The projected growth is based on the actual volume recorded in 2003 by AHCC branded ingredient licensees American Bio Sciences, Source Naturals, Pure Prescriptions and Vitamin Shoppe. These companies have all offered AHCC as a branded or private label product for over a year.
Hank Cheatham, director of sales and marketing at Quality of Life Labs, said sales of the ingredient grew by around 35 per cent over the previous year. The firm is now looking for other companies that may be interested in selling AHCC as either a stand-alone or blended immune-enhancing nutrient to expand its availability. He is also expecting licensees to add the ingredient to new products.
AHCC is derived from a specialized manufacturing process that relies on the hybridization of several species of medicinal mushrooms, organically cultivated in Japan. It has been the subject of several clinical studies throughout the US and Japan and many hospitals and medical centers worldwide recommend AHCC as part of an on-going immune enhancement program.
According to industry analysts in Japan, AHCC sales to patients in that country were worth $150 million in 2002.
AHCC was also awarded the Best New Product of 2002 at the Nutracon Executive Conference, raising awareness and credibility of the supplement among potential licensees.
Quality of Life, a subsidiary of raw material supplier Maypro Industries which was set up to sell finished products, has also developed its own coenzyme Q10 and will launch a Neptune krill oil product this year.
For more information on becoming an AHCClicensee, contact Hank Cheatham at 1-877-937-2422.