Suntory reports decline in APAC health supplement business amid inflation woes
Suntory Beverage & Food, the company behind health supplement product Brand's Essence of Chicken, has reported a decline in its health supplement business in Asia-Pacific as a result of inflation during Q1 this year.
The company’s segment profit in APAC was down 6.8 per cent on a currency neutral basis to JPY$11.8bn (US$86.5m), “due to the significant impact of negative revenue growth in the health supplement business,” said Noriaki Otsuka, managing executive officer, division COO during the financial results presentation.
Specifically, its health supplement business reported a 17.7 per cent decline on a currency neutral basis to JPY$8bn (US$58.6m).
Functional future: Kirin to double down on immunity beverage range as sales surge in Q1
Kirin says that functional drinks from its health science domain are the “particular focus” for its beverage business this year after sales of its LC-Plasma immunity range increased by 8.5 per cent to 1.71 million cases in Q1.
The upcoming summer months between July and September is when the firm would step up on its launch of new functional food and beverages.
In contrast to its flagship tea brands Kirin Gogo-no-Kocha and Kirin Nama-cha where sales volume had dropped 2.4 per cent and eight per cent to 11.1 million cases and 4.89 million cases respectively, sales volumes of its LC-Plasma immune health beverages had increased 8.5 per cent to 1.71 million cases in Q1 this year.
Bayer Q1 results: CEO confident of ‘return to healthy growth’ amid steep drop in nutritionals sales
Bayer, the company behind supplement brands Redoxon and Berocca, reported a “significant decline” in its nutritionals category in APAC and other major markets, but the CEO is still confident that sales would “return to healthy growth” for the full year.
Its nutritionals category, which consists of multivitamin brands such as Redoxon, Berocca, Supradyn, and pre-conception and pregnancy multivitamin brand Elevit, saw a 10.5 per cent decline in sales on a reported basis to 375 million euros (US$410m).
This decline was attributed to “temporary supply constraints” and a strong performance in the prior year across all regions, the firm said.
Haleon Q1 results: Asia-Pacific VMS sees high single digit growth led by Centrum, Caltrate
Haleon has reported high single digit revenue growth in its vitamin and mineral supplements (VMS) category across Asia-Pacific in Q1 this year, due to the demand for Centrum and Caltrate especially in China, South East Asia, and Taiwan.
Revenue growth from Centrum was up high-single digit, which the firm said was “due to strength in Asia Pacific, especially in China, South East Asia and Taiwan, and across Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA).”
The same was seen in its Caltrate brand, which reported good growth in China.
Infant, adult nutrition-led: Danone's sales growth highest in China, North Asia, Oceania in first quarter 2023
China, North Asia, and Oceania contributed the highest sales growth for Danone at 16 per cent in the first quarter of year 2023, led by increased purchases of its key products, including infant nutrition and adult specialties.
In total, the three regions delivered a like-for-like sales growth of 16 per cent in the first quarter of this year.
A part of its specialised nutrition portfolio, Danone's infant nutrition range reported “a strong start to the year fuelled by higher shipments” in China in the first quarter of this year.