Global nutrition industry sales grew to $150-billion in 2001 according to
research recently published by Nutrition Business Journal
(nutritionbusiness.com). Dietary supplement, natural personal care and
natural, organic and functional food sales in the United States totaled $53
billion, making the U.S. the largest single nutrition market in the world.
 However, 65% of global sales were tallied outside U.S. borders.  This new
research, presented in the August/September 2002 issue of Nutrition
Business Journal, shows that European markets grew 7.6% to $48 billion in
consumer sales, followed by Japan with 9.1% growth and $27 billion in
nutrition sales.  NBJ's biennial compilation of data and reports on
national and regional markets included the review of more than 60 sources
and 100 executive interviews.

The $50-billion global supplement industry (which includes vitamins,
minerals, herbs, sports, weight-loss and specialty supplements) saw slow or
declining growth in mature markets, punctuated by pockets of positive
growth in emerging markets.  High growth countries include Malaysia and The
Philippines in Asia, Spain and Italy in Southern Europe, and Poland and
Russia in Eastern Europe. Value growth was slower than volume growth in
most supplement markets due to a combination of factors: the rise of
private label, crossover into lower-priced channels and dwindling
reimbursement practices in Europe.  As a result, these trends have slowed
R&D spending when industry pundits call for new science to drive increased
consumer usage. The slowdown in the U.S. supplement market also
reverberated across the Atlantic as European manufacturers and marketers
saw the tide of consumer sentiment turning.

NBJ forecasts global nutrition industry growth of 6-8% through 2007.  The
fourth edition of Nutrition Business Journal's Global Nutrition Industry
issue looks at market size, top companies, growth, regional drivers,
regulation and competition on a country-by-country basis. It addresses each
of the four segments of the nutrition industry: dietary supplements,
natural & organic foods, natural personal care, and functional foods.  It
includes 1999-2001 Global Nutrition Industry sales by product category and
region as well as company profiles of Aboca, Pan Geo Pharma, Nelson Bach,
Solgar Vitamins Holland, Wessanen and So Good. This biennial issue of NBJ
is priced at $250 for non-NBJ subscribers. For more information or a list
of NBJ back issues, visit nutritionbusiness.com or call 619-295-7685 ext.
12. A subscription to NBJ costs $995.