Swisse is a
vitamin
Vitamins are Organic compound, organic molecules (or a set of closely related molecules called vitamer, vitamers) that are essential to an organism in small quantities for proper metabolism, metabolic function. Nutrient#Essential nutrients, ...
,
supplement, and skincare brand. Founded in
Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...
in 1969 and globally headquartered in
Melbourne
Melbourne ( , ; Boonwurrung language, Boonwurrung/ or ) is the List of Australian capital cities, capital and List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city of the States and territories of Australia, Australian state of Victori ...
, and was sold to Health & Happiness, a Chinese company based in
Hong Kong
Hong Kong)., Legally Hong Kong, China in international treaties and organizations. is a special administrative region of China. With 7.5 million residents in a territory, Hong Kong is the fourth most densely populated region in the wor ...
previously known as Biostime International, in a $1.7 billion, two-step deal in 2015 & 2016.
Swisse states that they aim to select the most nutrient-rich ingredients worldwide, and uses formulations based on scientific and traditional evidence.
The company is currently an official team partner for the
Australian Olympics Team through to 2024.
Swisse products are currently available in Australia,
New Zealand
New Zealand () is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and List of islands of New Zealand, over 600 smaller islands. It is the List of isla ...
,
Singapore
Singapore, officially the Republic of Singapore, is an island country and city-state in Southeast Asia. The country's territory comprises one main island, 63 satellite islands and islets, and one outlying islet. It is about one degree ...
,
South Korea
South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia. It constitutes the southern half of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and borders North Korea along the Korean Demilitarized Zone, with the Yellow Sea to the west and t ...
,
Indonesia
Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania, between the Indian Ocean, Indian and Pacific Ocean, Pacific oceans. Comprising over List of islands of Indonesia, 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, ...
,
China
China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. With population of China, a population exceeding 1.4 billion, it is the list of countries by population (United Nations), second-most populous country after ...
,
Hong Kong
Hong Kong)., Legally Hong Kong, China in international treaties and organizations. is a special administrative region of China. With 7.5 million residents in a territory, Hong Kong is the fourth most densely populated region in the wor ...
,
India
India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...
, the
U.S.
The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 contiguous ...
,
France
France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...
,
Italy
Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...
,
Switzerland
Switzerland, officially the Swiss Confederation, is a landlocked country located in west-central Europe. It is bordered by Italy to the south, France to the west, Germany to the north, and Austria and Liechtenstein to the east. Switzerland ...
and the
Netherlands
, Terminology of the Low Countries, informally Holland, is a country in Northwestern Europe, with Caribbean Netherlands, overseas territories in the Caribbean. It is the largest of the four constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Nether ...
. Swisse's parent company is international family health and wellness provider H&H Group, publicly listed on the
Hong Kong Stock Exchange
The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong (, SEHK, also known as Hong Kong Stock Exchange) is a stock exchange based in Hong Kong. It is one of the largest stock exchanges in Asia and the List of major stock exchanges, 9th largest globally by market ...
. Measured by sales, it is Australia's top multivitamin brand.
Products
The Swisse vitamin and supplement product range caters to multiple stages of life – from pre-conception supplements for men and women, to infants, children, teenagers and adults of various ages to the elderly. In recent years it has released products in a number of consumption formats, such as liquids,
vegetarian
Vegetarianism is the practice of abstaining from the Eating, consumption of meat (red meat, poultry, seafood, insects as food, insects, and the flesh of any other animal). It may also include abstaining from eating all by-products of animal slau ...
-friendly capsules, dissolvable powders and effervescents with natural fruit flavourings. Swisse aims to avoid added sugars, and work to ensure products are as 'clean' as possible in formulating for
bioavailability
In pharmacology, bioavailability is a subcategory of absorption and is the fraction (%) of an administered drug that reaches the systemic circulation.
By definition, when a medication is administered intravenously, its bioavailability is 100%. H ...
and minimising
excipients
An excipient is a substance formulated alongside the active ingredient of a medication. They may be used to enhance the active ingredient’s therapeutic properties; to facilitate drug absorption; to reduce viscosity; to enhance solubility; to i ...
.
Swisse has also recently released a product range combining
probiotics
Probiotics are live microorganisms that provide health benefits when consumed, generally by improving or restoring the microbiota in the Gut microbiota, gut. Probiotics are considered GRAS, generally safe to consume, but may cause bacteria– ...
, nutrients, and herbs, as well as a range using Australian
hemp seed oil, which the company believes "will play an important role in the delivery of incremental growth for Swisse ANZ in 2020." Swisse Beauty's 'Healthy Beautiful' range launched in early 2020.
Legal issues
In 2013
Avni Sali
Avni Sali, (born 19 October 1940) is an Australian professor, surgeon, and academic primarily known for advocating an integrative approach to medicine, combining evidence-based complementary therapies with conventional medicine.
Medical career ...
, the father of former CEO Radek Sali, sued the
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) is Australia’s principal public service broadcaster. It is funded primarily by grants from the federal government and is administered by a government-appointed board of directors. The ABC is ...
for defamation over a ''
The Checkout'' segment on Swisse products which claimed that he manipulated clinical tests of a Swisse appetite suppressant to benefit the company. The ABC stood by the segment, and Australia's dietary supplement regulator, the
Therapeutic Goods Administration
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) is the medicine and therapeutic regulatory agency of the Australian Government. As part of the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, the TGA regulates the safety, quality, efficacy and advertisi ...
(TGA), nullified the product's legal registration due to "insufficient evidence to support the indications for the product and the presentation of the product was unacceptable" during the course of the suit.
The company promptly registered a new product with the same ingredient under the name 'Ultiboost Hunger Control' instead of 'Ultiboost Appetite Suppressant.'
The case was eventually settled out of court with no settlement paid and each party paying its own legal fees.
In 2012, the TGA's Complaints Resolution Panel ordered the company to cease use of the terms "clinically proven" and "independently tested" in its promotional materials, in addition to the
tagline
In entertainment, a tagline (alternatively spelled tag line) is a short text which serves to clarify a thought for, or is designed with a form of, dramatic effect. Many tagline slogans are reiterated phrases associated with an individual, so ...
"Tired? Stressed? You'll feel better on Swisse."
Spokespeople
Swisse's global ambassadors are actor
Chris Hemsworth
Christopher Hemsworth (born 11 August 1983) is an Australian actor. Born and raised in Melbourne, Victoria, and Bulman, Northern Territory, he rose to prominence playing Kim Hyde in the Australian television series ''Home and Away'' (2004� ...
,
Nicole Kidman
Nicole Mary Kidman (born 20 June 1967) is an Australian and American actress and producer. Known for Nicole Kidman on screen and stage, her work in film and television productions across many genres, she has consistently ranked among the world ...
and
Elsa Pataky. Other ambassadors include
Ricky Ponting
Ricky Thomas Ponting (born 19 December 1974) is an Australian cricket coach, commentator, and former player. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest batsmen of all time and is the most successful captain in international cricket history, ...
and
Ashley Hart. Indian stars
Nushrat Bharucha and
Kriti Kharbanda
Kriti Kharbanda (born 29 October 1990) is an Indian actress who works predominantly in Bollywood, Hindi, Kannada cinema, Kannada and Telugu cinema, Telugu language films. Kharbanda is a recipient of several accolades including a South Indian In ...
supported Swisse's launch in the Indian market in early 2020.
References
External links
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{{Authority control
Health care companies established in 1969
1969 establishments in Australia
Manufacturing companies based in Melbourne
Australian brands
2015 mergers and acquisitions
Nutritional supplement companies of Australia
Australian subsidiaries of foreign companies