This information may also be obtained from the SEC's on-line database, which is located at www.sec.gov.

Item 1A.    Risk Factors

Forward-Looking Statements and Certain Risks

        Statements contained in this report that are not purely historical are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 21E of the Exchange Act. These statements relate to our expectations, hopes, beliefs, commitments, intentions, and strategies regarding the future. They may be identified by the use of words or phrases, such as "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "should," "plan," "estimate," and "potential," among others. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements contained in "Business" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" regarding our financial performance, revenue and expense levels in the future, and the sufficiency of our existing assets to fund future operations and capital spending needs. Actual results could differ materially from the anticipated results or other expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements or for the reasons discussed below. The forward-looking statements in this report are made as of the date of this report, and we assume no obligation to update them or to update the reasons why our actual results could differ from those that we have projected in these forward-looking statements.

23

Table of Contents

        We encounter substantial risks in our business, any one of which may adversely affect our business, results of operations or financial condition. The fact that some of these risk factors may be the same or similar to those that we have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in past reports, means only that the risks are present in multiple periods. We believe that many of the risks that are described here are part of doing business in the industry in which we operate and will likely be present in all periods. The fact that certain risks are endemic to the industry does not lessen their significance. These risk factors should be read together with the other items in this report, including Item 1, "Business," and Item 7, "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations." Among others, risks and uncertainties that may affect our business, financial condition, performance, development, and results of operations include the following:

        As a network marketing company, we are dependent upon an independent sales force and we do not have direct control over the marketing of our products.    We rely on non-employee, independent Associates to market and sell our products and to generate virtually all of our sales. Associates typically market and sell our products on a part-time basis and likely will engage in other business activities, some of which may compete with us. We have a large number of Associates and a relatively small corporate staff to implement our marketing programs and to provide motivational support to our Associates. We rely primarily upon our Associates to attract, train and motivate new Associates. Our sales are directly dependent upon the efforts of our Associates. Our ability to maintain and increase sales in the future will depend in large part upon our success in increasing the number of new Associates, retaining and motivating our existing Associates, and in improving the productivity of our Associates.

        We can provide no assurances that the number of Associates will increase or remain constant or that their productivity will increase. We experienced a 0.5% increase in active Associates during 2009, a 12.5% increase in active Associates during 2008, and a 15.0% increase during 2007. The number of active Associates may not increase and could decline in the future. Associates may terminate their services at any time, and, like most direct selling companies, we experience a high turnover among new Associates from year to year. We cannot accurately predict any fluctuation in the number and productivity of Associates because we primarily rely upon existing Associates to sponsor and train new Associates and to motivate new and existing Associates. Our operating results could be adversely affected if we and our existing Associates do not generate sufficient interest in our business to successfully retain existing Associates and attract new Associates.

        The loss of a significant Associate or downline sales organization could adversely affect our business.    We rely on the successful efforts of our Associates that become leaders within our Compensation Plan. Our Compensation Plan is designed to permit Associates to sponsor new Associates, creating multiple "business centers," or levels in the downline organization. Sponsored Associates are referred to as "downline" Associates within the sponsoring Associate's "downline network." If these downline Associates in turn sponsor new Associates, additional business centers are created, with the new downline Associates becoming part of the original sponsoring Associate's downline network. As a result of this network marketing system, Associates develop business relationships with other Associates. The loss of a key Associate or group of Associates, large turnover or decreases in the size of the key Associate force, seasonal or other decreases in purchase volume, sales volume reduction, the costs associated with training new Associates, and other related expenses may adversely affect our business, financial condition, or results of operations. Moreover, our ability to continue to attract and retain Associates can be affected by a number of factors, some of which are beyond our control, including:

•

General business and economic conditions;



•

Adverse publicity or negative misinformation about us or our products;



•

Public perceptions about network marketing programs;

24

Table of Contents

•

High-visibility investigations or legal proceeding against network marketing companies by federal or state authorities or private citizens;



•

Public perceptions about the value and efficacy of nutritional, personal care, or weight management products generally;



•

Other competing network marketing organizations entering into the marketplace that may recruit our existing Associates or reduce the potential pool of new Associates; and



•

Changes to the Compensation Plan required by law or implemented for business reasons that make attracting and retaining Associates more difficult.

        There can be no assurance that we will be able to continue to attract and retain Associates in sufficient numbers to sustain future growth or to maintain our present growth levels, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, or results of operations.

        The violation of marketing or advertising laws by Associates in connection with the sale of our products or the promotion of our Compensation Plan could adversely affect our business.    All Associates sign a written contract and agree to adhere to the USANA policies and procedures. Although these policies and procedures prohibit Associates from making false, misleading and other improper claims regarding products or income potential from the distribution of the products, Associates may, from time to time, without our knowledge and in violation of our policies, create promotional materials or otherwise provide information that does not accurately describe our marketing program. They also may make statements regarding potential earnings, product claims, or other matters in violation of our policies or applicable laws and regulations concerning these matters. These violations may result in legal action against us by regulatory agencies, state attorneys general, or private parties. Legal actions against our Associates or others who are associated with us could lead to increased regulatory scrutiny of our business, including our network marketing system. We take what we believe to be commercially reasonable steps to monitor the activities of our Associates to guard against misrepresentation and other illegal or unethical conduct by Associates and to assure that the terms of our policies and procedures and Compensation Plan are observed. There can be no assurance, however, that our efforts in this regard will be sufficient to accomplish this objective. Adverse publicity resulting from such activities could also make it more difficult for us to attract and retain Associates and may have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

