ALLOU HEALTH & BEAUTY CARE INC
DEF 14A, 1996-07-25
DRUGS, PROPRIETARIES & DRUGGISTS' SUNDRIES
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                     INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT

                            SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

                Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the
                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Filed by the Registrant [X]
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [ ]

Check the appropriate box:

[_]     Preliminary Proxy Statement
[_]     Confidential,  for Use of the  Commission  Only (as permitted by Rule
        14a-6(e)(2)
[X]     Definitive Proxy Statement
[_]     Definitive Additional Materials
[_]     Soliciting Material Pursuant to ss. 240.14a-11(c) or ss. 240.14a-12

                        ALLOU HEALTH & BEAUTY CARE, INC.
                ------------------------------------------------
                (Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

                        ALLOU HEALTH & BEAUTY CARE, INC.
                   ------------------------------------------
                   (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement)

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
[_]     $125 per Exchange Act Rules 0-11(c)(1)(ii), 14a-6(i)(1), or
        14a-6(j)(2).
[_]     $500 per each party to the controversy pursuant to Exchange Act
        Rule 14a-6(i)(3).
[_]     Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4)
        and 0-11.


1)      Title of each class of security to which transaction applies:

        -------------------------------------------------------------

2)      Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
 
        -------------------------------------------------------------

3)      Per unit  price  or  other  underlying  value  of  transaction
        computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11:

        -------------------------------------------------------------

4)      Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:

        -------------------------------------------------------------

[X]     Check  box if any  part  of the fee is  offset  as  provided  by
        Exchange Act Rule  0-11(a)(2)  and identify the filing for which
        the  offsetting fee was paid  previously.  Identify the previous
        filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule
        and the date of its filing.

1)      Amount Previously Paid:

         $125
        -------------------------------------------------------------

2)      Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:

         Preliminary Proxy Statement
        -------------------------------------------------------------

3)      Filing Party:

         Registrant
        -------------------------------------------------------------

4)      Date Filed:

         July 5, 1996
        -------------------------------------------------------------


<PAGE>


                        ALLOU HEALTH & BEAUTY CARE, INC.
                               50 Emjay Boulevard
                            Brentwood, New York 11717

                    ----------------------------------------

                    Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders

                               September 11, 1996
                    ----------------------------------------

        NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the 1996 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the
"Meeting")  of ALLOU HEALTH & BEAUTY CARE,  INC.,  a Delaware  corporation  (the
"Company"), will be held in the Boardroom of the American Stock Exchange located
at 86 Trinity Place, New York, New York 10006, on Wednesday, September 11, 1996,
10:00 a.m., to consider and act upon the following:

        1.      The election of the seven (7) persons named in the  accompanying
                Proxy  Statement  to serve  as the  Board  of  Directors  of the
                Company until the next Annual Meeting of Stockholders  and until
                their successors are elected and qualified;

        2.      Approval of the Company's 1995  Nonqualified  Stock Option Plan,
                which provides for up to 500,000 shares of the Company's Class B
                Common Stock to be issued to key employees  (including  officers
                and  directors)  of the Company,  as more fully set forth in the
                Proxy Statement;

        3.      Approval of the Company's 1996 Stock Option Plan, which provides
                for up to 1,000,000 shares of the Company's Class A Common Stock
                to be issued to employees  (including officers and directors) of
                the Company, as more fully set forth in the Proxy Statement;

        4.      Approval  of  an  amendment  to  the  Company's  Certificate  of
                Incorporation  (i) to confirm  that the shares of Class B Common
                Stock are  convertible at any time into shares of Class A Common
                Stock on a one-for-one basis, which previously has been included
                in the Company's  public  disclosures;  (ii) to provide that the
                shares of Class B Common  Stock  are  freely  transferable;  and
                (iii) to  increase  the  authorized  Class B Common  Stock  from
                1,700,000 to 2,200,000 shares; and

        5.      The  transaction  of such other  business as may  properly  come
                before the Meeting or any adjournments thereof.

Only  stockholders of record of the Class A Common Stock,  $.001 par value,  and
the  Class B Common  Stock,  $.001 par  value,  of the  Company  at the close of
business  on July 18, 1996 are  entitled to receive  notice of and to attend the
Meeting.  At  least  10  days  prior  to the  Meeting,  a  complete  list of the
stockholders   entitled  to  vote  will  be  available  for  inspection  by  any
stockholder,  for any purpose germane to the Meeting,  during ordinary  business
hours, at 1211 Avenue of the Americas,  17th floor, New York, New York 10036. If
you do not expect to be present, you are requested to fill in, date and sign the
enclosed Proxy, which is solicited by the Board of Directors of the Company, and
to mail it promptly in the enclosed envelope.  In the event you decide to attend
the Meeting in person,  you may, if you desire,  revoke your Proxy and vote your
shares in person.

Dated: July  19, 1996

                                         By Order of the Board of Directors


                                         JACK JACOBS
                                         Secretary


                                    IMPORTANT
                                    ---------

        THE RETURN OF YOUR SIGNED  PROXY AS PROMPTLY  AS POSSIBLE  WILL  GREATLY
FACILITATE  ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE MEETING. NO POSTAGE IS REQUIRED IF THE PROXY IS
RETURNED IN THE ENVELOPE  ENCLOSED FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE AND MAILED IN THE UNITED
STATES.


<PAGE>


                        ALLOU HEALTH & BEAUTY CARE, INC.
                               50 Emjay Boulevard
                            Brentwood, New York 11717

                    ----------------------------------------

                                 Proxy Statement
                         Annual Meeting of Stockholders
                               September 11, 1996

                    ----------------------------------------

        This Proxy Statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation of
proxies  by the  Board of  Directors  of Allou  Health & Beauty  Care,  Inc.,  a
Delaware  corporation  (the  "Company"),  to be voted at the  Annual  Meeting of
Stockholders of the Company (the "Meeting")  which will be held in the Boardroom
of the American Stock  Exchange,  86 Trinity Place,  New York, New York 10006 on
Wednesday,  September 11, 1996 at 10:00 A.M., local time, and any adjournment or
adjournments  thereof,  for the purposes set forth in the accompanying Notice of
Annual Meeting of Stockholders and in this Proxy Statement.

        The principal  executive  offices of the Company are located at 50 Emjay
Boulevard,  Brentwood,  New York 11717. The approximate date on which this Proxy
Statement and accompanying  Proxy will first be sent or given to stockholders is
July 25, 1996.

        A Proxy, in the  accompanying  form,  which is properly  executed,  duly
returned to the Company and not  revoked  will be voted in  accordance  with the
instructions  contained  therein  and, in the absence of specific  instructions,
will be voted in favor of the  proposal and in  accordance  with the judgment of
the person or persons voting the proxies on any other matter that may be brought
before  the  Meeting.  Each  such  Proxy  granted  may be  revoked  at any  time
thereafter by writing to the  Secretary of the Company prior to the Meeting,  by
execution  and delivery of a  subsequent  proxy or by  attendance  and voting in
person at the Meeting,  except as to any matter or matters upon which,  prior to
such revocation, a vote shall have been cast pursuant to the authority conferred
by such Proxy.  The cost of  soliciting  proxies  will be borne by the  Company.
Following  the mailing of the proxy  materials,  solicitation  of proxies may be
made by officers and employees of the Company, or anyone acting on their behalf,
by mail, telephone, telegram or personal interview.

                                VOTING SECURITIES

        Stockholders of record as of the close of business on July 18, 1996 (the
"Record Date") will be entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Meeting or any
adjournments  thereof.  On the Record  Date,  there were  4,552,225  outstanding
shares of Class A Common Stock,  $.001 par value ("Class A Common  Stock"),  and
1,200,000  outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock, $.001 par value ("Class B
Common Stock," together with the Class A Common Stock, are hereinafter

   
                                       -2-

<PAGE>


collectively  referred to as, the "Common Stock"). Each holder of Class A Common
Stock is entitled to one vote for each share held by such holder and each holder
of Class B Common  Stock is  entitled  to five votes for each share held by such
holder.  By virtue of their  holdings of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common
Stock,  the officers and  directors of the Company will be able to pass the four
proposals being submitted at the Meeting.  The presence,  in person or by proxy,
of the  holders  of a  majority  of the  outstanding  shares of Common  Stock is
necessary to constitute a quorum at the Meeting.

        Proxies  submitted  that are voted to abstain with respect to the matter
will be considered  cast with respect to that matter.  Proxies subject to broker
non-votes  with respect to such matter will not be considered  cast with respect
to that matter.


   
                                       -3-

<PAGE>


                 SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS

        The following  table sets forth as of July 18, 1996 certain  information
regarding the ownership of voting  securities of the Company by each stockholder
known to the  management of the Company to be (i) the  beneficial  owner of more
than 5% of the Company's outstanding Common Stock, (ii) the directors during the
last fiscal year and nominees for director of the Company,  (iii) the  executive
officers  named  in the  Summary  Compensation  table  herein  under  "Executive
Compensation"  and (iv) all  executive  officers and  directors as a group.  The
Company  believes that the  beneficial  owners of the Common Stock listed below,
based on information  furnished by such owners,  have sole investment and voting
power with respect to such shares.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                               Amount and Nature
                                            of Beneficial Ownership           Percent of
          Name and                          -----------------------           ----------
     Principal Position                     Class B         Class A        Class B   Class A
     ------------------                     -------         -------        -------   -------
<S>                                      <C>              <C>               <C>      <C>  
Victor Jacobs                            687,500(1)(2)    70,100(3)(4)      52.88%   1.52%
Chairman of the Board and
Chief Executive Officer

Herman Jacobs                            393,750(1)(2)    85,000(3)(5)      30.29%   1.83%
President and
Chief Operating Officer

Jack Jacobs                              393,750(1)(2)    85,000(3)(6)      30.29%   1.83%
Vice President of Purchasing and
Secretary

Ramon Montes                              25,000(2)      123,500(3)(7)       2.08%   2.64%
Executive Vice President

David Shamilzadeh                           --            77,750(3)(8)        --     1.68%
Senior Vice President of Finance and
Chief Financial Officer

Sol Naimark                                 --              --                --      --

Jeffrey Berg                                --              --                --      --

FMR Corp.                                   --           340,500(10)          --     7.48%
82 Devonshire Street           
Boston, MA 02109               

Heartland Advisors, Inc.                    --           362,900(11)          --     7.97%
790 North Milwaukee Street     
Milwaukee, WI 53202            
                             
</TABLE>
                                       -4-

<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                               Amount and Nature
                                            of Beneficial Ownership           Percent of
          Name and                          -----------------------           ----------
     Principal Position                     Class B         Class A        Class B   Class A
     ------------------                     -------         -------        -------   -------
<S>                                      <C>              <C>               <C>      <C>  
Kenneth B. Dart                             --            253,400(12)        --      5.57%
P.O. Box 31300-SMB
Grand Cayman
Cayman Islands, B.W.I.

Ross Financial Corporation                  --            253,400(12)        --      5.57%
P.O. Box 31363-SMB
Grand Cayman
Cayman Islands, B.W.I.

T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc.              --            450,000(13)        --      9.89%
T. Rowe Price Small Cap Value Fund
100 E. Pratt Street
Baltimore, MD 21202

All directors                          1,500,000(2)(9)    441,350(2)(3)(4)   100%    9.01%
and officers as a                                             (5)(6)(7)(8)
group (7 persons)

</TABLE>

(1)     Includes  100,000 shares of the Company's Class B Common Stock which may
        be acquired  pursuant to options  granted under the Company's 1992 Stock
        Option Plan (the "1992 Plan").

(2)     Shares of Class B Common  Stock have five (5) votes per share.  Assuming
        exercise of all their respective options,  Messrs. Victor Jacobs, Herman
        Jacobs, Jack Jacobs and Ramon Montes and all directors and officers as a
        group have the power to vote approximately 31.53%, 18.44%, 18.44%, 2.33%
        and 63.05% of the votes  attributable to total  outstanding stock of the
        Company,  respectively. The owners have sole voting and investment power
        with respect to their respective shares.

(3)     Except as otherwise  stated in the notes below,  only includes shares of
        the  Company's  Class A Common  Stock which may be acquired  pursuant to
        options  granted  under the  Company's  Amended and Restated  1989 Stock
        Option Plan (the "1989 Plan") and the  Company's  1991 Stock Option Plan
        (the "1991 Plan").

(4)     Includes  10,100  shares  of Class A Common  Stock  owned by Mr.  Victor
        Jacobs.

(5)     Includes  25,000  shares  of Class A Common  Stock  owned by Mr.  Herman
        Jacobs.

(6)     Includes 25,000 shares of Class A Common Stock owned by Mr. Jack Jacobs.

(7)     Includes  21,000  shares  of Class A  Common  Stock  owned by Mr.  Ramon
        Montes.

(8)     Includes  15,000  shares  of Class A  Common  Stock  owned by Mr.  David
        Shamilzadeh.

(9)     Includes  300,000  shares  of the  Class B  Common  Stock  which  may be
        acquired pursuant to options granted under the 1992 Plan.

(10)    The information  contained  herein with respect to these shares has been
        obtained  from  Schedule  13G,  dated  February 14,  1996,  filed by the
        beneficial owner.

                                       -5-

<PAGE>



(11)    The information  contained  herein with respect to these shares has been
        obtained  from  Schedule  13G,  dated  February  9,  1996,  filed by the
        beneficial owner.

(12)    The information  contained  herein with respect to these shares has been
        obtained  from  Schedule  13G,  dated  January  4,  1996,  filed  by the
        beneficial owners in a joint filing.

(13)    The information  contained  herein with respect to these shares has been
        obtained  from  Schedule  13G,  dated  October  10,  1995,  filed by the
        beneficial owners in a joint filing.



   
                                       -6-

<PAGE>


                        ACTION TO BE TAKEN AT THE MEETING

                                   Proposal 1

                              ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

        At the Meeting, seven (7) directors are to be elected to serve until the
next Annual Meeting of  Stockholders  and until their  successors  shall be duly
elected and  qualified.  The number of nominees was  determined  by the Board of
Directors pursuant to the Company's  By-laws.  Unless otherwise  specified,  all
proxies will be voted in favor of the seven  nominees  listed below as directors
of the Company.

