https://www.wholefoodsmagazine.com/rss en-us Trust has been in the news a lot over recent years. In these noisy times with information literally bombarding us, it’s worthwhile to step back and take stock of trust signals that influence us even subconsciously, to better understand the decisions we make. Furthermore, the saying “trust takes years to... http://www.wholefoodsmagazine.com/articles/14192 Mon, 28 Feb 2022 14:52:49 -0500 https://www.wholefoodsmagazine.com/articles/14192-trust-collision-imminent-as-signals-differ-for-retailers-and-consumers GettyImages-87531931.jpg lenmonheit@trusttransparency.com As we head into 2022, the natural products industry, like others, is trying to return to some semblance of normalcy. One must ask though, is that retro-normal realistic, or have we entered totally uncharted ground? We suspect the latter, and know that the cycle between prediction and outcome has never... http://www.wholefoodsmagazine.com/articles/14191 Tue, 28 Dec 2021 16:52:14 -0500 https://www.wholefoodsmagazine.com/articles/14191-2021-in-review-what-s-ahead-for-the-natural-products-industry Merch-Insights.jpg We’ve long had a history in this industry of unscrupulous and sometimes downright shady operators being able to blend in on store shelves and with consumers. These companies take advantage of clever marketing and positioning opportunities, as well as a lack of needed transparency. This makes it extremely difficult to... http://www.wholefoodsmagazine.com/articles/14190 Wed, 22 Dec 2021 09:53:49 -0500 https://www.wholefoodsmagazine.com/articles/14190-what-s-wrong-with-this-picture-the-need-for-transparency GettyImages-1312266379.jpg Almost six years have passed since Amazon opened its first brick and mortar location in November, 2016. That store was a small bookstore, much like the beginnings of the online retailer itself. The physical footprint of that first Amazon Books was about 5,500 square feet, about a fifth of the... http://www.wholefoodsmagazine.com/articles/14189 Wed, 13 Oct 2021 09:25:41 -0400 https://www.wholefoodsmagazine.com/articles/14189-caring-is-the-true-differentiator GettyImages-1317128797.jpg While better than some sectors, as an industry, dietary supplements have never achieved total trust from all of our constituents, including consumers, media, and regulators. Some of this mistrust is warranted, but there’s no question that we get a bad rap. In December 2019, in this column, we introduced the concept of The Dietary... http://www.wholefoodsmagazine.com/articles/14188 Tue, 17 Aug 2021 15:57:05 -0400 https://www.wholefoodsmagazine.com/articles/14188-it-s-time-for-a-dietary-supplement-retailer-code-of-ethics GettyImages-608513846.jpg A frequently under-appreciated fact about dietary supplements is the importance of proper care and handling through all stages of the supply chain—ingredient procurement to manufacturing to storage, to distribution and yes, you guessed it: sale. It’s not as critical with some product formats and types, but with others it’s essential... http://www.wholefoodsmagazine.com/articles/9789 Thu, 15 Jul 2021 16:37:53 -0400 https://www.wholefoodsmagazine.com/articles/9789-dietary-supplement-product-handling-manufacturing-is-an-issue-and-an-opportunity omegas.jpg Supplement sales are better than ever. The 2020 CRN Consumer Survey on Dietary Supplements found that nearly three-quarters of Americans report taking dietary supplements. As sales increase, values-based shopping takes on a whole new importance. It’s been evident for some time that legacy brands benefit from consumer trust; their story... http://www.wholefoodsmagazine.com/articles/2975 Thu, 24 Jun 2021 12:00:05 -0400 https://www.wholefoodsmagazine.com/articles/2975-4-transparency-checks-that-drive-sales Tip.jpg A recent Op-Ed that appeared in Bloomberg Opinion suggested that FDA’s current caution and risk aversion tied to COVID-19 needed to extend immediately into dietary supplements. Not only is this piece misguided, it propagates numerous falsehoods that we, as the supplements industry, have been trying to debunk for decades. If... http://www.wholefoodsmagazine.com/articles/1496 Mon, 10 May 2021 14:40:42 -0400 https://www.wholefoodsmagazine.com/articles/1496-bloomberg-op-ed-on-supplement-risk-conveniently-ignores-reality Supplements-e1521475773121.jpg Last month, we looked at the recently announced Amazon Quality Requirements, with many in industry agreeing that these initiatives being taken by Amazon are at least a step in the right direction, not only for Amazon, but for the market. From a "requirements" standpoint, they are still a long way... http://www.wholefoodsmagazine.com/articles/14187 Fri, 09 Apr 2021 14:40:34 -0400 https://www.wholefoodsmagazine.com/articles/14187-disappearance-of-elements-transparency-opens-a-window-for-smart-retailers GettyImages-1201873520.jpg At last it seems that Amazon has begun to listen to the consistent requests to drive greater accountability and responsibility for the dietary supplement industry. Trust Transparency Center itself first commented on this topic and need on January 1, 2018, and since then, scores of related articles, actions, and comments... http://www.wholefoodsmagazine.com/articles/14186 Tue, 09 Mar 2021 15:50:03 -0500 