        Network marketing is subject to intense government scrutiny and regulation, which adds to the expense of doing business and the possibility that changes in the law might adversely affect our ability to sell some of our products in certain markets.    Network marketing systems, such as ours, are frequently subject to laws and regulations that are directed at ensuring that product sales are made to consumers of the products and that compensation, recognition, and advancement within the marketing organization are based on the sale of products rather than on investment in the sponsoring company. Regulatory authorities, in one or more of our present or future markets, could determine that our network marketing system does not comply with these laws and regulations or that it is prohibited. Failure to comply with these laws and regulations or such a prohibition could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, or results of operations. Further, we may simply be prohibited from distributing products through a network-marketing channel in some countries, or we may be forced to alter our Compensation Plan.

        We are also subject to the risk that new laws or regulations might be implemented or that current laws or regulations might change, which could require us to change or modify the way we conduct our business in certain markets. This could be particularly detrimental to us if we had to change or modify the way we conduct business in markets that represent a significant percentage of our net sales. For example, the FTC released a proposed New Business Opportunity Rule in April 2006. As initially drafted, the proposed rule would have required pre-sale disclosures for all business opportunities, which

25

Table of Contents

may have included network marketing compensation plans such as ours. However, in March 2008 the FTC issued a revised notice of proposed rulemaking, which indicates that the New Business Opportunity Rule as drafted will not apply to multi-level marketing companies. The comment and rebuttal periods regarding the proposed rule have closed, but the FTC has not yet issued a final rule. The New Business Opportunity Rule is currently only a proposed rule and may change before it is implemented, if it is implemented at all.

        We may have or incur obligations relating to the activities of our Associates.    Our Associates are subject to taxation, and, in some instances, legislation or governmental agencies impose an obligation on us to collect taxes, such as sales taxes or value added taxes, and to maintain appropriate records of such transactions. In addition, we are subject to the risk in some jurisdictions of being responsible for social security and similar taxes with respect to our Associates. In the event that local laws and regulations or the interpretation of local laws and regulations change to require us to treat our independent Associates as employees, or if our Associates are deemed by local regulatory authorities in one or more of the jurisdictions in which we operate to be our employees rather than independent contractors, under existing laws and interpretations, we may be held responsible for a variety of obligations that are imposed upon employers relating to their employees, including social security and related taxes in those jurisdictions, plus any related assessments and penalties, which could harm our financial condition and operating results.

        Our business is subject to the effects of adverse publicity and negative public perception.    Our ability to attract and retain Associates and to sustain and enhance sales through our Associates can be affected by adverse publicity or negative public perception regarding our industry, our competition, or our business generally. This negative public perception may include publicity regarding the legality of network marketing, the quality or efficacy of nutritional supplement products or ingredients in general or our products or ingredients specifically, and regulatory investigations, regardless of whether those investigations involve us or our Associates or the business practices or products of our competitors or other network marketing companies. In 2007, we were the victim of false statements made to the press and regulatory agencies, causing us to incur significant expense in defending and dispelling the allegations during 2007 and 2008. This adverse publicity also adversely impacted the market price of our stock and caused insecurity among our Associates. There can be no assurance that we will not be subject to adverse publicity or negative public perception in the future or that such adverse publicity will not have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, or results of operations.

        The loss of key management personnel could adversely affect our business.    Our Founder, Dr. Myron Wentz, is a highly visible spokesman for our products and our business, and our message is based in large part on his vision and reputation, which helps distinguish us from our competitors. Any loss or limitation on Dr. Wentz as a lead spokesman for our mission, business, and products could have a material adverse effect upon our business, financial condition, or results of operations. In addition, our executive officers are primarily responsible for our day-to-day operations, and we believe our success depends in part on our ability to retain our executive officers, to compensate our executive officers at attractive levels, and to continue to attract additional qualified individuals to our management team. We cannot guarantee continued service by our key executive officers. We do not maintain key man life insurance on any of our executive officers, nor do we have an employment agreement with any of our executive officers. The loss or limitation of the services of any of our executive officers or the inability to attract additional qualified management personnel could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, or results of operations.

        The beneficial ownership of a significant percentage of our common stock gives our founder and parties related to or affiliated with him effective control, and limits the influence of other shareholders on important policy and management issues.    Gull Holdings, Ltd., an entity that is solely owned and controlled by Dr. Wentz, owned 52.7% of our outstanding common stock at January 2, 2010. By virtue

26

Table of Contents

of this stock ownership, Dr. Wentz is able to exert significant influence over the election of the members of our Board of Directors and our business affairs. This concentration of ownership could also have the effect of delaying, deterring, or preventing a change in control that might otherwise be beneficial to shareholders. In addition, Dr. Wentz also currently serves as Chairman of our Board of Directors. There can be no assurance that conflicts of interest will not arise with respect to this directorship or that conflicts will be resolved in a manner favorable to other shareholders of the Company.

        Sales by our shareholders of a substantial number of shares of our common stock in the public market could adversely affect the market price of our common stock.    A large number of outstanding shares of our common stock are held by several of our principal shareholders. If any of these principal shareholders were to decide to sell large amounts of stock over a short period of time such sales could cause the market price of our common stock to decline.