        All of the nominees were elected directors at the 1995 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders. The term of the current directors expires at the Meeting.

        The Board of Directors  has no reason to expect that any of the nominees
will be unable to stand for  election at the date of the  Meeting.  In the event
that a vacancy  among the original  nominees  occurs  prior to the Meeting,  the
proxies will be voted for a substitute nominee or nominees named by the Board of
Directors and for the remaining  nominees.  Directors are elected by a plurality
of the votes cast.

        The following table sets forth information about each executive officer,
director and nominee for director of the Company.

                            Year First
                            Elected or
Name                 Age    Appointed     Present Position with the Company
- ----                 ---    ---------     ---------------------------------

Victor Jacobs        63       1985        Chairman of the Board of Directors
                                          and Chief Executive Officer

Herman Jacobs        36       1985        President, Chief Operating Officer and
                                          Director

Ramon Montes         50       1989        Executive Vice President and Director

David Shamilzadeh    50       1990        Senior Vice President of Finance,
                                          Chief Financial Officer and  Director

Jack Jacobs          33       1991        Vice President of Purchasing,
                                          Secretary and Director

Sol Naimark          36       1991        Director

Jeffrey Berg         53       1994        Director


                                      -7-
<PAGE>


        VICTOR JACOBS has served as Chairman of the Board since  December  1985.
He also served as Chief  Executive  Officer from December 1985 to April 1990 and
was reelected Chief Executive Officer in October 1994.

        HERMAN JACOBS has served as President of the Company since December 1985
and as Chief  Operating  Officer  since  February  1994. He also served as Chief
Financial Officer of the Company from December 1985 to April 1990.

        RAMON MONTES joined the Company in July 1986 as Sales  Manager  becoming
Vice  President  of  Operations  and Sales in April 1987 and a director in April
1988, he was elected Executive Vice President in February 1994.

        DAVID  SHAMILZADEH  has  served as the Chief  Financial  Officer  of the
Company  since April 1990 and was elected  Senior Vice  President for Finance in
February  1994.  Prior to that time, he served as the  Controller of the Company
from November 1988 to April 1990.

        JACK JACOBS has served as Vice  President of Purchasing  since June 1986
and Secretary since January 1989.

        SOL NAIMARK  has been a Partner at the law firm of Naimark &  Tannenbaum
for over five years.

        JEFFREY  BERG has  served  as  President  of  Health  Care  Insights,  a
financial and technology  consulting  firm, since March 1991. From February 1990
to March 1991, Dr. Berg worked as a financial  analyst for William K. Woodruff &
Co., an  investment  bank.  From June 1987 until January 1990 Dr. Berg served as
Vice President of Research for J.C. Bradford & Co., an investment bank. Dr. Berg
has worked in research and development for Johnson & Johnson Products,  Inc. and
General Foods  Corporation.  Dr. Berg currently serves on the Board of Directors
of Bio-Imaging Technologies, Inc. and Biologix International Ltd.

Herman Jacobs and Jack Jacobs are brothers and sons of Victor Jacobs.

Directors  who are not  employed  by the Company  receive  $1,000 for each Board
meeting attended and an additional $250 for each committee meeting attended.


   
                                       -8-

<PAGE>


CERTAIN INFORMATION ABOUT THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD

        The Board of Directors is responsible for the management of the Company.
During the fiscal  year ended  March 31,  1996,  the Board of  Directors  of the
Company  held two  meetings  and acted by  unanimous  written  consent  on three
occasions.  All of the directors  attended both meetings of the Board. The Board
has established  Audit,  Stock Option and Compensation  Committees.  There is no
standing nominating committee.

        The  functions  of  the  Audit  Committee   include  the  nomination  of
independent  auditors for appointment by the Board; meeting with the independent
auditors to review and approve the scope of their audit engagement; meeting with
the  Company's  financial  management  and the  independent  auditors  to review
matters  relating to internal  accounting  controls,  the  Company's  accounting
practices and procedures and other matters  relating to the financial  condition
of the  Company;  and to report to the Board  periodically  with respect to such
matters. The Audit Committee currently consists of Sol Naimark, Jeffrey Berg and
David Shamilzadeh.  The Audit Committee held three formal meetings,  attended by
all committee members, and had informal discussions from time to time during the
fiscal year ended March 31, 1996.

        The function of the Stock Option  Committee  is to  administer  the 1989
Plan, 1991 Plan and 1992 Plan. The Stock Option Committee  currently consists of
Sol Naimark and Jeffrey  Berg.  The Stock  Option  Committee  acted by unanimous
written consent on one occasion, and met informally from time to time during the
fiscal year ended March 31, 1996.

        In  June  1995,  the  Board  of  Directors  established  a  Compensation
Committee. The function of the Compensation Committee is to review and recommend
to the Board of Directors the appropriate  compensation of executive officers of
the Company.  The Compensation  Committee  currently  consists of Victor Jacobs,
Herman Jacobs, Jack Jacobs, David Shamilzadeh and Jeffrey Berg. The Compensation
Committee held one formal meeting,  attended by all committee members,  acted by
unanimous written consent on one occasion and had informal discussions from time
to time during the fiscal year ended March 31, 1996.

                             SECTION 16(a) REPORTING

        Section  16(a)  of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934,  as  amended,
requires the Company's  directors and  executive  officers,  and persons who own
more than 10% of the Company's  Common Stock,  to file with the  Securities  and
Exchange  Commission  (the "SEC")  initial  reports of ownership  and reports of
changes in ownership of Common Stock and other equity securities of the Company.
Officers,  directors  and  greater  than 10%  shareholders  are  required by SEC
regulation  to furnish the Company with copies of all Section 16(a) reports they
file. To the Company's  knowledge,  based solely on review of the copies of such
reports  furnished  to the Company  during the  one-year  period ended March 31,
1996,  all  Section  16(a)  filing  requirements  applicable  to  its  officers,
directors and greater than ten-percent beneficial owners were complied with.

   
                                       -9-

<PAGE>


                             EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

        The following  table sets forth  information  concerning  the annual and
long term  compensation of the Company's chief executive  officer and other four
most highly  compensated  executive  officers of the Company for services in all
capacities to the Company and its  subsidiaries  during the Company's 1996, 1995
and 1994 fiscal years.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                      SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
                                                                                                Long Term
                                                          Annual Compensation               Compensation Awards
                                                          -------------------               -------------------
   Name and Principal                  Fiscal                                                   Securities
       Position                         Year          Salary ($)           Bonus ($)      Underlying Options (#)
      ----------                       ------         ----------           ---------      ----------------------
<S>                                     <C>            <C>                 <C>                  <C>       
Victor Jacobs                           1996           300,000                --                100,000(1)
Chairman of Board and                   1995           150,000                --                100,000
Chief Executive Officer                 1994           150,000              331,354                 --

Herman Jacobs                           1996           300,000                --                100,000(1)
President and                           1995           150,000                --                100,000
Chief Operating Officer                 1994           150,000              331,354                 --

Jack Jacobs                             1996           300,000                --                100,000(1)
Vice President of Purchasing and        1995           150,000                --                100,000
Secretary                               1994           150,000              331,354                 --

Ramon Montes                            1996           240,371              75,000               20,000
Executive Vice President                1995           250,385              40,000               25,000
                                        1994           225,000              60,712                  --

David Shamilzadeh                       1996           220,603                --                 20,000
Senior Vice President of Finance        1995           220,558                --                 25,000
and Chief Financial Officer             1994           227,345                --                 50,000
</TABLE>


(1)     Options to purchase  100,000 shares of Class B Common Stock were granted
        to each of Victor  Jacobs,  Herman  Jacobs and Jack  Jacobs on August 1,
        1995 pursuant to the 1995  Nonqualified  Stock Option Plan, which grants
        are  subject to  stockholder  approval  of the 1995  Nonqualified  Stock
        Option Plan at the Meeting. See "Employment Agreements" and Proposal 2.


   
                                      -10-

<PAGE>


STOCK OPTION PLANS

        In January 1989,  the Company  adopted the 1989 Plan,  which was amended
and restated in November 1989; in May 1991,  the Company  adopted the 1991 Plan,
which was approved by stockholders in August 1991; and in July 1992, the Company
adopted the 1992 Plan,  which was adopted by the  stockholders  in October  1992
(collectively,  the "Plans"). The 1989 Plan provides for the grant of options to
purchase an aggregate of 150,000  shares of the Company's  Class A Common Stock.
To date,  options to purchase  150,000  shares have been granted  under the 1989
Plan.  The 1991 Plan  provides for the grant of options to purchase an aggregate
of 650,000 shares of Class A Common Stock.  To date,  options to purchase all of
the 650,000 shares have been granted under the 1991 Plan. The 1992 Plan provides
for the  grant of  options  to key  employees  of the  Company  to  purchase  an
aggregate 500,000 shares of the Company's Class B Common Stock. To date, options
to purchase all of the 500,000 shares have been granted under the 1992 Plan.

        The  Plans  are  each  administered  by a Stock  Option  Committee  (the
"Committee")  approved by the Board of Directors of the Company.  The  Committee
has the  authority  under the Plans to  determine  the terms of options  granted
under such Plan,  including,  among  other  things,  the  individuals  who shall
receive  options,  the times when they shall receive them,  whether an incentive
stock option and/or  non-qualified stock option shall be granted,  the number of
shares to be  subject  to each  option  and the date each  option  shall  become
exercisable.  Options  granted  under the Plans may be  designated as "incentive
stock  options",  under  Section 422 of the Internal  Revenue  Code of 1986,  as
amended, or non-qualified options, which do not meet such requirements.

        The Committee may set the exercise price for the options,  which must be
at least 100% of the fair market  value of the Common Stock on the date of grant
(or, in the case of an incentive  stock  option  granted to an optionee who owns
stock  possessing  more than 10% of the  voting  power of the  Company's  Common
Stock, 110% of the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date of grant).

        The  Committee  may also set the period  during which each option may be
exercised which shall not exceed 10 years from the date of grant (or in the case
of an incentive stock option granted to a stockholder who owns stock  possessing
more than 10% of the voting power of the Common Stock,  five years from the date
of grant).  The Plans also provide that each  employee who is an optionee  shall
agree to remain in the  employ of the  Company  for a term of at least one year.
The 1989 Plan will  terminate on January 19, 1999,  the 1991 Plan will terminate
on May 29, 2001 and the 1992 Plan will terminate on July 9, 2002.

        On August  1,  1995,  the Board of  Directors  of the  Company  adopted,
subject to the approval of the  Company's  stockholders,  the 1995  Nonqualified
Stock Option Plan, which the Board of Directors  amended on July 12, 1996. For a
description of the 1995 Nonqualified  Stock Option Plan, see Proposal 2. On July
12, 1996, the Board of Directors of the Company adopted, subject to the approval
of the Company's stockholders,  the 1996 Stock Option Plan. For a description of
the 1996 Stock Option Plan, see Proposal 3.

   
                                      -11-

<PAGE>


OPTION GRANTS IN LAST FISCAL YEAR

        The following  table sets forth the details of options  granted to those
individuals listed in the Summary Compensation Table who received options during
the fiscal year ended March 31, 1996.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                         Number of        Percent of       Exercise
                         Securities     Total Options         of                         Potential Realizable Value
                         Underlying       Granted To          Base                         at Assumed Annual Rate
                          Options        Employees In        Price      Expiration      of Stock Price Appreciation
    Name                Granted (#)      Fiscal Year        ($/Sh)         Date              for Option Term(1)
    ----                -----------     -------------      --------       ------            -------------------
                                                                                        5% ($)              10% ($)
                                                                                        ------              -------
<S>                      <C>                <C>             <C>          <C>           <C>                  <C>    
Victor Jacobs            100,000(2)         22.91%          5.80(3)      7/31/2005     364,759              924,371
Herman Jacobs            100,000(2)         22.91%          5.80(3)      7/31/2005     364,759              924,371
Jack Jacobs              100,000(2)         22.91%          5.80(3)      7/31/2005     364,759              924,371
Ramon Montes              20,000(4)          4.58%          6.00(5)     10/25/2000      33,154               73,261
David Shamilzadeh         20,000(6)          4.58%          6.00(5)     10/25/2000      33,154               73,261
</TABLE>


(1)     The dollar amounts under these columns are the result of calculations at
        the hypothetical  rates of 5% and 10% set by the Securities and Exchange
        Commission  and therefore are not intended to forecast  possible  future
        appreciation, if any, of the Company's Common Stock price.

(2)     Options to purchase  100,000 shares of Class B Common Stock were granted
        to each of Victor  Jacobs,  Herman  Jacobs and Jack  Jacobs on August 1,
        1995 pursuant to the 1995  Nonqualified  Stock Option Plan, which grants
        are  subject to  stockholder  approval  of the 1995  Nonqualified  Stock
        Option Plan at the Meeting. See "Employment  Agreements" and Proposal 2.
        Such options are exercisable as to 100% of such shares on the earlier of
        August  1,  2002  or as of the  end of any  fiscal  year  in  which  the
        Company's  earnings before interest and taxes increase at least 15% over
        the  Company's  earnings  before  interest and taxes for the fiscal year
        ended March 31, 1995.

(3)     Representing  at least 110% of the fair  market  value of the  Company's
        Common Stock on the date of grant.

(4)     Options to purchase  20,000 shares were granted to Mr. Montes on October
        26, 1995,  and are  exercisable  on a  cumulative  basis with respect to
        5,000 shares on October 26, 1996, an additional  5,000 shares on each of
        October 26, 1997, October 26, 1998 and October 26, 1999.

(5)     Representing  at least 100% of the fair  market  value of the  Company's
        Common Stock on the date of grant.

(6)     Options to purchase  20,000  shares were granted to Mr.  Shamilzadeh  on
        October 26, 1995 and are exercisable on a cumulative  basis with respect
        to 5,000 shares on October 26, 1996, an additional  5,000 shares on each
        of October 26, 1997, October 26, 1998 and October 26, 1999.


