The supplement industry continues to grow year after year, with recent reports stating that the global dietary supplements market is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.9% from 2022 to 2030. With this growth comes a wide variety of new supplement formats – traditional forms of supplements, such as pills and gummies, are no longer the only options. New formats such as stick packs, patches, and melts have all received increased market share as consumers who are facing pill fatigue look for other options.
Microbeads
Microbeads are a new type of supplement that use microtechnology to offer consumers the opportunity to sprinkle their supplements on their food or in their drink. The brand Rootine is one of the first companies to offer supplements in this format. According to Rachel Soper Sanders, cofounder of Rootine, “Approximately 40 percent of people cannot take standard large pills…microbeads are an easier form of vitamin to take.”
Patches
Another innovative supplement format that has gained traction in recent years is the patch. These patches are applied to the skin, allowing the active ingredients to be absorbed through the skin and into the bloodstream. According to supplement patch brand Wearables, the patch steadily releases nutrients into your bloodstream for 12 hours and doesn’t irritate your digestive system the way some supplement pills do. These patches can be a great option for consumers that have trouble digesting traditional supplements.
Oral Strips or Melts
One other innovative supplement format gaining popularity in the market are oral strips, also known as melts. These are thin strips that are placed on the tongue and dissolve quickly. Like patches, oral strips are a great option for people who have difficulty swallowing pills or who simply prefer a more convenient supplement format. The oral strips don’t require any water to take them, and rely on “sublingual delivery” allowing their active ingredients to be absorbed straight into the bloodstream, rather than going through your digestive system first. Wellbeing Nutrition is an example of a supplement brand that offers oral strips for several different purposes, such as energy, B12, and vitamin D.
As the supplement market continues to evolve and consumers increasingly search for non-pill supplement formats, brands should be looking to get ahead of the curve by expanding their format offerings to meet consumer needs.
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