NIU’s Global Round-up: COVID-19 dominates global headlines, and more

23-Mar-2020 - Last updated on 23-Mar-2020 at 19:46 GMT

What’s happened across the Nutra-verse over the past seven days? A lot has happened in the global nutrition industry over the past seven days, the majority of which is linked to the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19. Stay on top of things with our weekly round-up of key news from across the globe.

Europe

Holland and Barrett imposes limits on immunity products amid COVID-19 panic buying

Health and wellness retailer Holland and Barrett introduced sales limits to reduce panic buying and introduced a dedicated one-hour shopping window for the elderly and vulnerable.

The retailer also took steps to reassure its customers of its increased hygiene controls and inform of new measures to ensure customers can get the health products that are in high demand during this fast-developing Coronavirus pandemic.

In an email to customers, CEO Tony Buffin stated: “We are encouraging contactless card payments in store where possible, we are providing hand sanitisers to our teams, we have further intensified cleaning and are offering advice around social distancing for customers in store and to our teams.

"We will also be introducing a one-hour shopping window for our elderly and more vulnerable customers at the start of each day during the week. While this won’t be an enforced window, we trust you will respect this special group of customers and provide them with the time and space we have offered them to shop.

“For those who are not as comfortable ordering online or who do not have access to our website, we are introducing a new call centre number. This will enable you to place your orders and seek advice from some of our longest serving and most capable colleagues who have kindly volunteered to provide this service.”

For more on this, please click HERE.

LATAM

GC Rieber Oils partners with Barrington Nutritionals to distribute omega-3 to Mexico

Norway’s GC Reiber Oils is collaborating with Barrington Nutritionals to distribute VivoMega omega-3 fish oils to the Mexican and United States marketplaces.

omega-3 fish oil © Getty Images titinsumartini — © Getty Images / titinsumartini

VivoMega oils will be used in fish oil applications and finished products.

Barrington Nutritionals will reportedly help support the distribution of these new omega-3 oils along with their existing line of omega-3 oils.

Commenting on why Mexico is such a key market for the duo, Christopher Hachey, US Business Development Manager at GC Rieber, told NutraIngredients-LATAM: “Mexico is part of the North America market and we are interested in exploring the new opportunities there.”

When considering supplements, quality, and claims, Hachey explained that Mexican consumers tend to focus on clinically-based science and feel confident that the products “do what they claim to do for their health and wellness.”

For more on this, please click HERE.

Asia

COVID-19: China retailers and suppliers report surge in demand for Vitamin C supplements

Sale of vitamin C dietary supplements on Chinese e-commerce giant JD increased five-fold, reportedly linked to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

Significant sales increases were seen for vitamin C effervescent tablets, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) brand Banlangen, and Xiao Chaihu (herbal formula).

According to NutraIngredients-Asia, JD said the virus outbreak was the cause of the surge consumption, and its higher online sales was attributed to consumers preferring to order delivery online instead of going to supermarket to purchase products.