Importing and distributing vitamins

[margaret]

I have a few questions, maybe members can help answer.

1. Do you think there's much of a market for vitamins in the DR?
2. How do consumers buy their vitamins? From a doctor, health food store, pharmacy, La Sirena, online, "pyramid sales" (I forget what that model is called).
3. Which brands dominate?
4. What are the price points for supplements?
5. Has anyone ever tried importing supplements?
   

Thanks, in advance!

[bienamor]

Originally Posted by margaret

I have a few questions, maybe members can help answer.

1. Do you think there's much of a market for vitamins in the DR?
2. How do consumers buy their vitamins? From a doctor, health food store, pharmacy, La Sirena, online, "pyramid sales" (I forget what that model is called).
3. Which brands dominate?
4. What are the price points for supplements?
5. Has anyone ever tried importing supplements?
   

Thanks, in advance!

have at least 6 GNC stores here in Santo Domingo.
Depends on the vitamin, and the strength, but all of the above
What kind of supplements. think A-Rod

[juanita]

I always buy my vitamins in Canada's superstores for two reasons: Big bottles (500+) and good price. I find it hard to find this here for exemple: Calcium, magnesium and vitamin C, vitamin E. I want the big bottles that you can buy in Zellers or Walmart...

[margaret]

Originally Posted by bienamor

have at least 6 GNC stores here in Santo Domingo.
Depends on the vitamin, and the strength, but all of the above
What kind of supplements. think A-Rod

A Canadian brand - Vitamins, multivitamins, minerals, herbs, Omega and ERAs, probiotics. You'd buy these in a pharmacy or Shoppers Drugmart here in Canada. Products - Supplements

I was interested in the business model used and what sort of hoops you would have to jump through to import them and get them on the shelves of a pharmacy or chain store or with physicians.

[jrhartley]

i buy them in pricesmart but not knowing the brand I am always dubious about how good they actually are - I buy fish oil and multivitamins - multivitamins just turn your wee luminous

[margaret]

Originally Posted by jrhartley

i buy them in pricesmart but not knowing the brand I am always dubious about how good they actually are - I buy fish oil and multivitamins - multivitamins just turn your wee luminous

LOL....

You buy Jamieson vitamins in the Dominican Republic? Maybe Pricemart imports them from the US? They're good vitamins, it's one of the leading brands. But I like gel cap Platinum vitamins myself from the health food store, which are around 85$ CDN for 100 caps. And then calcium and vit. D for around $35. and Salmon oil.

[dv8]

margaret, we have a farmacia, let me ask miesposo what he thinks about this idea and i will give you his feedback based on his experience...

[margaret]

Originally Posted by dv8

margaret, we have a farmacia, let me ask miesposo what he thinks about this idea and i will give you his feedback based on his experience...

Thanks dv8. I'll be very interested to hear what thinks.

[BettyDiamond]

the last batch of cod liver oil says members brand on it- make what you will of that

id be interested in high level glucosamine

[dv8]

Originally Posted by margaret

1. Do you think there's much of a market for vitamins in the DR?
2. How do consumers buy their vitamins? From a doctor, health food store, pharmacy, La Sirena, online, "pyramid sales" (I forget what that model is called).
3. Which brands dominate?
4. What are the price points for supplements?
5. Has anyone ever tried importing supplements?

based on pharma experience in DR:
1. there any so many vitamins and labs available it will be rather difficult to break into the market. some brands/labs sell better than others. at the end of the day it will depend on your location and target customers.
2. normally people buy in farmacias. in santiago/SD they may use GNC stores. richer dominicans may bring things from abroad or buy online. i believe the same will apply to foreigners who frequently travel.
3. swiss brand pharmaton is quite popular. also GNC. centrum vitamins.
4. price depends on the brand and supplement, starting from 10 pesos per pill.
5. there are many companies in DR that import and distribute medicine, supplements included.

i must add that there are also plenty of generic brands used by most dominicans, some of the stuff is produced in latin america.
apparently the market for healthy things is on the rise, especially in SD.