        Our stock price has been volatile and subject to various market conditions.    There can be no assurance that an active market in our stock will be sustained. The trading price of our common stock has been subject to wide fluctuations. The price of our common stock may fluctuate in the future in response to quarter-to-quarter variations in operating results, material announcements by us or our competitors, governmental regulatory action, conditions in the nutritional supplement industry, negative publicity, or other events or factors, many of which are beyond our control. In addition, the stock market has historically experienced significant price and volume fluctuations, which have particularly affected the market prices of many dietary and nutritional supplement companies and which have, in certain cases, not had a strong correlation to the operating performance of these companies. Our operating results in future quarters may be below the expectations of securities analysts and investors. If that were to occur, the price of our common stock would likely decline, perhaps substantially.

        Our products and manufacturing activities are subject to extensive government regulation, which could limit or prevent the sale of our products in some markets.    The manufacture, packaging, labeling, advertising, promotion, distribution, and sale of our products are subject to regulation by numerous national and local governmental agencies in the United States and other countries, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") and the U.S. Federal Trade Commission ("FTC"). For example, failure to comply with FDA regulatory requirements may result in, among other things, injunctions, product withdrawals, recalls, product seizures, fines, and criminal prosecutions. Any action of this type by the FDA could materially adversely affect our ability to successfully market our products. With respect to FTC matters, if the FTC has reason to believe the law is being violated (e.g., failure to possess adequate substantiation for product claims), it can initiate an enforcement action. The FTC has a variety of processes and remedies available to it for enforcement, both administratively and judicially, including compulsory process authority, cease and desist orders, and injunctions. FTC enforcement could result in orders requiring, among other things, limits on advertising, consumer redress, divestiture of assets, rescission of contracts, or such other relief as may be deemed necessary. Violation of these orders could result in substantial financial or other penalties. Any action against us by the FTC could materially and adversely affect our ability to successfully market our products.

        In December 2007, the Dietary Supplement & Nonprescription Drug Consumer Protection Act went into effect and requires manufacturers of dietary supplement and over-the-counter products to notify the FDA when they receive reports of serious adverse events occurring within the United States. Potential FDA responses to any such report could include injunctions, product withdrawals, recalls, product seizures, fines, or criminal prosecutions. We have an internal adverse event reporting system that has been in place for several years and believe that we are in compliance with this new law. Nevertheless, any action by the FDA in response to a serious adverse event report that may be filed by us could materially and adversely affect our ability to successfully market our products.

27

Table of Contents

        In markets outside the United States, prior to commencing operations or marketing our products, we may be required to obtain approvals, licenses, or certifications from a country's ministry of health or a comparable agency. For example, our manufacturing facility has been registered with the FDA and Health Canada and is certified by Australia's Therapeutic Goods Administration. Approvals or licensing may be conditioned on reformulation of products or may be unavailable with respect to certain products or product ingredients. We must also comply with product labeling and packaging regulations that vary from country to country. These activities are also subject to regulation by various agencies of the countries in which our products are sold.

        We cannot predict the nature of any future laws, regulations, interpretations, or applications, nor can we determine what effect additional governmental regulations or administrative orders, when and if promulgated, could have on our business. These potential effects could include, however, requirements for the reformulation of certain products to meet new standards, the recall or discontinuance of certain products, additional record keeping and reporting requirements, expanded documentation of the properties of certain products, expanded or different labeling, or additional scientific substantiation. Any or all of these requirements could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, or results of operations.

        Our net sales are significantly affected by our success in growing existing markets, as well as opening new markets. As we continue to expand into international markets, our business becomes increasingly subject to political, economic, legal and other risks. Changes in these markets could adversely affect our business.    We have a history of expanding into new international markets. We believe that our ability to achieve future growth is dependent in part on our ability to continue our international expansion efforts. There can be no assurance, however, that we will be able to grow in our existing international markets, enter new international markets on a timely basis, or that new markets will be profitable. We must overcome significant regulatory and legal barriers before we can begin marketing in any international market. Also, before marketing commences it is difficult to assess the extent to which our products and sales techniques will be accepted or successful in any given country. In addition to significant regulatory barriers, we may also encounter problems conducting operations in new markets with different cultures and legal systems from those encountered elsewhere. We may be required to reformulate certain of our products before commencing sales in a given country. Once we have entered a market, we must adhere to the regulatory and legal requirements of that market. No assurance can be given that we will be able to successfully reformulate our products in any of our current or potential international markets to meet local regulatory requirements or to attract local customers. Our failure to do so could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, or results of operations. There can be no assurance that we will be able to obtain and retain necessary permits and approvals in new markets, or that we will have sufficient capital to finance our expansion efforts in a timely manner. In many market areas, other network marketing companies already have significant market penetration, the effect of which could be to desensitize the local Associate population to a new opportunity, such as USANA, or to make it more difficult for us to attract qualified Associates. Even if we are able to commence operations in new markets, there may not be a sufficient population of persons who are interested in our network marketing system. We believe our future success will depend in part on our ability to seamlessly integrate our Compensation Plan across all markets in which our products are sold. There can be no assurance that we will be able to further develop and maintain a seamless compensation program.

