The health market continues to grow year after year both online and offline. The report below shows the growth of the supplement industry. Also note that higher percentage of people are turning to ordering these products online.

'Published by Packaged Facts, Nutritional Supplements in the US estimates the overall market was worth $6.1bn in 2007, up 7.5 percent from 2006. From 2003 to 2007, the market grew a total of 17.3 percent, with a compound annual growth rate of 4.1 percent.

Measuring the size of the supplements market in the United States has always been subject to variation, due to different tracking methods and sales outlets, including the black hole of internet sales. Packaged Facts based its figures on data from IRI. For a more detailed break-down of tracking methodology, see the bottom of this article.

Market growth

The report noted that after a period of sluggish sales in 2004/2005 resulting from negative media coverage of vitamin E, the market has since rebounded and is now “on an upswing”.

Factors that have helped drive sales growth despite a general climate of economic slow-down include a renewed focus on condition-specific supplements. Baby boomers have also helped keep the market up, being a population segment with more disposable income and a high interest in health maintenance.

Condition-specific

Supplements marketed for a specific condition, including those specifically targeting men, women or children, currently make up 28 percent of total mass-market sales. This represents a growth of just over 7 percent since 2003.

Almost every condition-specific supplement product posted growth between 2003 and 2007, with the exceptions being calcium supplements and women’s supplements.

Nevertheless, calcium supplements still lead the condition-specific market, together with joint health supplements. These products recorded sales of $142m and $174m respectively during 2007. Joint health products experienced much faster growth in 2007, with the category increasing 11 percent during the year to April 20 2008, compared to just under 1 percent growth for calcium supplements.