OTC
OTC Healthcare

OTC Healthcare in the Netherlands

Netherlands

Euromonitor International's OTC Healthcare in the Netherlands 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: 88  |  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

Good growth levels achieved in the Dutch OTC healthcare industry in 2005

Of all the various ranges within the OTC healthcare industry, vitamins and dietary supplements showed the strongest performance in 2005, continuing previous trends. Cold, cough and allergy (hay fever) remedies also had a good year, helped by poor weather conditions that included an extremely wet summer. A solid performance was also enjoyed by child-specific OTC healthcare, albeit from a low base as only relatively few products specially formulated for children are found in the Netherlands. Sales of analgesics suffered from the rise in importance of private label and because consumers looked for alternatives. Aspirin for instance, performed particularly poorly. Increasingly busy lifestyles led to increased sales in some ranges, most notably calming and sleeping products, and digestive remedies, owing to changing eating patterns.

Industry led by handful of players

The OTC healthcare industry is led by a handful of manufacturers, although there are also multiple small players that specialise in certain niche areas. Many manufacturers faced increasing competition in 2005, prompting some companies to make acquisitions to improve their industry share, whilst others chose to exit. Perhaps the most important acquisition is that of Bayer, which agreed to acquire Roche Consumer Health, the OTC division of Roche Nederland. This was effective as of January 2006. Boots, the fourth most important player, was sold to Reckitt Benckiser during 2005 owing to price competition, especially from private label. Viatris was acquired by the Swedish pharmaceutical concern Meda in 2005 and Apothekers Coöperatie exited the OTC healthcare industry in 2005 to concentrate on prescription-only sales.

Price wars spill over into the OTC retail distribution structure

From the end of 2003, price wars were apparent between retail outlets in the Netherlands, leading to severe price reductions. Starting in grocery outlets, these wars spilled over into other areas of retailing during 2005. Drugstores/parapharmacies maintained its lead in sales of OTC products, whilst chemists/pharmacies continued to lose share, even although this channel is making tremendous efforts to refresh the image of its outlets as well as its private label offerings. However, owing to lower prices, grocery outlets is seeing an increase in its industry share of OTC healthcare products, putting further pressure on traditional outlets.

Private label products eroding shares of leading brands

The penetration of private label has grown across the entire Dutch OTC healthcare industry, reversing declines seen over the last couple of years of the review period. This is being helped by the leading drugstores, which are refreshing and expanding their offerings and premises, and by grocery outlets, some of which are also experimenting with private label. Not only are brand sales being eroded, but the increase in private label is driving down prices

Lower growth expected for the forecast period

Owing to on-going price pressures and the maturity of some ranges within the OTC healthcare industry, vitamins and dietary supplements will continue to perform well throughout the forecast period. Child-specific OTC healthcare and calming and sleeping products will also perform well, and cold remedies is expected to demonstrate healthy sales, although this will be highly dependent on weather patterns. Lacklustre growth is likely in most other ranges.

Table of contents

OTC HEALTHCARE IN THE NETHERLANDS : 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

Competitive Environment

Table 5 OTC Healthcare Company Shares by Retail Value 2001-2005

Table 6 OTC Healthcare Brand Shares by Retail Value 2002-2005

Retail Distribution

Table 7 Sales of OTC Healthcare by Distribution Format: % Analysis 2000/2005

Table 8 Sales of OTC Healthcare by Sector and Distribution Format: % Analysis 2005