        On December 1, 2005, China announced the adoption of new regulations governing direct selling. These regulations continue to be the state of the law in China. Single-level compensation models are permissible under these new regulations, but multi-level compensation models, as practiced by USANA and many other direct selling companies, are not. If we were to enter the Chinese market, we would be required to adjust our compensation and selling model to comply with these regulations. These adjustments could require more time and effort to enter the Chinese market than would otherwise be

28

Table of Contents

necessary, if multi-level compensation models were permissible. Additionally, such adjustments could make it more difficult to be successful in China.

        An increase in the amount of incentives paid to Associates reduces our profitability.    The payment of Associate incentives is our most significant expense. These incentives include commissions, bonuses, and certain awards and prizes. From time to time, we adjust our Compensation Plan to better manage these incentives as a percentage of net sales. We closely monitor the amount of Associate incentives that are paid as a percentage of net sales, and may periodically adjust our Compensation Plan to prevent Associate incentives from having a significant adverse effect on our earnings. There can be no assurance that changes to the Compensation Plan or product pricing will be successful in achieving target levels of Associate incentives as a percentage of net sales. Furthermore, such changes may make it difficult to attract and retain qualified and motivated Associates or cause us to lose some of our longer-standing Associates.

        Our business is subject to the risks associated with intense competition from larger, wealthier, and more established competitors.    We face intense competition in the business of distributing and marketing nutritional supplements, vitamins and minerals, personal care products, and other nutritional products, as described in greater detail in "Business—Competition." Numerous manufacturers, Associates, and retailers compete actively for consumers and, in the case of other network marketing companies, for Associates. There can be no assurance that we will be able to compete in this intensely competitive environment. In addition, nutrition and personal care products can be purchased in a wide variety of channels of distribution, including retail stores. Our product offerings in each product category are also relatively small, compared to the wide variety of products offered by many of our competitors.

        We are also subject to significant competition from other network marketing organizations for the time, attention, and commitment of new and existing Associates. Our ability to remain competitive depends, in significant part, on our success in recruiting and retaining Associates. There can be no assurance that our programs for recruiting and retaining Associates will be successful. The pool of individuals who may be interested in network marketing is limited in each market, and it is reduced to the extent other network marketing companies successfully recruit these individuals into their businesses. Although we believe we offer an attractive opportunity for Associates, there can be no assurance that other network marketing companies will not be able to recruit our existing Associates or deplete the pool of potential Associates in a given market.

        Taxation and transfer pricing considerations affect our operations.    In many countries, including the United States, we are subject to transfer pricing and other tax regulations that are designed to ensure that appropriate levels of income are reported by our U.S. and foreign entities and are taxed appropriately. Although we believe that we are in compliance with all material regulations and restrictions in this regard, we are subject to the risk that taxing authorities could audit our transfer pricing and related practices and assert that additional taxes are owed. We are also subject to the risk that taxing authorities in any of our markets could change the laws in a manner that may increase our effective tax rate and/or duties on our products. Under tax treaties, we are eligible to receive foreign tax credits in the United States for foreign taxes actually paid abroad. In the event any audits or assessments are concluded adversely to us, we may or may not be able to offset the consolidated effect of foreign income tax assessments through the use of U.S. foreign tax credits. Currently, we are utilizing all foreign tax credits in the year in which they arise. Because the laws and regulations governing U.S. foreign tax credits are complex and subject to periodic legislative amendment, we cannot be sure that we would in fact be able to take advantage of any foreign tax credits in the future. As a result, adverse outcomes in these matters could have a material impact on our financial condition or operating results.

29

Table of Contents

        Fluctuation in the value of currency exchange rates with the U.S. dollar affects our operations and our net sales and earnings.    Over the past several years, a significant portion of our net sales have been generated outside the United States. Such sales for the year ended January 2, 2010 represented 65.3% of our total net sales. We will likely continue to expand our operations into new markets, exposing us to expanding risks of changes in social, political, and economic conditions, including changes in the laws and policies that govern investment or exchange in these markets. Because a significant portion of our sales are generated outside the United States, exchange rate fluctuations will have a significant effect on our sales and earnings. Further, if exchange rates fluctuate dramatically, it may become uneconomical for us to establish or to continue activities in certain countries. For instance, changes in currency exchange rates may affect the relative prices at which we and our competitors sell similar products in the same market. As our business expands outside the United States, an increasing share of our net sales and operating costs will be transacted in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. Accounting practices require that our non-U.S. financial results be converted to U.S. dollars for reporting purposes. Consequently, our reported net earnings may be significantly affected by fluctuations in currency exchange rates, with earnings generally increasing with a weaker U.S. dollar and decreasing with a strengthening U.S. dollar. Product purchases by our subsidiaries are transacted in U.S. dollars. As our operations expand in countries where transactions may be made in currencies other than the U.S. dollar, our operating results will be increasingly subject to the risks of exchange rate fluctuations and we may not be able to accurately estimate the impact that these changes might have on our future business, product pricing, results of operations, or financial condition. In addition, the value of the U.S. dollar in relation to other currencies may also adversely affect our sales to customers outside the United States. From time-to-time we enter into forward and option exchange contracts to manage currency fluctuations on certain commitments, including intercompany cash transfers that are denominated in a variety of currencies. We do not use derivative instruments for speculative purposes. There can be no assurance that currency contract transactions will protect our operating results or cash flows from potentially adverse effects of currency exchange fluctuations. Any such adverse effects could also adversely affect our business, financial condition, or results of operations.

