It’s considered one of the hottest global markets, jumping from $27.8 billion in 2007 to $31.2 billion by 2008, and is expected to reach $91.8 billion by 2013. It’s the sports nutrition and high energy supplements market, feeding off the growing worldwide fitness trend, with the U.S. leading the way. Once primarily dominated by young body-building males, it’s a market in which women, often taking up sports and exercise to complement diets, are playing an increasing part. More than ever, health is a major issue for consumers, but food, drink, and supplement products that specifically target the sports and exercise market are aimed at an especially dedicated audience.
The sports nutrition and high energy supplements market is made up of sports beverages, by far the largest portion, sports foods, and sports supplements. The sports supplements segment is the baby of the group, with sales of $1.1 billion in 2007, but with that figure expected to more than double by 2013. Because sports related supplements have had a controversial role in professional sports, it’s critical that such products be free of any banned substances and be backed up by testing and verification.
One of the best examples of a company doing it the right way is MusclePharm Corp. (MSLP), a Colorado based producer of nutritional supplements that have been scientifically approved and are 100% free of banned substances. Their products go through a long development process, involving leading nutrition scientists and doctors, as well as top professional athletes. MusclePharm is one of the first to use the field as its laboratory, truly combining science with athletics. At the company’s 30,000 sf training facility, they use state-of-the-art technology like Omega Wave, DEXA, and Kaiser performance equipment to gather feedback about their formulations. They then have a medical advisory team, strength coaches, and top fitness experts, evaluate the results to judge the true effectiveness of the products.
MusclePharm products are now sold around the world, including at thousands of retail outlets in the U.S., such as health food giant GNC. They’re also sold at over 100 online stores, including Amazon.com and BodyBuilding.com. MusclePharm is one of the top sellers at BodyBuilding.com, which is the largest online retail outlet for sports nutrition products. The company’s goal is to become the nutritional supplement line of choice for serious athletes around the world. The brand has grown to the point that they recently launched a MusclePharm apparel line, capitalizing on the increasingly trendy MusclePharm name.
For additional information, visit the company’s website at www.MusclePharm.com
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