Marketing

Blackmores' profits slump again with hopes now pinned on new Vietnam and China strategies

02-May-2017 By Gary Scattergood

Blackmores is continuing to suffer from a slump in Australian sales to ‘daigou’ buyers, with overall net profits dropping by 42.8% year-on-year, according to figures for the first nine months of its financial year.

Educating consumers on omega-3 benefits, and reminding them of those, remains challenge, event attendees told

19-Apr-2017 By Hank Schultz

Educating consumers on the benefits of omega-3s and keeping those benefits forefront in their minds as they make buying decisions remains one of the principal challenges of the market, experts told attendees on a NutraIngredients-USA webinar that ran...

Special Edition: Functional Foods

Millennials driving next generation of functional foods

16-Mar-2017 By David Anderson

The demands on brands and suppliers to fulfil consumer’s desire to eat healthy foods has never been higher with switched-on millennials becoming increasingly aware of the benefits of functional foods through social media.

The key ingredients in the immune health sector

17-Jan-2017 By Stephen Daniells

Immune supplement sales were valued at an impressive $2.45 billion in 2014 (Nutrition Business Journal), and in this gallery we look at the key market trends and ingredients for this growing sector. 

Survey finds consumers are cautious, which could put pressure on supplement margins

02-Nov-2016 By Hank Schultz

Consumers are likely to be cautious in spending during the holidays and into the new year, a new consumer research survey has found. While there is still good support for dietary supplement sales, pressure on margins could be one result.

Aker shifts to offering services along with supplying krill oil

11-Oct-2016 By Hank Schultz

The krill sector is rapidly diversifying, and supplier Aker BioMarine is joining that trend by emphasizing the solutions aspect of its services to its customers.

NPA asks for NDI comment period extension

26-Aug-2016 By Hank Schultz

The Natural Products Association is asking FDA to add 30 days to the comment period on the updated New Dietary Ingredients draft guidance.

Natural colors will see 'upsurge' in sales and market share in 2016, Future Marketing Insights predicts

11-Aug-2016 By Elizabeth Crawford

Lingering consumer health concerns about artificial dyes combined with a more general demand for “clean labels” is contributing to an “upsurge” in the natural colors market that has ingredient suppliers “scouring for cost-effective sources to offer end-products...

Whey maker gets warning on inflammation claims

05-Aug-2016 By Hank Schultz

A recent warning letter issued by the Food and Drug Administration makes clear the danger marketers run into when using the words “inflammation” and “chronic” in the same breath, even in connection with an unusual product for that sort of claim, such...

Neptune pivots away from krill oil supply toward becoming a 'solutions provider'

13-Jul-2016 By Hank Schultz

On the heels of a positive earnings release, krill oil supplier Neptune has announced a refocus of the company and its brands to reflect that the company goes far beyond just supplying its

Network marketer launches new energy drink featuring Reader's Choice award-winning ingredient

23-Jun-2016 By Hank Schultz

Multilevel marketing company Jusuru has launched a liquid energy/healthy aging supplement that includes theacrine and branded ingredient Liquid BioCell, winner of a recent William Reed award.

Special edition: Bone & Joint Health

Staying flexible helped Osteo Bi-Flex stay on top, exec says

20-Jun-2016 By Hank Schultz

Osteo Bi-flex has maintained its category-leading position by being open to embracing new ideas. That it, by staying flexible, an executive said.

New tool by SPINS and IRI to give natural channel retailers ‘unprecedented advantage’

20-Jun-2016 By Adi Menayang

The tool was designed to bring market insight in the natural channel with the detail and depth once reserved to analysis in conventional channel data.

FTC cites another 'fake news' weight loss marketing scheme

07-Jun-2016 By Hank Schultz

The fake news site scam reared its head again in the weight loss sector again recently as the Federal Trade Commission charged  Florida-based supplement marketers of defrauding consumers.

Aker reaches profitability, extends leadership in krill harvesting

07-Jun-2016 By Hank Schultz

Krill oil supplier Aker BioMarine has passed an important milestone—after more than a decade in the development cycle of the ingredient the company has achieved profitability.

Marketer writes down remaining BluScience inventory, pivots toward ChromaDex's PurEnergy ingredient

02-May-2016 By Hank Schultz

Canadian supplement company NeutriSci has now dropped all sales of ChromaDex’s pTeroPure ingredient in favor of an energy product line based upon its PurEnergy ingredient, which is a pTeroPure/caffeine co crystal. 

Tea for three: Asia’s leading tea companies

19-Apr-2016 By RJ Whitehead

Three out of the world’s five biggest tea companies are based in Asia, according to new market research by Technavio that predicts steady growth in the global market until at least 2020. We profile each of the leaders over the coming pages.

