Herbal supplement sales near $5 billion.(Industry News)

Sales of herbal dietary supplements in the U.S. reached $4.8 billion in 2008, increasing nearly 1% over 2007 figures, according to a report in HerbalGram, the quarterly journal of the American Botanical Council (ABC). Data came from multiple market research firms, including Information Resources Inc. (IRI), Chicago, IL, which estimated supplement sales in the mainstream channel reached $289 million for 2008, an increase of more than 7% over 2007. SPINS, Schaumburg, IL, determined that sales of botanical dietary supplements in the natural and health food channel were about $329 million, indicating relative stability compared to 2007. The five top-selling single herbal supplements of 2008 in the health and natural food channel, according to SPINS, were flaxseed oil (Linum usitatis-simum), wheat grass and barley grass (Triticum aestivum and Hordeum vulgare), stevia (Stezrin 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, were cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon), soy (Glycine max), garlic (Allium sativum), saw palmetto (Serenoa repens) and ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba). (For more information on the herbs and botanicals market, see this issue's update on page 38.)

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