From the adoption and implementation of cGMPs, to defending our market from media and Congressional bombing, to providing value, efficacy and solutions to a consumer desperate for health clarity and direction — to protect and improve their personal care — NutraScience has grown and flourished despite the best efforts of many to discredit us.
We have driven our market through the consumer to the point where the medical profession is not only enquiring about the supplements we take from an adverse drug event perspective, they are recommending and, in some cases, formulating and selling supplements to their patients.
What a huge shift in attitude! There is little debate regarding our distant past and the challenges we self-inflicted that led to negative consumer, media and Congressional attention. However, I believe we have gone far beyond those early days. Today, we are legitimate; we provide value and we provide jobs throughout the world.
The one key macro I believe we need to focus on is getting this message across to government agencies. NutraScience is big business, yet we still approach the sector like a 'Mom and Pop' shop. We turn over billions of dollars and provide jobs across the world, yet we remain a relatively unknown industry.
For our continued growth, for our survival, we, the collective NutraScience industry, must market our brand to our elected representatives. We are far bigger than the National Rifle Association, but I have no idea — beyond US Senators Harken, Hatch and Tim Scott — who is friendly to our industry, who uses our products or who understands our power and influence. We need to start this now so we can impact 2016.
When I started at BI, the adage 'Any publicity is good publicity' was in vogue. Even with all the increased negative media attention, the sales of supplements, including multivitamins, did not suffer. It is now time to control our message, have a singular mindset regarding our value and convey it to the market, and stop reacting to the carpet bagging media bombers looking for an easy headline. Either we control the message or others will.
BI is exceptionally proud to be a part of this market; it is a privilege to provide the highest level of safety and quality to our customers. This is a privilege we take professional and personal pride in. We are proud of the impact we have had on botanical identification, sterilisation, quality and sourcing and look forward to another 35 years of excellence in protecting our customers and providing value and safety to our friends and neighbours.