Medifast looks to college sports leagues to popularize new line of sports nutrition products

12-Apr-2016 By Hank Schultz

There are a number of different approaches to popularizing sports nutrition products. Medifast, a weight loss products company, is looking to tie-ins with college sports leagues to popularize its new line of supplements and bars.

World’s first EpiCor yeast fermentate lozenge launched in New Zealand

06-Apr-2016 By RJ Whitehead

New Zealand ingredients supplier Embria Health Sciences has announced the launch of the world’s first throat lozenge formulated with EpiCor yeast fermentate.

People on the move – Winter 2016: Capstone, BGG, PLT and more

10-Mar-2016 By Stephen Daniells

The winter was a period with a few notable hires and promotions, with a new CEO at Capstone, a new Global Chief Marketing Officer at BGG Group, a new senior manager of national sales and analytics at Standard Process, and more. 

A new era of sports drinks: health-conscious consumers, functional beverages & entrepreneurial brands

23-Feb-2016 By Rachel Arthur

While functional sports drinks have been used by athletes for decades, a wider range of consumers are now turning to the beverages, according to a report from MyDrink Beverages. 

The top 10 branded processed food companies have lost 4% of market share in past 5 years, says Rabobank

27-Jan-2016 By Elaine Watson

The top 10 branded processed food companies in the US have lost 4% of their market share in the past five years as smaller, more innovative brands have seized the initiative, says Rabobank.

Product diversion is becoming more prevalent, says Nosco expert

04-Jan-2016 By Stephen Daniells

Diversion – the selling of authentic products in invalid markets, like MLM products on Amazon – is on the rise, with the healthcare practitioner and MLM channels most affected, says an expert from packaging specialists Nosco.

Sustained release powdered CarnoSyn opens doors to new markets, applications for beta-alanine

30-Nov-2015 By Elizabeth Crawford

Natural Alternatives International’s new sustained release CarnoSyn powder significantly expands the appeal of the muscle-building and endurance-boosting beta-alanine ingredient beyond just hardcore fitness enthusiasts to women, the elderly and consumers...

Natural Grocers nears 100th store landmark

05-Aug-2015 By Hank Schultz

As Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage nears its 60th birthday, the company is nearing another milestone, too; the company is slated to open its 100th store this month, CEO Kemper Isley said.

Canadian firm to debut PurEnergy-based energy chew via Bulu Box sampling deal

03-Aug-2015 By Hank Schultz

Canadian company NeutriSci International will jump into the US market via a 50,000-unit -strong sampling program with Bulu Box for its NeuEnergy energy chew. 

Herbalife sees another 'pyramid scheme' lawsuit dismissed

30-Jul-2015 By Hank Schultz

Network marketing giant Herbalife has survived another lawsuit with the dismissal of a suit that hinged on whether the company was forthright enough to investors about its business practices.

World’s biggest food companies suffer 'institutional sluggishness'

21-Jul-2015 By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

The world’s largest food and drink companies saw sales growth nearly halve in 2014 – while local firms have taken advantage of their greater agility to fill market gaps, according to a report from OC&C Strategy Consultants.

How does the supplements industry deal with credibility bashing?

17-Jul-2015 By Stephen DANIELLS

The New York Attorney General’s investigation has led to attacks on the industry by the mainstream media, so how does the industry deal with the credibility bashing?

Testing firm Labdoor uses transaction-based model to help consumers answer this question: What's best?

02-Jul-2015 By Hank Schultz

Labdoor founder Neil Thanedar said he wanted to institute a different dynamic in his product testing and evaluation service. He wanted the benefits to accrue primarily to consumers, and he wanted them to pay for it, too.

CRN issues formulation guidelines on use of melatonin in sleep support products

01-Jul-2015 By Hank Schultz

The Council for Responsible Nutrition has issued new formulation and labeling guidelines for members who are marketing melatonin supplements targeting sleep support, the organization announced yesterday.

Special edition: Immune support

The key market data and ingredients in the immune health sector

18-Jun-2015 By Stephen Daniells

Immune supplement sales were valued at an impressive $2.3 billion in 2013 (Nutrition Business Journal), and in this gallery we look at the key market trends and ingredients for this growing sector. 

Vision Critical’s Insight Communities help large CPGs protect market share from startups

17-Jun-2015 By Elizabeth Crawford

New software from Vision Critical aims to help large consumer packaged goods companies protect their market share from nimble startups by facilitating a two-way dialogue with consumers in real time online. 

