£40m-turnover sports nutrition business to bolster export sales
A £40m-turnover fitness and wellbeing company is set to boost export sales of its new range of sports nutrition supplements, which were launched in the UK last year.
Bradford-based business Hi Mark International has appointed overseas trade specialist, Chamber International, to help export its new Body Sculpture sports nutrition range.
The new Body Sculpture range was devised by Hi Mark International managing director, Kevin Dunk, and is being sold through e-commerce by the company online as well as retailers and health and fitness centres.
Initial target export markets selected by Hi Mark International, working alongside Chamber International export advisers, are UAE, China, Singapore and Europe.
Chamber International will be using its overseas networks to support export of the Body Sculpture range with overseas product registration with major retailers, distributors, online retailers, pharmacies and potential sellers in each country’s supplements and vitamins market.
Dunk said: “Our Body Sculpture UK sales are developing rapidly, and we are now starting exports for this new and exciting product range.
“The UK sports nutrition market is growing and is forecast to grow considerably in some overseas markets. We believe the opportunity exists for a truly global brand proposition but there are challenges, as with all food exports, so we will be taking our growth in planned strategic steps
“Chamber International is a trusted organisation, perfectly placed to support us by enabling direct contact with key decision makers, and assisting our exports cost effectively as we gain traction in these markets.“
Hi Mark International, which has more than 400 staff involved in manufacture overseas, opened a new 75,000 m2 manufacturing base in Xiamen, China, in 2009.
The company’s £40m turnover is divided equally between its existing fitness and sporting goods product ranges. The UK team has grown with the recruitment of a sales executive and a digital marketing specialist.
Tim Bailey, Chamber International director, said: “The rigorous quality standards applied for the development of the Body Sculpture brand, including Halal approval and an FDA-accredited UK manufacturer, creates a strong platform for exporting into a rapidly-growing health and fitness market and our team is working to develop contacts in the initial target countries.”
