Supply Chain

Prominent animal supplement stakeholder shares insight into supply chain, cautions industry

20-Apr-2020 By Danielle Masterson

The American Pet Products Association’s (APPA) 2019-2020 National Pet Owner Survey found that 67% of American households own at least one pet. But is pet health a priority in tough times?

Coronavirus: Spotlight on the biotin supply chain

15-Apr-2020 By Danielle Masterson

China accounts for about 80% of the global biotin supply, making it the largest biotin production country in the world. While supply chain dependency on China is a well-known fact for the United States, the crippling impact of the coronavirus in recent...

CORONAVIRUS: SPOTLIGHT ON THE SUPPLY CHAIN

Curcumin supply escapes worst of coronavirus supply disruptions

14-Apr-2020 By Hank Schultz

The rapid shutdown of Indian society to combat the coronavirus crisis has inconvenienced manufacturers of curcumin ingredients, but thus far has not put a critical dent in inventories, suppliers say.

NOW CEO: ‘March was unprecedented in the history of the company’

14-Apr-2020 By Stephen Daniells

Many dietary supplement companies are experiencing surging sales as consumers seek out health-promoting products, and Chicago-based NOW is no different. The company experienced “incredible” sales in March, but ingredient supply bottlenecks and the economic...

CORONAVIRUS: SPOTLIGHT ON THE SUPPLY CHAIN

Probiotics players express solid supply expectations amid surging sales

13-Apr-2020 By Stephen Daniells

As demand for dietary supplements continues to surge, immune products, including probiotics, are among the most in-demand. We spoke to some leading probiotic players to find out how supply is being impacted by the novel coronavirus and what the next 3-6...

CORONAVIRUS: SPOTLIGHT ON THE SUPPLY CHAIN

Echinacea demand spike likely to cause bottlenecks, price increases

10-Apr-2020 By Hank Schultz

The rapid increase in demand for echinacea products is putting a strain on the supply system that may take some time to sort through, suppliers say.

CORONAVIRUS: SPOTLIGHT ON THE SUPPLY CHAIN

ABC/ BAPP: ‘We are deeply concerned about the integrity of the botanical supply chains’

08-Apr-2020 By Stephen Daniells

As disruptions due to the novel Coronavirus ripple through global supply chains, plus FDA’s announcement that it is reducing inspections, the ABC-AHP-NCNPR Botanical Adulterants Prevention Program (BAPP) is urging buyers to be “more vigilant than ever”.

Depleting stocks, longer delivery time: Companies on meeting vitamin C supply amid COVID-19 disruption

08-Apr-2020 By Tingmin Koe

The huge demand for vitamin C has sent stocks running low for retailers and the situation is further complicated by longer delivery times and more expensive freight costs.

Coronavirus: Spotlight on the Supply Chain

India lockdown affecting ashwagandha supply, but US inventories remain strong

02-Apr-2020 By Stephen Daniells

Supplies of the Ayurveda’s flagship herb Ashwagandha from India are tightening as the country goes on lockdown because of the novel coronavirus, but two leading US suppliers tell NutraIngredients-USA that their domestic inventories remain robust.

Coronavirus: Spotlight on the Supply Chain

Potential supplement supply bottlenecks identified in response to federal government request

01-Apr-2020 By Hank Schultz

The US Department of Agriculture has contacted stakeholders in the dietary supplement industry to potential problems in the supply chain of dietary supplements in light of the current coronavirus crisis.

Export challenge: China’s botanical firms in supply chain battle as global orders rebound for immunity ingredients

18-Mar-2020 By Tingmin Koe

The COVID-19 epidemic has led to a rebound in demand for plant extracts with immune-boosting effects, but a China industry expert has warned there are difficulties in exporting the goods due to logistic supply chain problems.

Panic buying of immune products causes shortfalls; greater supply gaps loom in months ahead

16-Mar-2020 By Hank Schultz

A pulse of supply and production issues caused by the COVID-19 crisis is making its way through the dietary supplement industry. Inventories of botanical ingredients continue to hold up, but unprecedented demand for immunity boosting products is causing...

