WellCo to develop Woolworths vitamins

South Africa's WellCo Health is set to formulate its first private label dietary supplements, thanks to a joint venture with retailer Woolworths for a full range of products for adults and children.

The South African vitamin market is estimated to be worth more than R2.3 m (€0.3 m), and to be experiencing growth of around 14 per cent a year.

WellCo Health CEO Dean Marais said that the exclusive agreement, which also involvement in marketing of the products, is a "significant endorsement" for the company, which claims to have a four per cent share of the South African market.

The new vitamin line is expected to be on shelves in the latter part of 2006. Products will be manufactured at a GMP pharmaceutical-grade facility that is certified by the MCC and Department of Health.

The company's main stable of products comprises the herbology, Superstars, KGB and Igugo Lempilo.

According to press reports, WellCo Health is also poised to introduce its KGB hangover cure in a number of other markets this year, including the UK, Spain, Portugal, Mexico, Canada and the US.