Vitamin and Mineral Supplements in Romania

Romania’s Supplement Market

Romania’s vitamin and mineral supplement (suplimentele alimentare) industry  has seen a huge spike in growth over the last decade. Since access to professional medical care isn’t easily accessible to much of the population, over the counter (OTC) medications and treatments have traditionally been a popular alternative favored by the Romania people.

Over the last decade, one of the fastest growing sectors in the OTC industry has been the vitamin and mineral supplement industry. In Q4 of 2017 alone, with a 22% increase in sales, the supplement industry saw the largest growth of all OTC sectors.

The consistent trend in the rise of vitamin and mineral supplement use by Romanians can be attributed to a number of differing factors. Perhaps the most predominant reason for the industry’s growth can be credited to the fast-growing Romanian economy and the higher amount of disposable income Romanian’s possess.

The other main factors that contribute to the industry’s growth include mass media advertising campaigns, nutritional education programs, outreach, and a desire for affordable and natural means to health and disease prevention by the Romanian citizens.

The growth of the middle class, the nation-wide nutritional campaigns and advertisements, and the population’s propensity to self-care are all factors that point to the continual fast pace growth of the supplement industry in Romania.

Supplements in Romania – Table of Contents

• Romanian Supplement History
• Romanian Supplement Brands
• International Supplement Brands in Romania
• Where to Buy Supplements in Romania
• How to Buy American Supplements in Europe

Romanian Supplement History

For many centuries Romanian’s have used natural herb and plant remedies as medications. The practice is so common that it’s actually a part of the country’s culture and traditions. Just about everyone’s grandma in Romania has a natural recipe for curing moderate and even severe ailments.

It’s not unusual to hear stories from Romanian’s who swear that they, or someone they know, was cured by a natural method, even when prescription medications failed. Many Romanians refuse to even visit medics, opting instead to use time-tested natural means of curing sicknesses and diseases.

With a population that’s historically been accustomed to self-care and natural health methods, it’s no wonder that the vitamin and mineral industry would thrive in the country. The supplement market in Romania shows no sign of slowing down. New international brands are penetrating the Romanian market frequently, and local entrepreneurs are developing affordable brands at a rapid pace.

Romanian Supplement Brands

As the popularity of vitamin and mineral supplementation has increased in the country, hundreds of local Romanian companies have sprung up to meet consumer demands. As with supplement manufacturer’s in every other country, Romanian supplement brands vary in price, formulas, and quality. Sometimes variations happen with different products within the same brand.

A brand might carry a low-quality version of a supplement, while simultaneously having a high-quality version of a different supplement. It’s always best to do your due diligence, not only on a company’s reputation but also on the specific formulas and ingredients of the specific supplement you are purchasing from the company.

Reviewing the hundreds of Romanian supplement companies (and thousands of individual supplements) is beyond the scope of this article. Instead, I have decided to list three of the most popular Romanian supplement brands. I included brief histories of the companies, and provide relevant links for those interested in doing further research.

Alevia

Alevia is Fălticeni based manufacturer which specializes in nutritional supplements and teas. The company was founded in 1994 and has over 200 employees. In 2017 the company netted 5.3 million euros, a number that senior officials estimate will grow by 15% in 2018. The producer also invested 2 million Euros in 2017 for expanding their labs, adding warehouse space, and purchasing new equipment.

As of 2018, they have a product lineup of about 140 different supplements and 60 different teas. In recent years they’ve expanded their portfolio to include organic juices, creams, nuts, dried fruits, and other produce. Alevia products are found in over 4,000 locations throughout the country including in pharmacies, herbal shops, and grocery stores.

Dacia Plant

Dacia Plant is a Brasov based supplement company that’s been on the market since 2002. They manufacture over 250 different products from categories such as nutritional supplements, creams, syrups, tinctures, teas, juices, and various organic produce. Their lineup of products falls under 9 different brand names that all belong to the parent company. The firm prides itself on having all their products contain no additives, preservatives, dyes or artificial sweeteners.

 

The company cultivates over 200 different plant species on 5.2 hectares in Romania. They grow 80% of the plants they use to extract raw ingredients for their products from. The other 20% of plants which they import are plants that aren’t native to and don’t grow well in Romania. In 2017, the company had a turnover of 6.5 million Euros. The firm is invested millions of Euros into expansion in the previous few years and they project to grow annually by around 15% for the next five years.