Inventories cushion coronavirus blow for North American companies, but future uncertain

13-Feb-2020 By Hank Schultz

The coronavirus crisis has yet to become a cataclysm for companies that import and rely upon Chinese ingredients, but there is an urgent need for firms to make contingency plans, experts say.

Supplement branding expert: ‘Don’t lead with the science’

07-Dec-2018 By Adi Menayang

Most dietary supplement consumers expect a product to have scientific backing, so putting science at the forefront of a marketing or branding campaign just comes off as ‘noise,’ said one branding expert.

Despite market growth, supply of Ayurvedic raw materials seems secure, experts say

14-Aug-2018 By Hank Schultz

The supply of botanical materials for Ayurvedic preparations seems secure despite the growing popularity of the products and a recent report that some rules governing wild harvest are being flaunted.

Panda-friendly Schisandra: Project provides blueprint for sourcing botanicals in ecosystems with endangered animals

06-Jul-2018 By Stephen Daniells

How palm oil supply affects endangered orangutans, or coffee production impacts migratory birds are relatively well-known for many consumers, but they may not be aware of “panda-friendly” Schisandra sphenanthera. This could be set to change.

When transparency is no longer a differentiator, supplement brands need to be creative with corporate social responsibility

24-May-2018 By Adi Menayang

As more supplement brands go great lengths to be transparent to consumers, communicating corporate social responsibility (CSR) creatively becomes key.

The erosion of predictability: Climate change and the botanical supply chain

22-Mar-2018 By Stephen Daniells

From changes to the times when plants are flowering, fruiting, and harvested, to disruptions to nature’s synchronization between plants and their insect pollinators, climate change is exerting significant pressure on the botanical supply chain, and companies...

NSF International launches ‘DNA Authenticated’ seal for ingredient suppliers

20-Feb-2018 By Adi Menayang

Global product testing firm NSF International announced its new NSF DNA Authenticated mark for dietary supplement ingredient suppliers.

Special Edition: Innovation in Dietary Supplements

Innovation reforming supply of botanical ingredients

15-Feb-2018 By Hank Schultz

Innovation doesn’t always concern new products on the shelf. In the past few years organizations active within the dietary supplement industry supply chain have brought forth new ideas that are transforming how botanical products are sourced, and how...

View from the Editor's Chair

Where’s the innovation in dietary supplements? Part 1: From supply chain to new science

15-Feb-2018 By Stephen Daniells

A couple of years ago the CEOs of some of the industry’s specialist retailers were lamenting what they saw as a lack of innovation in dietary supplements, but there is much to be excited about in dietary supplements and innovation is everywhere.

FDA to delay enforcement on four FSMA rules

08-Jan-2018 By Hank Schultz

Some of the provisions of the Food Safety Modernization Act will be delayed in implementation while FDA works through potential problems that were identified in the comments phase, the agency announced last week.

Vitamin World revamps online commerce infrastructure

12-Jul-2017 By Adi Menayang

Retailer Vitamin World has partnered with Visionet Systems to transform its digital commerce infrastructure, with a strong focus on seamlessly integrating their online channel, brick-and-mortar stores and backend supply chain processes.

New 'direct fermentation' vegan glucosamine hangs hat on supply chain transparency

29-Sep-2016 By Hank Schultz

A new vegan source of glucosamine is entering the market with the unveiling of GlucosaGreenDF, the first such ingredient made with what the supplier calls ‘direct fermentation.’ 

NOW Foods CEO: Transparency is key facet of brand equity

13-May-2016 By Hank Schultz

Transparency has become a watchword among dietary supplement companies. Jim Emme, president of NOW Foods, said it is one of the founding principles of his company.

A wake-up call: UNPA survey shows lack of consumer & market awareness of credible certification seals

29-Apr-2016 By Stephen Daniells

Eighty-one percent of responders to a recent UNPA survey think the dietary supplements industry would need a new quality seal if the industry had to move toward a single seal of quality, a result that should serve as a wake-up call to the existing and...

Efforts to standardize documentation practices detailed at UNPA meeting

08-Mar-2016 By Hank Schultz

Trying to solve the supply chain issues facing the dietary supplement industry is complicated by the muddled state of documentation practices, but there are efforts underway to address the problem.

