Seoul, South Korea – Il-Yang Pharmaceutical has decided to withdraw its health supplement products from Daiso just five days after launching them, amidst growing controversy over the sale of low-cost health functional foods at the popular discount store. This move comes as major pharmaceutical companies, including Daewoong Pharmaceutical and Chong Kun Dang Health, are also reportedly considering pulling their products from Daiso.
Il-Yang Pharmaceutical, which began selling its budget-friendly supplements at Daiso on February 24th, has opted to discontinue its sales. While the company has not officially disclosed the reasons for its early withdrawal, it is widely speculated that the decision was influenced by strong opposition from pharmacists, who expressed concerns over the impact on their sales and initiated boycott movements.
The controversy surrounding the sale of health supplements at Daiso has prompted other pharmaceutical giants to re-evaluate their partnerships with the discount chain. Daewoong Pharmaceutical, which offers 26 types of nutritional supplements under its Dr. Bear brand at Daiso, including multivitamins, milk thistle, lutein, and children’s vitamins, is now conducting an internal review of its sales strategy. These products are priced between 3,000 to 5,000 Korean won for a month's supply.
Chong Kun Dang Health, which had plans to launch two exclusive health supplements, Lactofit Gold and Lutein Zeaxanthin, at Daiso in March or April, is also reportedly reconsidering its decision.
The pharmacists' concerns stem from the potential negative impact on their sales due to the availability of low-cost alternatives at Daiso. They argue that the significant price difference, despite similar ingredients and compositions, could mislead consumers into believing that pharmacy products are overpriced.
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