WINTER WELLNESS What’s trending in vitamins, supplements, and natural remedies?
Jeffrey Hutchinson, Category Manager, Healthcare and Toiletries at Countdown says vitamins and supplements continues to be a space where his team is seeing lots of growth and interest from customers. “We think this is because Kiwis are very focused on health and immunity, particularly as we continue to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic and now moving into the winter season. “We’ve seen particularly strong growth in Vitamin C, effervescents, and vitamins and supplements for children. “We’ve also noticed more and more people looking to vitamins and supplements to help with wider wellbeing, for example there’s been growing interest in collagen, hair, skin and nail care items along with products designed to support better sleep and lower stress,” says Hutchinson.
Healtheries makes big move to plant-based packaging In a bold move to become more sustainable, New Zealand’s number one supplements brand1 is moving its entire range packaged in fossil fuelbased bottles to plant-based bottles. Healtheries is changing 80 supplements SKUs to bottles made from sugarcane. The sugarcane is ethically sourced, renewable and like all plants removes carbon from the atmosphere as it grows. Head of marketing Simon Cheape says the company’s move to sugarcane bottles could see an estimated 192 tonnes annual reduction in carbon emissions2 – the equivalent of driving a car from Auckland to Wellington 1,700 times3. “We don’t want our sustainability efforts to be token, but rather ensure we are making a significant impact. That’s why we are changing all 80 of our Healtheries supplement products to sugarcane bottles at one time,” he says.
“It’s been a huge undertaking but it’s an important step from a sustainability standpoint and what’s expected from our ever-discerning customers,” he says. The new sugarcane-based bottles are kerbside recyclable so customers can pop empty bottles into their recycling bins. In addition to changing to sugarcane-based bottles, Healtheries also have new-look labels, refreshed to make it easier for shoppers to choose the supplement that’s right for them. “Customers will notice a more translucent look to the bottles as well. That’s because we have removed the white colour pigment to increase their recyclability, meaning they can be remade into more things,” says Cheape. Healtheries supplements in the new plant-based bottles are available in supermarkets and select pharmacies nationwide. [1] IRI scan data to 24/4/22 [2] Estimate provided by an independent environmental body [3] Based on average NZ vehicle CO2 emissions per km (https://www.beehive.govt.nz/)
“HEALTHERIES IS CHANGING 80 SUPPLEMENTS SKUS TO BOTTLES MADE FROM SUGARCANE.”
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FMCG BUSINESS - JULY 2022