   
                                      -12-

<PAGE>


Option Exercises in Last Fiscal Year and Fiscal Year-End Option Value

        The following table contains information concerning the number and value
of options  exercised during the fiscal year ended March 31, 1996 and number and
value of  unexercised  options at March 31, 1996 held by Messrs.  V. Jacobs,  H.
Jacobs, J. Jacobs,  R. Montes and D. Shamilzadeh.  The Company does not use SARs
as compensation.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                     Value of
                                                           Number of               Unexercised
                                                           Unexercised             In-the-Money
                                                           Options Held            Options Held
                                                         at Fiscal Year-End      at Fiscal Year End
                    Shares Acquired     Value            (Exercisable/             (Exercisable/
     Name           on Exercise (#)   Realized ($)       Unexercisable) (#)      Unexercisable)(1) ($)
- -----------------   ---------------   -----------       --------------------    ---------------------
<S>                     <C>             <C>               <C>                     <C>           
Victor Jacobs           10,000          37,500            160,000/175,000(2)      81,250/100,313
Herman Jacobs           25,000          93,750            160,000/175,000(2)      81,250/100,313
Jack Jacobs             25,000          93,750            160,000/175,000(2)      81,250/100,313
Ramon Montes            13,000          45,500            83,750/61,250           97,266/43,672
David Shamilzadeh       12,500          43,750            56,625/87,875           12,773/0
</TABLE>
- ------------------

(1)     Fair market value of the underlying securities (the closing price of the
        Company's  Common Stock on the American  Stock  Exchange) at fiscal year
        end (March 31, 1995) minus the exercise price.

(2)     Included  in the totals  for  "Unexercised  Options--Unexercisable"  for
        Victor  Jacobs,  Herman  Jacobs and Jack Jacobs is an option to purchase
        100,000 shares of Class B Common Stock that was granted  pursuant to the
        Company's 1995 Stock Option Plan,  which grant is subject to stockholder
        approval of the 1995 Stock Option Plan at the Meeting.  See  "Employment
        Agreements" and Proposal 2. The option is exercisable as to 100% of such
        shares on the  earlier  of August 1, 2002 or as of the end of any fiscal
        year in which the Company's  earnings before interest and taxes increase
        at least 15% over the Company's  earnings  before interest and taxes for
        the fiscal year ended March 31, 1995.

LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN AWARDS IN LAST FISCAL YEAR

        There were no long-term  incentive plan awards by the Company during the
fiscal year ended March 31, 1996.

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS

        The Company has entered into employment  agreements with each of Victor,
Herman and Jack Jacobs for a three-year  term,  commencing as of August 1, 1995,
each of which provides for annual  salaries of $300,000.  Such  agreements  also
provide  for each  individual  to receive in each year of the  Agreement a bonus
equal to 3% of any increase in the Company's  earnings before interest and taxes
compared to the prior fiscal year up to the first  $2,000,000 of such  increase,
2% of any

   
                                      -13-

<PAGE>


increase greater than $2,000,000 but less than $3,000,000 and 1% of any increase
in excess of  $3,000,000.  Under each  agreement,  each  individual  was granted
options to purchase  100,000 shares of the Company's  Class B Common Stock at an
exercise price of $5.80 under the Company's 1995 Nonqualified Stock Option Plan,
which grants are subject to stockholder  approval of the 1995 Nonqualified Stock
Option Plan at the Meeting. See Proposal 2.


           COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION

        The members of the Compensation Committee, which was established in June
1995, participate in all deliberations concerning executive compensation. During
the fiscal year ended March 31, 1996, the Board of Directors participated in all
deliberations   concerning  executive   compensation.   As  of  June  1996,  the
Compensation  Committee  consisted of Victor  Jacobs,  Chairman of the Board and
Chief Executive Officer,  Herman Jacobs,  President and Chief Operating Officer,
Jack Jacobs,  Vice  President of Purchasing and  Secretary,  David  Shamilzadeh,
Senior Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer,  and Jeffrey Berg.
No executive officer of the Company serves as a member of the board of directors
or compensation committee of any entity which has one or more executive officers
serving as a member of the Company's Board of Directors.

PERFORMANCE GRAPH

        The following  graph  compares the  cumulative  return to holders of the
Company's Common Stock for the five years ended March 31, 1996 with the Standard
& Poor's 500 Index and a peer group index(1) for the same period. The comparison
assumes $100 was invested on April 1, 1991 in the Company's  Common Stock and in
each of the  comparison  groups,  and assumes  reinvestment  of  dividends.  The
Company paid no dividends during the periods.

                    [GRAPHICAL REPRESENTATION OF DATA BELOW]
<TABLE>

                              1991        1992        1993        1994       1995        1996
                              ----        ----        ----        ----       ----        ----
<S>                          <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>        <C>         <C>   
Allou Health & Beauty Care,  100.00      256.52      321.74      313.04     308.70      249.98
Inc.
S&P 500 Index                100.00      111.04      127.95      129.84     150.05      198.22
Peer Group(1)                100.00      100.26      113.03      150.24     263.40      316.90
</TABLE>

- ----------------------
(1)     The peer group  selected by the Company  includes  the  Company,  Bergen
        Brunswig  Corporation,   Bindley  Western  Industries,   Inc.,  Cardinal
        Distribution Inc., Choice Drug Systems,  Inc.,  Chronimed Inc., Foxmeyer
        Corp.,  Krelitz  Industries Inc.,  McKesson  Corporation,  Moore Medical
        Corp., National Intergroup, Inc., Owens & Minor Inc. and Systemed Inc.


                                      -14-
<PAGE>


                         COMPENSATION COMMITTEE'S REPORT
                        CONCERNING EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

OVERVIEW

        Since  June  1995,  compensation  determinations  have  been made by the
Compensation  Committee,  except for those decisions relating to the granting of
stock options which are made by the Stock Option Committee. The Company seeks to
provide  executive  compensation  that  will  support  the  achievement  of  the
Company's financial goals while attracting and retaining talented executives and
rewarding superior  performance.  In performing this function,  the Compensation
Committee reviews executive compensation surveys and other available information
and may from time to time consult with independent compensation consultants. The
Compensation  Committee presently consists of Victor Jacobs, Herman Jacobs, Jack
Jacobs, David Shamilzadeh and Jeffrey Berg.

        The Company  seeks to provide an overall  level of  compensation  to the
Company's executives that is competitive within the Company's industry and other
companies of comparable size and complexity. Compensation in any particular case
may vary from any industry average on the basis of annual and long-term  Company
performance  as well  as  individual  performance.  The  Compensation  Committee
exercises its  discretion to set  compensation  where in its judgment  external,
internal or individual circumstances warrant it.

        In general,  the Company  compensates its executive  officers  through a
combination of base salary,  annual  incentive  compensation in the form of cash
bonuses and long-term  incentive  compensation in the form of stock options.  In
addition,  executive officers  participate in benefit plans,  including medical,
dental and  retirement  plans,  that are  available  generally to the  Company's
employees.

        The Stock Option  Committee of the Board of  Directors  administers  the
1989 Plan, the 1991 Plan and the 1992 Plan. The duties of such committee include
the granting of stock options to executive  employees of the Company.  The Stock
Option Committee determines the number of shares granted to individuals, as well
as, among other things,  the exercise price and vesting periods of such options.
The  Compensation  Committee  has  made  recommendations  to  the  Stock  Option
Committee  from  time to time with  respect  to the  grant of stock  options  to
executive   officers,   taking  into  account  their  level  of  responsibility,
compensation  level,  contribution  to the Company's  performance and the future
goals and the performance  expected of them. However, the final determination of
the grant of options rests with the Stock Option Committee.

EXECUTIVE OFFICER COMPENSATION

        During the fiscal year ended March 31,  1996,  the Company  entered into
employment  contracts with Victor Jacobs,  Herman Jacobs and Jack Jacobs,  which
agreements  are  currently  in effect and expire in July 1998.  See  "Employment
Agreements." The base salary, bonuses, benefits

   
                                                                -15-

<PAGE>



and conditions of these contracts were  determined  through a review of previous
employment terms for these  individuals as well as a review of the recent trends
in the Company's revenues and profits. The Company believes that the base salary
levels  currently  in  effect  are  competitive  to salary  levels in  similarly
situated companies.  In addition, the Compensation Committee at the time decided
to link such employees  compensation  directly to the Company's  earnings before
interest and taxes.

        Under the terms of such  Employment  Agreements,  Victor Jacobs,  Herman
Jacobs and Jack Jacobs were each granted  options to purchase  100,000 shares of
Class B Common Stock, respectively. Such options were granted under the terms of
the 1995 Nonqualified Stock Option Plan, which is subject to the approval of the
Company's  stockholders  at  the  Meeting.  See  Proposal  2.  The  Compensation
Committee  feels that  options and other  stock-based  performance  compensation
arrangements  are an  effective  incentive  for  managers  to  create  value for
stockholders  since the value of an option  bears a direct  relationship  to the
Company's stock price.

        The Compensation  Committee believes that linking executive compensation
to corporate  performance  results in a better  alignment of  compensation  with
corporate  goals and  shareholder  interests.  As  performance  goals are met or
exceeded, resulting in increased value to shareholders,  executives are rewarded
commensurately.  The Compensation  Committee  believes that compensation  levels
during  fiscal 1996  adequately  reflect the  Company's  compensation  goals and
policies.


                                               Respectfully submitted,

                                               Victor Jacobs
                                               Herman Jacobs
                                               Jack Jacobs
                                               David Shamilzadeh
                                               Jeffrey Berg





   
                                      -16-

<PAGE>


                 CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

        The Company  purchases from and, on occasion,  sells to various entities
that are controlled by the family of Mr. Victor Jacobs,  the Company's  Chairman
of the Board. During the fiscal year ended March 31, 1996, the Company purchased
products  aggregating  $1,735,661  from related  parties and sold no products to
related  parties.  The prices that the Company  charges for products sold by the
Company are comparable to prices the Company charges to unaffiliated  buyers for
similar products.  It has been and will continue to be the policy of the Company
that  transactions  between it and its  directors,  principal  stockholders  and
affiliates  be on terms no less  favorable to the Company than could be obtained
from unaffiliated persons.



   
                                      -17-

<PAGE>



                                   PROPOSAL 2

                 APPROVAL OF 1995 NONQUALIFIED STOCK OPTION PLAN

GENERAL

        On August  1,  1995,  the Board of  Directors  of the  Company  adopted,
subject to the approval of the  Company's  stockholders,  the 1995  Nonqualified
Stock  Option Plan,  which the Board of Directors  amended on July 12, 1995 (the
"1995 Plan").  Pursuant to the 1995 Plan,  key  employees of the Company,  which
currently include five directors of the Company who are employees,  are eligible
to receive grants of  nonqualified  stock  options,  to purchase an aggregate of
500,000  shares of the Company's  Class B Common  Stock.  Each holder of Class B
Common  Stock is  entitled  to five votes for each  share  held by such  holder.
Implementation of the 1995 Plan is contingent upon the stockholders' approval of
the amendment to the  Company's  Certificate  of  Incorporation  increasing  the
authorized  shares of the Class B Common Stock from 1,700,000 to 2,200,000.  See
Proposal 4.

        The Board of Directors  believes that the adoption of the 1995 Plan will
enable the Company to retain key employees of outstanding ability.  Accordingly,
the Board of  Directors  unanimously  recommends  that  stockholders  ratify the
adoption of the 1995 Plan.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PLAN

        The  following  summary of the 1995 Plan is qualified in its entirety by
reference to Exhibit A to this Proxy  Statement,  which contains a complete text
of the 1995 Plan. The 1995 Plan is  administered  by a Stock Option  Committee (
the  "1995  Committee")  consisting  of at  least  two  disinterested  directors
selected  by the  Board  of  Directors,  or two  non-employee  directors  should
recently  proposed  rules be  adopted  by the SEC.  The 1995  Committee  has the
authority under the 1995 Plan to determine, in accordance with the provisions of
the Plan, the terms of options  granted under the Plan,  including,  among other
things,  the  individuals  who will  receive  options,  the times when they will
receive them, the number of shares to be subject to each option, and the date or
dates each option will become exercisable. No members of the 1995 Committee will
be permitted to participate in the 1995 Plan.

        Subject to certain  limitations  contained in the 1995 Plan, options may
be granted for terms to be established by the 1995 Committee; however, no option
may be granted after 10 years from the date of the Plan's adoption.  The maximum
number of shares  subject to stock options that may be granted to any individual
during any  calendar  year may not exceed  100,000  shares.  Options  may not be
granted  at an  exercise  price that is less than the fair  market  value of the
underlying  shares on the date the options are  granted.  Inasmuch as the shares
subject  to the  1995  Plan  are  convertible  at any time  into  shares  of the
Company's  Class A Common Stock on a share for share basis,  the market value of
such Class A Common Stock will be used to determine the fair market value for

   
                                      -18-

<PAGE>


options  granted  under the 1995 Plan.  An optionee  may, if provided for in the
optionee's  stock  option  contract,  elect to pay for the shares to be received
upon  exercise of his option in cash,  shares of Common  Stock of the Company or
any  combination  thereof.  To date 100,000 options have been granted to each of
Victor Jacobs, Herman Jacobs and Jack Jacobs at an exercise price of $5.80 under
the 1995 Plan, subject to stockholder  approval of the 1995 Plan at the Meeting.
On July 2, 1996,  the market value for the options  granted  subject to the 1995
Plan was $0.95 per share or an aggregate of $95,000 for each optionee.

FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES

        For a  discussion  of the  federal  income  tax  consequences  under the
current  tax  law  of  nonqualified  stock  options,  see  "Federal  Income  Tax
Consequences" under Proposal 3.

VOTE REQUIRED FOR APPROVAL AND RECOMMENDATION

        In  accordance  with  the  Delaware  General  Corporation  Law  and  the
Company's  Certificate of  Incorporation,  the affirmative vote of a majority of
the votes cast at the Meeting by the holders of the outstanding shares of Common
Stock entitled to vote thereon who are present in person or by proxy is required
to ratify the adoption of the 1995 Nonqualified  Stock Option Plan.  Abstentions
and broker non-votes are not considered cast.

        THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THE PROPOSAL TO
RATIFY THE ADOPTION OF THE 1995 NONQUALIFIED STOCK OPTION PLAN.


