Trend tracker: Eye health supplement sector booming in Taiwan, Japan

‘Unique’ demand: Morinaga Nutritional Foods Vietnam expands functional products for kids, seniors​​

Morinaga Nutritional Foods Vietnam is increasing its line-up targeting children’s and the elderly’s nutritional needs, as it hopes to tap on trends “unique” to the country.

As compared to neighbouring ASEAN countries, Vietnam has a larger market for nutritional drinks supplements and yogurt, according to Uechi Naoto, deputy general director cum executive director (corporate division) of the company.

“We understand that customers' spending on healthy nutrition is high, we also think that there is a greater need for health products for children, for parents…which is a very unique point about Vietnam,” ​he said, on reasons for the company’s interest in kids’ nutrition.

Taiwan nutra market: Eye health, beauty, probiotics trending, with food firms, influencers entering business​  ​

Eye care is one of the top trending health supplement categories in Taiwan, alongside beauty-from-within, and functional probiotics that serve purposes beyond gut health, according to leading industry players in our latest VitamINSIGHTS feature.

Better Biosciences, founded by internet personality Evelyn Chen, notices that vision care is a priority for young female office workers – a demographic that is also the company’s target audience.

It recently upgraded one of its flagship product, The Astronaut Vitamins, by increasing lutein, astaxanthin levels, and anthocyanins for greater eye health benefit. Contract manufacturer, TCI Co Ltd, on the other hand, notices that there are also growing research on probiotics for eye health.

Big bang: Pill-and-shot supplements trending in South Korea with major brands jumping on the bandwagon​  

Major dietary supplement companies such as CJ Wellcare and CKD Health have launched new products that come in the pill-and-shot format across South Korea in recent months.

The trend is largely pioneered by German brand Orthomol, which was introduced to the Korean market by DONG-A Pharmaceutical since 2020.

The format is said to be more convenient, as consumers could take the tablet without having to grab an additional cup of water, said CJ Wellcare which launched the pill-and-shot health functional food marketed as “Fatdown Slimming Shot”.

Bringing into focus: Japan’s natural tech releases new eye supplement amid ‘skyrocketing demand’​

Japanese wellness firm natural tech Co Ltd said that lifestyle changes of modern consumers and the country’s ageing population have led to increasing eye-related problems, and it aimed to address this with its new supplement.

The firm recently launched a new product called Eyepa, which claims to address issues such as dry eye and eye strain.  

An increase in telework and rising consumer awareness of eye care and healthy eye function has led to “skyrocketing demand” for eye supplements, the firm said.

Fruity feature: Supplements firm Sainhall taps convenience and wellness trends to make healthy snacking comeback  ​​

Singaporean supplements firm Sainhall has ventured into the healthy snacking category with its DeeFruit fruit snacks range, as it looks to tap on the rising demands for convenience and wellness in the region.

The range is said to be equivalent of an apple in terms of fibre, with a low-calorie of 75 kcal or less and has no added sugar or salt.

The range is targeted at three major consumer groups, namely children, snacking adults and weight watchers.