        Disruptions to shipping channels that we use to distribute our products to international warehouses may adversely affect our margins and profitability in those markets.    In the past, we have felt the impact of disruptions to the shipping channels used to distribute our products; these disruptions have included increased port congestion, a lack of capacity on the railroads, and a shortage of manpower. In particular, we felt the effects of this disruption in our container shipments to Australia, which required additional use of airfreight to meet demand. Although we have not recently experienced significant shipping disruptions, we continue to watch for signs of upcoming congestion. Congestion to ports can affect previously negotiated contracts with shipping companies, resulting in unexpected increases in shipping costs and reduction in our net sales.

        The inability to obtain adequate supplies of raw materials for products at favorable prices, or at all, or the inability to obtain certain products from third-party suppliers, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, or results of operations.    We acquire all of our raw materials for the manufacture of our products from third-party suppliers. Materials used in manufacturing our products are purchased through purchase order, often invoking pre-negotiated annual supply agreements. We have very few long-term agreements for the supply of these materials. We also contract with third-party manufacturers and suppliers for the production of some of our products, including gelatin-capsuled supplements, Garlic EC™, OptOmega®, Rev3 Energy™ Drink, our powdered drink mixes and nutrition bars, and certain of our personal care products. These third-party suppliers and manufacturers produce and, in most cases, package these products according to formulations that have been developed by, or in conjunction with, our in-house product development team. There is a risk that any of our suppliers or manufacturers could discontinue manufacturing our products or selling their products to us. Although we believe that we could establish alternate sources

30

Table of Contents

for most of our products, any delay in locating and establishing relationships with other sources could result in product shortages or back orders for products, with a resulting loss of net sales. In certain situations, we may be required to alter our products or to substitute different products from another source. We have, in the past, discontinued or temporarily stopped sales of certain products that were manufactured by third parties while those products were on back order. There can be no assurance that suppliers will provide the raw materials or manufactured products that are needed by us in the quantities that we request or at the prices that we are willing to pay. Because we do not control the actual production of certain raw materials and products, we are also subject to delays caused by any interruption in the production of these materials, based on conditions not within our control, including weather, crop conditions, transportation interruptions, strikes by supplier employees, and natural disasters or other catastrophic events.

        Shortages of raw materials may temporarily adversely affect our margins or our profitability related to the sale of those products.    In the past, we have experienced temporary shortages of the raw materials used in certain of our nutritional products. Although we had identified multiple sources to supply such raw material ingredients, quantities of the materials we purchased during these shortages were at higher prices, which negatively impacted our gross margins for those products. We have not recently experienced raw material shortages that have resulted in materially greater costs. However, there is no assurance that our raw materials might not be similarly adversely affected in the future.

        Nutritional supplement products may be supported by only limited availability of conclusive clinical studies.    Our products include nutritional supplements that are made from vitamins, minerals, herbs, and other substances for which there is a long history of human consumption. Some of our products contain innovative ingredients or combinations of ingredients. Although we believe that all of our products are safe when taken as directed, there is little long-term experience with human consumption of certain of these product ingredients or combinations of ingredients in concentrated form. We conduct research and test the formulation and production of our products, but we have performed or sponsored only limited clinical studies. Furthermore, because we are highly dependent on consumers' perception of the efficacy, safety, and quality of our products, as well as similar products distributed by other companies, we could be adversely affected in the event that those products prove or are asserted to be ineffective or harmful to consumers or in the event of adverse publicity associated with any illness or other adverse effects resulting from consumers' use or misuse of our products or similar products of our competitors.

        As a manufacturer, we may be subject to product liability claims.    As a manufacturer and a distributor of products for human consumption and topical application, we could become exposed to product liability claims and litigation. Additionally, the manufacture and sale of these products involves the risk of injury to consumers due to tampering by unauthorized third parties or product contamination. To date, we have not been a party to any product liability litigation, although, like any dietary supplement company, we have received reports from individuals who have asserted that they suffered adverse consequences as a result of using our products. The number of reports we have received to date is nominal. These matters historically have been settled to our satisfaction and have not resulted in material payments. We are aware of no instance in which any of our products are or have been defective in any way that could give rise to material losses or expenditures related to product liability claims. Although we maintain product liability insurance, which we believe to be adequate for our needs, there can be no assurance that we will not be subject to such claims in the future or that our insurance coverage will be adequate.

        Our business is subject to particular intellectual property risks.    Most of our products are not protected by patents. The labeling regulations governing our nutritional supplements require that the ingredients of such products be precisely and accurately indicated on product containers. Accordingly, patent protection for nutritional supplements often is impractical given the large number of

31

Table of Contents

manufacturers who produce nutritional supplements having many active ingredients in common. Additionally, the nutritional supplement industry is characterized by rapid change and frequent reformulations of products, as the body of scientific research and literature refines current understanding of the application and efficacy of certain substances and the interactions among various substances. In this respect, we maintain an active research and development program that is devoted to developing better, purer, and more effective formulations of our products. We protect our investment in research, as well as the techniques we use to improve the purity and effectiveness of our products, by relying on trade secret laws. We have also entered into confidentiality agreements with certain of our employees involved in research and development activities. Additionally, we endeavor to seek, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, trademark and trade dress protection for our products, which protection has been sought in the United States, Canada, and in many of the other countries in which we are either presently operating or plan to commence operations in the future. Notwithstanding our efforts, there can be no assurance that our efforts to protect our trade secrets and trademarks will be successful. Nor can there be any assurance that third-parties will not assert claims against us for infringement of their intellectual proprietary rights. If an infringement claim is asserted, we may be required to obtain a license of such rights, pay royalties on a retrospective or prospective basis, or terminate our manufacturing and marketing of our infringing products. Litigation with respect to such matters could result in substantial costs and diversion of management and other resources and could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, or operating results.

