In this week’s blog, we take a closer look at our newly published Market Movers data for MAT Q1 2020, which highlights the brands that performed best and worst in terms of value sales growth or decline in that period. Certain marketers like RB, which last week reported a 12% rise in its OTC portfolio in Q2 2020, have found success from having a well-positioned portfolio of power brands in fast-growing, Covid-driven CHC categories, such as cough & cold remedies (Mucinex), immunity supplements (Airborne) and antiseptics & disinfectants (Dettol).
P&G also reported double-digit organic growth of its Personal Health Care portfolio in Q2 (fiscal Q4), powered by Vicks, which continues to gain share. Vicks NyQuil / DayQuil combo packs were among the six fastest-growing brands in MAT Q1 2020, along with one of China’s leading systemic cold & flu remedies, 999 Gan Mao Ling. VMS products also featured strongly among the Top 6 fastest-growing brands, with Olly and Emergen-C performing well in the US market thanks to their stress / immunity positioning, and Double Whale Vitamin D Drops achieving high growth in China. J&J’s Tylenol, the No.1 analgesic brand globally, also continues to produce dynamic Covid-driven growth.
Asia-Pacific was the region that underperformed most in MAT Q1 2020 – achieving just 3.4% growth vs 6.3% for North America and Europe – so it is no surprise that five of the Top 6 worst-performing brands are from China or Japan. Tonics & cure alls was the subcategory most responsible for Asia-Pacific’s relatively low growth, with category sales down 25% in China, owing to issues with donkey breeding that have resulted in rising raw material costs and subsequent price rises, affecting two brands in particular – Dong-e E-jiao and Fu Fang E Jiao Jiang – while Hong Mao Medicated Wine was affected by negative claims.
OTC tonic drinks is another VMS subcategory hit by declining sales, with a continued downturn in Japan where the old, male consumer base is retiring and brands face competition from energy drinks. Takeda’s Alinamin EX was among the brands that declined fastest in MAT Q1 2020. Another CHC subcategory affected by weaker sales in Q1 was antacids, as a result of the withdrawal of ranitidine-based antacids from the market owing to concerns around NDMA in the formulation. Sanofi’s Zantac was among the key brands impacted, with Zantac 150 in sharp decline in the US market.
Today is the last chance to pre-order our upcoming Analgesics 2020: Assessing the Current & Future Self-Care Market for Pain Relief at the discounted rate and save up to GB£1,800! Contact melissa.lee@NicholasHall.com to order or find out about special discounts available on purchases of more than one report title!
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