OTC
OTC Healthcare

OTC Healthcare in the United Kingdom

United Kingdom

Euromonitor International's OTC Healthcare in the United Kingdom 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.

Buy online to access strategic market analysis and an interactive statistical database of volume and value market sizes, company and brand shares, distribution and pricing data.

Tables: 128  |  Publication date: Apr 2009
Cost: 
GBP1500.00

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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 mouth care; 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; OTC triptans; Vitamins and dietary supplements; Wound treatments

Executive summary

OTC healthcare market remains stable despite economic slump

The UK economy is seeing tough times as progressive contraction put the country into recession, the pound plunges in value, unemployment rises, industry is hit and consumer spending falls. The UK it set to see some of the most significant falls in living standards of any major economy and continued significant hardship over the course of 2009. However, the OTC healthcare market is managing to prevail despite price pressures from major grocery chains and private label products and significant falls in consumer confidence.

Smokers and elderly continue to bolster market

The 2007 smoking ban, which followed comparable bans in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and extensive public health campaigns, continues to support strong growth in NRT smoking cessation aids, and potentially further categories. These include products such as weight control, calming and sleeping products and vitamins and dietary supplements, as those giving up smoking turn to numerous other products for help in succeeding and to promote healthier lifestyles. In addition to this, changing demographics in the UK, which is seeing the size of the elderly population increase is helping to support growth in many OTC healthcare categories as these consumers face more health problems with their older age.

Market remains dominated by megabrands

The OTC healthcare market continues to be led by ironclad brands and players such as Reckitt Benckiser, although this is now in a largely stagnant market, following the spate of merger and acquisition activity during the review period. Many of the brands however, are long-time trusted names and people seem less inclined to experiment with products when it comes to their OTC medication leading to little fluctuation in terms of value shares as consumers remain largely loyal to the brands they find most effective or have simply grown accustomed to purchasing them.

Shoppers continue to shift to supermarkets

The retail distribution in the OTC healthcare market was fairly stable in 2008, with consumers continuing to favour grocery retailers and chemists/pharmacies, which represented steady shares: though with grocery retailers having shown an increase from 2003 in terms of their retail distribution share while chemists/pharmacies have seen an overall decline. Supermarkets and comparable grocery channels have seen this movement as the number in in-store pharmacies increases and consumer confidence grows in private label products in the face of dismal economic conditions, while consumers also continue to prefer one-stop shopping options for all their needs.

Recession expected to bypass OTC healthcare market

Growth of the OTC healthcare market is anticipated to remain good over the forecast period despite expected further falls in UK GDP and sluggish consumer retail markets. Price pressure is expected to remain a feature of the market as the top grocery chains expand their OTC ranges and private label offerings. Value growth will be supported by growing demand from an ageing consumer base, new product development and further medication reclassifications to OTC status.

Table of contents

OTC HEALTHCARE IN THE UNITED KINGDOM : MARKET INSIGHT

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

OTC healthcare market remains stable despite economic slump

Smokers and elderly continue to bolster market

Market remains dominated by megabrands

Shoppers continue to shift to supermarkets

Recession expected to bypass OTC healthcare market

KEY TRENDS AND DEVELOPMENTS

John Bull faces bear market

Fat is the new thin

Consumers cherish their chains

National Stealth Service

MARKET INDICATORS

Table 1 Consumer Expenditure on Health Goods and Medical Services 2003-2008

Table 2 Life Expectancy at Birth 2003-2008

MARKET DATA

Table 3 Sales of OTC Healthcare by Sector: Value 2003-2008

Table 4 Sales of OTC Healthcare by Sector: % Value Growth 2003-2008

Table 5 OTC Healthcare Company Shares by Value 2004-2008

Table 6 OTC Healthcare Brand Shares by Value 2005-2008

Table 7 Penetration of Private Label by Sector 2003-2008

Table 8 Sales of OTC Healthcare by Distribution Format: % Analysis 2003-2008

Table 9 Sales of OTC Healthcare by Sector and Distribution Format: % Analysis 2008