   
                                      -19-

<PAGE>


                                   Proposal 3

                       APPROVAL OF 1996 STOCK OPTION PLAN

GENERAL

        On July 12, 1996, the Board of Directors of the Company adopted, subject
to the approval of the Company's  stockholders,  the 1996 Stock Option Plan (the
"1996  Plan").  Pursuant  to the 1996  Plan,  employees  of the  Company,  which
currently include five directors of the Company who are employees,  are eligible
to receive  grants of options that are  intended to qualify as  incentive  stock
options,  within the  meaning of Section 422 of the Code  ("ISOs"),  or that are
nonqualified  stock  options  ("NQSOs")  to purchase an  aggregate  of 1,000,000
shares of the Company's Class A Common Stock.

        The Board of Directors  believes that the adoption of the 1996 Plan will
enable the Company to retain employees of outstanding ability.  Accordingly, the
Board of Directors unanimously  recommends that stockholders ratify the adoption
of the 1996 Plan.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PLAN

        The  following  summary of the 1996 Plan is qualified in its entirety by
reference to Exhibit B to this Proxy  Statement,  which contains a complete text
of the 1996 Plan. The 1996 Plan is  administered  by a Stock Option  Committee (
the  "1996  Committee")  consisting  of at  least  two  disinterested  directors
selected  by the  Board  of  Directors,  or two  non-employee  directors  should
recently  proposed  rules be  adopted  by the SEC.  The 1996  Committee  has the
authority under the 1996 Plan to determine, in accordance with the provisions of
the Plan, the terms of options  granted under the Plan,  including,  among other
things,  the  individuals  who will  receive  options,  the times when they will
receive  them,  whether  an ISO  and/or an NQSO will be  granted,  the number of
shares to be subject to each  option,  and the date or dates  each  option  will
become  exercisable.  No  members of the 1996  Committee  will be  permitted  to
participate in the 1996 Plan.

        Subject to certain  limitations  contained in the 1996 Plan, options may
be granted for terms to be established by the 1996 Committee;  however, no stock
option may be granted after 10 years from the date of the Plan's  adoption.  The
maximum  number of shares  subject to stock  options  that may be granted to any
individual  during any calendar year may not exceed 100,000 shares.  Options may
not be granted at a price that is less than 100% of the fair market value on the
date the options are granted  (110% in the case of persons  owning more than 10%
of the total combined voting power of the Company, any of its subsidiaries or of
a parent).  An optionee  may, if provided  for in the  optionee's  stock  option
contract, elect to pay for the shares to be received upon exercise of his option
in cash,  shares of Common Stock of the Company or any combination  thereof.  To
date no options have been granted under the 1996 Plan.


   
                                      -20-

<PAGE>


FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES

        The  following  is  a  general   summary  of  the  federal   income  tax
consequences  under current tax law of incentive and nonqualified stock options.
It does not purport to cover all of the special rules,  including  special rules
relating to the exercise of an option with  previously-acquired  shares,  or the
state or local income or other tax  consequences  inherent in the  ownership and
exercise of stock options and the ownership and  disposition  of the  underlying
shares or the ownership and disposition of restricted stock.

        An optionee will not  recognize  taxable  income for federal  income tax
purposes upon the grant of a NQSO or an ISO.

        Upon the exercise of a NQSO, the optionee will recognize ordinary income
in an amount equal to the excess, if any, of the fair market value of the shares
acquired  on the date of  exercise  over the  exercise  price  thereof,  and the
Company will  generally be entitled to a deduction for such amount at that time.
If the optionee later sells shares acquired  pursuant to the exercise of a NQSO,
he or she will recognize long-term or short-term capital gain or loss, depending
on the  period  for  which the  shares  were  held.  Long-term  capital  gain is
generally  subject to more  favorable  tax  treatment  than  ordinary  income or
short-term capital gain. Proposed legislation would treat long-term capital gain
even more  favorably.  There can be no  assurance,  however,  that such proposed
legislation will be enacted.

        Upon the  exercise of an ISO, the optionee  will not  recognize  taxable
income. If the optionee disposes of the shares acquired pursuant to the exercise
of an ISO more  than two  years  after  the date of grant and more than one year
after the  transfer of the shares to him or her,  the  optionee  will  recognize
long-term  capital  gain or loss  and the  Company  will  not be  entitled  to a
deduction.  However, if the optionee disposes of such shares within the required
holding period,  all or a portion of the gain will be treated as ordinary income
and the Company will generally be entitled to deduct such amount.

        In addition to the federal income tax  consequences  described above, an
optionee may be subject to the alternative  minimum tax, which is payable to the
extent it  exceeds  the  optionee's  regular  tax.  For this  purpose,  upon the
exercise of an ISO,  the excess of the fair market  value of the shares over the
exercise price therefor is an adjustment  which  increases  alternative  minimum
taxable income. In addition, the optionee's basis in such shares is increased by
such excess for purposes of computing the gain or loss on the disposition of the
shares for alternative  minimum tax purposes.  If an optionee is required to pay
an  alternative  minimum  tax, the amount of such tax which is  attributable  to
deferral  preferences  (including  the ISO  adjustment)  is  allowed as a credit
against the optionee's  regular tax liability in subsequent years. To the extent
the credit is not used, it is carried forward.


   
                                      -21-

<PAGE>


VOTE REQUIRED FOR APPROVAL AND RECOMMENDATION

        In  accordance  with  the  Delaware  General  Corporation  Law  and  the
Company's  Certificate of  Incorporation,  the affirmative vote of a majority of
the votes cast at the Meeting by the holders of the outstanding shares of Common
Stock entitled to vote thereon who are present in person or by proxy is required
to ratify the  adoption of the 1996 Stock Option  Plan.  Abstentions  and broker
non-votes are not considered cast.

        THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THE PROPOSAL TO
RATIFY THE ADOPTION OF THE 1996 STOCK OPTION PLAN.


   
                                      -22-

<PAGE>


                                   Proposal 4

                    AMENDMENT TO CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

        On July 12,  1996,  the Board of  Directors  of the Company  unanimously
approved for  submission to the Company's  stockholders  an amendment to Article
Fourth of the Company's  Certificate of  Incorporation:  (1) to confirm that the
shares of Class B Common Stock are  convertible at any time into shares of Class
A Common Stock on a one-for-one basis, which previously has been included in the
Company's public  disclosures;  (2) to provide that the shares of Class B Common
Stock are freely transferable; and (3) to increase the authorized Class B Common
Stock from 1,700,000 to 2,200,000 shares.  The following summary of the proposed
amendment  to Article  Fourth (the  "Proposed  Amendment")  is  qualified in its
entirety by reference  to Exhibit C to this Proxy  Statement,  which  contains a
complete text of the Proposed Amendment.

CONVERTIBILITY OF CLASS B COMMON STOCK

        Although previous  disclosures have explicitly so stated,  the Company's
Certificate of Incorporation does not specifically  provide that shares of Class
B Common  Stock  are  convertible  into  shares  of  Class A  Common  Stock on a
one-for-one  basis. On advice of counsel,  the Board of Directors has determined
that  language  providing  for the  convertibility  of Class B Common Stock into
shares of Class A Common Stock on a one-for-one basis should be contained in the
Company's  Certificate of  Incorporation so that there is no doubt of the rights
of holders of Class B Common Stock.

        Each share of Class B Common Stock has five votes per share,  while each
share of Class A Common  Stock has one vote per share.  The Class A Common Stock
is traded on the American Stock Exchange. Because there is no established public
trading  market for the Class B Common  Stock,  the Board of Directors  believes
that holders of Class B Common Stock may desire to forego their voting rights if
they wish to sell their shares of Common  Stock.  Conversions  of Class B Common
Stock would  increase the number of shares traded on the American Stock Exchange
and will reduce the  concentration  of voting  control by the holders of Class B
Common Stock.

TRANSFERABILITY OF CLASS B COMMON STOCK

        Previous  disclosures  by the Company have  provided  that each share of
Class B Common Stock is automatically converted into one share of Class A Common
Stock upon its sale or  transfer,  except if such sale or  transfer is to one or
more holders of Class B Common Stock,  certain  family members of the holders of
Class B Common Stock or certain trusts for their benefit. The Board of Directors
believes  that  holders of Class B Common  Stock may desire to sell or  transfer
their  shares of Class B Common Stock to others than those listed above with the
five-votes-per-share  right intact. These sales may result in a change in voting
control of the Company.  None of the holders of Class B Common  Stock  currently
has indicated an intention to sell their shares. Because

   
                                      -23-

<PAGE>


there is no established public trading market for the Class B Common Stock, such
a sale or transfer would be made in a privately negotiated transaction.

INCREASE IN AUTHORIZED CLASS B COMMON STOCK

        The  Proposed  Amendment  will  increase the number of shares of Class B
Common Stock that the Company is authorized to issue from 1,700,000 to 2,200,000
(the "Increase").

Purpose of the Increase

        The purpose of the Increase is to authorize the issuance of a sufficient
number of shares of Class B Common  Stock for the grant of stock  options  under
the proposed  1995 Plan.  See Proposal 2. If the  stockholders  vote against the
Increase, the Company will not be able to make grants of stock options under the
1995 Plan and will have to rescind grants already made to Victor Jacobs,  Herman
Jacobs and Jack Jacobs. See Proposal 2 and "Employment Agreements." The Board of
Directors believes that the adoption of the 1995 Plan will enable the Company to
retain key employees of outstanding ability. Accordingly, the Board of Directors
unanimously recommends that stockholders approve the Proposed Amendment.

Possible Adverse Effects of the Increase

        The  issuance of the  additional  Class B Common  Stock may have certain
adverse  effects  upon the  current  holders of Common  Stock.  The  issuance of
further  Class B Common  Stock  would  increase  the number of shares of Class B
Common Stock  outstanding,  thereby  diluting  percentage  ownership of existing
stockholders,  as well as possibly diluting book value per share and/or earnings
per share.  In  addition,  because  the Class B Common  Stock has five votes per
share,  the issuance of  additional  shares of Class B Common Stock would dilute
the voting rights of the Class A Common Stock.

Possible Anti-Takeover Effects of the Increase

        When in the judgment of the Board of  Directors  such action would be in
the  best  interests  of the  stockholders  and the  Company,  the  issuance  of
additional  shares of Class B Common  Stock,  which  have five  votes per share,
could be used to create  voting or other impedi ments or to  discourage  persons
seeking to gain  control of the Company,  for example,  by the sale of shares to
purchasers favorable to the Board of Directors.  The existence of the additional
authorized  shares could have the effect of  discouraging  unsolicited  takeover
attempts.  Such  issuance of common stock could also have the effect of diluting
the earnings per share and book value per share of the Class B Common Stock held
by then existing holders of common stock.


   
                                      -24-

<PAGE>


VOTE REQUIRED FOR APPROVAL AND RECOMMENDATION

        In  accordance  with  the  Delaware  General  Corporation  Law  and  the
Company's  Certificate of  Incorporation,  the affirmative vote of a majority of
the  outstanding  shares of Common Stock entitled to vote thereon is required to
adopt the Proposed Amendment.

        THE BOARD OF  DIRECTORS  UNANIMOUSLY  RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THE PROPOSED
AMENDMENT.



   
                                      -24-

<PAGE>



                                   ACCOUNTANTS

        Mayer Rispler & Company served as the Company's independent auditors for
the fiscal year ended March 31, 1996,  and it is expected  that Mayer  Rispler &
Company  will act in that  capacity for the fiscal year ending March 31, 1997. A
representative  of Mayer  Rispler & Company  is  expected  to be  present at the
Meeting with the  opportunity  to make a statement if he desires to do so and to
be available to respond to appropriate questions from shareholders.

                              STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS

        Stockholder  proposals  intended  to be  presented  at the  1997  Annual
Meeting must be received by the Company for inclusion in its proxy  materials by
March 27, 1997.

                                  OTHER MATTERS

        Management does not intend to bring before the Meeting any matters other
than those  specifically  described above and knows of no matters other than the
foregoing to come before the Meeting.  If any other matters or motions  properly
come  before  the  Meeting,  it is the  intention  of the  persons  named in the
accompanying  Proxy to vote such Proxy in accordance with their judgment on such
matters or  motions,  including  any  matters  dealing  with the  conduct of the
Meeting.

                                          By Order of the Board of Directors

                                          Jack Jacobs
                                          Secretary

July 19, 1996


   
                                      -26-

<PAGE>

                                                                       EXHIBIT A


                       1995 NONQUALIFIED STOCK OPTION PLAN

                                       of

                        ALLOU HEALTH & BEAUTY CARE, INC.



        1.  PURPOSES  OF THE PLAN.  This  nonqualified  stock  option  plan (the
"Plan")  is  designed  to  provide  an  incentive  to key  employees  (including
directors and officers who are employees) of Allou Health & Beauty Care, Inc., a
Delaware  corporation  (the  "Company"),  and its present and future  subsidiary
corporations, as defined in Paragraph 19 ("Subsidiaries"). The Plan provides for
the grant of options which do not qualify as "incentive stock options"  ("ISOs")
within the  meaning of Section  422 of the  Internal  Revenue  Code of 1986,  as
amended (the "Code").

        2. STOCK SUBJECT TO THE PLAN. Subject to the provisions of Paragraph 12,
the  aggregate  number of shares  of Class B Common  Stock,  $.001 par value per
share,  of the Company ("Class B Common Stock") for which options may be granted
under the Plan shall not exceed  500,000.  Such  shares of Class B Common  Stock
may, in the  discretion  of the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board of
Directors"),  consist  either  in whole or in part of  authorized  but  unissued
shares of Class B Common  Stock or shares  of Class B Common  Stock  held in the
treasury of the Company.  The Company  shall at all times during the term of the
Plan reserve and keep available such number of shares of Class B Common Stock as
will be  sufficient  to satisfy  the  requirements  of the Plan.  Subject to the
provisions  of Paragraph  13, any shares of Class B Common  Stock  subject to an
option which for any reason expires, is canceled or is terminated unexercised or
which ceases for any reason to be exercisable  shall again become  available for
the granting of options under the Plan.

