Food supplements, turnover in Italy at 4.5 billion
According to research by the Italian Food Union, almost 30 million adult Italians (73% of respondents) have used food supplements at least once in the past year (83% at least once in their lifetime)
by E.Sg.
3' min read
3' min read
In 2023 turnover in the supplements sector exceeded EUR 4.5 billion and sales in quantity exceeded 299 thousand tonnes. Italy is the leading European market with a 26% share of the total turnover, followed by Germany (19%) and France (15%). According to an elaboration by the Italian Food Union on New Line data, the by far predominant sales channel remains that of pharmacies, with a value of 3,538 million Euro, equal to 77.9% of the total, followed at a great distance by large-scale distribution (with an incidence of 7.7%), parapharmacies (7.6%), and the online channel (6.9%).
In pharmacy, as the leading market segment, 'probiotics' are confirmed, with EUR 537.3 million, representing a 15.2% share of the market. In second place are 'mineral salts', with EUR 335.2 million (accounting for 9.2% and +2.7% growth over 2022). In third and fourth place are 'vitamins' and 'tonics', with shares of over 6%.
In the past year, according to recent research by the Future Concept Lab, almost 30 million adult Italians (73% of respondents) have used dietary supplements at least once and more than 8 out of 10 Italians (83%) have used them during their lifetime. This is a conscious consumption: before buying a dietary supplement, Italians rely on the advice of health professionals: first and foremost the doctor (48.4%), followed by the pharmacist (36.3%).
'Today, Italy is one of the countries in the world at the forefront of food supplement research,' comments a Uionfood note, 'with an internationally recognised leadership in terms of product innovation and know-how. After all, research and the maintenance of physical and mental wellbeing are core values for Italians and, in recent times, they have become even more important: a scenario in which the role of food supplements is increasingly central, as evidenced by the latest economic data in the sector'.
From the beneficial effects associated with consuming an adequate intake of vitamins and minerals to the support given by Omega-3 for the health of pregnant women and the elderly, and the role of supplementation with probiotics for well-being at various stages of life and the performance of sportsmen and women. These are among the topics covered in the last edition of the Review "Dietary supplementation: state of the art and new scientific evidence", promoted by Integratori & Salute, a national organisation representing the main Italian food supplement companies and part of Unione italiana Food, with the contribution of Passoni Editore.
