Aviva
This article was originally published in The Tan Sheet
Executive Summary
Functional food line for heart, bone and digestive health has been "well received" in Switzerland and Austria but is experiencing a "slow uptake" in the U.K., Novartis reports Aug. 21. Sluggish U.K. sales potentially could delay a U.S. debut of the line, tentatively slated for early 2001. The brand debuted in European test markets in late 1999 (1"The Tan Sheet" Nov. 22, 1999, p. 4). Novartis Consumer Health first-half worldwide sales of approximately $1.9 bil. marked an 8% increase in local currencies from the year-ago period. OTC sales increased 7% in local currencies, while both Medical Nutrition and Health & Functional Food division sales grew 9% in local currencies