        3.  ADMINISTRATION  OF THE PLAN.  The Plan  shall be  administered  by a
committee of the Board of Directors  consisting  of not less than two  Directors
(the  "Committee").  Each member of the Committee shall be (a) a  "disinterested
person"  within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 (or any successor  rule or regulation)
promulgated under the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934 ("Rule 16b-3") until such
time as the  amendments  to Rule 16b-3  adopted by the  Securities  and Exchange
Commission on May 30, 1996 in Release No. 34-37260 become effective with respect
to the Plan (the "New Rule  Date") and (b) from and after the New Rule  Date,  a
"non-employee  director"  within the  meaning of Rule  16b-3.  A majority of the
members of the Committee shall  constitute a quorum,  and the acts of a majority
of the members present at any meeting at which a quorum is present, and any acts
approved in writing by all members  without a meeting,  shall be the acts of the
Committee.


   
                                       A-1

<PAGE>


        Subject to the express  provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall have
the authority, in its sole discretion:  to determine the key employees who shall
receive options; the times when they shall receive options; the number of shares
of Class B Common Stock to be subject to each  option;  the term of each option;
the date each  option  shall  become  exercisable;  whether  an option  shall be
exercisable in whole, in part or in installments,  and, if in installments,  the
number of  shares of Class B Common  Stock to be  subject  to each  installment;
whether the installments  shall be cumulative;  the date each installment  shall
become  exercisable and the term of each installment;  whether to accelerate the
date of exercise of any installment;  whether shares of Class B Common Stock may
be issued on  exercise of an option as partly  paid,  and, if so, the dates when
future  installments  of the exercise  price shall become due and the amounts of
such installments; the exercise price of each option; the form of payment of the
exercise price;  whether to restrict the sale or other disposition of the shares
of Class B Common Stock acquired upon the exercise of an option and to waive any
such  restriction;  whether to subject the  exercise of all or any portion of an
option to the fulfillment of contingencies as specified in the contract referred
to in Paragraph 11 (the "Contract"), including without limitation, contingencies
relating to  entering  into a covenant  not to compete  with the Company and its
Subsid  iaries,  to  financial  objectives  for the  Company,  a  Subsidiary,  a
division,  a product  line or other  category,  and/or the  period of  continued
employment  of  the  optionee  with  the  Company  or its  Subsidiaries,  and to
determine whether such  contingencies have been met; to determine the amount, if
any,  necessary to satisfy the Company's  obligation to withhold  taxes or other
amounts;  the fair market value of a share of Class B Common Stock;  to construe
the  respective  Contracts and the Plan;  with the consent of the  optionee,  to
cancel or modify an option,  provided such option as modified would be permitted
to be granted on such date under the terms of the Plan; to prescribe,  amend and
rescind  rules  and  regulations  relating  to the  Plan;  and to make all other
determinations   necessary  or  advisable  for   administering   the  Plan.  The
determinations  of the Committee on the matters  referred to in this Paragraph 3
shall be conclusive.

        No member or former  member  of the  Committee  shall be liable  for any
action,  failure to act or determination  made in good faith with respect to the
Plan or any option hereunder.

        4. ELIGIBILITY. The Committee may from time to time, consistent with the
purposes of the Plan,  grant  options to key employees  (including  officers and
directors  who are  employees) of the Company or any of its  Subsidiaries.  Such
options granted shall cover such number of shares of Class B Common Stock as the
Committee may determine;  provided,  however,  that the maximum number of shares
subject to options  that may be granted to any  individual  during any  calendar
year under the Plan (the "162(m) Maximum") shall not exceed 100,000 shares.

        5. EXERCISE  PRICE.  The exercise  price of the shares of Class B Common
Stock under each option shall be determined by the Committee; provided, however,
that the  exercise  price  shall not be less than the fair  market  value of the
shares of Class B Common Stock subject thereto.

        The fair  market  value  of a share  of Class B Common  Stock on any day
shall be (a) if the principal  market for the Class B Common Stock is a national
securities  exchange,  the average of the highest  and lowest  sales  prices per
share of Class B Common Stock on such day as reported by

   
                                       A-2

<PAGE>


such exchange or on a composite tape  reflecting  transactions on such exchange,
(b) if the  principal  market  for the  Class B Common  Stock is not a  national
securities  exchange  and the Class B Common Stock is quoted on The Nasdaq Stock
Market  ("Nasdaq"),  and (i) if actual sales price information is available with
respect to the Class B Common Stock, the average of the highest and lowest sales
prices per share of Class B Common Stock on such day on Nasdaq,  or (ii) if such
information  is not  available,  the average of the highest bid and lowest asked
prices per share of Class B Common  Stock on such day on  Nasdaq,  or (c) if the
principal  market  for the  Class B Common  Stock is not a  national  securities
exchange  and the Class B Common  Stock is not quoted on Nasdaq,  the average of
the highest  bid and lowest  asked  prices per share of Class B Common  Stock on
such day as reported on the OTC Bulletin Board Service or by National  Quotation
Bureau, Incorporated or a comparable service; provided, however, that if clauses
(a), (b) and (c) of this  Paragraph are all  inapplicable,  or if no trades have
been made or no quotes are  available for such day, the fair market value of the
Class B Common Stock shall be determined  by the Board by any method  consistent
with applicable regulations adopted by the Treasury Department relating to stock
options.

        6. TERM. The term of each option  granted  pursuant to the Plan shall be
such term as is  established  by the Committee,  in its sole  discretion,  at or
before the time such option is granted.

        7.  EXERCISE.  An option (or any part or  installment  thereof),  to the
extent then  exercisable,  shall be  exercised by giving  written  notice to the
Company  at its  principal  office  stating  which  option  is being  exercised,
specifying  the number of shares of Class B Common Stock as to which such option
is being exercised and accompanied by payment in full of the aggregate  exercise
price therefor (or the amount due on exercise if the Contract with respect to an
option permits installment payments) (a) in cash or by certified check or (b) if
the applicable  Contract  permits,  with  previously  acquired shares of Class A
Common Stock,  $.001 par value per share, of the Company ("Class A Common Stock)
and/or Class B Common Stock having an aggregate  fair market value,  on the date
of  exercise,  equal  to the  aggregate  exercise  price  of all  options  being
exercised, or with any combination of cash, certified check or shares of Class A
Common Stock and/or Class B Common Stock. In such case, the fair market value of
the Class B Common Stock shall be determined in accordance with Paragraph 5. The
fair market value of the Class A Common Stock shall be  determined in accordance
with  Paragraph  5 by  substituting  "Class A" for  "Class B" in every  place it
appears in such definition.

        The Committee  may, in its  discretion,  permit  payment of the exercise
price of an option by delivery by the  optionee of a properly  executed  notice,
together with a copy of his irrevocable  instructions to a broker  acceptable to
the  Committee  to deliver  promptly  to the  Company the amount of sale or loan
proceeds  sufficient to pay such exercise  price. In connection  therewith,  the
Company may enter into  agreements for  coordinated  procedures with one or more
brokerage firms.

        A person  entitled to receive  Class B Common Stock upon the exercise of
an option shall not have the rights of a stockholder with respect to such shares
of Class B Common Stock until

   
                                       A-3

<PAGE>


the date of issuance of a stock  certificate  to him for such shares;  provided,
however,  that until such  stock  certificate  is  issued,  any  optionee  using
previously  acquired  shares of Class A Common Stock and/or Class B Common Stock
in payment of an option  exercise  price shall  continue to have the rights of a
stockholder with respect to such previously acquired shares.

        In no  case  may a  fraction  of a share  of  Class B  Common  Stock  be
purchased or issued under the Plan.

        8.  TERMINATION  OF  RELATIONSHIP.  Except as may otherwise be expressly
provided in the  applicable  Contract,  any optionee whose  employment  with the
Company  (and its  Subsidiaries)  has  terminated  for any reason other than his
death or Disability  (as defined in Paragraph  19) may exercise such option,  to
the extent exercisable on the date of such termination, at any time within three
months after the date of  termination,  but not thereafter and in no event after
the date the option would otherwise have expired; provided, however, that if his
employment is terminated either (a) for cause, or (b) without the consent of the
Company,  such option shall  terminate  immediately.  Except as may otherwise be
expressly  provided in the applicable  Contract,  options granted under the Plan
shall not be  affected  by any  change in the status of the holder so long as he
continues to be an employee or a consultant  or advisor of the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries  (regardless of having been transferred from one corporation to
another).

        For the purposes of the Plan, an employment relationship shall be deemed
to  exist  between  an  individual  and a  corporation  if,  at the  time of the
determination,  the individual was an employee of such  corporation for purposes
of Section  422(a) of the Code. As a result,  an  individual  on military,  sick
leave or other bona fide leave of absence  shall  continue to be  considered  an
employee  for  purposes of the Plan during such leave if the period of the leave
does not exceed 90 days,  or, if longer,  so long as the  individual's  right to
reemployment with the Company (or a related corporation) is guaranteed either by
statute  or by  contract.  If the  period  of  leave  exceeds  90  days  and the
individual's  right to reemployment is not guaranteed by statute or by contract,
the employment  relationship  shall be deemed to have terminated on the 91st day
of such leave.

        Nothing in the Plan or in any option granted under the Plan shall confer
on any  individual  any right to continue in the employ of the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries,  or as a director of the Company, or interfere in any way with
any right of the Company or any of its  Subsidiaries  to terminate  the holder's
relationship  at any time for any reason  whatsoever  without  liability  to the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

        9.  DEATH OR  DISABILITY  OF AN  OPTIONEE.  Except as may  otherwise  be
expressly provided in the applicable Contract,  if an optionee dies (a) while he
is employed by the Company or any of its  Subsidiaries,  (b) within three months
after the termination of his employment  (unless such  termination was for cause
or without the  consent of the  Company)  or (c) within one year  following  the
termination  of his  employment  by  reason of  Disability,  his  option  may be
exercised,  to the extent exercisable on the date of his death, by his executor,
administrator or other person at the

   
                                       A-4

<PAGE>


time  entitled by law to his rights  under such  option,  at any time within one
year after death,  but not  thereafter and in no event after the date the option
would otherwise have expired.

        Except  as  may  otherwise  be  expressly  provided  in  the  applicable
Contract,  any optionee whose  employment has terminated by reason of Disability
may exercise his option,  to the extent  exercisable  upon the effective date of
such  termination,  at any  time  within  one  year  after  such  date,  but not
thereafter  and in no event  after  the date the  option  would  otherwise  have
expired.

        10.  COMPLIANCE WITH SECURITIES LAWS. The Committee may require,  in its
discretion,  as a  condition  to the  exercise  of any option  that either (a) a
Registration  Statement  under  the  Securities  Act of 1933,  as  amended  (the
"Securities  Act"),  with  respect to the  shares of Class B Common  Stock to be
issued  upon  such  exercise  shall  be  effective  and  current  at the time of
exercise,  or (b) there is an exemption from  registration  under the Securities
Act for the  issuance  of shares  of Class B Common  Stock  upon such  exercise.
Nothing herein shall be construed as requiring the Company to register under the
Securities Act the shares subject to any option.

        The  Committee  may require  the  optionee to execute and deliver to the
Company his representations and warranties,  in form and substance  satisfactory
to the Committee,  that (a) the shares of Class B Common Stock to be issued upon
the  exercise  of the  option are being  acquired  by the  optionee  for his own
account,  for investment  only and not with a view to the resale or distribution
thereof,  and (b) any  subsequent  resale or  distribution  of shares of Class B
Common Stock by such optionee  will be made only pursuant to (i) a  Registration
Statement  under the  Securities Act which is effective and current with respect
to the shares of Class B Common Stock being sold,  or (ii) a specific  exemption
from the  registration  requirements of the Securities Act, but in claiming such
exemption, the optionee shall, prior to any offer of sale or sale of such shares
of Class B Common Stock, provide the Company with a favorable written opinion of
counsel,  in  form  and  substance  satisfactory  to  the  Company,  as  to  the
applicability of such exemption to the proposed sale or distribution.

        In  addition,  if at any  time  the  Committee  shall  determine  in its
discretion  that the  listing or  qualification  of the shares of Class B Common
Stock subject to such option on any securities  exchange or under any applicable
law, or the consent or approval of any  governmental  agency or regulatory body,
is necessary or desirable as a condition to, or in connection with, the granting
of an option or the issue of  shares of Class B Common  Stock  thereunder,  such
option  may  not  be  exercised  in  whole  or  in  part  unless  such  listing,
qualification,  consent or approval shall have been effected or obtained free of
any conditions not acceptable to the Committee.

        11.  STOCK  OPTION  CONTRACTS.  Each  option  shall be  evidenced  by an
appropriate  Contract  which  shall  be duly  executed  by the  Company  and the
optionee,  and shall contain such terms and conditions not inconsistent herewith
as may be determined by the Committee.

        12. ADJUSTMENTS UPON CHANGES IN COMMON STOCK.  Notwithstanding any other
provision  of the Plan,  in the event of any  change in the  outstanding  Common
Stock by

   
                                       A-5

<PAGE>


reason of a stock dividend, recapitalization, merger in which the Company is the
surviving corporation,  split-up, spin-off, combination or exchange of shares or
the like,  the  aggregate  number and kind of shares  subject  to the Plan,  the
aggregate number and kind of shares subject to each  outstanding  option and the
exercise price thereof,  and the number and kind of shares subject to the 162(m)
Maximum  shall  be  appropriately  adjusted  by the  Board of  Directors,  whose
determination shall be conclusive.

        In the event of (a) the  liquidation or  dissolution of the Company,  or
(b) a  merger  in  which  the  Company  is not the  surviving  corporation  or a
consolidation,  any outstanding options shall terminate,  unless other provision
is made therefor in the transaction.