Table 10 Forecast Sales of OTC Healthcare by Sector: Value 2008-2013

Table 11 Forecast Sales of OTC Healthcare by Sector: % Value Growth 2008-2013

APPENDIX

Vitamins & Dietary Supplements Registration and Classification

EU Legislation

Self-medication and Preventative Medicine

Generics

Switches

Summary 1 OTC Healthcare Switches 2005-2007

DEFINITIONS

Sources

Summary 2 Research Sources

LOCAL COMPANY PROFILES - UNITED KINGDOM

BAYER PLC - OTC HEALTHCARE - UNITED KINGDOM

STRATEGIC DIRECTION

KEY FACTS

Summary 3 Bayer Plc: Key Facts

Summary 4 Bayer Plc: Operational Indicators

COMPANY BACKGROUND

PRODUCTION

COMPETITIVE POSITIONING

Summary 5 Bayer Plc: Competitive Position 2008

GLAXOSMITHKLINE PLC - OTC HEALTHCARE - UNITED KINGDOM

STRATEGIC DIRECTION

KEY FACTS

Summary 6 GlaxoSmithKline Plc: Key Facts

Summary 7 GlaxoSmithKline Plc: Operational Indicators

COMPANY BACKGROUND

PRODUCTION

COMPETITIVE POSITIONING

Summary 8 GlaxoSmithKline: Competitive Position 2008

RECKITT BENCKISER PLC - OTC HEALTHCARE - UNITED KINGDOM

STRATEGIC DIRECTION

KEY FACTS

Summary 9 Reckitt Benckiser Plc: Key Facts

Summary 10 Reckitt Benckiser Plc: Operational Indicators

COMPANY BACKGROUND

PRODUCTION

COMPETITIVE POSITIONING

Summary 11 Reckitt Benckiser Plc: Competitive Position 2008

ANALGESICS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM

HEADLINES

TRENDS

SWITCHES

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

PROSPECTS

SECTOR DATA

Table 12 Sales of Analgesics by Subsector: Value 2003-2008

Table 13 Sales of Analgesics by Subsector: % Value Growth 2003-2008

Table 14 Herbal vs Standard Topical Analgesics 2003-2008

Table 15 Topical Analgesics by Format: % Value Breakdown 2004-2008

Table 16 Analgesics Company Shares by Value 2004-2008

Table 17 Analgesics Brand Shares by Value 2005-2008

Table 18 Forecast Sales of Analgesics by Subsector: Value 2008-2013

Table 19 Forecast Sales of Analgesics by Subsector: % Value Growth 2008-2013

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

HEADLINES

TRENDS

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

PROSPECTS

SECTOR DATA

Table 20 Sales of Cough, Cold and Allergy (Hay Fever) Remedies by Subsector: Value 2003-2008

Table 21 Sales of Cough, Cold and Allergy (Hay Fever) Remedies by Subsector: % Value Growth 2003-2008

Table 22 Sales of Decongestants by Type: Value 2003-2008

Table 23 Sales of Decongestants by Type: % Value Growth 2003-2008

Table 24 Sales of Child-specific Cough, Cold and Allergy (Hay Fever) Remedies by Type: Value 2003-2008

Table 25 Sales of Child-specific Cough, Cold and Allergy (Hay Fever) Remedies by Type: % Value Growth 2003-2008

Table 26 Herbal vs Standard Cough, Cold and Allergy (Hay Fever) Remedies 2003-2008

Table 27 Cough, Cold and Allergy (Hay Fever) Remedies Company Shares by Value 2004-2008

Table 28 Cough, Cold and Allergy (Hay Fever) Remedies Brand Shares by Value 2005-2008

Table 29 Forecast Sales of Cough, Cold and Allergy (Hay Fever) Remedies by Subsector: Value 2008-2013

Table 30 Forecast Sales of Cough, Cold and Allergy (Hay Fever) Remedies by Subsector: % Value Growth 2008-2013