        Our manufacturing activity is subject to certain risks.    We manufacture approximately 75% of the products sold to our customers. As a result, we are dependent upon the uninterrupted and efficient operation of our manufacturing facilities in Salt Lake City, and Draper, Utah. Those operations are subject to power failures, the breakdown, failure, or substandard performance of equipment, the improper installation or operation of equipment, natural or other disasters, and the need to comply with the requirements or directives of government agencies, including the FDA. There can be no assurance that the occurrence of these or any other operational problems at our facility would not have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, or results of operations. We are subject to a variety of environmental laws relating to the storage, discharge, handling, emission, generation, manufacture, use and disposal of chemicals, solid and hazardous waste, and other toxic and hazardous materials. Our manufacturing operations presently do not result in the generation of material amounts of hazardous or toxic substances. Nevertheless, complying with new or more stringent laws or regulations, or more vigorous enforcement of current or future policies of regulatory agencies, could require substantial expenditures by us that could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, or results of operations. Environmental laws and regulations require us to maintain and comply with a number of permits, authorizations, and approvals and to maintain and update training programs and safety data regarding materials used in our processes. Violations of those requirements could result in financial penalties and other enforcement actions and could require us to halt one or more portions of our operations until a violation is cured. The combined costs of curing incidents of non-compliance, resolving enforcement actions that might be initiated by government authorities, or of satisfying new legal requirements could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, or results of operations.

        A failure of our information technology systems would harm our business.    The global nature of our business and our seamless global compensation plan requires the development and implementation of robust and efficiently functioning information technology systems. Such systems are vulnerable to a variety of potential risks, including damage or interruption resulting from natural disasters and telecommunication failures and human error or intentional acts of sabotage, vandalism, break-ins and similar acts. Although we have adopted and implemented a business continuity and disaster recovery plan, which includes routine back-up, off-site archiving and storage, and certain redundancies, the occurrence of any of these events could result in costly interruptions or failures adversely affecting our business and the results of our operations.

32

Table of Contents

        We may incur liability under our "Athlete Guarantee" program, if and to the extent participating athletes make a successful claim against USANA for testing positive for certain banned substances while taking USANA nutritional supplements.    USANA believes that its nutritional supplement products are free from substances that have been banned by world-class training and competitive athletic programs. The Company retains independent testing agencies to conduct periodic checks for banned substances. The Company further believes that, while its products promote good health, they are not otherwise considered to be "performance enhancing" as that term has been used in defining substances that are banned from use in international competition by the World Anti-Doping Agency ("WADA"). For many years, USANA has been a sponsor of Olympic athletes and professional competitors around the world. These athletes have been tested on many occasions and have never tested positive for banned substances as a result of taking USANA nutritional products. To back up its claim that athletes who use the Company's products as part of their training regimen will not be consuming banned substances, the Company has offered to enter into agreements with select athletes, some of whom have high-profiles and are highly compensated, which state that, during the term of the agreement, should the athlete test positive for a banned substance included in the WADA, and should such positive result be the result of taking USANA nutritional products, USANA will compensate that athlete two times their current annual earnings up to one million dollars, based on the athlete's personal level of competition, endorsement, and other income, as well as other factors. To mitigate potential exposure under these agreements, we:

•

Designate lots identified as dedicated to the Athlete Guarantee program and retain additional samples;



•

Store designated lot samples externally with a third-party; and



•

Establish a chain of custody that requires signatures on behalf of USANA and the third-party to transfer possession of the product lots and that restricts access by USANA employees after the transfer.

        All applicants to this Athlete Guarantee program are subject to screening and acceptance by the Company in its sole discretion. Contracts are tailored to fit the athlete's individual circumstances and the amount of the Company's exposure is limited based on the level of sponsorship of the participating athlete. Although the Company believes that the pool of current and potential participants in the program is small, there is no guarantee that an athlete who is accepted in the program will not successfully make a claim against us. The Company currently has no insurance to protect it from potential claims under this program.

        Based on the mitigating factors, screening process and the Company's view that its products are not "performance enhancing," management believes there is a less than remote chance that the Company will incur a liability under the Athlete Guarantee program.

Item 1B.    Unresolved Staff Comments

        We received no written comments from the Commission staff that remain unresolved regarding periodic or current reports under the Exchange Act in the 180 days prior to January 2, 2010.

Item 2.    Properties

        In Salt Lake City, Utah, we own a 354,000 square foot facility that we utilize as our world-wide corporate headquarters. This facility includes space for manufacturing, distribution, and administrative functions and is located on a company-owned 16-acre parcel of land.

        In addition to our corporate headquarters, we own two other facilities. The first is a 45,000 square foot office/warehouse building in Sydney, Australia, and the second is a 31,000 square foot manufacturing facility in Tianjin, China, which is used for an immaterial amount of third-party manufacturing.

33

Table of Contents

        We lease regional offices and distribution warehouses located in Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan. Although we sold our contract manufacturing business during 2007, we continue to lease a facility in Draper, Utah for the manufacture and packaging of our Sensé™ products.

