This week’s big news across the global nutrition and supplements industries includes Ghost’s new Basics line, Charlotte’s Web’s new foray into mushrooms, the NIE Awards finalists and Health and Happiness Group’s supplement sales growth.
USA: Ghost launches Basics supplement line
Launched on March 26 as “anything but basic” with the tagline “Simple. Effective. No BS.”, the Ghost Basics line features a collection of creatine, vitamin C, fish oil and digestive enzymes formulas.
Founded in 2016 by Lourenco and former professional bodybuilder Ryan Hughes, the company became known for its fun and innovative approach to product, flavor and community engagement in an increasingly competitive sports nutrition market.
It quickly rose from niche start-up to leading brand, and a $1 billion deal announced in October 2024 saw Keurig Dr. Pepper acquire a 60% stake in the company, to be followed by the remaining 40% in 2028 depending on Ghost’s 2027 performance.
“The goal of the [Basics] line is to give our customers the ability to customize or add to their supplement regimens in an easy and affordable way without sacrificing quality or innovation,” Dan Lourenco, CEO and co-founder at Ghost, told NutraIngredients. “Several of the formulas are building blocks of our more robust flagship formulas.”
Charlotte’s Web expands into functional mushrooms
CBD pioneer Charlotte’s Web is set to launch a range of mushroom-based products, including chaga, lion’s mane, Reishi and shiitake, to further diversify its offerings and reach new customers.
The Colorado-based company said the move into functional mushrooms makes sense given the regulatory challenges for hemp-derived CBD products.
“Mushrooms and botanicals have been part of our portfolio since the beginning,” said Missy Reigle, head of sales at Charlotte’s Web. “We’ve had inclusions from flavor to functional ingredients within our product line, and it’s a natural expansion to who we are and what we’re doing.
“We’re so rooted in science, and the mushroom category needed someone very rooted in science. There’s good players out there in the field, and we’re really, really happy to join that category with them.”
Asia: H&H supplement sales increase nearly 5%
Hong Kong-based Health and Happiness Group (H&H Group) reported that its supplements sales rose by nearly 5% in FY24 despite overall revenues dipping.
The continued growth of its supplement business has shown the sector’s resilience over the years, said Nick Mann, Group CEO and CEO of Australia, New Zealand and Asia at H&H Group.
“We are increasingly seeing health and wellness supplements remain a highly resilient sector around the world, withstanding both high and low inflationary conditions and volatile currency environments,” he said.
Aging populations in developed economies, rising health consciousness and increasingly well-educated consumers are also making supplements a core part of consumers daily routines, he added.
“It is a trend that we’ve been tapping into and we are reaping the benefits, as nutritional supplements now represent 67.7% of our Group revenue and over 80% of the Group’s EBITDA, a significant transformation over the last 10 years, when nutritional supplements accounted for only 9% of total revenue, reflecting our successful pivot towards higher-margin, structurally growing markets.“
NutraIngredients-Europe announces finalists for 2025 Awards
Spanning 16 categories that include ingredients, consumer products, nutrition research, marketing initiatives, sustainability, women’s health and people, the finalists for the 2025 NutraIngredients-Europe Awards represent the best and brightest in food supplements and functional food and beverage.
Winners will be announced during a VIP NutraIngredients Party in Barcelona on the night of May 21, where industry talent will be recognized, and attendees can come together to celebrate the 11th iteration of the awards.
The full list of finalists can be found HERE.