DIGESTIVE REMEDIES IN THE UNITED KINGDOM

HEADLINES

TRENDS

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

PROSPECTS

SECTOR DATA

Table 31 Sales of Digestive Remedies by Subsector: Value 2003-2008

Table 32 Sales of Digestive Remedies by Subsector: % Value Growth 2003-2008

Table 33 Herbal vs Standard Digestive Remedies 2003-2008

Table 34 Digestive Remedies Company Shares by Value 2004-2008

Table 35 Digestive Remedies Brand Shares by Value 2005-2008

Table 36 Forecast Sales of Digestive Remedies by Subsector: Value 2008-2013

Table 37 Forecast Sales of Digestive Remedies by Subsector: % Value Growth 2008-2013

MEDICATED SKIN CARE IN THE UNITED KINGDOM

HEADLINES

TRENDS

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

PROSPECTS

SECTOR DATA

Table 38 Sales of Medicated Skin Care by Subsector: Value 2003-2008

Table 39 Sales of Medicated Skin Care by Subsector: % Value Growth 2003-2008

Table 40 Herbal vs Standard Medicated Skin Care 2003-2008

Table 41 Acne Treatments by Format: % Value Breakdown 2004-2008

Table 42 Medicated Skin Care Company Shares by Value 2004-2008

Table 43 Medicated Skin Care Brand Shares by Value 2005-2008

Table 44 Acne Treatments Brand Shares by Value 2005-2008

Table 45 Hair Loss Treatments Brand Shares by Value 2005-2008

Table 46 Forecast Sales of Medicated Skin Care by Subsector: Value 2008-2013

Table 47 Forecast Sales of Medicated Skin Care by Subsector: % Value Growth 2008-2013

VITAMINS AND DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM

HEADLINES

TRENDS

Vitamins

Dietary Supplements

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

PROSPECTS

SECTOR DATA

Summary 12 Dietary Supplements: Brand Ranking by Positioning 2008 Low Calorie Carbonates by Subsector

SECTOR DATA

Table 48 Sales of Vitamins and Dietary Supplements by Subsector: Value 2003-2008

Table 49 Sales of Vitamins and Dietary Supplements by Subsector: % Value Growth 2003-2008

Table 50 Folic Acid v Other B Vitamins 2004-2008

Table 51 Dietary Supplements by Positioning 2006-2008

Table 52 Vitamins and Dietary Supplements Company Shares by Value 2004-2008

Table 53 Vitamins and Dietary Supplements Brand Shares by Value 2005-2008

Table 54 Vitamins Brand Shares by Value 2005-2008

Table 55 Dietary Supplements Brand Shares by Value 2005-2008

Table 56 Forecast Sales of Vitamins and Dietary Supplements by Subsector: Value 2008-2013

Table 57 Forecast Sales of Vitamins and Dietary Supplements by Subsector: % Value Growth 2008-2013

NRT SMOKING CESSATION AIDS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM

HEADLINES

TRENDS

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

PROSPECTS

SECTOR INDICATORS

Table 58 Number of Smokers by Gender 2003-2008

Table 59 Sales of Smoking Cessation Aids by Subsector: Value 2003-2008

Table 60 Sales of Smoking Cessation Aids by Subsector: % Value Growth 2003-2008

Table 61 NRT Gum Flavours: % Value Breakdown 2006-2008

Table 62 Smoking Cessation Aids Company Shares by Value 2004-2008

Table 63 Smoking Cessation Aids Brand Shares by Value 2005-2008

Table 64 Forecast Sales of Smoking Cessation Aids by Subsector: Value 2008-2013

Table 65 Forecast Sales of Smoking Cessation Aids by Subsector: % Value Growth 2008-2013