        We believe that the facilities listed above are in good condition and are adequately utilized. Further, we believe that our manufacturing facilities provide for the productive capacity to meet our foreseeable needs.

Item 3.    Legal Proceedings

        From time to time we are involved in litigation arising out of our operations. We maintain liability insurance, including product liability coverage, in amounts our management believes is adequate. We are not currently engaged in any legal proceedings that we expect would materially harm our business or financial condition.

Chirco vs. USANA et. al

        On April 17, 2009, a former USANA Associate filed a purported class action lawsuit in State District Court in Clark County, Nevada and named USANA and certain of USANA's present and former officers and directors, as well as other individuals, as defendants. The proposed class consists of distributors who were Nevada residents at any time since 1995. The complaint is essentially a copy of a complaint from a purported distributor class action lawsuit filed against USANA in California state court in 2007, which was dismissed. The complaint alleges a number of purported material misrepresentations to the market in violation of state pyramid law, deceptive business practices, and business fraud law. The complaint seeks damages, general injunctive relief, pre-judgment interest, costs, attorney's fees, and other further relief deemed appropriate by the court. We believe the claims in this complaint are distorted, not actionable under applicable law, and without merit. In June 2009, we filed our answer to the complaint, which contained a general denial of the allegations in the complaint and set forth our affirmative defenses. Discovery is currently pending for this action. We will continue to vigorously defend the Company and related defendants in this action.

        We are not a party to any other legal proceedings that we believe will have a material impact on our financial condition or results of operations.

Item 4.    (Removed and Reserved)

PART II

Item 5.    Market for Registrant's Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

Market Information

        Our common stock trades on The NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol "USNA." The following table contains the reported high and low sale prices for our common stock as reported on The NASDAQ Global Select Market for the periods indicated:

34

Table of Contents

        The market price of our common shares is subject to fluctuations in response to variations in our quarterly operating results, general trends in the market for our products and product candidates, economic and currency exchange issues in the markets where we operate, as well as other factors, many of which are not within our control. In addition, broad market fluctuations, as well as general economic, business and political conditions may adversely affect the market for our common shares, regardless of our actual or projected performance.

        On March 8, 2010, the high and low sales prices of our common stock as reported by NASDAQ were $30.85 and $30.11, respectively.

Shareholders

        As of March 8, 2010, we had 414 holders of record of our common stock.

Dividends

        We have never declared or paid cash dividends on our common stock. Future cash dividends, if any, will be determined by our Board of Directors and will be based on earnings, available capital, our financial condition, and other factors that the Board of Directors deems to be relevant.

Share Repurchases

        Purchases made during the quarter ended January 2, 2010 for each fiscal month therein are summarized in the following table:

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
(amounts in thousands, except per share data)

35

Table of Contents

Item 6.    Selected Financial Data

        The following selected consolidated financial data should be read in conjunction with "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and the Consolidated Financial Statements and related notes thereto that are included in this report.

36

Table of Contents

Item 7.    Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

        The following discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and notes thereto appearing elsewhere in this report.

Overview

        We develop and manufacture high-quality nutritional and personal care products that are distributed internationally through a network marketing system, which is a form of direct selling. Our customer base comprises two types of customer; "Associates" and "Preferred Customers." Associates are independent distributors of our products who also purchase our products for their personal use. Preferred Customers purchase our products strictly for their personal use and are not permitted to resell or to distribute the products. As of January 2, 2010, we had approximately 199,000 active Associates and approximately 67,000 active Preferred Customers worldwide. For purposes of this report, we only count as active customers those Associates and Preferred Customers who have purchased product from USANA at any time during the most recent three-month period, either for personal use or for resale.

        We have ongoing operations in the following markets, which are grouped and presented as follows:

•

North America—



•

United States



•

Canada



•

Mexico

37

Table of Contents

•

Asia Pacific—



•

Southeast Asia/Pacific—Australia-New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines*



•

East Asia—Hong Kong and Taiwan



•

North Asia—Japan and South Korea

*

Operations in the Philippines commenced in January 2009.

        As a developer and manufacturer of nutritional and personal care products, we utilize a direct selling model for the distribution of our products. The success and growth of our business is primarily based on our ability to attract new Associates and retain existing Associates to sell and consume our products. Additionally, it is important to attract and retain Preferred Customers, many of whom are loyal consumers of our products. We believe that our ability to attract and retain Associates and Preferred Customers to sell and consume our products is influenced by a number of factors. Some of these factors include: the growing desire for a secondary source of income and small business ownership, the general public's heightened awareness and understanding of the connection between diet and long-term health, and the aging of the worldwide population, as older people generally tend to consume more nutritional supplements.

        We believe that our high-quality products and our financially rewarding Associate Compensation Plan are the key components to attracting and retaining Associates and the continued success and growth of our business. To support our Associates in building their businesses, we sponsor meetings and events throughout the year, which offer information about our products and our network marketing system. These meetings are designed to assist Associates in their business development and to provide a forum for interaction with some of our Associate leaders and members of our management team. We also provide low cost sales tools, which we believe are an integral part of building and maintaining a successful home-based business for our Associates. For example, during the third quarter of 2009, we introduced a new on-line training system, called eApprentice. This system was designed to make training in USANA's network marketing system readily available, simple to use and easy to understand. We believe that this system will assist new Associates by providing detailed training about the industry and a deeper understanding of USANA's products and compensation plan.

