Vitamin & Supplement Manufacturing in European Union 2026: Industry Statistics & Trends

The vitamin and supplement manufacturing industry in the European Union involves the formulation and production of vitamins, minerals, herbal extracts, and other dietary supplements marketed as food preparations. The sector has experienced steady expansion driven by proactive consumer health management, an aging demographic, and rising regional exports. According to the European Federation of Associations of Health Product Manufacturers (EHPM) in its 2024 Manifesto, the European food supplement industry encompasses over 3,000 companies, generates nearly 18,000 million EUR in revenue as of 2024, and supports over 100,000 jobs.

Industry snapshot

Key public data points

Historical & forecast

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What does the Vitamin & Supplement Manufacturing in European Union industry cover?

The sector covers the formulation and industrial manufacture of dosage-form preparations like tablets, capsules, liquids, and powders containing concentrated sources of nutrients or other substances with a nutritional or physiological effect. Under European Union statistical classifications, these products are primarily categorized as food preparations rather than medicinal products, provided they do not claim to treat or prevent human disease. Consequently, the manufacturing activities are distributed across food and chemical-pharmaceutical classification systems depending on the precise nature of the raw active ingredients.

• •Classified under NACE Rev. 2 code 10.89 ('Manufacture of other food products n.e.c.') which explicitly includes the manufacture of food supplements.
• •Primary chemical ingredients and basic vitamin compounds are synthesized or prepared under NACE Rev. 2 code 21.10 ('Manufacture of basic pharmaceutical products').
• •Regulated strictly under Directive 2002/46/EC, which harmonizes rules for food supplements marketed as foodstuffs.

Who operates in the industry and how is it structured?

The European Union's manufacturing landscape for vitamins and dietary supplements is highly fragmented, characterized by a small number of large multinational players operating alongside thousands of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Production is geographically dispersed, though key manufacturing and export hubs exist in Western and Central Europe, notably in Germany, France, Italy, and the Netherlands. Contract manufacturing organizations (CMOs) play an essential role in the supply chain, formulating and packaging products on behalf of brand owners and private labels.

• •The sector comprises over 3,000 companies across the EU according to the European Federation of Associations of Health Product Manufacturers (EHPM) in 2024.
• •A substantial share of operators are specialized SMEs employing fewer than 250 people, relying on national trade associations for regulatory support.
• •Leading importing and transit hubs for botanical saps and extracts used in manufacturing include the Netherlands, which handled 37% of EU imports in 2024, and Germany at 11% (Centre for the Promotion of Imports from developing countries, 2024).

What drives demand in the industry?

Demand for manufactured vitamins and supplements is primarily sustained by structural demographic shifts and evolving consumer lifestyle choices centered on preventive health. An aging European population has expanded the consumer base for supplements targeting bone density, cognitive performance, joint health, and vision. Additionally, the proliferation of digital sales channels and personalized nutrition platforms has lowered barriers to consumer adoption, creating recurring demand for specialized wellness formulations.

• •Over 20% of the EU population was aged 65 or older in 2021, creating strong demand for age-targeted and preventive health formulations.
• •In major markets such as Germany, public health data from the Centre for the Promotion of Imports (CBI) indicated that 57% of women and 45% of men used food supplements in 2024.
• •Increased focus on immunity, gut health (probiotics), and stress relief has accelerated product innovation and diversification post-pandemic.

Who are the notable companies in the industry?

The competitive environment in the European Union features intense rivalry between multinational consumer health conglomerates, pharmaceutical giants, and specialized regional brand manufacturers. These companies compete on brand equity, ingredient purity, scientifically backed clinical claims, and the efficiency of their distribution networks. Industry leaders often utilize both in-house manufacturing facilities and specialized third-party EU contract manufacturers to optimize their regional supply chains.

• •Bayer AG, a German multinational, is highly active in the European market with major consumer supplement brands such as One A Day and Supradyn.
• •Glanbia plc, an Irish global nutrition group, operates extensive performance nutrition and ingredient manufacturing units within the EU.
• •Nestlé Health Science (a subsidiary of Nestlé S.A.) manufactures and markets specialized medical nutrition and dietary brands across Europe.
• •Sanofi S.A., headquartered in France, remains a major competitor in the European consumer healthcare sector through its consumer health division.

What are the recent trends and outlook?

The industry is adapting to a strong consumer preference for natural, organic, and clean-label ingredients, shifting away from synthetic binders and artificial additives. Manufacturers are increasingly incorporating sustainably sourced botanical extracts and plant-based capsules to align with the European Green Deal. Over the medium term, the integration of artificial intelligence in analyzing biomarkers is expected to drive the growth of hyper-personalized vitamin blends, moving the market away from generic multi-vitamin formulations.

• •Western Europe represented one-third of all global new product launches in the women's health supplement category between 2019 and 2023 (CBI, 2026).
• •Product innovation targeting specific life stages, such as menopause relief formulations, saw a 21% annual growth in European launches from 2019 to 2023.
• •The application of the EU's Mutual Recognition Principle (Regulation EU 2019/515) continues to facilitate the cross-border distribution of newly formulated supplements within the single market.

How is the industry regulated?

Supplements in the EU are subject to some of the most stringent food safety and labeling laws globally, overseen by European and national authorities. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) conducts scientific risk assessments regarding ingredient safety and authorizes all permitted health claims, which limits the marketing language manufacturers can use. Compliance represents a significant operational cost, particularly regarding the validation of novel foods, maximum permitted levels of vitamins, and botanical health claims.

• •Directive 2002/46/EC establishes the harmonized list of vitamins and minerals permitted in food supplement manufacturing across the EU.
• •Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 governs nutrition and health claims, requiring strict scientific substantiation and prior authorization by the European Commission.
• •Regulation (EC) No 1925/2006 regulates the addition of vitamins, minerals, and certain other substances to foods, defining the EU risk management procedure under Article 8.

Government, statistical and trade sources used for this Claight analysis.

• European Federation of Associations of Health Product Manufacturers (EHPM) 2024-2029 Manifesto ·
• Centre for the Promotion of Imports from developing countries (CBI) 2026 Report on Natural Ingredients ·
• European Commission NACE Rev. 2 Classification Database ·
• European Parliament and Council Directive 2002/46/EC on Food Supplements ·
• European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) Guidelines on Nutrition and Health Claims