Vegan demand boosts international sales for UK health company

With veganism being one of the world’s fastest-growing lifestyle movements, businesses across the UK are tapping into global demand for quality, British-made vegan products.

One Somerset-based business benefitting from the growing vegan trend is Indigo Herbs. The natural health and wellbeing company has seen a 121% increase in vegan protein product sales across Europe since 2017 and has secured an e-commerce opportunity with Amazon PAN EU set to be worth £5.7m over the next five years.

Indigo Herbs’ products are made from natural ingredients sourced from all over the world and are manufactured by a team in the company’s food production facility in Glastonbury. Founded in 2004, the business empowers people to take responsibility for their health and wellbeing by making natural health and nutrition products accessible and affordable.

The opportunity with Amazon PAN EU required a packaging re-design, so the Department for International Trade (DIT) supported Indigo Herbs with advice on translations. DIT also provided the company with a grant to help with translation costs and advice to ensure it adhered to labelling legislation. This e-commerce avenue now accounts for 37% of Indigo Herbs’ annual turnover.

Indigo Herbs Director Michael Hanby said: “Our mission is to empower optimum health, nutrition and lifestyle so that everyone has the opportunity to be happy and live their best life. By opening our doors to millions of Europeans who buy on Amazon’s EU platforms, we have dramatically increased the number of people who can benefit from our range of over 1000 own brand products and created more jobs in our community.

“Since we first launched in 2004, when we were one of the only online retailers for natural health and vegan products, we have experienced tremendous growth. We are still a self-financing business, so the support we received from DIT was invaluable in overcoming the hurdles to benefit from Amazon’s European business infrastructure.”

Paul Shand, DIT’s Head of Trade in the South West, said: “Indigo Herbs is a great example of the power of e-commerce. It is predicted that 40% of online transactions will take place on global marketplaces in 2020, presenting a major opportunity for UK businesses looking to expand into new overseas territories.

“I would encourage other businesses in the region that are considering selling overseas for the first time, or looking to expand their international footprint, to get in touch with DIT. We have a dedicated team of International Trade Advisers and specialists in 109 countries worldwide who are ready to help.

“There is a strong global demand for British products and services, and now is the perfect opportunity for businesses across the South West to capitalise.”