Spring 2011 Supplement Manufacturing Trends

The winter season is winding down, the economy is recovering and more consumers, now more than ever, are showing a preference towards natural, nutritional and herbal products to meet their health needs. This is a great time to focus on enhancing your product line for spring 2011. Historically, the sale of certain supplements has seen greater consumer demand during these months. So, if you’re a supplement company, don’t miss out on cashing in on the latest supplement manufacturing trends this season. Here’s our take on what you can expect in spring 2011:

Sports Nutrition
According to Datamonitor, sports nutrition supplement buyers can be categorized into three segments. By the end of 2010, Datamonitor had predicted each segment to reach:1

• Professional athletes/performers: 8 percent of the U.S. population
• Part-time performers such as trainers, etc: 15 percent of the U.S. population
• Active gym members and health enthusiasts: 55 percent of the U.S. population

The last segment holds the biggest opportunity for nutritional supplement manufacturers. Warmer weather will motivate people to dust off their bikes, running shoes and in-line skates to enjoy some outdoor sports! Of course, there are people that frequent health clubs year-round, but alongside those, are people who wait for spring to arrive before beginning their exercise regimens. A sales boost in the sports nutrition segment is more than likely and includes products such as:

• Pre- and post workout supplements that enhance fat loss, stamina, promote muscle building and increase post workout recovery. There are several combinations of well-researched ingredients that can be used for manufacturing pre- and post workout supplement, the most popular being protein powders. Hydrolyzed whey protein isolate is one of the highest quality proteins and offers optimum nutrition with a fast absorption rate. Taste and texture are also important features for consumers.
  
  Popular ingredients: Glutamine, amino acids, creatine, whey protein, l-arginine, dextrose.
  
  Popular delivery systems: tablets, capsules, powders, especially protein powders in a variety of flavors and in travel-friendly packaging.
• Energy products. Last year’s article “Spring 2010 Nutraceutical Manufacturing Trends” from Nutricap Labs, predicted a growing consumer demand for energy drinks in all age groups. Companies & Markets (a market research company based in London) reports the global energy food and drinks market was worth $30.4 billion in 2010 and had a compound annual growth rate of 6.8% throughout 2009-2010. This in spite of the high cost of energy drinks in a recessive economy!2-3
  
  Sports and health enthusiasts are not the only ones demanding energy drinks. The energy drink market is being increasingly led by professionals facing fatigue and work-related stress. The emphasis is on energy drinks that have added health benefits. According to a report from Canadean (a beverage market research company based in the United Kingdom), product claims like ‘juice’, ‘natural’, or ’low /no carb’ have an effect on consumer purchases.4
  
  Popular ingredients: Besides guarana and taurine, added health benefits through exotic herbs like ginkgo biloba, ginseng and milk thistle are commonly used in energy drink formulations. Other ingredients include L-carnitine for energy production and fat metabolism.
  
  Popular delivery systems: bars, beverages, energy shots.

Diet, Weight Loss and Detox
Spring is typically the time when dieters take advantage of fresh seasonal fruits/vegetables and spring into healthy eating habits. To support their weight loss regimens, people are looking for science-supported weight loss aids that contain fat burners/blockers, appetite suppressants and energy boosters. A 2009 report from Frost & Sullivan (a business research and consulting firm with over 40 global offices) shows that consumers are becoming increasingly skeptical about products that are advertised as magic bullets for weight loss. Instead, they are more likely to purchase weight loss aids that enhance smart weight loss with ingredients that are known to be safe and have efficacy to deliver results.5

• Weight loss supplements: Despite the cynicism, the market for weight loss aids continues to grow. According to a healthcare market research report by MarketsandMarkets (a global market research and consulting company based in Texas), the global weight loss market is expected to be worth $586.3 billion by 2014. The United States is by far the largest geographical segment and the market here is expected to be valued at $310 billion by 2014.6
  
  Popular ingredients: bitter orange, chitosan, conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), hoodia and green tea extract, fiber, guar gum, sodium carboxymethylcellulose and glucomannan, St. John’s wort, apple cider, licorice, dandelion, country mallow, ginseng, spirulina and more.
  
  Popular delivery systems: capsules, tablets and herbal tea powders, as well as fiber powders/shakes and liquids in a variety of flavors.
• Body detox. Trends show that people want to ‘spring’ clean their bodies, too, at this time of year, in order to prime systemic health. The focus is on body detox products to help remove toxins accumulated in the body due to stress, smoking, poor eating habits, pollutants in the environment, etc.
  
  Popular products: colon cleansers, liver supplements, pro- and pre-biotic combinations, as well other digestive aids.
  
  Popular delivery systems: Herbal teas, senna, milk thistle, psyllium, probioitic strains,

Anti-allergen Supplements:
The sniffles and sneezes become more common as the weather warms up and the air we breathe is filled with pollen. According to a 2006 National Health Survey from the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), about 18 million adults and 7 million children suffer from hay fever during this time of the year. Consumer trends show that people are turning to herbal or natural supplements to combat their health needs.

Popular ingredients: Vitamin C, N-acetyl cysteine (NAC), nettle, lycopene, magnesium, quercetin, glucomannan, licorice root, pinebark and butterbur extracts.

Popular delivery systems: capsules, tablets

Manufacture with GMP-Certified Supplement Manufacturer
Are you stocked up on popular products to meet this spring’s supplement manufacturing trends? You might want to consider adding new products or improve an existing formula. Nutricap Labs, a premier contract supplement manufacturer, has a highly qualified team of product advisors who will work with you to create a unique formula that is manufactured in a GMP certified facility and has the full potential to meet the health needs of your target market. For more information about their manufacturing services, call (800) 494-6154 to speak to one of their product advisors or submit a request to receive a free quote in 48 hours or less.

References:

1. Datamonitor (2007) The Future of On-the-go Eating & Drinking Patterns, Datamonitor report DMCM4589. New York, NY: Datamonitor. datamonitor.com/store/product/the_future_of_on_the_go_eating_drinking_patterns?productid=DMCM4589
2. Spring 2010 Nutraceutical Manufacturing Trends: http://ezinearticles.com/?Spring-2010-Nutraceutical-Manufacturing-Trends&id=4204313.
3. Global energy food and drink market worth US$30.4 billion in 2010, Companies & Market. companiesandmarkets.com/news/global-energy-food-and-drink-market-worth-us-304-billion-in-2010-n214.aspx
4. Canadean’s Emerging Trends & Growth Opportunities in Energy Drinks: Shots, Flavor Trends & Forecasts to 2015.
5. Frost & Sullivan: Rising Obesity Rates Drive the Global Weight Management Ingredients Market.
6. Global Weight Loss and Gain Market (2009 – 2014), Market andMarkets, salisonline.org/market-research/global-market-for-weight-loss-worth-us586-3-billionby-2014/