        13.  AMENDMENTS AND TERMINATION OF THE PLAN. The Plan was adopted by the
Board of Directors as of August 1, 1995. No option may be granted under the Plan
after July 31, 2005.  The Board of Directors,  without  further  approval of the
Company's stockholders,  may at any time suspend or terminate the Plan, in whole
or in  part,  or  amend  it from  time to time in such  respects  as it may deem
advisable,  including, without limitation, to comply with the provisions of Rule
16b-3,  Section  162(m)  of the  Code  or any  change  in  applicable  law or to
regulations or rulings of administrative  agencies;  provided,  however, that no
amendment  shall  be  effective   without  the  requisite  prior  or  subsequent
stockholder  approval  which would (a) except as  contemplated  in Paragraph 12,
increase the maximum  number of shares of Class B Common Stock for which options
may be granted under the Plan or change the 162(m) Maximum, (b) prior to the New
Rule Date,  materially  increase the benefits to participants  under the Plan or
(c)  change  the  eligibility  requirements  to receive  options  hereunder.  No
termination,  suspension or amendment of the Plan shall,  without the consent of
the holder of an existing option affected  thereby,  adversely affect his rights
under such option.  The power of the  Committee to construe and  administer  any
options  granted  under the Plan prior to the  termination  or suspension of the
Plan  nevertheless   shall  continue  after  such  termination  or  during  such
suspension.

        14.  NON-TRANSFERABILITY  OF OPTIONS.  No option  granted under the Plan
shall  be  transferable  otherwise  than  by will or the  laws  of  descent  and
distribution,  and options may be  exercised,  during the lifetime of the holder
thereof, only by him or his legal representatives. Except to the extent provided
above,  options  may not be  assigned,  transferred,  pledged,  hypothecated  or
disposed of in any way (whether by operation of law or otherwise)  and shall not
be subject to execution, attachment or similar process.

        15. WITHHOLDING TAXES. The Company may withhold cash and/or,  subject to
any applicable  limitations under Rule 16b-3,  shares of Class B Common Stock to
be issued with respect  thereto  having an aggregate  fair market value equal to
the amount  which it  determines  is  necessary  to satisfy  its  obligation  to
withhold  Federal,  state and local  income taxes or other  amounts  incurred by
reason  of  the  grant  or  exercise  of an  option,  its  disposition,  or  the
disposition of the underlying shares of Class B Common Stock. Alternatively, the
Company  may  require the holder to pay to the  Company  such  amount,  in cash,
promptly  upon demand.  The Company shall not be required to issue any shares of
Class B Common Stock pursuant to any such option until all required

   
                                       A-6

<PAGE>


payments have been made. Fair market value of the shares of Class B Common Stock
shall be determined in accordance with Paragraph 5.

        16. LEGENDS; PAYMENT OF EXPENSES. The Company may endorse such legend or
legends  upon the  certificates  for shares of Class B Common  Stock issued upon
exercise  of an  option  under  the  Plan and may  issue  such  "stop  transfer"
instructions  to its transfer  agent in respect of such shares as it determines,
in its discretion, to be necessary or appropriate to (a) prevent a violation of,
or to perfect an exemption from, the registration requirements of the Securities
Act, or (b)  implement the  provisions of the Plan or any agreement  between the
Company and the optionee with respect to such shares of Class B Common Stock.

        The Company shall pay all issuance taxes with respect to the issuance of
shares of Class B Common Stock upon the exercise of an option  granted under the
Plan,  as well as all fees and  expenses  incurred by the Company in  connection
with such issuance.

        17. USE OF PROCEEDS.  The cash proceeds from the sale of shares of Class
B Common Stock pursuant to the exercise of options under the Plan shall be added
to the general funds of the Company and used for corporate purposes.


        18.  SUBSTITUTIONS  AND  ASSUMPTIONS  OF OPTIONS OF CERTAIN  CONSTITUENT
CORPORATIONS.  Anything in this Plan to the contrary notwithstanding,  the Board
of Directors may, without further approval by the  stockholders,  substitute new
options for prior options of a Constituent  Corporation (as defined in Paragraph
19) or assume the prior options of such Constituent Corporation.

        19. DEFINITIONS.

            a.  "Constituent  Corporation"  shall  mean  any  corporation  which
engages with the Company, its Parent or any Subsidiary in a transaction to which
Section  424(a) of the Code  applies  (or would  apply if the option  assumed or
substituted were an ISO), or any Parent or any Subsidiary of such corporation.

            b.  "Disability"  shall mean a permanent and total disability within
the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code.

            c.  "Subsidiary"  shall  have the  same  definition  as  "subsidiary
corporation" in Section 424(f) of the Code.

        20.  GOVERNING LAW. The Plan,  such options as may be granted  hereunder
and all related matters shall be governed by, and construed in accordance  with,
the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to conflict of law provisions.


   
                                       A-7

<PAGE>


        21.  PARTIAL  INVALIDITY.  The invalidity or illegality of any provision
herein shall not affect the validity of any other provision.

        22. STOCKHOLDER  APPROVAL.  The Plan shall be subject to approval by the
affirmative  vote of a majority of the shares  present in person or by proxy and
entitled to vote with  respect to the adoption of the Plan at the next duly held
meeting of the Company's  stockholders at which a quorum is present.  No options
granted  hereunder may be exercised  prior to such  approval,  provided that the
date of grant of any options  granted  hereunder  shall be  determined as if the
Plan had not been subject to such approval.  Notwithstanding  the foregoing,  if
the Plan is not  approved  by a vote of the  stockholders  of the  Company on or
before  December  31, 1996,  the Plan and any options  granted  hereunder  shall
terminate.


   
                                       A-8

<PAGE>

                                                                       EXHIBIT B


                             1996 STOCK OPTION PLAN

                                       of

                        ALLOU HEALTH & BEAUTY CARE, INC.



        1. PURPOSES OF THE PLAN. This stock option plan (the "Plan") is designed
to provide an incentive to employees  (including  officers and directors who are
employees) of and  consultants  to ALLOU HEALTH & BEAUTY CARE,  INC., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), or any of its Subsidiaries, as defined in Paragraph
19, and to offer an  additional  inducement  in  obtaining  the services of such
individuals.  The Plan  provides  for the  grant of  "incentive  stock  options"
("ISOs") within the meaning of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
as amended (the  "Code"),  and  nonqualified  stock options  ("NQSOs"),  but the
Company makes no warranty as to the qualification of any option as an "incentive
stock option" under the Code.

        2. STOCK SUBJECT TO THE PLAN. Subject to the provisions of Paragraph 12,
the  aggregate  number of shares  of Class A Common  Stock,  $.001 par value per
share,  of the Company ("Class A Common Stock") for which options may be granted
under the Plan shall not exceed  1,000,000.  Such shares of Class A Common Stock
may, in the  discretion  of the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board of
Directors"),  consist  either  in whole or in part of  authorized  but  unissued
shares of Class A Common  Stock or shares  of Class A Common  Stock  held in the
treasury of the Company.  Subject to the  provisions of Paragraph 13, any shares
of Class A Common Stock  subject to an option which for any reason  expires,  is
canceled  or is  terminated  unexercised  or which  ceases  for any reason to be
exercisable  shall again become  available for the granting of options under the
Plan.  The Company  shall at all times  during the term of the Plan  reserve and
keep  available  such  number  of  shares  of  Class A  Common  Stock as will be
sufficient to satisfy the requirements of the Plan.

        3.  ADMINISTRATION  OF THE PLAN.  The Plan  shall be  administered  by a
committee of the Board of Directors  consisting  of not less than two  Directors
(the  "Committee").  Each member of the Committee shall be (a) a  "disinterested
person"  within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 (or any successor  rule or regulation)
promulgated under the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934 ("Rule 16b-3") until such
time as the  amendments  to Rule 16b-3  adopted by the  Securities  and Exchange
Commission on May 30, 1996 in Release No. 34-37260 become effective with respect
to the Plan (the "New Rule  Date") and (b) from and after the New Rule  Date,  a
"non-employee  director"  within the  meaning of Rule  16b-3.  A majority of the
members of the Committee shall constitute a quorum,

   
                                       B-1

<PAGE>


and the acts of a majority  of the  members  present  at any  meeting at which a
quorum is present,  and any acts  approved  in writing by all members  without a
meeting, shall be the acts of the Committee.

        Subject to the express  provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall have
the  authority,  in  its  sole  discretion:   to  determine  the  employees  and
consultants  who shall  receive  options;  the times  when  they  shall  receive
options; whether an option granted to an employee shall be an ISO or a NQSO; the
number of shares of Class A Common Stock to be subject to each option;  the term
of each option; the date each option shall become exercisable; whether an option
shall  be  exercisable  in  whole,  in  part  or  in  installments,  and,  if in
installments, the number of shares of Class A Common Stock to be subject to each
installment;  whether  the  installments  shall be  cumulative;  the  date  each
installment shall become  exercisable and the term of each installment;  whether
to accelerate the date of exercise of any installment; whether shares of Class A
Common Stock may be issued on exercise of an option as partly paid,  and, if so,
the dates when future  installments  of the exercise  price shall become due and
the amounts of such installments; the exercise price of each option; the form of
payment of the exercise price; whether to restrict the sale or other disposition
of the shares of Class A Common  Stock  acquired  upon the exercise of an option
and to waive any such restriction; whether to subject the exercise of all or any
portion of an option to the  fulfillment  of  contingencies  as specified in the
Contract  (as  described  in  Paragraph  11),  including  without   limitations,
contingencies  relating  to  entering  into a covenant  not to compete  with the
Company  and its  Subsidiaries,  to  financial  objectives  for the  Company,  a
Subsidiary,  a division, a product line or other category,  and/or the period of
continued relationship of the optionee with the Company or its Subsidiaries, and
to  determine  whether  such  contingencies  have been met;  when an optionee is
Disabled (as defined in Paragraph  19);  and to  determine  the amount,  if any,
necessary to satisfy the  obligation  of the Company or a Subsidiary to withhold
taxes or other amounts with respect to the grant,  exercise or disposition of an
option or the disposition of the underlying  shares of Class A Common Stock; the
fair market value of a share of Class A Common Stock; to construe the respective
Contracts and the Plan; with the consent of the optionee, to cancel or modify an
option,  provided that the modified  provision is permitted to be included in an
option  granted  under the Plan on the date of the  modification,  and provided,
further,  that in the case of a  modification  (within  the  meaning  of Section
424(h) of the Code) of an ISO, such option as modified  would be permitted to be
granted  on the  date of such  modification  under  the  terms of the  Plan;  to
prescribe,  amend and rescind rules and  regulations  relating to the Plan; from
and after the New Rule Date to approve  any  provision  that,  under Rule 16b-3,
requires the approval of the Board of  Directors,  a committee of  "non-employee
directors"  or the  stockholders  to be exempt  (unless  otherwise  specifically
provided herein);  and to make all other  determinations  necessary or advisable
for administering  the Plan. The  determinations of the Committee on the matters
referred to in this  Paragraph 3 shall be conclusive.  Any  controversy or claim
arising out of or relating to the Plan, any option granted under the Plan or any
Contract  shall  be  unilaterally  determined  by  the  Committee  in  its  sole
discretion.  No member or former member of the Committee shall be liable for any
action,  failure to act or determination  made in good faith with respect to the
Plan or any option granted hereunder.

        4. ELIGIBILITY.  The Committee may,  consistent with the purposes of the
Plan,  grant  options from time to time,  to employees  (including  officers and
directors who are

   
                                       B-2

<PAGE>


employees)  of,  and  consultants  to, the  Company or any of its  Subsidiaries.
Options granted shall cover such number of shares of Class A Common Stock as the
Committee may determine; provided, however, that the maximum number of shares of
Class A Common Stock for which options may be granted to any individual during a
calendar  year under the Plan is 100,000 (the "162(m)  Maximum");  and provided,
further,  that the aggregate market value  (determined at the time the option is
granted) of the shares of Class A Common Stock for which any  eligible  employee
may be  granted  ISOs  under  the Plan or any  other  plan of the  Company  or a
Subsidiary  of the  Company,  which are  exercisable  for the first time by such
optionee  during any calendar year shall not exceed  $100,000.  The $100,000 ISO
limitation  shall be applied by taking  ISOs into  account in the order in which
they were granted. Any option (or the portion thereof) granted in excess of such
amount shall be treated as a NQSO.

        5. EXERCISE  PRICE.  The exercise  price of the shares of Class A Common
Stock under each option shall be determined by the Committee; provided, however,
that the exercise  price shall not be less than 100% of the fair market value of
the Class A Common  Stock  subject  to such  option  on the date of  grant;  and
provided, further, that if, at the time an ISO is granted, the optionee owns (or
is deemed to own under Section  424(d) of the Code) stock  possessing  more than
10% of the total  combined  voting power of all classes of stock of the Company,
any of its Subsidiaries or a Parent, the exercise price of such ISO shall not be
less than 110% of the fair market value of the Class A Common  Stock  subject to
such ISO on the date of grant.

        The fair  market  value  of a share  of Class A Common  Stock on any day
shall be (a) if the principal  market for the Class A Common Stock is a national
securities exchange, the average between the highest and lowest sales prices per
share of the Class A Common Stock on such day as reported by such exchange or on
a composite tape reflecting  transactions on such exchange, (b) if the principal
market for the Class A Common  Stock is not a national  securities  exchange and
the Class A Common Stock is quoted on The Nasdaq Stock  Market  ("Nasdaq"),  and
(i) if actual sales price  information  is available with respect to the Class A
Common Stock, the average between the high and low sales prices per share of the
Class A Common Stock on such day on Nasdaq,  or (ii) if such  information is not
available,  the average  between the highest bid and the lowest asked prices for
the Class A Common Stock on such day on Nasdaq,  or (c) if the principal  market
for the Class A Common Stock is not a national securities exchange and the Class
A Common Stock is not quoted on Nasdaq,  the average between the highest bid and
lowest  asked  prices  per  share  for the  Class A Common  Stock on such day as
reported  on  the  OTC  Bulletin  Board  Service,   National  Quotation  Bureau,
Incorporated or a comparable service;  provided that if clauses (a), (b) and (c)
of this  Paragraph  are all  inapplicable,  or if no trades have been made or no
quotes are  available  for such day, the fair market value of a share of Class A
Common Stock shall be determined by the Committee by any method  consistent with
applicable  regulations  adopted by the  Treasury  Department  relating to stock
options.