EYE CARE IN THE UNITED KINGDOM

HEADLINES

SECTOR DATA

Table 66 Sales of Eye Care by Subsector: Value 2003-2008

Table 67 Sales of Eye Care by Subsector: % Value Growth 2003-2008

Table 68 Standard Eye Care by Type: % Value Breakdown 2007-2008

Table 69 Eye Care Company Shares by Value 2004-2008

Table 70 Eye Care Brand Shares by Value 2005-2008

Table 71 Forecast Sales of Eye Care by Subsector: Value 2008-2013

Table 72 Forecast Sales of Eye Care by Subsector: % Value Growth 2008-2013

EAR CARE IN THE UNITED KINGDOM

HEADLINES

SECTOR DATA

Table 73 Sales of Ear Care: Value 2003-2008

Table 74 Sales of Ear Care: % Value Growth 2003-2008

Table 75 Ear Care Company Shares by Value 2004-2008

Table 76 Ear Care Brand Shares by Value 2005-2008

Table 77 Forecast Sales of Ear Care: Value 2008-2013

Table 78 Forecast Sales of Ear Care: % Value Growth 2008-2013

ADULT MOUTH CARE IN THE UNITED KINGDOM

HEADLINES

SECTOR DATA

Table 79 Sales of Adult Mouth Care: Value 2003-2008

Table 80 Sales of Adult Mouth Care: % Value Growth 2003-2008

Table 81 Adult Mouth Care Company Shares by Value 2004-2008

Table 82 Adult Mouth Care Brand Shares by Value 2005-2008

Table 83 Forecast Sales of Adult Mouth Care: Value 2008-2013

Table 84 Forecast Sales of Adult Mouth Care: % Value Growth 2008-2013

CALMING AND SLEEPING PRODUCTS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM

HEADLINES

SECTOR DATA

Table 85 Sales of Calming and Sleeping Products: Value 2003-2008

Table 86 Sales of Calming and Sleeping Products: % Value Growth 2003-2008

Table 87 Calming and Sleeping Products Company Shares by Value 2004-2008

Table 88 Calming and Sleeping Products Brand Shares by Value 2005-2008

Table 89 Forecast Sales of Calming and Sleeping Products: Value 2008-2013

Table 90 Forecast Sales of Calming and Sleeping Products: % Value Growth 2008-2013

WOUND TREATMENTS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM

HEADLINES

SECTOR DATA

Table 91 Sales of Wound Treatments by Subsector: Value 2003-2008

Table 92 Sales of Wound Treatments by Subsector: % Value Growth 2003-2008

Table 93 Wound Treatments Company Shares by Value 2004-2008

Table 94 Wound Treatments Brand Shares by Value 2005-2008

Table 95 Forecast Sales of Wound Treatments by Subsector: Value 2008-2013

Table 96 Forecast Sales of Wound Treatments by Subsector: % Value Growth 2008-2013

OTC OBESITY IN THE UNITED KINGDOM

HEADLINES

SECTOR DATA

Table 97 Forecast Sales of OTC Obesity: Value 2009-2013

Table 98 Forecast Sales of OTC Obesity: % Value Growth 2009-2013

EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTION IN THE UNITED KINGDOM

HEADLINES

SECTOR DATA

Table 99 Sales of Emergency Contraception: Value 2003-2008

Table 100 Sales of Emergency Contraception: % Value Growth 2003-2008

Table 101 Emergency Contraception Company Shares by Value 2004-2008

Table 102 Emergency Contraception Brand Shares by Value 2005-2008

Table 103 Forecast Sales of Emergency Contraception: Value 2008-2013

Table 104 Forecast Sales of Emergency Contraception: % Value Growth 2008-2013

OTC STATINS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM

HEADLINES

SECTOR DATA

Table 105 Sales of OTC Statins: Value 2004-2008

Table 106 Sales of OTC Statins: % Value Growth 2004-2008

Table 107 OTC Statins Company Shares by Value 2004-2008

Table 108 OTC Statins Brand Shares by Value 2005-2008

Table 109 Forecast Sales of OTC Statins: Value 2008-2013

Table 110 Forecast Sales of OTC Statins: % Value Growth 2008-2013

OTC TRIPTANS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM

HEADLINES

SECTOR DATA

Table 111 Sales of OTC Triptans: Value 2006-2008

Table 112 Sales of OTC Triptans: % Value Growth 2006-2008

Table 113 OTC Triptans Company Shares by Value 2006-2008

Table 114 OTC Triptans Brand Shares by Value 2006-2008

Table 115 Forecast Sales of OTC Triptans: Value 2008-2013

Table 116 Forecast Sales of OTC Triptans: % Value Growth 2008-2013

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