Health Supplement Stores Industry Profile

Companies in this industry sell vitamins, minerals, and dietary supplements from physical retail locations. Major companies include GNC Holdings, Vitamin Shoppe, and Vitamin World (all based in the US), along with Holland & Barrett (UK).

Worldwide supplement sales through all channels are projected to approach $136 billion in 2019, according to the 2019 NBJ Global Supplement Business Report. The US and Asia, notably China, are leading markets for supplement sales, each accounting for about a third of global sales, according to Nutrition Business Journal (NBJ). A significant amount of growth is expected to come from Latin America, driven by rising urban populations, modernizing retail channels, and increasing middle-class income.

The US health supplement store industry includes about 10,000 establishments (single-location companies and units of multi-location companies) with combined annual revenue of about $6.8 billion. Dietary supplement usage in the US is at an all-time high, with more than 75% of adults taking supplements, according to The Council for Responsible Nutrition.

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

Health and nutrition trends, aging populations, and consumer spending drive demand. The profitability of individual companies depends on product innovation, effective merchandising, and competitive pricing. Large companies have advantages in purchasing, distribution, finance, and marketing. Small companies can compete effectively by providing superior customer service, offering unique products, serving a local market, or leveraging online sales. The US industry is concentrated: the top 20 companies generate about 50% of sales.

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