Retailer Activity and Private Label Trends

Table 9 Penetration of Private Label by Sector 2001-2005

Forecast Market Performance

Table 10 Forecast Sales of OTC Healthcare by Sector: Value 2005-2010

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

DEFINITIONS

LOCAL COMPANY PROFILES - NETHERLANDS

BAYER BV - OTC HEALTHCARE - NETHERLANDS

COMPANY BACKGROUND

RECENT NEWS

Summary 1 Summary - Bayer BV: Operational Indicators 2004

PRODUCTION CAPACITY

BIONAL PHARMA BV - OTC HEALTHCARE - NETHERLANDS

COMPANY BACKGROUND

RECENT NEWS

Summary 2 Summary - Bional: Operational Indicators 2004

PRODUCTION CAPACITY

CHEFARO INTERNATIONAL BV - OTC HEALTHCARE - NETHERLANDS

COMPANY BACKGROUND

RECENT NEWS

Summary 3 Summary - Chefaro International BV: Operational Indicators 2004

PRODUCTION CAPACITY

VIATRIS BV - OTC HEALTHCARE - NETHERLANDS

COMPANY BACKGROUND

RECENT NEWS

Summary 4 Summary - Viatris BV: Operational Indicators 2004

PRODUCTION CAPACITY

ANALGESICS IN THE NETHERLANDS

SECTOR PERFORMANCE

2005 headlines

Private label dents sales of analgesics

Leaders increase their share

Adult analgesics continues to be the most important, although growth is slowing

Child-specific analgesics witnesses declining growth rates

Topical analgesics/anaesthetic continues to witness the strongest value growth

Forecast performance

Table 12 Sales of Analgesics by Subsector: Value 2000-2005

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

Table 14 Analgesics Company Shares by Retail Value 2001-2005

Table 15 Analgesics Brand Shares by Retail Value 2002-2005

Table 16 Forecast Sales of Analgesics by Subsector: Value 2005-2010

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

TOPICAL ANALGESICS BY HERBAL/STANDARD SPLIT

Table 18 Herbal vs Standard Topical Analgesics 2000/2005

COUGH, COLD AND ALLERGY (HAY FEVER) REMEDIES IN THE NETHERLANDS

SECTOR PERFORMANCE

2005 headlines

Poor weather in 2005 boosts sales

Medicated confectionery remains most valuable range within cough, cold and allergy (hay fever) remedies

Decongestants falling out of favour

Cough remedies continues to slide

Growth of child-specific cough, cold and allergy remedies begins to fall

Importance of medicated confectionery reflected in leading brands

Private label picking up strongly

Forecast performance

Table 19 Sales of Cough, Cold and Allergy (Hay Fever) Remedies by Subsector: Value 2000-2005

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

Table 21 Cough, Cold and Allergy (Hay Fever) Remedies Company Shares by Retail Value 2001-2005

Table 22 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 23 Forecast Sales of Cough, Cold and Allergy (Hay Fever) Remedies by Subsector: Value 2005-2010

Table 24 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

Table 25 Herbal vs Standard Cough, Cold and Allergy (Hay Fever) Remedies 2000/2005

DECONGESTANTS PERFORMANCE

Table 26 Sales of Decongestants by Type: Value 2000-2005

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

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

Table 28 Sales of Child-specific Cough, Cold and Allergy (Hay Fever) Remedies by Type: Value 2000-2005

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

DIGESTIVE REMEDIES IN THE NETHERLANDS

SECTOR PERFORMANCE

2005 headlines

Sales of digestive remedies continue to slow down

Self-selection key to driving sales

Indigestion and heartburn remedies accounts for the majority of value sales of digestive remedies

Motion sickness remedies underperforms

Sales of child-specific digestive remedies barely exist

Forecast performance

Table 30 Sales of Digestive Remedies by Subsector: Value 2000-2005

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

Table 32 Digestive Remedies Company Shares by Retail Value 2001-2005

Table 33 Digestive Remedies Brand Shares by Retail Value 2002-2005

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

Table 34 Forecast Sales of Digestive Remedies by Subsector: Value 2005-2010

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

DIGESTIVE REMEDIES BY HERBAL/STANDARD SPLIT

Table 36 Herbal vs Standard Digestive Remedies 2000/2005

OTHER INDIGESTION AND HEARTBURN REMEDIES PERFORMANCE

Table 37 Sales of Other Indigestion and Heartburn Remedies by Type: Value 2000-2005

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

MEDICATED SKIN CARE IN THE NETHERLANDS

SECTOR PERFORMANCE

2005 headlines

Medicated skin care highly fragemented and in decline

Only lip care treatments shows real dynamism

Sales of topical germicidals/anticeptics and antipruritics dips in 2005

Child-specific medicated skin care products show growth

Declining growth for acne treatments

Other products have only minor sales

Forecast performance

Table 39 Sales of Medicated Skin Care by Subsector: Value 2000-2005

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

Table 41 Medicated Skin Care Company Shares by Retail Value 2001-2005

Table 42 Medicated Skin Care Brand Shares by Retail Value 2002-2005

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

Table 43 Forecast Sales of Medicated Skin Care by Subsector: Value 2005-2010

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

MEDICATED SKIN CARE BY HERBAL/STANDARD SPLIT

Table 45 Herbal vs Standard Medicated Skin Care 2000/2005

ACNE TREATMENTS BRAND SHARES

Table 46 Acne Treatments Brand Shares by Retail Value 2002-2005

HAIR LOSS TREATMENTS BRAND SHARES

Table 47 Hair Loss Treatments Brand Shares by Retail Value 2002-2005

VITAMINS AND DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS IN THE NETHERLANDS