Turning quality narrative around complicated by years of sourcing based on lowest price, expert says

04-Mar-2016 By Hank Schultz

After years of hand wringing over the situation in raw material supply in which low quality ingredients find a home in the marketplace, consensus now seems to be building in the dietary supplement industry to do something about it. But at a recent industry...

GOED EXCHANGE 2016

Traceability, a big topic at recent GOED Exchange meeting, to be covered in impending online Transparency Forum

08-Feb-2016 By Hank Schultz

Traceability and verifiability were big topics at the GOED Exchange meeting that took place last week in the Canary Islands. These topics will be addressed in an online forum later this week hosted by NutraIngredients-USA.

Put expectations of suppliers' GMP compliance culture into writing as part of contract, experts advise

24-Nov-2015 By Hank Schultz

Beefing up supply chain management has been a mantra in dietary supplement industry meetings over recent months.  For that to be most effective, it needs to include a consideration of supply partners’ business practices, experts say.

In-house labs make sense in era of mounting pressure on supply chain, NOW Foods' Secrist says

11-Nov-2015 By Hank Schultz

The mounting pressure on supply chain verification means it’s time for more companies in the dietary supplements industry to consider building and staffing their own labs, said NOW Foods exec Aaron Secrist.

Is DNA barcoding now the adulteration tool du jour?

14-Oct-2015 By Stephen Daniells

The NY Attorney General’s focus on DNA barcoding may actually be making quality worse, says Frank Jaksch, CEO of ChromaDex, and the focus should be on supply chain management and not analytical techniques.

Special edition: Outsourcing

The ins and outs: Are firms shifting to vertically integrated supply chains?

21-May-2015 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Outsourcing. It's no secret it can bring big financial and logistical gains. But in an age when traceability and accountability carry increasing value, are we now seeing a shift towards a new concept of insourcing?

Special Edition: Supply in the time of Schneiderman

13-May-2015 By Hank Schultz

The supply end of the dietary supplement sector has come under extraordinary pressures of late. While the NYAG affair has called the integrity of the supply chain into question, demand continues to increase for certain ingredients such as Ayurvedic herbs...

Ashwagandha interest spilling into mainstream market

16-Apr-2014 By Maggie Hennessy

The so-called flagship herb of Ayurveda, ashwagandha is gaining traction in the mainstream US market as consumers embrace its wide-ranging body of health benefits on the heels of strong clinical support and a few celebrity health practitioner endorsements.

Blendhub boosts supply chain transparency

02-Apr-2014 By Sarah Hills

Premium Blendhub has created a new centre that offers a fully transparent management model of the raw materials in food powder blends, to help customers optimise their supply chain.

Naturex battles botanical adulteration with supply chain security

27-Mar-2014 By Shane STARLING

High-priced botanicals like bilberry and saw palmetto continue to attract counterfeiters and adulterers, meaning supply chain integrity is more important than ever, the world’s biggest herbal extract player has said.

Special edition: Botanicals

Better supply chain management will bring sustainability and quality, says botanical expert

07-Nov-2013 By Nathan Gray

Botanical players who are serious about providing good quality products must take more care of their supply chain in order to increase sustainability and build quality, says Professor Monique Simmonds, OBE.

Coca-Cola dominates 2007 functional acquisitions

21-Dec-2007 By Clarisse Douaud

This year was characterized by larger mainstream food and beverage
companies moving into the value-added and functional business.

Weekly Comment

Ingredients for cheap?

07-May-2007

As recent incidents of food contamination demonstrate, the cheapest
source for ingredients may not turn out to be so cheap after all.

Weekly comment

A fair trade future

30-Oct-2006

The world needs an independent trade watchdog to properly regulate
the international food supply chain if we as a society are to truly
create a more sustainable and ethical food market.

Trade associations launch ingredients information exchange protocol

23-Oct-2006 By Stephen Daniells

The four leading US dietary supplement trade associations have
announced the launch of a new voluntary industry-wide protocol to
facilitate the exchange of information between ingredient suppliers
and finished product manufacturers.