Health & Wellness Product Sales Hit $125B

HARLEYSVILLE, Pa.Retail sales of health and wellness products reached nearly $125 billion in 2009, an overall growth rate of 5 percent over the previous year, according to new data released by the Natural Marketing Institute (NMI). The sales include all retail and direct-to-consumer channels for natural and organic foods and beverages, natural personal care, functional and fortified foods, dietary supplements and natural general merchandise.

The economic crisis has affected consumer shopping for health and wellness, said Maryellen Molyneaux, NMIs president. Many have changed what, where and how they buy. These changes are not short term but are lifestyle changes that could impact the industry into the future. Based on our research and analysis, NMI projects that the health and wellness industry will grow at a rate of approximately 3 percent to 15 percent across various categories in 2010.

The largest portion of sales came from the functional/fortified foods and beverage segment, totaling $41 billion, although it only showed a 2 percent growth rate over 2008. The largest growth rate15 percentcame in the natural/organic general merchandise category, which rang up $9 billion in sales of products such as pet products, clothing and household cleaning items. Remaining sales came from vitamins, minerals, herbal and dietary supplements, with $25 billion, an 8 percent increase; organic foods and beverages with $25 billion, rising 5 percent; natural foods and beverages at $15 billion, up 5 percent; and natural/organic personal care, increasing 8 percent to $10 billion in sales.