Herbagetica

Herbagetica is also based out of Brasov, the company specializes in vitamin and mineral supplements, as well as a range of many other natural health-based products. Founded in 2010, they are relatively new to the market when compared to other top brands in the country. Their later entry, however, has not slowed down or impeded Herbagetica’s growth. In 2017 the company had a turnover of nearly 4 million Euros, a 30% increase from 2016. They are also projected to have a 30% growth in 2018.

All Herbagetica products are produced at their factory in Brasov using organic ingredients of which 95% originate from within the European Union. The company has their own unique methods and innovations that they use in their formulations. All their products are free from synthetic minerals, lactose, heavy metals or synthetic preservatives. The company is highly focused on expansion. They currently export to Greece and Italy and are looking to sell to markets in Moldova, and the UK, and to add new products to their lineup.

Other Romanian Supplement Companies

Below is a list of other Popular Romanian Supplement Companies

Adams Vision	Biofarm	Bio-Synergie
Cosmo Pharm	DVR Pharm	Fares
Health Nutrition	Rotta Natura	Vitacare
Walmark	Zenyth

International Supplement Brands in Romania

Besides the domestic supplement brands found in Romania, a number of international brands have made their way into the country’s market over the last decade. Some of the brands are distributed directly by an affiliate of the manufacturer, others are contracted through 3^rd party distributors, such as Secom, which operate in the country. The continual growth of Romania’s supplement market will open doors for future international brand penetration.

Although international brands in Romania tend to be more expensive than locally produced brands, the quality of international brands isn’t always superior to local ones. In fact, in many instances, the ingredients and formulas of local brands are superior to those of international competitors. As always, it’s best to do research on a per supplement basis across brands to determine which company manufactures the best product.

The fact that some international brands are readily available within the country is very good news for consumers. More choice and competition always benefit consumers, especially when it provides them with more options for something as important as health-care through supplementation. The only downside of international imports is that most international brands only offer a limited number of their full product lineups in Romania.

North American Supplement Brands Found in Romania

Biovea	Bronson	CaliVita	Jarrow Formulas
KAL	Konig Nutrition	Organika	Provita Nutrition
Pure Nutrition	USANA	Solaray	Solgar
Swanson	NOW Foods

Where to Buy Supplements in Romania

With the growth of the supplement market in Romania also came the growth in the options for finding and purchasing thousands of different vitamin and mineral supplements available on the market. Consumers all over the country now have quick and easy access to finding and buying the exact available brand and variation they desire.

Some of the options Romanians have for buying supplements in Romania include purchasing from brick and mortar stores like grocery markets, local pharmacies, distributor stores, or health shops. The other best option is by ordering online, either from an independent online shop or directly from the manufacturer’s website.

Below I’ll review some of the benefits and drawbacks on the different options available for purchasing supplements in Romania.

Grocery Markets

Some of the major grocery markets in the country like the “Hypermarkets” Auchan, and Carrefour, carry a select number of supplements. The lineups are usually very limited to a few Romanian brands and sometimes some international brands as well.

Benefits: Hypermarkets are found in most major cities in the country, and the prices of their supplements tend to be cheaper than other places, even for their higher quality brands if the specific location you visit carries them.

Downsides: Hypermarkets supplements are usually limited to the most common types, usually vitamins C and D, Omega 3 oils, and minerals like Zinc and Calcium.

Pharmacies

Pharmacies in Romania are one of the most common sights in the country. Larger cities have hundreds of them, and they’re even found in some of the most remote villages in the country. Over the last years, pharmacies have begun to increase their range of vitamin and mineral supplements available for purchase. Prices tend to vary from location to location but are generally considered fair and competitive.

Benefits: The main benefit of purchasing supplements from Romanian pharmacies is the ease of access to a location. They are found on virtually every street corner in major cities, and even in small villages. No matter where you are in the country chances are you within a few kilometers of a pharmacy you can visit to purchase vitamin and mineral supplements from.

Downsides: The major downside in purchasing supplements from pharmacies is the limited availability of brands and options. Although they generally have a bigger selection than hypermarkets, many pharmacies have a poor and limited selection in supplement options. If one pharmacy doesn’t carry a specific brand or supplement, try a different location as availability varies from place to place.

Health Stores

Over the last decade, thousands of natural health and wellness shops have sprung up all over the country. The shops range from chains such as Secom, and VitaMix to local mom and pop shops unique to individual cities. Malls throughout the country also now have kiosks and booths that specialize in selling wellness products. If you do a bit of searching ahead of time, you can find the location of a health store nearest to the Romanian location you’re in.

