<PAGE>

                                                                   Exhibit 10.20

                                 EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
                                 --------------------

          This Employment Agreement (the "Agreement") is made effective the 1st
day of October, 1996 by and between Nutrition For Life International, Inc., a
Texas corporation (the "Company") and David P. Bertrand ("Bertrand").

          In consideration of the mutual covenants, promises and agreements
herein contained, the Company and Bertrand hereby covenant, promise and agree to
and with each other as follows:

          1.  Employment.  The Company shall employ Bertrand and Bertrand shall
              ----------                                                       
be employed by the Company upon the terms and conditions set forth in this
Agreement.

          2.  Positions and Duties of Employment.  Bertrand shall be required to
              ----------------------------------                                
devote his best efforts on a full-time basis to the furtherance of his
managerial duties with the Company as the Company's President and Chief
Executive Officer.  While serving in these corporate capacities, Bertrand shall
have the responsibilities, duties, obligations, rights, benefits and requisite
authority as is customary for his positions and as may be determined by the
Company's Board of Directors (the "Board") and as set forth in the Bylaws of the
Company.

          Bertrand understands that his employment as President and Chief
Executive Officer of the Company involves a high degree of trust and confidence,
that he is employed for the purpose of furthering the Company's reputation and
improving the Company's operations and profitability, and that in executing this
Agreement he undertakes obligations set forth herein to accomplish such
objectives.  Bertrand agrees that he shall serve the Company fully, diligently
and competently, and to the best of his ability.  Bertrand certifies that he
fully understands his right to discuss this Agreement with his private attorney,
that to the extent, if any, he desires, he has availed himself of this right,
that he has carefully read and fully understands this entire Agreement, and that
he is voluntarily entering into this Agreement.

          3.  Term.  Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, the term of
              ----                                                              
this Agreement (the "Term") shall be for a period of three years commencing
October 1, 1996.

          4.  Compensation.  Bertrand shall receive the following as 
              ------------
compensation:

              (a) Bertrand shall receive a monthly salary of $33,333.33 for each
full month of his employment by the Company pursuant to this Agreement, payable
in accordance with the Company's customary payroll practices.

              (b) In addition to his salary, Bertrand shall be entitled to a
bonus, payable within 90 days of the end of each annual period of the Term,
based upon the Company meeting certain pre-tax income levels defined below (the
"Bonus"). Pre-tax income shall be determined in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles. In the event of any dispute over the amount of
pre-tax income, a final determination shall be made by BDO Seidman LLP or
another independent certified public accounting firm selected by the Company. No
Bonus shall be
<PAGE>
 
payable unless the Company's annual pre-tax income is $3,000,000 or more. The
amount of the Bonus shall be 5% of the first annual pre-tax income of the
Company, which is between $3,000,000 and $5,000,000; 4% of the annual pre-tax
income of the Company which is between $5,000,000 and $10,000,000; and 3% of the
annual pre-tax income of the Company which is between $10,000,000 and
$20,000,000. No Bonus shall be payable for any annual pre-tax income of the
Company in excess of $20,000,000.

          (c) The Company shall provide Bertrand with participation in any group
plans or agreements maintained by the Company relating to health insurance or
other related benefits in accordance with their respective terms.

          (d) Bertrand shall be entitled to leaves for vacations for periods
reasonably determined by the Board.  In addition, Bertrand shall be entitled to
reasonable absences for attendance at business seminars and conventions.

          (e) Any payment which the Company shall make to Bertrand pursuant to
this Agreement shall be reduced by standard withholding and other authorized
deductions.

          (f) During the term of his employment, Bertrand shall be reimbursed
for reasonable expenses incurred by him for the benefit of the Company.  Any
direct payment or reimbursement of expenses shall be made only upon presentation
of an itemized accounting conforming in form and content to standards prescribed
by the Internal Revenue Service relative to the substantiation of the
deductibility of business expenses.

       5.  Life Insurance.  The Company may, but shall not be obligated to,
           --------------                                                  
apply for and procure as owner and for its own benefit or the benefit of any
lender of the Company, insurance on Bertrand's life, in any amount and form or
forms that the Company may choose.  Bertrand shall, at the Company's request,
submit to all medical examinations, supply all information and execute all
documents required by the insurance company or companies to whom the Company has
applied for the insurance.

