OTC
OTC Healthcare

OTC Healthcare in Switzerland

Switzerland

Euromonitor International's OTC Healthcare in Switzerland market report offers a comprehensive guide to the size and shape of the market at a national level. It provides the latest retail sales data, allowing you to identify the sectors driving growth. It identifies the leading companies, the leading brands and offers strategic analysis of key factors influencing the market - be they new product developments, packaging innovations, economic/lifestyle influences, distribution or pricing issues. Forecasts illustrate how the market is set to change.

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Tables: 90  |  Publication date: Jun 2006
Cost: 
GBP1200.00

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  • Get insight into trends in market performance
  • Pinpoint growth sectors and identify factors driving change
  • Identify market and brand leaders and understand the competitive environment

Product coverage

Adult mouthcare; Allergy care; Analgesics; Calming and sleeping products; Child-specific OTC healthcare; Cough; cold and allergy (hay fever) remedies; Digestive remedies; Ear care; Emergency contraception; Eye care; Medicated skin care; NRT Smoking cessation aids; OTC obesity; OTC statins; Vitamins and dietary supplements; Wound treatments

Executive summary

Sales revive slightly in 2005

Compared to 2004, sales of OTC products saw a revival, due to the solid growth of smaller sectors and the positive performance of cold and cough remedies as a result of a long and hard winter season in 2005.

Apart from that, key players reacted to last year’s stagnating sales by intensifying marketing activities and efforts to strengthen consumer awareness.

Dynamic growth of small sectors

While not overwhelming, the development of small sectors such as smoking cessation aids and sleeping and calming products was steady and reliable. These are either driven by public health policies (such as smoking cessation aids) or benefit from specific external conditions: calming and sleeping products are in demand in an increasingly noisy and stressful society, eye care sales performed well mostly due to the increased incidence of allergies.

For large manufacturers these sectors represent opportunities to round off their portfolio with promising niche products, for small players they can become drivers of growth and fields of valuable special expertise.

Drugstores face strong competition from mass retailers

Over the review period, distribution shares of drugstores/parapharmacies fell by around two percentage points to reach almost 19% in 2005. Mass retailers on the other hand, saw a strong increase of over one percentage point, on 2000 to account for over 1% in 2005.

Consumer studies also indicated that the quality of cheaper discount products is not that far behind that of premium ones, therefore, the purchase of cheaper and more convenient discount products presents an increasingly appealing option.

Distribution: independent outlets face difficult times

OTC distribution is increasingly driven by price competition and product promotion. This has put independent outlets – still the typical form of pharmacies and drugstores – into a difficult strategic position. On the one hand, domestic company Galenica has built a formidable chain of pharmacies over the past seven years, enabling economies of scale and scope and thus lower prices.

On the other hand, drugstores face stiff competition from mass retailers, most notably the large supermarket chains of Migros and Coop, which have made inroads into the sale of certain OTC product categories.

Swiss can and are willing to afford a good healthcare system

Swiss are willing to spend a lot of money on their health, as can be seen in the healthcare expenditure of the country, which accounted for over 11% of GDP in 2005. This is comparable with healthcare expenditure in Germany and puts these countries in the top positions in Europe when it comes to healthcare expenditure.

Table of contents

OTC HEALTHCARE IN SWITZERLAND : MARKET INSIGHT

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

OPERATING ENVIRONMENT

OTC Registration and Classification

Vitamins & Dietary Supplements Registration and Classification

Advertising

Packaging and Labelling

Distribution

De-listing or De-reimbursement

Traditional Remedies

Homeopathy

Generics

Consumer Expenditure on Health Goods and Medical Services

Table 1 Consumer Expenditure on Health Goods and Medical Services 2000-2005

Life Expectancy

Table 2 Life Expectancy at Birth 2000-2005

OTC HEALTHCARE SALES

Market Performance

Table 3 Sales of OTC Healthcare by Sector: Value 2000-2005

Table 4 Sales of OTC Healthcare by Sector: % Value Growth 2000-2005

Switches

Table 5 OTC Healthcare Switches 2004-2005

Competitive Environment

Table 6 OTC Healthcare Company Shares by Retail Value 2001-2005

Table 7 OTC Healthcare Brand Shares by Retail Value 2002-2005

Retail Distribution

Table 8 Sales of OTC Healthcare by Distribution Format: % Analysis 2000/2005

Table 9 Sales of OTC Healthcare by Sector and Distribution Format: % Analysis 2005

Retailer Activity and Private Label Trends

Table 10 Penetration of Private Label by Sector 2001-2005

Forecast Market Performance

Table 11 Forecast Sales of OTC Healthcare by Sector: Value 2005-2010

Table 12 Forecast Sales of OTC Healthcare by Sector: % Value Growth 2005-2010

DEFINITIONS

LOCAL COMPANY PROFILES - SWITZERLAND

BIOFORCE AG - OTC HEALTHCARE - SWITZERLAND

COMPANY BACKGROUND

RECENT NEWS

Summary 1 Summary - Bioforce AG: Operational Indicators 2004

PRODUCTION CAPACITY

GALENICA HOLDING AG - OTC HEALTHCARE - SWITZERLAND

COMPANY BACKGROUND

RECENT NEWS

Summary 2 Summary - Galenica Holding AG: Operational Indicators 2004

PRODUCTION CAPACITY

NOVARTIS CONSUMER HEALTH AG - OTC HEALTHCARE - SWITZERLAND

COMPANY BACKGROUND

RECENT NEWS

Summary 3 Summary - Novartis Consumer Health Schweiz AG: Operational Indicators 2004

PRODUCTION CAPACITY

SPIRIG PHARMA AG - OTC HEALTHCARE - SWITZERLAND

COMPANY BACKGROUND

RECENT NEWS

PRODUCTION CAPACITY

ANALGESICS IN SWITZERLAND

SECTOR PERFORMANCE

2005 headlines

Sales of analgesics recover after a slump in 2004

Adult analgesics

Child-specific analgesics

Topical analgesics

Forecast performance

Table 13 Sales of Analgesics by Subsector: Value 2000-2005

Table 14 Sales of Analgesics by Subsector: % Value Growth 2000-2005

Table 15 Analgesics Company Shares by Retail Value 2001-2005

Table 16 Analgesics Brand Shares by Retail Value 2002-2005

Summary 4 Summary - Analgesics: New Product Launches 2004-2005

Table 17 Forecast Sales of Analgesics by Subsector: Value 2005-2010

Table 18 Forecast Sales of Analgesics by Subsector: % Value Growth 2005-2010

TOPICAL ANALGESICS BY HERBAL/STANDARD SPLIT

Only one fifth of topical analgesics is made up by herbal preparations

Herbal preparations are rather inconvenient

Table 19 Herbal vs Standard Topical Analgesics 2000/2005

COUGH, COLD AND ALLERGY (HAY FEVER) REMEDIES IN SWITZERLAND

SECTOR PERFORMANCE

2005 headlines

A cold, long winter boosts sales of cough and cold remedies

Growing number of allergies brings healthy growth to allergy remedies

Retail prices remain stable

New product launches not really innovative

Medicated confectionery makes up the lion’s share in this sector

Forecast performance

Table 20 Sales of Cough, Cold and Allergy (Hay Fever) Remedies by Subsector: Value 2000-2005

Table 21 Sales of Cough, Cold and Allergy (Hay Fever) Remedies by Subsector: % Value Growth 2000-2005

Table 22 Cough, Cold and Allergy (Hay Fever) Remedies Company Shares by Retail Value 2001-2005

Table 23 Cough, Cold and Allergy (Hay Fever) Remedies Brand Shares by Retail Value 2002-2005

Summary 5 Summary - Cough, Cold and Allergy (Hay Fever) Remedies: New Product Launches 2004-2005

Table 24 Forecast Sales of Cough, Cold and Allergy (Hay Fever) Remedies by Subsector: Value 2005-2010

Table 25 Forecast Sales of Cough, Cold and Allergy (Hay Fever) Remedies by Subsector: % Value Growth 2005-2010

COUGH, COLD AND ALLERGY (HAY FEVER) REMEDIES BY HERBAL/STANDARD SPLIT

Herbal alternatives play an important role in this sector

Medicated confectionery is largely dominated by the use of herbal ingredients

Table 26 Herbal vs Standard Cough, Cold and Allergy (Hay Fever) Remedies 2000/2005

DECONGESTANTS PERFORMANCE

Decongestant sales benefit from a long and cold winter

Inhalant decongestants copes with rather low sales figures

Table 27 Sales of Decongestants by Type: Value 2000-2005

Table 28 Sales of Decongestants by Type: % Value Growth 2000-2005

CHILD-SPECIFIC COUGH, COLD AND ALLERGY (HAY FEVER) REMEDIES PERFORMANCE

Parents still sceptical about OTC child-specific products

Child-specific allergy remedies show stable growth, while cough and cold products lag behind

Table 29 Sales of Child-specific Cough, Cold and Allergy (Hay Fever) Remedies by Type: Value 2000-2005

Table 30 Sales of Child-specific Cough, Cold and Allergy (Hay Fever) Remedies by Type: % Value Growth 2000-2005

DIGESTIVE REMEDIES IN SWITZERLAND

SECTOR PERFORMANCE

2005 headlines

Marginal growth of digestive remedies in 2005

Child-specific digestive remedies see healthy growth

Niche H2 blockers shows the fastest growth of digestive remedies

Marginal price increases due to a weak demand

Laxatives are going down

Diarrhoeal and motion sickness remedies benefit from revived travel

Forecast performance

High fragmentation of digestive remedies makes effective marketing rather difficult

Table 31 Sales of Digestive Remedies by Subsector: Value 2000-2005

Table 32 Sales of Digestive Remedies by Subsector: % Value Growth 2000-2005

Table 33 Digestive Remedies Company Shares by Retail Value 2001-2005

Table 34 Digestive Remedies Brand Shares by Retail Value 2002-2005

Summary 6 Summary - Digestive Remedies: New Product Launches 2004-2005

Table 35 Forecast Sales of Digestive Remedies by Subsector: Value 2005-2010

Table 36 Forecast Sales of Digestive Remedies by Subsector: % Value Growth 2005-2010

DIGESTIVE REMEDIES BY HERBAL/STANDARD SPLIT

Herbal products gain popularity among Swiss consumers

Table 37 Herbal vs Standard Digestive Remedies 2000/2005

OTHER INDIGESTION AND HEARTBURN REMEDIES PERFORMANCE

Other indigestion and heartburn remedies see a stable growth

Top brand Rennie boosts sales of antacids and revives the whole subsector

Table 38 Sales of Other Indigestion and Heartburn Remedies by Type: Value 2000-2005

Table 39 Sales of Other Indigestion and Heartburn Remedies by Type: % Value Growth 2000-2005

MEDICATED SKIN CARE IN SWITZERLAND

SECTOR PERFORMANCE

2005 headlines

Low overall growth of medicated skin care in 2005

Child-specific medicated skin care fastest growing subsector in 2005

Rising incidence of allergies boosts topical allergy remedies

Prices static in weak environment

Skin care sector lacks new impulses

Hair loss treatments benefit from its cosmetic value

Slow growth of antiseptics and antipuritics

Forecast performance

Table 40 Sales of Medicated Skin Care by Subsector: Value 2000-2005

Table 41 Sales of Medicated Skin Care by Subsector: % Value Growth 2000-2005

Table 42 Medicated Skin Care Company Shares by Retail Value 2001-2005

Table 43 Medicated Skin Care Brand Shares by Retail Value 2002-2005

Summary 7 Summary - Medicated Skin Care: New Product Launches 2004-2005

Table 44 Forecast Sales of Medicated Skin Care by Subsector: Value 2005-2010

Table 45 Forecast Sales of Medicated Skin Care by Subsector: % Value Growth 2005-2010

MEDICATED SKIN CARE BY HERBAL/STANDARD SPLIT

Herbal products gain further importance

Table 46 Herbal vs Standard Medicated Skin Care 2000/2005

ACNE TREATMENTS BRAND SHARES

Two strong players in a rather fragmented market

Table 47 Acne Treatments Brand Shares by Retail Value 2002-2005

HAIR LOSS TREATMENTS BRAND SHARES

Regaine remains the top hair loss treatment brand

Table 48 Hair Loss Treatments Brand Shares by Retail Value 2002-2005

VITAMINS AND DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS IN SWITZERLAND

SECTOR PERFORMANCE

2005 headlines

Weak performance due to the strong competition from private label products

Price increases have little to no impact on the market

Fish oils grow fastest

while tonics continuously lose out

Mineral combination products lose out to the benefit of specific ones

Forecast performance

Oversaturation and cheap private label products will keep value growth low

Fish oils will remain the fastest growing subsector

Herbal dietary supplements will benefit from stable growth rates

Table 49 Sales of Vitamins and Dietary Supplements by Subsector: Value 2000-2005

Table 50 Sales of Vitamins and Dietary Supplements by Subsector: % Value Growth 2000-2005

Table 51 Vitamins and Dietary Supplements Company Shares by Retail Value 2001-2005

Table 52 Vitamins and Dietary Supplements Brand Shares by Retail Value 2002-2005

Summary 8 Summary - Vitamins and Dietary Supplements: New Product Launches 2004-2005

Table 53 Forecast Sales of Vitamins and Dietary Supplements by Subsector: Value 2005-2010

Table 54 Forecast Sales of Vitamins and Dietary Supplements by Subsector: % Value Growth 2005-2010

VITAMINS PERFORMANCE

Rather weak performance of vitamins in 2005

Low consumer confidence in multivitamins

Vitamin D grew fastest in 2005

Fierce competition within vitamins

Table 55 Sales of Vitamins by Type: Value 2000-2005

Table 56 Sales of Vitamins by Type: % Value Growth 2000-2005

Table 57 Vitamins Brand Shares by Retail Value 2002-2005

DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS PERFORMANCE

Dietary supplements recover from rather slow growth during the last few years

The small niches of eye health, Q10 and fish oil lack strong players

Minerals dominate value

Table 58 Sales of Dietary Supplements by Type: Value 2000-2005

Table 59 Sales of Dietary Supplements by Type: % Value Growth 2000-2005

Table 60 Dietary Supplements Brand Shares by Retail Value 2002-2005

Table 61 Dietary Supplements by Positioning: % Retail Value Analysis 2005

NRT SMOKING CESSATION AIDS IN SWITZERLAND

NUMBER OF SMOKERS

Numbers of male smokers decreasing while more and more women start to smoke

Public politics against tobacco

Table 62

SECTOR PERFORMANCE

2005 headlines

Market grows by almost 4% and outperforms last year’s growth rates

NRT gums are the most popular format

NRT patches a dynamic subsector

Small price increases across all subsectors

Key player Pfizer dominates sector shares with its highly successful Nicorette brand

Forecast performance

Table 63 Sales of NRT Smoking Cessation Aids by Subsector: Value 2000-2005

Table 64 Sales of NRT Smoking Cessation Aids by Subsector: % Value Growth 2000-2005

Table 65 NRT Smoking Cessation Aids Company Shares by Retail Value 2001-2005

Table 66 NRT Smoking Cessation Aids Brand Shares by Retail Value 2002-2005

Table 67 Forecast Sales of NRT Smoking Cessation Aids by Subsector: Value 2005-2010

Table 68 Forecast Sales of NRT Smoking Cessation Aids by Subsector: % Value Growth 2005-2010

EYE CARE IN SWITZERLAND

SECTOR PERFORMANCE

2005 headlines

Growth rate down compared to 2004

Price increases small in competitive sector

Strong potential of allergy eye care, while sales of standard eye care are moderate

Only a handful of manufacturers dominate sales of eye care products

Forecast performance

Table 69 Sales of Eye Care by Subsector: Value 2000-2005

Table 70 Sales of Eye Care by Subsector: % Value Growth 2000-2005

Table 71 Eye Care Company Shares by Retail Value 2001-2005

Table 72 Eye Care Brand Shares by Retail Value 2002-2005

Summary 9 Summary - Eye Care: New Product Launches 2004-2005

Table 73 Forecast Sales of Eye Care by Subsector: Value 2005-2010

Table 74 Forecast Sales of Eye Care by Subsector: % Value Growth 2005-2010

EAR CARE IN SWITZERLAND

SECTOR PERFORMANCE

Ear care falls on deaf ears among consumers

ADULT MOUTHCARE IN SWITZERLAND

SECTOR PERFORMANCE

Growth is assumed to remain stable

CALMING AND SLEEPING PRODUCTS IN SWITZERLAND

SECTOR PERFORMANCE

Stressful lifestyles keep Swiss awake, assuring stable growth of calming and sleeping products

WOUND TREATMENTS IN SWITZERLAND

SECTOR PERFORMANCE

2005 headlines

Slower growth than in 2004

Sticking plasters show further dynamic growth

Other wound treatments grow stronger compared to 2004

Little room for price increases in weak environment

Forecast performance

Table 75 Sales of Wound Treatments by Subsector: Value 2000-2005

Table 76 Sales of Wound Treatments by Subsector: % Value Growth 2000-2005

Table 77 Wound Treatments Company Shares by Retail Value 2001-2005

Table 78 Wound Treatments Brand Shares by Retail Value 2002-2005

Summary 10 Summary - Wound Treatments: New Product Launches 2004-2005

Table 79 Forecast Sales of Wound Treatments by Subsector: Value 2005-2010

Table 80 Forecast Sales of Wound Treatments by Subsector: % Value Growth 2005-2010

EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTION IN SWITZERLAND

SECTOR PERFORMANCE

Medical consultation required for the sale of emergency contraception

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