Benefits: The main benefit of purchasing from health stores is the great range in the availability of brands and differing supplements. Health shops carry a vast range of lineups in vitamins, minerals, syrups, teas, oils, and many other natural health products. Another advantage in purchasing from health shops is that the staff tend to be very knowledgeable in natural health and can help answer any questions and give you suggestions.

Downsides: The downside in purchasing supplements from natural health shops is that prices tend to be a bit higher than the other places. Sometimes even local brand vitamin and mineral are priced slightly higher in health shops than they are in pharmacies or hypermarkets. However, health shops do routinely have sales for many different products which makes purchasing from them very affordable.

Online Shops

With the increase in physical health shops in the country also came the increase in independent online shops that specialize in selling supplements and other natural health products. Not to be outdone, supplement manufacturer’s and distributors in Romania also integrated online stores and portals into their websites. As the trend in online purchases continues to skyrocket in Romania, the options for finding vitamin and mineral supplements over the internet continues to grow at a rapid pace.

Benefits: The three major benefits of ordering supplements online are, ease, variety, and price. Ease, there is no easier way to purchase something than by doing so from the comforts of your own home. Variety, virtually every supplement, and brand available in the country can be found for order online. Price, shopping online gives you the option of comparing and contrasting with hundreds of shops so you can order from the cheapest source possible.

Downsides: The only potential drawbacks in purchasing supplements online are the shipping times and fees. Although most domestic shipping prices are pretty cheap, and often free, it can still be a reason to deter some consumers. The main drawback in buying online is the shipping time. Shipping times can vary from 1 to 4 days depending on the day you placed the order and location of the warehouse. Shipping times are usually only a problem if you have an urgent need for a supplement.

How to Buy American Supplements in Europe

The United States of America is the biggest producer and consumer of supplements and vitamins in the entire world. With a market as massive as the one in the US, it’s no surprise that the country would be home to some of the most renown, largest, and utmost unique supplement companies on the planet. The diverse amount of brands, formulas, compounds, and varieties of supplements available in the US is unparalleled to anywhere else.

Fortunately, many supplement brands have made their way into Romanian and other European markets over the years. However, the number of American supplements that are available for purchase in Romania is still very limited in scope. Not all hope is lost though. If you’re located in Romania or another European country that doesn’t carry an American supplement brand you desire, then you have a few options available to you on how to obtain it.

Option 1 – Check if the Supplement Brand is Available in your European Country

European distributors are always making new deals with American manufacturers to import new brands into European countries like Romania. If you’re searching for a specific American brand in Europe than your first choice should be searching within your country.

You can use search engines to search for phrases such as “brand name and country”, example “Source Naturals Romania.” Often times using the “News” section of search engines can render you the newest results and information.

Option 2 – Check if the Supplement Brand is Available in a different European Country

If you haven’t found any information pointing to a supplement brand being available in the country you reside in, your next best choice is to see if the brand is available in another European country. Shipping rates are many times cheaper, and arrivals tend to be many days faster when ordering a supplement within Europe, compared to ordering it from the United States.

The major supplement markets in Europe are in the UK and Germany. Your best bet in finding the supplement you’re searching for is searching online vitamin shops in either of these two countries. You can also search the UK and German versions of Amazon and eBay. You can find favorable shipping times and fees from these two countries if you take the time to search and compare your options.

Option 3 – Check if the Supplement Brand has a European Subsidiary

Some supplement companies based out of the United States have subsidiaries or affiliates that operate out of Europe. A good way to find out if the American supplement brand you want has a European presence is by checking the company’s website, or by searching “brand Europe”.

The advantage to finding European subsidiary operations of an American supplement company in Europe is that they tend to have a broader range of products available for purchase. Two examples of this are the European subsidiaries of Pure Encapsulations and Life Extension.

Option 4 – Order Directly from the United States

If you’ve exhausted all other options and still haven’t been able to find the American supplement you are after in Europe, then your final option is to order it directly from the United States. The positive to this is that you will eventually get the product you desire. The downsides are the sometimes exorbitant shipping fees and the long shipping times.

Your best bet when it comes to ordering supplements from the United States to Europe is using the website iherb.com. They carry over 30,000 products from over 1,200 brands. They specialize in international shipping and deliver to over 150 different countries. They offer discounted and free shipping on many of their orders. You won’t find a better option on ordering supplements from the US to Europe.