SECTOR PERFORMANCE

2005 headlines

Most dynamic product group within the Dutch OTC healthcare industry

Lifestyle concerns fuel sales

Vitamins remains the most popular range

Sales of dietary supplements witness rapid growth

Dip in performance of child-specific vitamins and dietary supplements

Three main players control value sales

Forecast performance

Table 48 Sales of Vitamins and Dietary Supplements by Subsector: Value 2000-2005

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

Table 50 Vitamins and Dietary Supplements Company Shares by Retail Value 2001-2005

Table 51 Vitamins and Dietary Supplements Brand Shares by Retail Value 2002-2005

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

Table 52 Forecast Sales of Vitamins and Dietary Supplements by Subsector: Value 2005-2010

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

VITAMINS PERFORMANCE

Vitamins growth falling, but still high

Multivitamins maintains its performance

Products become more tied to lifestyle

Single vitamins less popular than multivitamins

Vitamin C most popular

Vitamin D and E sales have shown strong growth

Chained drugstores/parapharmacies expand the most rapidly

Three manufacturers control sales

Table 54 Sales of Vitamins by Type: Value 2000-2005

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

Table 56 Vitamins Brand Shares by Retail Value 2002-2005

DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS PERFORMANCE

Strong performance from dietary supplements

Growth spurred by health and wellness concerns

Private label performs well

Garlic remains the most valuable range

Products for warding off seasonal illnesses perform well

Growth seen in supplements for the elderly

Traditional ranges see least growth

Table 57 Sales of Dietary Supplements by Type: Value 2000-2005

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

Table 59 Dietary Supplements Brand Shares by Retail Value 2002-2005

Table 60 Dietary Supplements by Positioning: % Retail Value Analysis 2005

NRT SMOKING CESSATION AIDS IN THE NETHERLANDS

NUMBER OF SMOKERS

Table 61

SECTOR PERFORMANCE

2005 headlines

Low growth and low level of sales for NRT smoking cessation aids

Low levels of usage of NRT smoking cessation aids results in stagnating growth

NRT gum and NRT patches only viable products

Novartis clear leader in NRT smoking cessation aids

Forecast performance

Table 62 Sales of NRT Smoking Cessation Aids by Subsector: Value 2000-2005

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

Table 64 NRT Smoking Cessation Aids Company Shares by Retail Value 2001-2005

Table 65 NRT Smoking Cessation Aids Brand Shares by Retail Value 2002-2005

Summary 9 Summary - NRT Smoking Cessation Aids: New Product Launches 2004-2005

Table 66 Forecast Sales of NRT Smoking Cessation Aids by Subsector: Value 2005-2010

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

EYE CARE IN THE NETHERLANDS

SECTOR PERFORMANCE

2005 headlines

Lacklustre performance in eye care

Consumers seek specialist advice in eye care

Eye care controlled by just one manufacturer

Forecast performance

Table 68 Sales of Eye Care by Subsector: Value 2000-2005

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

Table 70 Eye Care Company Shares by Retail Value 2001-2005

Table 71 Eye Care Brand Shares by Retail Value 2002-2005

Table 72 Forecast Sales of Eye Care by Subsector: Value 2005-2010

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

EAR CARE IN THE NETHERLANDS

SECTOR PERFORMANCE

Ear care sales minimal

ADULT MOUTHCARE IN THE NETHERLANDS

SECTOR PERFORMANCE

Sales of adult mouthcare restricted in nature

CALMING AND SLEEPING PRODUCTS IN THE NETHERLANDS

SECTOR PERFORMANCE

Calming and sleeping products appeal to busy consumers

WOUND TREATMENTS IN THE NETHERLANDS

SECTOR PERFORMANCE

2005 headlines

Prices under pressure in 2005

Sticking plasters most important in terms of sales

Child-specific products important in the sales mix

Lower growth seen in specialist treatments

Beiersdorf dominates sales

Forecast performance

Table 74 Sales of Wound Treatments by Subsector: Value 2000-2005

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

Table 76 Wound Treatments Company Shares by Retail Value 2001-2005

Table 77 Wound Treatments Brand Shares by Retail Value 2002-2005

Table 78 Forecast Sales of Wound Treatments by Subsector: Value 2005-2010

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

EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTION IN THE NETHERLANDS

SECTOR PERFORMANCE

Emergency contraception introduced to OTC healthcare industry

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