https://www.wholefoodsmagazine.com/articles/14186-amazon-applies-some-quality-requirements GettyImages-1132489297.jpg Supplement sales are better than ever. The 2020 CRN Consumer Survey on Dietary Supplements found that nearly three-quarters of Americans report taking dietary supplements, and Nutrition Business Journal estimates that by 2023, supplement spend will be $1.4 billion higher than pre-COVID with 2020 sales having topped $50 Billion. Consumers are of course focused... http://www.wholefoodsmagazine.com/articles/14185 Thu, 18 Feb 2021 15:00:25 -0500 https://www.wholefoodsmagazine.com/articles/14185-transparency-the-clear-choice-for-supplement-consumers GettyImages-1140560047.jpg lenmonheit@trusttransparency.com Whew, what a year. In normal times, we’d be writing with fondness and excitement about the year that was and what is in store for 2021. But as we’ve heard so much over the past 10 months, these are not normal times. Ask any pundit about forecasting, no matter what... http://www.wholefoodsmagazine.com/articles/14184 Fri, 18 Dec 2020 12:00:03 -0500 https://www.wholefoodsmagazine.com/articles/14184-2021-off-the-cuff GettyImages-1205544619.jpg Reading a supplement label is complicated. There are so many parts, some mandated by law like a Supplements Facts panel, others just good practice. Frequently, hidden in the label is an increasingly important gem, an indication that the product contains a special, branded ingredient. What’s so important about that? ... http://www.wholefoodsmagazine.com/articles/14183 Thu, 12 Nov 2020 16:50:08 -0500 https://www.wholefoodsmagazine.com/articles/14183-new-research-shows-consumers-value-branded-ingredients-do-you GettyImages-87531931.jpg Trust Transparency Center has tracked and reported on Amazon’s Dietary Supplement programs and platforms for the past three years with the intention of arming independent retailers with strategies to effectively compete against this gargantuan operation. Over time there have been many changes in the structure of the service, not many... http://www.wholefoodsmagazine.com/articles/14182 Thu, 22 Oct 2020 11:27:48 -0400 https://www.wholefoodsmagazine.com/articles/14182-amazon-business-practice-issues-that-you-can-take-advantage-of GettyImages-864255418.jpg [vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Why start this article in WholeFoods Magazine with a shout out to the recent Independent Bookstore Day, August 29th? There are several initiatives and ideas that independent bookstores have benefited from in the past, as well as new emerging trends from the booksellers, that deserve attention by independent health store... http://www.wholefoodsmagazine.com/articles/14181 Fri, 18 Sep 2020 14:51:55 -0400 https://www.wholefoodsmagazine.com/articles/14181-natural-retailers-can-learn-from-community-bookstores independent-bookstore-day.jpg Twenty-one days after the first COVID-19 case was confirmed in the United States, the WholeFoods Magazine staff posted an article titled Impact of Coronavirus on Supplement Industry “Very, Very Serious.” Little did we know how prophetic the message would become. On the date the article was posted, February 11, 2020,... http://www.wholefoodsmagazine.com/articles/14180 Mon, 17 Aug 2020 12:12:01 -0400 https://www.wholefoodsmagazine.com/articles/14180-update-impact-of-coronavirus-on-supplement-industry GettyImages-1201027933.jpg Now more than ever your customers typically know the value of dietary supplements—the most recent data from Nutrition Business Journal predicts that supplement sales will reach over 12% growth in 2020, climbing to $50 billion+. While online sales have grown, the “advantages” of online shopping may be more of a... http://www.wholefoodsmagazine.com/articles/14179 Thu, 16 Jul 2020 23:12:14 -0400 https://www.wholefoodsmagazine.com/articles/14179-when-it-comes-to-dietary-supplements-natural-retailers-have-the-advantage GettyImages-1023284122.jpg NOW recently made headlines by providing brand names of CoQ10 and SAM-e manufacturers that were found to be deficient in meeting label claims. A number of trade publications reported the story and iherb.com posted it on its website. Trust Transparency Center (TTC) has itself conducted tests on products containing coenzyme... http://www.wholefoodsmagazine.com/articles/14178 Mon, 15 Jun 2020 14:57:04 -0400 https://www.wholefoodsmagazine.com/articles/14178-what-s-wrong-with-this-picture Coenzyme10.jpg Since January 1, 2018, Trust Transparency Center and others have raised the concern that Amazon has continuously acted with less responsibility and accountability than it should to protect the dietary supplement consumer. A recent example underlines this point quite clearly. As a setup, let’s ask the question: How many times... http://www.wholefoodsmagazine.com/articles/14177 Thu, 16 Apr 2020 18:22:10 -0400 https://www.wholefoodsmagazine.com/articles/14177-the-transparency-trail-for-dietary-supplements Supplements-Whole-Foods.jpg We know the value of consumer trust and we look for ways to build it. Consumers are looking for evidence and information. The marrying of these two concepts is what has evolved into the branded ingredient offering—the ‘Intel inside.’ Branded ingredients were a relatively new concept 20 odd years ago,... http://www.wholefoodsmagazine.com/articles/14176 Thu, 19 Mar 2020 11:59:22 -0400 https://www.wholefoodsmagazine.com/articles/14176-finding-value-and-trust-in-branded-ingredients GettyImages-87531931.jpg Consumer interest in the ingredients found in products ranging from food to cosmetics continues to increase. Consumers are seeking more assurances and trust in the purchases they make, and there really is a hierarchy of decision-making criteria around the impact of label information provided on consumer purchase decisions. A Label... http://www.wholefoodsmagazine.com/articles/14175 Fri, 14 Feb 2020 10:22:42 -0500 https://www.wholefoodsmagazine.com/articles/14175-knowing-what-s-in-the-bottle-adds-value GettyImages-1017680574.jpg A Greek philosopher noted that “The only constant in life is change.” Over two millennia later, a French writer said: “The more things change the more they stay the same.” Both statements reflect reality, especially in the world of retail. The world of commerce is changing rapidly, but the fundamental... http://www.wholefoodsmagazine.com/articles/14174 Thu, 23 Jan 2020 11:00:35 -0500 https://www.wholefoodsmagazine.com/articles/14174-five-truths-from-2019-to-turn-into-a-2020-advantage GettyImages-1140560047.jpg In 1962, President John F. Kennedy urged us to seek consumer protection by suggesting a Consumer Bill of Rights, and he was right, but no one could have anticipated the changes in the marketplace (in total and online) some 55 years later. Yet what was conceived in 1962 must also... http://www.wholefoodsmagazine.com/articles/14173 Fri, 13 Dec 2019 10:05:54 -0500 https://www.wholefoodsmagazine.com/articles/14173-the-dietary-supplement-consumer-bill-of-rights GettyImages-1097232156.jpg If you were to ask 10 people their thoughts on the term “supply chain,” you’d likely get 10 different answers as to what it truly means. Businessdictionary.com defines supply chain as: Entire network of entities, directly or indirectly interlinked and interdependent in serving the same consumer or customer. It comprises... http://www.wholefoodsmagazine.com/articles/14172 Fri, 15 Nov 2019 16:51:03 -0500 https://www.wholefoodsmagazine.com/articles/14172-supply-chain-transparency-matters-to-consumers Contract-Manufacturing-1.jpg Doom and gloom announcements foretelling the demise of brick and mortar stores never cease, but the data doesn’t support that message. The International Council of Shopping Centers reports that 78% of consumers prefer to shop in-store, and physical stores still generate 94% of total retail sales. Take Wal-Mart. Less than... http://www.wholefoodsmagazine.com/articles/14171 Sat, 12 Oct 2019 10:25:16 -0400 https://www.wholefoodsmagazine.com/articles/14171-reality-speaking-the-vulnerabilities-of-amazon-and-online-retail GettyImages-911970316.jpg Much is made of an e-tailer’s ability to out-serve traditional retailers. Recent programs such as expanded scope of inventory and delivery services at Amazon would seem to be increasing this advantage, but perhaps it depends on the direction you look. There was a time when Domino’s Pizza offered a “30... http://www.wholefoodsmagazine.com/articles/14170 Mon, 23 Sep 2019 11:22:22 -0400 https://www.wholefoodsmagazine.com/articles/14170-fast-free-delivery-what-does-it-really-cost amazon-delivery-van.jpg You take great pride in the quality and selection of the products provided in your store. You responsibly do all you can to provide safe products to your customers and vet each supplier and the products offered. Imagine a change in your business model that allowed anyone with a product... http://www.wholefoodsmagazine.com/articles/14169 Fri, 16 Aug 2019 16:48:54 -0400 https://www.wholefoodsmagazine.com/articles/14169-can-the-playing-field-be-leveled Supplements-e1521475773121.jpg The trade war is in full force between the United States and China with the dietary supplement industry on both sides caught in the crosshairs. This war is already having an impact on consumer sentiment and pricing, and while it is likely that the trade war will end at some... http://www.wholefoodsmagazine.com/articles/14168 Mon, 15 Jul 2019 11:27:42 -0400 https://www.wholefoodsmagazine.com/articles/14168-trade-war-raises-industry-s-china-conundrum-again ChinaAmerica-Trade-War.jpg While Amazon began by selling books, the impact the corporation has on the total economic market now affects almost every consumer and business segment in some way. Amazon sells diapers and coffins and just about everything in between. If Amazon doesn’t sell it now, it’s rumored they’ll start soon, as... http://www.wholefoodsmagazine.com/articles/14167 Fri, 14 Jun 2019 16:09:46 -0400 https://www.wholefoodsmagazine.com/articles/14167-the-amazon-effect-on-dietary-supplements Supplements-e1521475773121.jpg Many retailers have been sitting on the fence regarding an entry into the cannabidiol (CBD) market. The confusion is understandable. The market for CBD was emerging long before December 2018 when President Trump signed into law the Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018 (commonly referred to as the 2018 Farm Bill). http://www.wholefoodsmagazine.com/articles/14166 Wed, 22 May 2019 10:28:04 -0400 https://www.wholefoodsmagazine.com/articles/14166-cbd-when-it-stands-for-i-cannot-be-denied-i CBD-Oil.jpg