Natural & Organic a focus for M&A and innovation

Continuing our series of blogs on the 10 Infinity Zones for future CHC growth recently outlined by Nicholas Hall, in this edition we take a closer look at natural & organic products. This is by no means a new trend, but it’s certainly one increasingly on the radar of multinationals, as exemplified by J&J’s recent purchase of Zarbee’s Naturals.

Among herbal & natural cough remedies, Zarbee’s has been gaining share on rivals such as Little Remedies, Hyland’s and Chestal, while also growing faster than most medicated OTC cough remedies. Another growth driver in the US market is Maty’s all-natural and organic range, including honey-based cough remedies, while Unilever recently bought Olly Nutrition, another range of VMS products with a strong emphasis on natural ingredients, such as the 10 phytonutrients in its Super Foods Multi line.

A+P for most herbal & natural products often emphasises the importance of quality standards and – increasingly – organic and responsibly-­sourced ingredients. In China, the No.1 probiotic brand Biostime (Health & Happiness for Institut Rosell) is promoted on the basis of the organic sourcing of its ingredients, while marketing involving brand ambassador Juliette Binoche also emphasises the natural heritage of the brand.

According to OTC New Products Tracker, the number of launches that include the word “organic” either in their branding or list of ingredients is growing fast, with 246 innovations in 2018 vs 168 in 2017 and just 81 in 2016. Over half of these products are unsurprisingly classified as vitamins, minerals & supplements, however there is also a growing number of “organic” Lifestyle OTCs, especially among medical cannabis products, sedatives & sleep aids and stimulants.

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J&J to buy Zarbee’s

J&J Consumer has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire natural healthcare products company Zarbee’s Naturals for an undisclosed sum. With a 50% CAGR, the Zarbee’s Naturals business racked up sales of US$68mn in 2017, according to Nicholas Hall’s global OTC sales database DB6, and there is lots of room for growth ahead.

J&J’s VMS portfolio accounts for just 0.1% of its total consumer healthcare business, so the Zarbee’s deal will provide a significant boost (see the table from OTC DASHBOARD below showing J&J’s current OTC sales split by major category). There will also be scope to build the brand internationally – at present, Zarbee’s focus is almost exclusively on the US market, so J&J will likely use its considerable marketing muscle to roll out the brand in other key regions where it has a strong presence, like Europe and Asia-Pacific.

Founded in 2008, Zarbee’s Naturals is majority owned by the Growth Fund of L Catterton in partnership with various minority owners, including Sorenson Capital. The deal, which is expected to complete in Q3 2018, will include the full line of Zarbee’s Naturals products for children and adults.

Product innovation has been one of the main drivers behind exceptional growth for Zarbee’s Naturals. In April 2018, the company introduced three Children’s Complete Multivitamins in a gummy format, including Complete Multivitamin + Iron, Complete Multivitamin + Probiotic and Complete Multivitamin + Immune. In partnership with Amazon, Zarbee’s also released a Baby Bee Essentials Gift Set complete with a bee romper and products such as Gripe Water and petroleum-free Baby Soothing Chest Rub. Paediatric products like these will fit well with J&J’s family-friendly image.

As Health and Wellness climbs up the list of consumer priorities, the market for herbal and natural options is booming. Take a look at what the future holds for this market with Nicholas Hall’s upcoming report Herbals & Naturals: Opportunities in a Vast & Dynamic Area of Consumer Health. Scheduled for publication in August, this report will include coverage of 9 leading global markets, analysis into a wide range of categories including Herbal & Natural Supplements, Topical Analgesics, Cough Remedies, Laxatives and more, plus forecast sales. Benefit from early bird rates when you pre-order today! For more information, or to pre-order your copy, please contact melissa.lee@nicholashall.com.