       6.  Corporate Data and Antisolicitation.  Upon the termination of
           -----------------------------------                          
Bertrand's employment under this Agreement for any reason, Bertrand shall return
to the Company all data and information, whether written, computer, magnetic,
electronic or in any other physical or tangible form, relating to the business
of the Company or any of its affiliates that Bertrand obtained during the time
of his employment.  During the term of this Agreement or for a period of one
year thereafter, Bertrand shall neither disclose to any other person or entity,
nor use for his own personal benefit, any information obtained during his
employment by the Company that is not otherwise publicly known, relating to the
financial affairs, distributor lists or the business operations of the Company
or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates.  During the term of this Agreement or
for a period of one year thereafter, Bertrand will not influence or attempt to
influence distributors of the Company or any of its present or future
subsidiaries or affiliates, either directly or indirectly, to divert their
business to any individual, partnership, firm, corporation or other entity then
in competition with the business of the Company or any 
<PAGE>
 
subsidiary or affiliate of the Company, nor will he solicit any of the Company's
employees who earned annually $25,000 or more as a Company employee during the
last six months of his or her own employment to work for any individual,
partnership, firm, corporation or other entity then in competition with the
business of the Company or any subsidiary or affiliate of the Company.

          7.  Termination.
              ----------- 

              (a) The Company shall have the right at any time to terminate
Bertrand's employment under this Agreement without further liability or
obligation pursuant to this Agreement upon the occurrence of any of the
following events:

                   (i)   By mutual written agreement, signed by both parties; or

                   (ii)  The death of Bertrand; or

                   (iii) If the Company determines in good faith that the
            Disability of Bertrand has occurred (pursuant to the definition of
            Disability set forth below), it may give to Bertrand written notice
            in accordance with Section 13 of its intention to terminate
            Bertrand's employment.  In such event, Bertrand's employment with
            the Company shall terminate effective upon receipt of such notice by
            Bertrand, provided that, upon receipt, Bertrand shall not have
            returned to full-time performance of his duties.  For purposes of
            this Agreement, "Disability" shall mean a physical or mental
            impairment which substantially limits a major life activity of
            Bertrand which renders Bertrand unable to perform the essential
            functions of his position, even with reasonable accommodation which
            does not impose an undue hardship on the Company.  The Company
            reserves the right, in good faith, to make the determination of
            Disability under this Agreement based upon information supplied by
            Bertrand and/or his medical personnel as well as information from
            medical personnel (or others) selected by the Company or its
            insurers; or

                   (iv) Bertrand is convicted of any crime constituting a felony
            under the law of the United States or any State; or

                   (v)  A "Material Breach" of this Agreement as determined by
            the Board. The exercise of the right of the Company to terminate
            this Agreement shall not abrogate the rights and remedies of the
            Company in respect of the breach giving rise to such termination.
            For purposes of this subsection, "Material Breach" shall mean that
            the Company, acting in good faith based upon the information then
            known to the Company, determines that Bertrand has engaged or
            committed: willful misconduct; gross negligence; theft, fraud or
            other illegal conduct; refusal or unwillingness to perform his
            duties; sexual harassment; violation of any fiduciary duties;
            violation of any duty of loyalty; or a material
                                       
                                       3
<PAGE>
 
          breach of any term of this Agreement. The "Material Breach" shall be
          specified in a notice of termination to be delivered by the Company no
          later than the date as of which the termination is effective.

          (b) If Bertrand's employment is terminated by the Company for any
reason other than those set forth in sections 7(a)(i) through 7(a)(v) above,
then the Company shall pay "Termination Pay" to Bertrand in full settlement of
any and all claims of Bertrand arising out of or in connection with his
employment by the Company.  The "Termination Pay" shall consist of (i) twelve
months' salary, which shall be paid in six monthly installments of $66,666.66
each, commencing on the first day of the month after the month in which
termination occurred and continuing on the first day of each month thereafter
until all six installments have been paid; and (ii) the product of the Bonus to
which Bertrand would be entitled, multiplied by a fraction having a numerator
equal to the number of days in the annual period preceding the date of
termination and a denominator equal to 365, which shall be paid to Bertrand no
later than 90 days after the end of the annual period in which termination
occurred.