        In addition to Company-sponsored meetings and sales tools, we maintain a website exclusively for our Associates where they can stay up-to-date on the latest USANA news, obtain training materials, manage their personal information, enroll new customers, shop, and register for Company-sponsored events. Additionally, through this website, Associates can access other online services to which they may subscribe. For example, we offer an online business management service, which includes a tool that helps Associates track and manage their business activity, a personal webpage to which their prospects or retail customers can be directed, e-cards for advertising, and a tax information tool.

        Because we have operations in multiple markets, with sales and expenses being generated and incurred in multiple currencies, our reported U.S. dollar sales and earnings can be significantly affected by fluctuations in currency exchange rates. In general, our reported sales and earnings are affected positively by a weakening of the U.S. dollar and negatively by a strengthening of the U.S. dollar. In our net sales discussions that follow, we approximate the impact of currency fluctuations on net sales by translating current year net sales at the average exchange rates in effect during the comparable prior year periods.

38

Table of Contents

        Increases or decreases in product sales are typically the result of variations in product sales volumes relating to fluctuations in the number of active Associates and Preferred Customers purchasing our products. Notably, sales to Associates account for the majority of our product sales, representing 89% of product sales during 2009. In general, the volume of recurring monthly product purchases by our active Associates and Preferred Customers, in their local currencies, remains relatively constant over time. Accordingly, sales growth in local currencies is driven primarily by an increased number of active Associates and Preferred Customers. The number of active Associates and Preferred Customers is, therefore, used by management as a key non-financial measure.

        The tables below summarize the changes in our active customer base by geographic region as of the dates indicated.

Active Associates By Region
(rounded to the nearest thousand)

Active Preferred Customers By Region
(rounded to the nearest thousand)

39

Table of Contents

Total Active Customers By Region
(rounded to the nearest thousand)

Presentation

        Product sales and the shipping and handling fees billed to our customers are recorded as revenue net of applicable sales discounts when the product is delivered, title has transferred, and the risk of loss passes to the customer. Payments received for undelivered products are recorded as deferred revenue and are included in other current liabilities. Also reflected in net sales is a provision for product returns and allowances, which is estimated based on our historical experience. Additionally, the Company collects an annual renewal fee from Associates that is deferred on receipt and is recognized as income on a straight-line basis over a twelve-month period.

        Cost of sales primarily consists of expenses related to raw materials, labor, quality assurance, and overhead costs that are directly associated with the production and distribution of our products and sales materials, as well as duties and taxes that are associated with the import and export of our products. As our international sales increase as a percentage of net sales, cost of sales are increasingly affected by additional duties, freight, and other factors, such as changes in currency exchange rates.

        Associate incentive expenses include all forms of commissions, compensation, and other incentives paid to our Associates. These incentives include bonuses earned, rewards from contests and promotions and base commissions, which makes up the majority of our Associate incentives expense. Bonuses are paid out to our Associates based on certain business growth criteria, total base commission earnings, and leadership level. Promotions and contests are offered as an incentive and reward to our Associates and are typically paid out only after an Associate achieves specific growth and advancement levels. Base commissions are paid out on the sale of products, which are assigned a sales volume point value that is independent of the product's price. Associates earn their commissions based on sales volume points that are generated in their down-line organization. Items such as our starter kits and sales tools have no sales volume point value, and commissions are not paid on the sale of these items. Although insignificant to our financial statements, an Associate may earn commissions on sales volume points that are generated from personal purchases that are not considered to be part of their "Qualifying Purchases." Qualifying Purchases are the amount of product that Associates must purchase each month, which they must either resell to consumers or personally use in order to qualify to earn commissions or bonuses under USANA's Compensation Plan. Commissions paid to an Associate on personal purchases are considered a sales discount and are reported as a reduction to our net sales.

40

Table of Contents

        Selling, general and administrative expenses include wages and benefits, depreciation and amortization, rents and utilities, Associate event costs, advertising, professional fees, marketing, and research and development expenses. Wages and benefits represent the largest component of selling, general and administrative expenses. Significant depreciation and amortization expense is incurred as a result of investments in physical facilities, computer and telecommunications equipment, and systems to support our international operations.

        During 2008, we incurred two unusual expenses that affected our selling, general and administrative results. These expenses related to (1) a tender offer to acquire all of the outstanding shares of the Company initiated by the Company's Chairman and certain other participants, which was terminated on July 16, 2008, and (2) an unanticipated arbitration award against the Company for approximately $7 million. As each of the matters leading to these unusual expenses concluded in 2008, no further expense relative to these matters was incurred in 2009 or is anticipated to be incurred in the future.

        Sales to customers outside the United States are transacted in the respective local currencies and are translated to U.S. dollars at weighted-average currency exchange rates for each monthly accounting period to which they relate. Most of our raw material purchases from suppliers and our product purchases from third-party manufacturers are transacted in U.S. dollars. Consequently, our sales and net earnings may be affected by changes in currency exchange rates, with sales and earnings generally increasing with a weakening U.S. dollar and decreasing with a strengthening U.S. dollar. For several years we have received a benefit to net sales and earnings from a weakening U.S. dollar. Throughout most of 2009, however, the U.S. dollar strengthened significantly when compared with 2008, negatively affecting overall sales and earnings.

41

Table of Contents

Results of Operations

        The following table summarizes our consolidated operating results as a percentage of net sales, respectively, for the periods indicated: