In the 1930s, naturopath Maurice Blackmore founded Australia’s leading natural health company. Almost 80 years later, Blackmores produces more than 250 types of vitamins, multivitamins, minerals, herbal and nutritional supplements and exports to 15 countries.
Blackmores has exported its products for more than 30 years. In 2010, the company focused on Asia as a platform for future growth, expanding into seven new countries and tripling its staff in Asia. Blackmores has taken advantage of Australia’s tariff-free status under new free trade agreements to improve its price competitiveness in the Asian region.
In 2014–15, Blackmores export revenue grew 25 per cent year-on-year to more than $94 million. China is now the company’s second largest market and in 2014, Blackmores became the first and only foreign-owned natural health company to open a full branch office in the Shanghai Free Trade Zone.
Blackmores has committed to clinical research trials, academic scholarships and professional education programmes for healthcare programmes in Australia and international markets to grow the use of complementary medicines. The company funds research, scholarships and clinical trials in Asian universities, and Blackmores is the only provider of evidence-based natural health education in many Asian markets. In June 2015, the Blackmores Institute Asia held its first symposium on the latest evidence-based integrative medicine research.
Judges were impressed by Blackmores’ strong growth in Asia, citing its deep understanding and effective use of regulatory processes to gain a strong competitive advantage in these markets. The judges also praised Blackmores’ successful capitalisation on global health trends and its diverse range of products.
To learn more about Blackmores and its success, read the case study.