Dietary supplements mainly from drugstores

The market of vitamins and dietary supplements has been growing dynamically, according to Nielsen data. Double digit growth took place in 2008, with total sales exceeding HUF 4 billion. Sales of dietary supplements were up by 26 percent, reaching HF 3.3 billion in the first nine months of 2008. Complex extracts account for the largest part of sales in terms of value (62 percent). The market shares of herbs and other extracts were up, reaching 20 and 17 percent respectively. Sales of non-dissolvable vitamins and minerals were up by 33 percent in terms of value, exceeding HUF 600 million. Mono vitamins accounted for 35 percent of sales in terms of value, while the market share of vitamin-mineral mixes was up from 31 to 32 percent. Drugstores were the dominant distribution channel, increasing their market share from 75 to 80 percent, with that of hyper markets and supermarkets dropping to 17 and 3 percent respectively. Sales of dissolvable vitamins and minerals were up by 11 percent in terms of value, exceeding HUF 500 million. Mixes are the largest segment, accounting for 54 percent of total sales.