Expert in nutrition and natural health, EA Pharma has announced the acquisition of U.S. food supplements specialist W Group and launched the global structure Olyos Group. The pharmaceutical group has initiated a new phase in its international expansion by entering the world’s biggest food supplements market.
Since the group’s flagship brand Le Laboratoire des Granions launched in 1948, EA Pharma has provided natural health solutions for all aspects of wellbeing, medicinal products, food supplements, medical devices and cosmetics. With the highest growth (+32%) of France’s ten largest food supplement manufacturers in Pharmacies and Drugstores across 2023(2), EA Pharma is the market leader in minerals, collagen, sports nutrition and joints and muscles care supplements.
As early as 2020, the French company initiated a radical transformation, focusing on three strategic areas: stronger partnerships with pharmacists based on staff training and brand visibility in pharmacies; an ambitious innovation policy aiming to consolidate its existing ranges and enter new market segments (Nutricosmetics, Childhood, Vitality & Immunity); and the development of e-commerce in Europe and China. Three business acquisitions boosted the two verticals (pharmacies and e-commerce): Labcatal (France) in 2020, Drasanvi (Spain) in 2021 and Stardea (Italy) in 2022.
Today, EA Pharma has announced the acquisition of W Group, a food supplement specialist founded in the United States in 2020, and the launch of a global structure, Olyos, comprising four international companies (EA Pharma, Drasanvi, Stardea and W Group).
‘‘We’re delighted with this acquisition, which is opening up new opportunities in the U.S. as we continue to develop W Group’s brands as well as launching some of our longstanding brands in that market’’ says CEO Thierry Verne.
Following a group’s initial European consolidation in three of the EU’s four biggest food supplement markets (Italy, France, Spain) and a second phase of international expansion characterized by strong growth in South America and China, Olyos Group has naturally turned to the United States, the world’s premier food supplements market “with a size estimated at 50 billion USD, much of which is online, facilitating accelerated market penetration” Deputy CEO Jonathan Bienfait clarifies.
More than ten Granions products have already been made available to U.S. consumers, largely thanks to the W teams’ e-commerce expertise. That agility is consistent with Olyos Group’s strategy: ‘‘pooling and synergies upstream for procurement and production (where economies of scale are) and agility downstream to meet the expectations of our customers, pharmacists and consumers’’ Thierry Verne explains. ‘‘Olyos Group develops innovative products from superior-quality active ingredients, plants, minerals, vitamins and amino acids, which we then market around the world under brands that appeal to and resonate with consumers in every country ’’ the CEO adds.
For more information : www.olyos.com
