Vitamin, Supplement And Skincare Towards Wellness
Swisse, a multivitamin and health and wellness brand, has wasted no time trying to break into the Indian consumer market since it was launched in the country early last year.
The brand is now sold on 16 e-commerce platforms and rapidly growing consumer awareness in immunity, beauty, wellness, manufactured in Australia under the world's leading stringent vitamin regulatory regime.
BW Wellbeing had a detailed talk with Akash Bedi, Chief Strategy and Operations Officer at H&H Group (parent company of Swisse Wellness) about the brand. Excerpts;
Tell us about Swisse and your offerings
Swisse is an Australian vitamin, supplement and skincare brand that was founded in Melbourne in 1969. It is proudly part of the H&H Group, a global health, nutrition and personal care company focused on whole family wellness through its three key pillars of nutrition, movement and mind to promote health and happiness and make a positive impact on society and on the planet.
The Swisse product range stretches from leading men’s and women’s multivitamins to beauty nutrition and dietary supplements, general wellbeing, and skincare. Swisse is currently available in over 14 countries including India, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, the UK and Italy.
According to you, where do you think India stands from a general wellbeing standpoint?
While general healthcare is easily accessible in India the emphasis on holistic wellness was missing for a very long time. Indian adults grapple with inadequate consumption of proteins, vitamin D, iron, vitamin B12 and folate. These deficiencies can impact your physical and mental health. Some of these deficiencies cannot be fixed by diet and added supplementation is recommended.
Do you think people's attitudes towards their health have changed post pandemic?
The last couple of years has made individuals throughout the world self-aware about the significance of wellbeing and health. So, there’s no doubt that people have become more mindful of their health and nutrition. Post covid care requires you to take a step back and rest. Nutrition becomes a huge part of it and having the right supplements can help you recover from symptoms like fatigue and brain fog.
How important do you think it is to consume the right amount of vitamins, minerals, etc. for balanced mental health
Mental health is usually linked with emotional responses but vitamin and mineral deficiencies like B12 and vitamin D can affect the mental health of a healthy person. This can lead to long term issues like anxiety, depression, impaired decision-making, and can slow down reaction time. A healthy diet can fulfill some of these nutritional deficiencies to an extent but choosing the correct supplements can help you manage your mental and emotional health in the long run.
Can you share some India specific statistics on the health and wellness industry at large?
The wellness industry is currently valued at USD 1.5 trillion globally. India is expected to become a wellness hub in the global community following a 12 per cent growth per annum. An average Indian millennial now spends Rs 4,000 per month on fitness and wellness, this is expected to grow in terms of ticket size and the number of people falling in this bracket.
How have you innovated your brand offerings to keep up with the current generation's demand?
We have recently expanded our portfolio in India, using our unique PPAE model, to launch three new products aimed at not only complementing the lifestyles of Indian consumers, but elevating them, particularly for the younger generation. The new products are the SwisseMe Melatonin Gummies, Biotin Gummies and Plant Protein Powder, developed to support stress, sleep and anxiety.
Both the gummies easy-to-consume format and vegan-friendly plant protein powder reflect Swisse as a leading brand in innovation, staying across key consumer trends, notably a rise in ‘conscious’ consumers who select brands based on sustainability credentials and alignment with their own personal principles.
What's new for Swisse? As a global market leader, where do you foresee yourself in India 5 years from now?
We aim to expand our offerings in the premium nutrition segment. We also have a clear purpose at Swisse – not only focusing on becoming a global leader in premium nutrition and wellness, but also a commitment to our environment and the planet, working towards reducing our footprint and making a positive impact on society. This includes everything from product development and quality management to our supply partners and team members. We want to focus on premium and preventative nutrition, microbiome health, immunity, and wellness to create the highest-quality products backed by research in India.