        6. TERM. The term of each option  granted  pursuant to the Plan shall be
such term as is  established by the Committee,  in its sole  discretion,  as set
forth in the applicable Contract;  provided,  however, that the term of each ISO
granted  pursuant to the Plan shall be for a period not  exceeding 10 years from
the date of grant thereof, and provided, further, that if, at the time an ISO

   
                                       B-3

<PAGE>


is granted,  the optionee owns (or is deemed to own under Section  424(d) of the
Code) stock  possessing  more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all
classes of stock of the Company,  any of its Subsidiaries or a Parent,  the term
of the ISO  shall be for a period  not  exceeding  five  years  from the date of
grant. Options shall be subject to earlier termination as hereinafter provided.

        7.  EXERCISE.  An option (or any part or  installment  thereof),  to the
extent then  exercisable,  shall be  exercised by giving  written  notice to the
Company at its principal  office,  stating which ISO or NQSO is being exercised,
specifying  the number of shares of Class A Common Stock as to which such option
is being exercised and accompanied by payment in full of the aggregate  exercise
price  therefor  (or  the  amount  due  on  exercise  if  the  Contract  permits
installment  payments) (a) in cash or by certified  check or (b) if the Contract
so permits,  with  previously  acquired shares of Class A Common Stock having an
aggregate  fair market  value,  on the date of exercise,  equal to the aggregate
exercise price of all options being exercised,  or with any combination of cash,
certified check or shares of Class A Common Stock.

        The Committee  may, in its  discretion,  permit  payment of the exercise
price of an option by delivery by the optionee of a properly  executed  exercise
notice,  together  with  a copy  of his  irrevocable  instructions  to a  broker
acceptable  to the  Committee  to deliver  promptly to the Company the amount of
sale or loan  proceeds  sufficient  to pay such  exercise  price.  In connection
therewith, the Company may enter into agreements for coordinated procedures with
one or more brokerage firms.

        A person  entitled to receive  Class A Common Stock upon the exercise of
an option shall not have the rights of a stockholder with respect to such shares
of Class A Common Stock until the date of issuance of a stock certificate to him
for such shares; provided, however, that until such stock certificate is issued,
any option holder using  previously  acquired  shares of Class A Common Stock in
payment  of an option  exercise  price  shall  continue  to have the rights of a
stockholder with respect to such previously acquired shares.

        In no  case  may a  fraction  of a share  of  Class A  Common  Stock  be
purchased or issued under the Plan.

        8.  TERMINATION  OF  RELATIONSHIP.  Except as may otherwise be expressly
provided in the applicable Contract,  any holder of an option whose relationship
with the Company  (and its  Subsidiaries)  as an employee  or a  consultant  has
terminated  for any reason  other than his death or  Disability  (as  defined in
Paragraph 19) may exercise such option, to the extent exercisable on the date of
such termination, at any time within three months after the date of termination,
but not  thereafter  and in no event after the date the option  would  otherwise
have expired;  provided,  however, that if such relationship shall be terminated
either (a) for Cause (as defined in Paragraph 19), or (b) without the consent of
the Company, said option shall terminate immediately. Except as may otherwise be
expressly  provided in the applicable  Contract,  options granted under the Plan
shall not be  affected  by any  change in the status of the holder so long as he
continues to be an

   
                                       B-4

<PAGE>


employee or a consultant of the Company or any of the  Subsidiaries  (regardless
of having  changed  from one to the other or having  been  transferred  from one
corporation to another).

        For purposes of the Plan, an employment  relationship shall be deemed to
exist  between  an  individual  and  a  corporation  if,  at  the  time  of  the
determination,  the individual was an employee of such  corporation for purposes
of Section  422(a) of the Code. As a result,  an  individual  on military,  sick
leave or other bona fide leave of absence  shall  continue to be  considered  an
employee  for  purposes of the Plan during such leave if the period of the leave
does not exceed 90 days,  or, if longer,  so long as the  individual's  right to
reemployment with the Company (or a related corporation) is guaranteed either by
statute  or by  contract.  If the  period of leave  exceeds 90 days and the indi
vidual's right to reemployment is not guaranteed by statute or by contract,  the
employment  relationship  shall be deemed to have  terminated on the 91st day of
such leave.  In addition,  for pur poses of the Plan, an  optionee's  employment
with a Subsidiary of the Company shall be deemed to have  terminated on the date
such corporation ceases to be a Subsidiary of the Company.

        Nothing in the Plan or in any option granted under the Plan shall confer
on any individual any right to continue in the employ of, or as a consultant to,
the Company or any of its  Subsidiaries,  or interfere in any way with any right
of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to terminate such  relationship at any
time for any reason  whatsoever  without  liability to the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries.

        9.  DEATH OR  DISABILITY  OF AN  OPTIONEE.  Except as may  otherwise  be
expressly provided in the applicable Contract,  if an optionee dies (a) while he
is an employee of, or consultant to, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (b)
within three  months after the  termination  of such  relationship  (unless such
termination  was for Cause or without the consent of the  Company) or (c) within
one year  following  the  termination  of such  relationship  by  reason  of the
optionee's Disability, his option may be exercised, to the extent exercisable on
the date of his death, by his Legal  Representative (as defined in Paragraph 19)
at any time  within one year after  death,  but not  thereafter  and in no event
after the date the option would otherwise have expired.

        Except  as  may  otherwise  be  expressly  provided  in  the  applicable
Contract,  any optionee whose  relationship as an employee of, or consultant to,
has  terminated  by reason of his  Disability  may exercise  his option,  to the
extent  exercisable  upon the effective  date of such  termination,  at any time
within one year after such date,  but not  thereafter  and in no event after the
date the option would otherwise have expired.

        10.  COMPLIANCE WITH SECURITIES LAWS. The Committee may require,  in its
sole discretion,  as a condition to the exercise of any option that either (a) a
Registration  Statement  under  the  Securities  Act of 1933,  as  amended  (the
"Securities  Act"),  with  respect to the  shares of Class A Common  Stock to be
issued  upon  such  exercise  shall  be  effective  and  current  at the time of
exercise,  or (b) there is an exemption from  registration  under the Securities
Act for the  issuance  of shares  of Class A Common  Stock  upon such  exercise.
Nothing herein shall be construed

   
                                       B-5

<PAGE>


as  requiring  the Company to register  shares  subject to any option  under the
Securities Act or to keep any Registration Statement effective or current.

        The Committee may require, in its sole discretion, as a condition to the
exercise of an option under the Plan,  that the optionee  execute and deliver to
the Company his  representations  and warranties,  in form,  substance and scope
satisfactory to the Committee,  which the Committee  determines are necessary or
convenient to facilitate the  perfection of an exemption  from the  registration
requirements of the Securities Act,  applicable  state  securities laws or other
legal requirements,  including without limitation that (a) the shares of Class A
Common Stock to be issued upon the exercise of the option are being  acquired by
the optionee for his own account, for investment only and not with a view to the
resale or distribution thereof, and (b) any subsequent resale or distribution of
shares of Class A Common Stock by such  optionee  will be made only  pursuant to
(i) a  Registration  Statement  under the  Securities Act which is effective and
current with respect to the shares of Class A Common Stock being sold, or (ii) a
specific exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, but
in claiming  such  exemption,  the optionee  shall prior to any offer of sale or
sale of such shares of Class A Common Stock provide the Company with a favorable
written opinion of counsel  satisfactory to the Company, in form,  substance and
scope sat isfactory to the Company, as to the applicability of such exemption to
the proposed sale or distribution.

        In  addition,  if at any  time  the  Committee  shall  determine  in its
discretion  that the  listing or  qualification  of the shares of Class A Common
Stock subject to such option on any securities  exchange or under any applicable
law, or the consent or approval of any  governmental  agency or regulatory body,
is necessary or desirable as a condition of, or in connection with, the granting
of an option, or the issuance of shares of Class A Common Stock thereunder, such
option  may  not  be  exercised  in  whole  or  in  part  unless  such  listing,
qualification,  consent or approval shall have been effected or obtained free of
any conditions not acceptable to the Committee.

        11.  STOCK  OPTION  CONTRACTS.  Each  option  shall be  evidenced  by an
appropriate  Contract  which  shall  be duly  executed  by the  Company  and the
optionee,  and shall contain such terms and conditions not inconsistent herewith
as may be determined by the Committee.

        12. ADJUSTMENTS UPON CHANGES IN COMMON STOCK. Not withstanding any other
provisions  of the Plan, in the event of any change in the  outstanding  Class A
Common  Stock  by  reason  of a  stock  dividend,  recapitalization,  merger  or
consolidation  in which the  Company  is the  surviving  corporation,  spin-off,
split-up,  combination or exchange of shares or the like,  the aggregate  number
and kind of shares subject to the Plan, the aggregate  number and kind of shares
subject to each  outstanding  option,  the exercise price thereof and the 162(m)
Maximum  shall  be  appropriately  adjusted  by the  Board of  Directors,  whose
determination  shall  be  conclusive.   Such  adjustment  may  provide  for  the
elimination of fractional  shares,  which might  otherwise be subject to options
without payment therefor.


   
                                       B-6

<PAGE>


        In the event of (a) the liquidation or dissolution of the Company or (b)
a  merger  in  which  the  Company  is  not  the  surviving   corporation  or  a
consolidation,  any outstanding options shall terminate,  unless other provision
is made therefor in the transaction.

        13.  AMENDMENTS AND TERMINATION OF THE PLAN. The Plan was adopted by the
Board of  Directors on July 10,  1996.  No option may be granted  under the Plan
after July 9, 2006.  The Board of  Directors,  without  further  approval of the
Company's stockholders,  may at any time suspend or terminate the Plan, in whole
or in  part,  or  amend  it from  time to time in such  respects  as it may deem
advisable,  including,  without limitation, in order that ISOs granted hereunder
meet the  requirements  for "incentive  stock options" under the Code, to comply
with the provisions of Rule 16b-3,  Section 162(m) of the Code, or any change in
applicable  law  or  to  regulations  or  rulings  of  administrative  agencies;
provided,  however,  that no amendment shall be effective  without the requisite
prior or subsequent  stockholder  approval that would (a) except as contemplated
in Para graph 12,  increase the maximum number of shares of Class A Common Stock
for which options may be granted under the Plan or the 162(m) Maximum, (b) prior
to the New Rule Date, materially increase the benefits to participants under the
Plan or (c) change the  eligibility  requirements  for  individuals  entitled to
receive options hereunder.  No termination,  suspension or amendment of the Plan
shall, without the consent of the holder of an existing option affected thereby,
adversely  affect his rights  under such option.  The power of the  Committee to
construe  and  administer  any  options  granted  under  the  Plan  prior to the
termination  or suspension of the Plan  nevertheless  shall  continue after such
termination or during such suspension.

        14.  NON-TRANSFERABILITY  OF OPTIONS.  No option  granted under the Plan
shall  be  transferable  otherwise  than  by will or the  laws  of  descent  and
distribution,  and options may be  exercised,  during the lifetime of the holder
thereof, only by him or his Legal Representatives. Except to the extent provided
above,  options  may not be  assigned,  transferred,  pledged,  hypothecated  or
disposed of in any way (whether by operation of law or otherwise)  and shall not
be subject to execution, attachment or similar process.

        15.  WITHHOLDING  TAXES.  The Company or a Subsidiary  may withhold cash
and/or,  subject to any applicable limitations under Rule 16b-3, shares of Class
A Common Stock to be issued with respect thereto having an aggregate fair market
value on the exercise date equal to the amount which the Committee determines is
necessary to satisfy the obligation of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to
withhold  Federal,  state and local taxes or other amounts incurred by reason of
the grant or exercise of an option,  its disposition,  or the disposition of the
underlying  shares  of Class A Common  Stock.  Alternatively,  the  Company  may
require the holder to pay to the Company or a Subsidiary  such amount,  in cash,
promptly  upon demand.  The Company shall not be required to issue any shares of
Class A Common Stock  pursuant to any such option  until all  required  payments
have been made. Fair market value of the shares of Class A Common Stock shall be
determined in accordance with Paragraph 5.

        16. LEGENDS; PAYMENT OF EXPENSES. The Company may endorse such legend or
legends upon the certificates for shares of Class A Common Stock issued upon

   
                                       B-7

<PAGE>


exercise  of an  option  under  the  Plan and may  issue  such  "stop  transfer"
instructions  to its transfer  agent in respect of such shares as it determines,
in its discretion, to be necessary or appropriate to (a) prevent a violation of,
or to perfect an exemption from, the registration requirements of the Securities
Act and applicable  state  securities  laws, (b) implement the provisions of the
Plan or any agreement  between the Company and the optionee with respect to such
shares of Class A Common  Stock,  or (c) permit the  Company  to  determine  the
occurrence of a  "disqualifying  disposition," as described in Section 421(b) of
the Code, of the shares of Class A Common Stock transferred upon the exercise of
an ISO granted under the Plan.

        The Company shall pay all issuance taxes with respect to the issuance of
shares of Class A Common Stock upon the exercise of an option  granted under the
Plan,  as well as all fees and  expenses  incurred by the Company in  connection
with such issuance.

        17. USE OF PROCEEDS.  The cash proceeds from the sale of shares of Class
A Common Stock pursuant to the exercise of options under the Plan shall be added
to the general funds of the Company and used for such general corporate purposes
as the Board of Directors may determine.

        18.  SUBSTITUTIONS  AND  ASSUMPTIONS  OF OPTIONS OF CERTAIN  CONSTITUENT
CORPORATIONS.  Anything in this Plan to the contrary notwithstanding,  the Board
of Directors may, without further approval by the  stockholders,  substitute new
options for prior options of a Constituent  Corporation (as defined in Paragraph
19) or assume the prior options of such Constituent Corporation.

        19. DEFINITIONS.

            a.  "Cause"  shall  mean  (i) if there is a  written  employment  or
consulting  agreement  between  the  optionee  and  the  Company  or  any of its
Subsidiaries that defines  termination of such relationship for cause,  cause as
defined  in such  agreement,  and (ii) in all other  cases,  cause as defined by
applicable state law.

            b.  "Constituent  Corporation"  shall  mean  any  corporation  which
engages with the Company or any of its  Subsidiaries  in a transaction  to which
Section  424(a) of the Code  applies  (or would  apply if the option  assumed or
substituted were an ISO), or any Parent (as defined herein) or any Subsidiary of
such corporation.

            c.  "Disability"  shall mean a permanent and total disability within
the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code.

            d. "Legal Representative" shall mean the executor,  administrator or
other  person who at the time is  entitled  by law to  exercise  the rights of a
deceased or  incapacitated  optionee with respect to an option granted under the
Plan.


