Herbal Supplement Sales Increase in US in 2008

Large Growth in Mainstream Retail Stores

AUSTIN, Texas, May 15 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Herbal dietary supplement
sales in the United States increased slightly in 2008, reaching a total
estimated figure of $4,800,000,000. A recent report published in the nonprofit
American Botanical Council's (ABC) quarterly journal HerbalGram, based on data
from multiple market research firms, found that total herb supplement sales
rose by nearly 1% over 2007 sales.

The HerbalGram report features herb supplement sales statistics from the
respected market research firms Information Resources Inc. (IRI), Nutrition
Business Journal (NBJ), and SPINS.

NBJ estimated the total herb supplement sales figure for 2008 based on data
derived from company surveys, interviews with major retailers and industry
experts, and various published and unpublished secondary material.

IRI, a Chicago-based market research firm, determined herb supplement sales in
the mainstream market channel as being $289,248,200 for 2008, an increase of
7.16% over 2007 mainstream market sales. IRI's figure includes grocery stores,
drugstores, and mass market retailers, but it does not include Wal-Mart, Sam's
Club, other large warehouse buying clubs, or convenience stores.

SPINS, a Schaumburg, Illinois-based market research firm, found sales of
botanical dietary supplements in the natural and health food channel to be
$329,148,875, indicating that sales in that market channel remained relatively
stable from 2007 sales. SPINS' figure includes estimated sales from the
natural foods giant Whole Foods.

Herbal dietary supplements are sold in the United States through a variety of
market channels, including mainstream retail stores, health and natural food
stores, warehouse and convenience stores, mail order catalogs and Internet
sites, radio and television direct sales outlets, companies that sell directly
to consumers, health professionals who sell supplements from their offices,
and other channels.

The HerbalGram report includes multiple tables illustrating herbal supplement
sales according to various channels and categories. One table provides the 20
top-selling herbal supplements in the mainstream channel as determined by IRI,
while another supplies the 20 top-selling botanical supplements in the natural
and health food channel as determined by SPINS. The 20 top-selling herbal
supplements of each channel are different, both due to different tastes and
values of shoppers in health and natural food stores versus those in
mainstream stores, and because IRI and SPINS do not include the same herbal
supplements in their data sets.

The 5 top-selling single herbal supplements of 2008 in the health and natural
food channel, according to SPINS, are flaxseed oil (Linum usitatissimum),
wheat grass and barley grass (Triticum aestivum and Hordeum vulgare), stevia
(Stevia rebaudiana), aloe vera (Aloe vera), and milk thistle (Silybum
marianum). The top-selling herbal singles of 2008 in the food, drug, and mass
market channel, according to IRI, are cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon), soy
(Glycine max), garlic (Allium sativum), saw palmetto (Serenoa repens), and
ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba). These rankings do not include combinations containing
multiple herbs.

"Many people believe that herb sales may be somewhat recession-proof," said
Mark Blumenthal, founder and executive director of ABC, editor of HerbalGram,
and one of the authors of the herb market report. "It is highly likely -- and
the sales data support this -- that many consumers, particularly those without
health insurance to cover costs of conventional medicines, may be purchasing
herbal supplements to help manage some of their health needs."

"There is vast opportunity for innovative herbal products to move outside the
category and into the food and beverage universe with the potential of
attracting new shopper segments," said Mary Ellen Lynch, SPINS director of
consumer insights and a co-author of the herb market report. "For example, the
antioxidant turmeric, which continues to grow in the natural channel, has this
potential due to its link to multiple health benefits (including
cardiovascular/liver/brain health) that align well to the mainstream
consumer's growing interest in health and wellness."

HerbalGram, a peer-reviewed publication, is available at some bookstores and
natural food stores and is mailed to members of ABC. The market report article
is posted on the ABC website, accessible here.

About the American Botanical Council

Founded in 1988, the American Botanical Council is a leading international
nonprofit organization addressing research and educational issues regarding
the health benefits of herbs, medicinal plants, teas, essential oils, and
other plant-based ingredients. ABC's members include academic researchers and
educators, universities and libraries, health professionals and medical
institutions, botanical gardens and arboreta, government agencies, members of
the herb, dietary supplement, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries,
journalists, consumers, and other interested parties from over 70 countries.
The organization occupies a historic 2.5-acre site in Austin, Texas, where it
publishes the quarterly journal HerbalGram, the monthly e-publication
HerbalEGram, HerbClips (summaries of scientific and clinical publications),
reference books, and other educational materials. ABC also hosts HerbMedPro, a
powerful herbal database, containing thousands of abstracts of scientific and
clinical publications on 221 herbs.

ABC is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the IRS Code. Information:
Contact ABC at P.O. Box 144345, Austin, TX 78714-4345, Phone: 512-926-4900.
Website: http://www.herbalgram.org/.

CONTACT: Lucy Bruno, 1-512-926-4900 x121, publicrelations@herbalgram.org

SOURCE American Botanical Council

Lucy Bruno of the American Botanical Council, 1-512-926-4900 x121,
publicrelations@herbalgram.org