Did you know that the softgel supplement market was valued at over $7 billion in 2021 and is anticipated to expand at a CAGR of 7.9% from 2022-2030? It’s true! But why the consumer interest and which service provider should manufacture, package, and deliver premium softgels for your brand? Let’s discuss.
What are softgels?
Softgels are a dosage consisting of a gelatin-based or cellulose-based shell surrounding a liquid fill. They are stable and usually carry a longer shelf life when compared to other forms of supplements such as capsules.
Why softgels?
Consumers enjoy oblong, oval, and round softgels because of their smooth texture which makes them easy to swallow. A softgel shell houses your formula in liquid form, which has been proven to absorb into the bloodstream quicker than tablets and hard-shelled capsules. Consumers also tend to turn to softgel supplements because unlike chewable vitamins or liquids alone, softgels have no flavor, and unlike some tablets, softgels are odorless. If your formula already offers vitamins and minerals that are often not found in sufficient volumes in the foods your customers eat, then this is a big advantage for both your customers and your business, as your softgels become easier to market.
The COVID effect
The pandemic certainly invigorated people to get their wellness act together. Many became more aware of their health status and decided to make a change or two. More supplements and vitamins manufactured by trustworthy sources were demanded, calling on brands like yours to produce, and companies like us to show up. While other vitamin manufacturers were stuck on old trends, we were innovating and creating new immune system supporting products, formulating new softgel supplements that are vegan, nutrient dense, and inclusive of what consumers suddenly wanted. These softgels in particular have gained a heavy momentum among startup brands that wanted to get product to market fast, saving them time, money, and resources.
Benefits of softgel manufacturing
Simple Consumption: Softgels are widely believed to be the most easily ingested supplement, as consumers find them easy to swallow and fast-acting.
Easy Digestion: Since gelatin is easily digested, so are softgels, which then dissolve quickly when they reach the stomach.
Bioavailability: Softgels can deliver precise amounts of ingredients, including vitamins and minerals that are crucial to your customers’ health and wellness.
How to take softgels
Depending on the nature of your dietary supplement, the suggested use may vary. Here are a few ways your customers can take softgels:
- With or without food
- With water or juice
- In the morning with breakfast, or at night before bed
Suggested use and instructions may vary depending on the nature of your product and the purpose of it. It is always wise, however, to advise your customers not to chew or crush softgels. If they do, the ingredients may not be properly digested, absorbed, and delivered, thereby defeating the purpose of consuming softgels in the first place.
Softgel experts
Our softgel manufacturing capabilities are robust and provide you the ability to create a unique dietary supplement. From customized color, shape, size, and coating, your options are virtually limitless. With our flexibility, high volume discount pricing, and competitive minimum order quantities, your supplement business is a few steps ahead of the softgel competition.
Allergen accommodations
Makers Nutrition is proud to serve superior softgels to our clients that accommodate your customers’ dietary restrictions. Such accommodations include handling softgels that are manufactured without:
- Gluten
- Sweeteners
- Dairy derivatives
- Animal derivatives or byproducts
- Niche requirements for your targeting
If you have questions about our softgel manufacturing capabilities, please call 1-844-625-3771 to speak with a product specialist.
White Label Stock Options
Our sister company Stock Softgels offers an array of ready-to-go formulas for the result of a high-caliber softgel product. This is a great opportunity for startups who are not too familiar with where to start in the softgel game and wish to launch one product at a low MOQ and see where that takes business. A free quote is the first step to success. Once you have done that, your product specialist will be in contact with you within 48 hours. From there, your softgel manufacturing project is well on its way!
Custom gelatin softgels
Makers Nutrition also provides manufacturing services for custom, high-quality gelatin-based softgels. Gelatin-based softgels have no taste, odor, or color, masking otherwise potentially unpleasant odors and tastes of active ingredients. Our manufacturing process prevents any oxidation or permeation of these active ingredients, so you never have to be concerned about customer complaints in that regard.
Custom vegetarian softgels
Our expanded softgel manufacturing capabilities now include some options for vegetarian softgels, which are gaining traction on the supplement market. We can help manufacture pectin softgels, which are completely plant-based, suiting your vegetarian and possibly vegan customers. Your custom vegetarian softgel is likely to see much success in stores and online because vegetarian is one of the biggest trends right now. Note that, though popular, there are some challenges manufacturing these softgels. A vegetable-derived shell may not be as strong as one made of animal gelatin. According to Steve Holtby, president and CEO of Soft Gel Technologies Inc., “The physical characteristics of many vegetarian gelatin blends make it difficult to encapsulate all but the simplest oils. To add insult to injury, the unique advantage of standard softgels is rendered nil in vegetarian format: softgel fill material is usually protected from oxygen exposure after encapsulation, but vegetarian gelatin is porous,” meaning that the oils inside vegetarian shells can become rancid more quickly. These are important details when choosing a supplement manufacturer. Dissimilar to the other companies that may be vying for your business, our team at Makers Nutrition is always working to improve our manufacturing methods, upgrade equipment, and commit fully to the best possible outcome for the benefit of your brand and the health of your customers.
Enteric coated
Enteric coating forms a barrier that breaks down active ingredients only in the small intestine. This is a benefit for both those who have a more sensitive digestive system and those taking fish oil supplements looking to avoid the fishy aftertaste. This is an important selling point for you, and may help attract customers, as they learn that with your softgels, they will not experience the fishy burps that usually come with fish oil supplements.
State-of-the-art-encapsulation, packaging, and graphic design
The softgel manufacturing process is called encapsulation, which takes place in our state-of-the-art, FDA-registered, GMP-compliant facilities. Once encapsulation is complete, your softgels are dried, as any excess moisture must be removed from the shell, allowing it to shrink to become more durable. Your softgels are then packaged to your specification. Here are some softgel packaging options:
- PET and HDPE bottles
- Single-dose sachets
- Multi-pack sachets
- Blister packs
As a one-stop-shop softgel manufacturing service provider, we can take care of your graphic designing needs for a standout package and product label. Our in-house graphic designers are happy to work one-on-one with you to understand your goals and what kind of design you are looking to have represent your supplement business. Remember, first impressions can draw in or deter customers, so you will want to display an eye-catching package and label design.
Quality Control & Quality Assurance
It is crucial that your softgels are stored in a climate-controlled warehouse to prevent exposure to hot weather, as high temperatures can negatively impact the quality of your product. Before and after packaging, your private label stock or custom softgels undergo strict Quality Control testing to ensure that your dietary supplements are up to specification. At Makers Nutrition, we do not release any product unless it has fully passed a variety of testing, including GMP-compliance, microbial, and heavy metal testing. That way, you can distribute your softgels to customers free of worry about your product’s purity, quality, and safety.