          (c) If during the term of this Agreement, the Company effects a merger
or acquisition in which it is not the surviving entity or is a party to a stock
exchange in which it becomes a wholly-owned subsidiary of another entity and
Bertrand's employment is thereafter terminated by the Company notwithstanding
that no "Material Breach" has occurred, then Bertrand shall be entitled to
"Termination Pay".

          (d) For purposes of this Section 7, voluntary termination of
employment by Bertrand as a result of a material change by the Company in
Bertrand's job responsibilities shall be deemed to be termination by the Company
without a "Material Breach" and Bertrand shall be entitled to "Termination Pay".

          (e) Bertrand shall have the right to terminate this Agreement in the
event of a default by the Company of any material provision of this Agreement
but only if Bertrand shall have first given written notice of the default to the
Company and if within thirty days after receipt of that notice the Company has
not cured that default.  Upon termination neither Bertrand nor the Company shall
have any further obligations under any of the provisions of this Agreement
except that Bertrand shall be entitled to "Termination Pay".

          (f) Bertrand agrees that the payments contemplated by this Agreement
shall constitute the exclusive and sole remedy for any termination of his
employment and Bertrand covenants not to assert or pursue any other remedies, at
law or in equity, with respect to any termination of employment.

     8.   Remedies.  If there is a breach or threatened breach of the provisions
          --------                                                              
of Section 2 or 6 of this Agreement, the Company shall be entitled to an
injunction restraining Bertrand from such breach.  Nothing herein shall be
construed as prohibiting the Company from pursuing any other remedies for such
breach or threatened breach.

                                       4
<PAGE>
 
   9.     Severability.  It is the clear intention of the parties to this
          ------------                                                   
Agreement that no term, provision or clause of this Agreement shall be deemed to
be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, unless such term, provision
or clause cannot be otherwise construed, interpreted, or modified to give effect
to the intent of the parties and to be valid, legal or enforceable. In the event
that such a term, provision, or clause cannot be so construed, interpreted or
modified, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions
contained herein and other application(s) thereof shall not in any way be
affected or impaired thereby and shall remain in full force and effect.

   10.    Waiver of Breach.  The waiver by the Company or Bertrand of the breach
          ----------------                                                      
of any provision of this Agreement by the other party shall not operate or be
construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach by that party.

   11.    Entire Agreement.  This document contains the entire agreement between
          ----------------                                                      
the parties, supersedes all prior oral agreements, if any, and may not be
changed orally, but only by agreement in writing signed by the parties.

   12.    Governing Law.  This Agreement, its validity, interpretation and
          -------------                                                   
enforcement, shall be governed by the laws of the State of Texas.

   13.    Notices.  Any notice pursuant to this Agreement shall be validly given
          -------                                                               
or served if that notice is made in writing and delivered personally or sent by
certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, to the following
addresses:

     If to Company:        Nutrition For Life International, Inc.
                           9101 Jameel
                           Houston, TX 77040
 
     If to Bertrand:       To the address for Bertrand set forth below his
                            signature.

All notices so given shall be deemed effective upon receipt.  Either party, by
notice so given, may change the address to which his or its future notices shall
be sent.

   14.    Assignment and Binding Effect.
          ----------------------------- 

          (a) This Agreement shall be binding upon Bertrand and the Company and
shall benefit the Company and its successors and assigns.

          (b) This Agreement shall not be assignable by Bertrand.

   15.    Headings.  The headings in this Agreement are for convenience only;
          --------                                                           
they form no part of this Agreement and shall not affect its interpretation.

                                       5
<PAGE>
 
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be executed
the day and year first above written.

                    NUTRITION FOR LIFE INTERNATIONAL, INC.


                    By:_______________________________
                              Authorized Officer


                              _______________________________
                              David P. Bertrand, Individually
 
                              Address for Notice:

                              10622 Great Plains
                              -------------------------------
                              (Street Address)

                              Houston, Texas 77064
                              -------------------------------
                              (City, State and Zip Code)

                                       6