How crowed is the Nutrition Market

[Sungun25]

Hi All

 

Please help with some feedback (no matter how anecdotal)

 

1. Are you happy with your race/training and recovery nutrition?

2. Do you think there are products you have read about that you would like to see in South Africa

3. What would inspire you to trial another set of products

 

Any comments would be appreciated

[Selous Scout (aka LegTrap)]

I have tried various brands over time and quite frankly have not found any to be any better than another.

If there is another product out there that will meet my needs ,then I would always be prepared to try it.

[Dawiemalan]

Sungun

 

From your questions I gather you want to enter the supplement industry. My advice would be to keep your day job. It is a dog eat dog world.

 

You can put my words in your 2015 diary.

 

DM

[Minion]

1. Are you happy with your race/training and recovery nutrition?

2. Do you think there are products you have read about that you would like to see in South Africa

3. What would inspire you to trial another set of products

1. Yes

2. No

3a. Provide proper scientific evidence that your product is better than what I am using. General evidence that your product is effective is not sufficient: most times this evidence also applies to what I'm already using.

3b. If your product performs the same as what I am using, I may still be persuaded to change if: your product is much cheaper, but at the same quality; or if you provide free samples that show me that your product tastes better, has a better texture, goes down better etc. than what I am currently using.

[Speedking]

1. Yes

2. No

3a. Provide proper scientific evidence that your product is better than what I am using. General evidence that your product is effective is not sufficient: most times this evidence also applies to what I'm already using.

3b. If your product performs the same as what I am using, I may still be persuaded to change if: your product is much cheaper, but at the same quality; or if you provide free samples that show me that your product tastes better, has a better texture, goes down better etc. than what I am currently using.

 

Ditto

[David Marshall]

I have spent a number of years in the FMCG field. I would be very cautious about entering this sector. The way I see it you have three problems, 1) To get your product onto the retail shelves. 2) To get your product to move off the retail shelves and 3) To successfully compete with the existing brands.

 

Just looking at 1) You are already stepping into a minefield. Establishing a product is extremely expensive. Your packaging and labelling costs come upfront before you even get an order from a retailer.

 

No major retailer is going to accept your word on your product. You will have to prove by independent lab verification that your product does and contains what you say it should. You will also have to submit your production facility to regular audits by the retailer specified auditors (at your cost).

 

Then I have never seen a store with sufficient shelf space. For your product to get on to the shelf something has to come off. You now need to convince the buyer to do this. If you get over this step you will now be pushed to the worst position on the shelf. The big guys have access to full time instore merchandisers to look after their shelf space and don't give a hoot about you.

 

.... I could go on all day!

 

You may be able to start small and supply your club mates with stuff packed in your garage but to be successful in the long run you are going to have to put some heavy investment in.

 

32GI is a case in point. From what I see they have a successful product (from the reviews I read) but instore you only find their product if you really look for it. I see that they use an established company to pack their products and maybe also distribute and merchandise for them - all costs.

 

I would also keep my day job!