GNC reports ‘self-inflicted’ & ‘disappointing’ Q1

01-May-2015 By Stephen DANIELLS

Lower consumer engagement and an inadequate assessment of the impact of prior-year promotions, but not the NY AG’s probe, are responsible for a ‘disappointing’ Q1, said GNC’s CEO Mike Archbold.

How has social media changed food marketing?

08-Apr-2015 By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

The rise of social media has led to a shift in the way consumers view food brands – and the way that food brands interact with their customers, according to experts speaking on the side lines of Food Vision in Cannes.

CRN discourages members from selling bulk powdered caffeine direct to consumers

26-Mar-2015 By Hank Schultz

The Council for Responsible Nutrition has announced a policy that discourages its members from selling bulk powdered caffeine to consumers. The use of the ingredient has been implicated in the deaths of two young men.

FitLife Brands takes hit on unit prices but boosts profits by switching to captive GNC distribution

04-Mar-2015 By Hank Schultz

Switching to a captive distribution mode within the GNC network has helped dietary supplements marketer FitLife Brands realize higher profits on flat revenue, the company announced recently.

Overcoming the hurdles of importing nutraceuticals and cosmeceuticals into Canada

18-Dec-2014 By Steven Page, President, Stalco

Recent changes to the natural products sector in Canada have introduced more hurdles for companies entering that marketplace, but opportunities abound. In this guest article, Steven Page, president of Stalco, gives us his tips for success in the Canada.

NAD recommends company remove "survival pill" claims for product marketed to Mormons

21-Nov-2014 By Hank Schultz

The National Advertising Division has recommended that LifeCaps Nutraceuticals of Salt Lake City, UT, discontinue claims it was making on its LifeCaps brand of dietary supplement that claimed the product is a “survival pill.”

Always Omega-3s consumer campaign doubles sales in test market

20-Nov-2014 By Stephen Daniells

An integrated marketing campaign to change the conversation on omega-3s and reverse declining sales has increased sales by almost 6% in four weeks in the test market in Charlotte, NC, says GOED.

Special Edition: LATAM

The most important lessons for doing business in Latin America for dietary supplement companies

25-Sep-2014 By David Pineda Ereño, Regional Director, EAS Latin America

Being among the most dynamic regional markets in the world with double-digit growth, and with an increasing consumer demand, Latin America offers plenty of opportunities for dietary supplement companies.

FTC permanently bans marketer from weight loss industry

12-Sep-2014 By Hank Schultz

The head of a marketing organization has been permanently banned from the weight loss industry in a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission.

Herbalife invites innovation ideas for North American Innovation conference

25-Aug-2014 By Stephen DANIELLS

Direct selling giant Herbalife is inviting new product ideas from companies, entrepreneurs and nutrition industry ‘visionaries’ to present at its upcoming North American Innovation conference.

Nosco: Beating the ‘boring’ connotation in supplement packaging

19-Aug-2014 By Maggie Hennessy

In its simplest form, dietary supplement packaging serves two basic functions: protecting and selling the product inside. 

Youngevity records strong growth in both multilevel supplement marketing and coffee roasting segments

14-Aug-2014 By Hank Schultz

Youngevity International, a multilevel marketer of nutritional supplements as well as a bulk coffee roaster, reported big increases in net revenue and gross profit in its second quarter of 2014, driven mostly by organic growth aided by acquisitions.

Mérieux NutriSciences expands regulatory, scientific and marketing services

07-Jul-2014 By Joseph James Whitworth

Mérieux NutriSciences Corporation has acquired Total Quality Food Consultants expanding its regulatory, scientific and marketing services.

Phamachem signs deal for vertically-integrated, US-made astaxanthin

02-Jul-2014 By Hank Schultz

Avoca, a division of New Jersey ingredient supplier Pharmachem Laboratories, has signed a deal to commercialize astaxanthin with biotech company Synthetic Genomics Inc.  SGI will supply the biomass and Avoca will do the final extraction and marketing.

NutraClick CEO: We’re playing at a unique intersection of tech and natural products

06-Jun-2014 By Stephen Daniells

With over 100 products available direct to consumer and in retail, NutraClick’s targeted digital marketing strategy is proving to be hugely successful, and long-form educational content is a key component in teaching consumers about the nuances between...

Pollution control and market demand prompts China price rise of CoQ10

25-Apr-2014

The increasing cost of pollution control in China is one of the reasons behind the decision by Shenzhou Biology and Technology to increase the price of its CoenzymeQ10 by 10%, starting next month.

Driven Sports has no intentions to use any Dendrobium-related ingredient in the future: Lawyer

16-Apr-2014 By Stephen DANIELLS

Pre-workout supplement marketer Driven Sports will not be launching any new products containing any Dendrobium-related ingredients in the future, says the company’s legal counsel in response to a warning letter from the FDA.