Across the Nutraverse: RFK, Jr., Kerry focuses on nutrition, Blackmores sales boost & more

18-Nov-2024 - Last updated on 18-Nov-2024 at 12:50 GMT

A lot has happened in the global nutrition industry over the past seven days, with headlines including data from big changes on the horizon in the US after RFK, Jr.’s nomination for a cabinet position, Kerry offloading its dairy business, and more. Catch up with our weekly round-up of key news from across the Nutraverse.

USA: Change is coming as RFK Jr.’s is nominated to lead HHS

U.S. dietary supplements trade associations were quick to comment on President-elect Trump’s decision to nominate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services.

If confirmed by the Senate, Kennedy, who ran for president as an independent before dropping out and endorsing former President Trump, would take responsibility for HHS, which includes the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the regulatory agency responsible for the regulation of food and dietary supplements.

NutraIngredients-USA canvassed opinion from the trade associations, with Daniel Fabricant, PhD, president and CEO of the Natural Products Association, stating that his organization is excited about the nomination.

“The FDA is in need of serious reform. President-elect Trump’s nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. spotlights the need for this reform,” he said. “We are excited about this nomination because Americans value health, freedom and natural products.”

Loren Israelsen, president of the United Natural Products Alliance (UNPA), told us: “The incoming administration promised change. The nomination of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. is a clear example of keeping that promise. Should he be confirmed by the Senate, this will mean peril for some and opportunity for others.

“RFK, Jr. has been quite clear what he feels requires immediate attention to improve the health of children, the land and the right for Americans to choose among a wider range of health and wellness options and choices. I would expect that our views will be heard with greater interest and an openness to be a partner toward a healthier America.”

Ireland: Kerry to offload dairy division and focus on taste and nutrition

In a move towards consolidation, Kerry Group plc has agreed to sell Kerry Dairy Ireland to Kerry Co-Operative Creameries Limited in a phased divestment expected to be worth €500 million.

If given the go-ahead, the transaction will result in Kerry splitting into two distinct businesses—Kerry Group, a taste and nutrition solutions provider for the food, beverage and pharmaceuticals industries, and Kerry Dairy Ireland, a dairy consumer and ingredients provider.

This would allow Kerry to consolidate its resources around taste and nutrition—its more profitable businesses, which the group has bolstered through enzymes and biotechnology acquisitions in recent years.

Edmond Scanlon, Kerry Group CEO, commented: “The proposed transaction will result in a global leader in taste & nutrition solutions and an end-to-end industry leader in dairy. Both businesses are perfectly positioned for success, thanks to the dedication and extraordinary contribution of our people over the years.”

Read the full story HERE.

APAC: Younger consumers seeking out joint supplements to meet active lifestyle needs

Proprietary research from Lonza has revealed that nearly as many younger consumers globally are looking to actively maintain their joint health, compared to their older counterparts.

Specifically, as many as 81% of younger adults worldwide expressed concerns about potential future joint pain and discomfort, while 70% are concerned about reduced mobility.

Drilling into the data for APAC, Juliana Erickson, senior category marketing manager for capsules and health ingredients at Lonza, told NutraIngredients-Asia: “Mobility is key to maintaining an active lifestyle, so it’s no wonder that joint health supplements are becoming increasingly important to this evolving demographic. In fact, data shows that 53% of Asian consumers are interested in joint health products, even if they are not suffering from specific problems in this area.

“More younger consumers are seeking out supplements to meet their active lifestyle needs. A significant 75% of consumers aged between 25 and 42 in the APAC region express a desire to improve their bone and joint health, as they feel it is affecting their mobility and ability to perform basic tasks.”

Australia and Japan: Strong sales for Blackmores in Kirin’s Q3

Blackmores’ strong sales performance in Q3 FY2024 has helped parent company Kirin reduce the operating loss coming from its health science business, which also included functional ingredients arm Kyowa Hakko Bio, and newly acquired FANCL.

Blackmores, which was acquired by Kirin last August, saw its revenue jump 218.5% from JPY 16 billion (US$ 104.02 million) to JPY 50.9 billion (US$ 330.91 million).

Blackmores reported good performance in Australia and New Zealand, with its revenue in Q3 up 4.6% from AUD$ 217 million (US$ 142.62m) to AUD$ 227 million (US$ 149.19 million).

This was led by strong growth in the practitioner-only brand BioCeuticals and price increases from April.

“Blackmores is progressing as expected in Australia and Southeast Asia. However, sales growth in China is slower due to a deteriorating market environment. Nonetheless, we expect to achieve the total Normalised OP (Operating Profit) in this segment forecasted in Q2,” said Hiroaki Takaoka, senior executive officer and general manager of the Corporate Strategy Department.

Read our full coverage HERE.