Dave Letele takes on NZ Muscle 'to save 35 jobs'

Former boxer turned social activist Dave Letele was on his way to meet NZ Muscle staff on Tuesday morning, hoping to be able to turn around the fortunes of the supplement company.

It hit strife after a former employee posted a YouTube video making claims of questionable practices. The company has recalled some creatine products that could contain undeclared dairy.

It has prompted the Commerce Commission and Ministry of Primary Industries to investigate.

Letele said he had known NZ Muscle founder Dion Roosenbrand for a while and had used some of his products in his own business.

"I had a coffee shop which also sold supplements and he was one of our suppliers so I've known him for a bit."

He took the position of chief executive this week, along with a shareholding in the business.

"The better I can turn it around, it's only going to help myself and my family. It hasn't even been 24 hours, I haven't yet met all the staff so I'll be doing that later today and getting my teeth stuck in."

He said there were 35 staff and he wanted to be able to protect their jobs.

Sales have reportedly slumped since the problems came to light. "It's 35 people who could potentially be without a job if this continued. I wanted to give it my best shot of trying to turn it around."

He said he would focus first on meeting staff and finding out what had happened.

"So I can see it for myself. We can begin to fix it meeting with suppliers, manufacturers and also talking to customers and different store owners, that's where it starts. Trying to rebuild that from the ground up, really."

He said he could not comment on the investigations that are under way.

"Everyone's only seeing what's happening online. I want to see what's actually happening. That's the only way I can understand it and then begin to fix it. Obviously there's been mistakes and that's why I'm there."

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