Eye on the EU supplements market: Italy shines brightest
Over the 5-year period Italy’s market for vitamins, minerals, herbals, omega-3s and other supplements grew from $1.425bn to $1.528bn, although it contracted from a high of $1.54bn in 2010.
By contrast, the UK slid from $743.9m in 2008 to $673.4m in 2010, although it rebounded to $727m in 2012.
Over the same 2008-2012 period France saw its market contract from $788.3m to $741.6m and Spain’s fell from $245.6m to $206.2m. Figures for the German market were not available.
Markets in Greece, Ireland and Portugal also fell.
Overall, western European markets shrank from $6.363bn in 2008 to $6.16bn in 2012. Eastern Europe fared better, growing from $1.861bn to $1.979bn after a 2010 dip to $1.708bn.
Euromonitor said the top-selling food supplement in Europe was Sanofi's probiotic offering, Enterogermina. It sold about $160m in 2012.