   
                                       B-8

<PAGE>


            e. "Parent" shall have the same  definition as "parent  corporation"
in Section 424(e) of the Code.

            f.  "Subsidiary"  shall  have the  same  definition  as  "subsidiary
corporation" in Section 424(f) of the Code.

        20.  GOVERNING  LAW;  CONSTRUCTION.  The Plan,  such  options  as may be
granted  hereunder,  the Contracts and all related matters shall be governed by,
and construed in  accordance  with,  the laws of the State of New York,  without
regard to conflict of law provisions. Neither the Plan nor any Contract shall be
construed or interpreted  with any presumption  against the Company by reason of
the  Company  causing the Plan or  Contract  to be  drafted.  Whenever  from the
context it appears appropriate, any term stated in either the singular or plural
shall include the plural and the singular, and any term stated in the masculine,
feminine or neuter shall include the masculine, feminine and neuter.

        21. PARTIAL INVALIDITY.  The invalidity,  illegality or unenforceability
of  any   provision   herein  shall  not  affect  the   validity,   legality  or
enforceability  of any other provision,  all of which shall be valid,  legal and
enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law.

        22. STOCKHOLDER  APPROVAL.  The Plan shall be subject to approval by the
affirmative  vote of the majority of shares  present in person or represented by
proxy  and  entitled  to vote  thereon  at the next  duly  held  meeting  of the
Company's stockholders at which a quorum is present. No options granted pursuant
to the Plan may be exercised  prior to such approval,  provided that the date of
grant of any options granted  thereunder  shall be determined as if the Plan had
not been subject to such approval. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Plan is
not approved by a vote of the  stockholders  of the Company on or before July 9,
1997, the Plan and any options granted thereunder shall terminate.


   
                                       B-9

<PAGE>

                                                                       EXHIBIT C


                            CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT
                                     OF THE
                          CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
                                       OF
                        ALLOU HEALTH & BEAUTY CARE, INC.


It is hereby certified that:

        1. The name of the corporation (hereinafter called the "Corporation") is
ALLOU HEALTH & BEAUTY CARE, INC.

        2. The certificate of incorporation of the Corporation is hereby amended
by striking out Article  "FOURTH"  thereof and by  substituting  in lieu of said
Article the following new Article "FOURTH":

                "FOURTH:  The aggregate  number of shares which the  Corporation
        shall have authority to issue is 13,200,000, divided into three classes:
        (i) 10,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock, par value $.001 per share
        (the "Class A Common  Stock");  (ii) 2,200,000  shares of Class B Common
        Stock,  par value  $.001 per share (the "Class B Common  Stock");  (iii)
        1,000,000  shares  preferred  stock,  par value  $.001  per  share  (the
        "Preferred  Stock")  (the  Class A Common  Stock  and the Class B Common
        Stock collectively referred to herein as the "Common Stock").

        A. Common Stock

                (1) General. The voting,  dividend and liquidation rights of the
        holders of the Common  Stock are subject to and  qualified by the rights
        of the holders of the Preferred  Stock of any class as may be designated
        by the Board of Directors  upon any issuance of the  Preferred  Stock of
        any class.

                (2) Voting.  Each holder of Class A Common  Stock shall have one
        vote in respect  of each  share of Class A Common  Stock held by him and
        each holder of Class B Common  Stock shall have five votes in respect of
        each share of Class B Common Stock held by him on all matters voted upon
        by the stockholders.

                (3) Dividends.  Dividends may be declared and paid on the Common
        Stock from funds lawfully  available  therefor as and when determined by
        the Board of Directors and subject to any  preferential  dividend rights
        of any then outstanding Preferred Stock.

                (4)  Liquidation.  Upon the  dissolution  or  liquidation of the
        Company, whether voluntary or involuntary,  holders of Common Stock will
        be entitled to

   
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        receive  all assets of the Company  available  for  distribution  to its
        stockholders, subject to any preferential rights of any then outstanding
        Preferred Stock.

                (5)  Transferability.  All  outstanding  shares of Common  Stock
        shall be freely transferable.

                (6) Conversion of Class B Common Stock.  All outstanding  shares
        of Class B  Common  Stock  shall be  convertible  at all  times,  at the
        election of the holder  thereof,  into an equal number of fully paid and
        nonassessable  shares of Class A Common  Stock by  delivery  of  written
        notice  by the  holder  of such  shares  of Class B Common  Stock to the
        Corporation,  or its transfer agent,  of his election  together with the
        certificate(s)  representing the shares to be converted.  Thereupon, the
        Corporation,  or its transfer  agent, as the case may be, shall exchange
        such  certificate(s)  for a certificate or certificates  representing an
        equal number of shares of Class A Common Stock. Shares of Class B Common
        Stock shall be deemed to have been  converted  immediately  prior to the
        close of business on the day upon which the Corporation, or its transfer
        agent,  received  such  shares for  conversion.  The person  entitled to
        receive the Class A Common Stock issuable upon such conversion  shall be
        treated  for all  purposes  as the record  holder of such Class A Common
        Stock at such time.  Thereafter,  the shares of Class B Common  Stock so
        converted  shall be  authorized  and  unissued  shares of Class B Common
        Stock of the Corporation.

                With  respect  to any shares of Class B Common  Stock  converted
        into Class A Common Stock, until surrender as hereinafter provided, each
        outstanding  certificate,  which  prior to such  conversion  represented
        shares of Class B Common  Stock,  shall be deemed  for all  purposes  to
        evidence  ownership of the number of shares of Class A Common Stock into
        which the shares of Class B Common Stock shall have been converted. Upon
        surrender to the Corporation, or its transfer agent, for cancellation of
        the certificate or  certificates  representing  such shares,  the holder
        thereof  shall be  entitled  to receive a  certificate  or  certificates
        representing  the number of shares of Class A Common Stock to which such
        holder is entitled.

        B. Preferred Stock

                The relative  rights,  preferences and limitations of the shares
        of Preferred Stock are as follows:

                The Preferred Stock may be issued,  from time to time, in one or
        more  series,   with  such   designations,   preferences   and  relative
        participating, optional or other rights, qualifications,  limitations or
        restrictions  thereof as shall be stated and expressed in the resolution
        or  resolutions  providing  for the issue of such series  adopted by the
        Board of Directors from time to time,  pursuant to the authority  herein
        given,  a copy of which  resolution or  resolutions  shall have been set
        forth in a Certificate made, executed,  acknowledged, filed and recorded
        in the manner  required by the laws of the State of Delaware in order to
        make the same  effective.  Each series  shall  consist of such number of
        shares  as  shall  be  stated  and  expressed  in  such   resolution  or
        resolutions  providing for the issuance of the stock of such series. All
        shares of any one  series  of  Preferred  Stock  shall be alike in every
        particular. The authority of the Board of Directors with respect to each
        series  shall  include,  but not be  limited  to,  determination  of the
        following:


   
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<PAGE>



                        (1) the number of shares  constituting  that  series and
                the distinctive designation of that series;

                        (2) whether  the holders of shares of that series  shall
                be entitled to receive  dividends  and, if so, the rates of such
                dividends,  conditions  under which and times such dividends may
                be declared or paid,  any  preference of any such  dividends to,
                and the relation to, the dividends payable on any other class or
                classes  of stock or any  other  series  of the same  class  and
                whether  dividends shall be cumulative or noncumulative  and, if
                cumulative, from which date or dates;

                        (3) whether  the holders of shares of that series  shall
                have voting rights in addition to the voting rights  provided by
                law and, if so, the terms of such voting rights;

                        (4) whether shares of that series shall have  conversion
                or exchange  privileges into or for, at the option of either the
                holder or the  Corporation  or upon the happening of a specified
                event,  shares of any  other  class or  classes  or of any other
                series  of the same or other  class or  classes  of stock of the
                Corporation  and,  if so,  the  terms  and  conditions  of  such
                conversion or exchange including provision for adjustment of the
                conversion  or  exchange  rate in such  events  as the  Board of
                Directors shall determine;

                        (5) whether  shares of that series  shall be  redeemable
                and,  if so,  the  terms  and  conditions  of  such  redemption,
                including  the date or dates  upon or after  which they shall be
                redeemable and the amount per share payable in case  redemption,
                which  amount  may  vary  under  different   conditions  and  at
                different redemption dates;

                        (6) whether  shares of that  series  shall be subject to
                the  operation  of a  retirement  or  sinking  fund  and,  if so
                subject,  the  extent  to and the  manner  in  which it shall be
                applied  to the  purchase  or  redemption  of the shares of that
                series,  and the terms and provisions  relative to the operation
                thereof;

                        (7) the rights of shares of that  series in the event of
                voluntary or involuntary liquidation,  dissolution or winding up
                of the Corporation and any preference of any such rights to, and
                the relation  to, the rights in respect  thereto of any class or
                classes of stock or any other series of the same class; and

                        (8) whether  shares of that  series  shall be subject or
                entitled  to any  other  preferences,  and the  other  relative,
                participating,    optional   or   other   special   rights   and
                qualifications,  limitations or  restrictions  of shares of that
                series and, if so, the terms thereof;

                provided,  however,  that if the stated  dividends  and  amounts
                payable on  liquidation  with respect to shares of any series of
                Preferred  Stock  are not paid in full,  then the  shares of all
                series of Preferred  Stock shall share ratably in the payment of
                dividends  including  accumulations,  if any, in accordance with
                the sums which would be payable on such shares if all  dividends
                were  declared  and paid in  full,  and in any  distribution  of
                assets (other than by way if

   
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<PAGE>


                dividends) in accordance with the sums which would be payable on
                such distribution if all sums payable were discharged in full."


        3. The amendment of the certificate of  incorporation  herein  certified
has been duly adopted in  accordance  with the  provisions of Section 242 of the
General  Corporation  Law of the State of  Delaware.  Signed and  attested to on
September __, 1996.


                                                   ____________________________
                                                   Herman Jacobs, President and
                                                   Chief Operating Officer

Attest:



_________________________
Jack Jacobs, Secretary


   
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<PAGE>


                        ALLOU HEALTH & BEAUTY CARE, INC.

                                      PROXY

               ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS - SEPTEMBER 11, 1996
               PROXY SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS


               The undersigned hereby appoints,  as proxies for the undersigned,
Victor  Jacobs  and  Herman  Jacobs  and  each  of  them,  with  full  power  of
substitution,  to vote all shares of Common  Stock of the  undersigned  in Allou
Health & Beauty Care, Inc. (the "Company") at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders
of the Company to be held at the Boardroom of the American  Stock  Exchange,  86
Trinity Place,  New York, New York,  10006 on September 11, 1996, at 10:00 a.m.,
local  time (the  receipt  of Notice of which  meeting  and the Proxy  Statement
accompanying the same being hereby  acknowledged by the undersigned),  or at any
adjournments  thereof,  upon the matter  described  in the Notice of Meeting and
Proxy  Statement  and upon such other  business as may properly come before such
meeting or any  adjournments  thereof,  hereby  revoking any proxies  heretofore
given.

               EACH PROPERLY EXECUTED PROXY WILL BE VOTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE
SPECIFICATIONS  MADE ON THE REVERSE SIDE HEREOF. IF NO SPECIFICATIONS  ARE MADE,
THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED "FOR" THE LISTED NOMINEES AND
"FOR" THE LISTED PROPOSALS.


(CONTINUED AND TO BE SIGNED ON REVERSE SIDE)



<PAGE>


Please mark boxes [X] in blue or black ink.

               1. Election of Directors:

(INSTRUCTION:  TO WITHHOLD AUTHORITY FOR ANY INDIVIDUAL  NOMINEE,  STRIKE A LINE
THROUGH THE NOMINEE'S NAME IN THE LIST ABOVE)

FOR ALL NOMINEES [_]                        WITHHOLD AUTHORITY [_]
(except as marked to                        to vote for all nominees
the contrary below)
(Victor Jacobs, Herman Jacobs, Ramon
Montes, David Shamilzadeh, Jack Jacobs,
Sol Naimark, Jeffrey Berg)


               2. Approval of the Company's 1995 Nonqualified  Stock
                  Option Plan for a maximum of 500,000 shares of the
                  Company's Class B Common Stock.

FOR [_]                       AGAINST [_]                   ABSTAIN [_]


               3. Approval of the  Company's  1996 Stock Option Plan
                  for a maximum of 1,000,000 shares of the Company's
                  Class A Common Stock.

FOR [_]                       AGAINST [_]                   ABSTAIN [_]


               4. Approval  of  the   amendment  to  the   Company's
                  Certificate of Incorporation:  (i) to confirm that
                  the shares of Class B Common Stock are convertible
                  at any time into shares of Class A Common Stock on
                  a one-for-one  basis,  which  previously  has been
                  included in the Company's public disclosures; (ii)
                  to provide that the shares of Class B Common Stock
                  are freely transferable; and (iii) to increase the
                  authorized  Class B Common Stock from 1,700,000 to
                  2,200,000 shares 

FOR [_]                       AGAINST [_]                   ABSTAIN [_]


               5.  In their discretion, the Proxies are authorized to
                   vote upon such other business as may properly come
                   before the Meeting.

FOR [_]                       AGAINST [_]                   ABSTAIN [_]


                                  NOTE:  Please  sign  your  name  or
                                  names  exactly as set forth hereon.
                                  If  signed as  attorney,  executor,
                                  administrator, trustee or guardian,
                                  please  indicate  the  capacity  in
                                  which you are  acting.  Proxies  by
                                  corporations  should be signed by a
                                  duly authorized  officer and should
                                  bear the corporate seal.

                                  Dated ______________________ , 1996


                                  ___________________________________
                                  Signature of Stockholder


                                  ___________________________________
                                  Print Name(s)



Please Sign and Return the Proxy Promptly in the Enclosed Envelope.




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