Background information
New massage guns from Therabody: what they can and can’t do
by Patrick Bardelli
Sport food from Switzerland: a visit to Wollerau
5.10.2020
Translation: machine translated
The fitness business is flourishing: last year, almost 94 billion dollars were generated worldwide and the course is still set for expansion. Manufacturers of nutritional supplements are also benefiting from this trend. One of them is Sponser.
The fitness industry is booming and sports nutrition is also on trend. The market is growing. By 2022, it is expected to generate global sales of around 45 billion dollars. Retailers such as Migros and Coop have long since jumped on the bandwagon and are constantly expanding their range of protein bars and multivitamin supplements. An old hand in the field of functional foods is the company Sponser in Wollerau. Since 1988, everything here on Lake Zurich has revolved around protein, carbohydrates and co.
I have an appointment with Yvonne Forster. The nutritionist and qualified food technologist is involved in product development and quality assurance at Sponser. The enthusiastic endurance athlete has been working for the Swiss pioneer in sports nutrition for 16 years.
In summer she is often out and about on her bike, in winter on her skis. Water sports are also one of her hobbies. Sailing is her favourite. "Sports sailing, not white wine sailing", she adds with a smile.
There are many terms floating around the web on the topic of sports nutrition. There is talk of nutritional supplements, sports nutrition or even supplements. What is what?
Yvonne Forster, food technologist: Ultimately, it comes down to the question of use or purpose. This is not so clearly defined in the case of supplements. In my view, a protein shake can be a supplement, as can a magnesium tablet.
What does the law say in this regard?The Food Act states that there are food supplements. These are clearly defined. And then there are supplementary foods. A protein supplement, here again the word supplement, belongs in the area of complementary foods. It is a sensible addition to everyday nutrition. At Sponser, we don't claim that you should eat our products as much as possible (laughs), on the contrary. We see our products as a supplement to a balanced, healthy diet. On a mountain hike, however, I don't want to have to lug a heavy rucksack up the mountain. So I pack a few bars, for example. And afterwards, I might treat myself to a recovery shake to help my muscles recover.
But aren't these powders and pills basically something for professionals?
Originally, yes. But here comes the big but. Professionals usually have a lot of time for regeneration. It is also part of their job to take care of their bodies and look after them. Accordingly, they also attach great importance to a needs-based diet. Often freshly prepared. Many of us don't have this privilege. We practise so-called health sports and squeeze our training into our working day. We don't get enough rest or the nutrients we need. A contradiction in terms. In this respect, these products make more sense for non-professionals than for professional athletes in many respects.
The fitness market is booming. Retailers such as Migros and Coop are also taking a slice of this pie. How do you see this development at Sponser?It's clear that the trend towards sports nutrition has arrived in the population. And of course, for us that means a few more competitors on the market. We have had ready-to-drink protein products on sale for around twelve years. At that time, we were alone in the field. Today, practically every milk manufacturer also offers a protein supplement. The products are becoming increasingly popular.
In which direction is the industry developing, is there a "next big thing" on the horizon?Generally speaking, anything that moves in the direction of convenience: bars, effervescent tablets, ready-to-drink products, etc. And products that are even more individualised than they are today.
How is that to be understood?
The whole thing should be understood in the context of personalised nutrition concepts. Genetics or the microbiome, i.e. the intestinal bacteria, play a decisive role here.
Do you have a specific example of this?
We are currently testing a caffeine preparation. We are offering a genetic analysis for this. Based on this analysis, we can then recommend a specific product. It is the interplay of science and product recommendation. The next trend will therefore be concepts towards more personalisation.
Where do you get the relevant expertise from?
With regard to pharmaceutical genetics, we are in regular dialogue with a doctor. We are also in close contact with experts from SSNS, the Swiss Sports Nutrition Society. We utilise various networks.
How do you create a new product? From the idea to the recipe
Input usually comes from various sources. For example, from athletes who want a product to be developed further. It is often the raw material manufacturers who approach us. For example, with raw materials that contribute to joint health and have been proven in a scientific study. If these raw materials have been clinically researched, the manufacturers naturally want to sell them. But employees also contribute ideas for new products. We then formulate these ideas internally, look for suitable raw materials and assess the market potential.
How long does this process take?
It varies greatly. I've experienced everything from two months to a few years (laughs).
Your products are not without controversy. There are experts, such as Manfred Donike, who has since passed away, who question the effect:
Nutritional supplements produce nothing but expensive urine. It is completely unnecessary to use them.
What do you say to that?
(Pause) So: You can easily jog for two hours without eating anything. But I'll just say that you'll recover better from the exertion and feel less exhausted if you take an appropriate supplement during the run. And you might even run a little faster during those two hours. So it works.
With creatine, for example, we know that there are so-called responders and non-responders. The same applies to caffeine. If you are a responder, you will feel the effect, if you are a non-responder, you will not. If I wasn't convinced of the benefits of our products, I wouldn't work here.
Where does nutritional supplementation end and doping begin?
The rules are clear. It's not a topic for us. We don't have any such substances in our company. CBD is one such substance. I am wary of that. We don't make any products with hemp protein. We invest a lot of money in procuring clean raw materials so that we can guarantee that our products are doping-free. We will certainly not jeopardise this reputation.
Committed to quality
Sponser appears as a nutrition partner at over 100 sporting events with 100,000 athletes every year. Olympic and world champions as well as amateur athletes regularly consume the products of the Swiss industry leader.
According to its own information, Sponser as FSSC 22000 certified Swiss food manufacturer only uses raw materials from suppliers who also have ISO or GFSI recognised certificates. All raw materials are documented in quality agreements and are accompanied by a certificate of analysis, which allows complete traceability. The company, based in Wollerau SZ, is also subject to the high control standards of the Swiss health authorities.
Patrick Bardelli
Senior Editor
Patrick.Bardelli@digitecgalaxus.chFrom radio journalist to product tester and storyteller, jogger to gravel bike novice and fitness enthusiast with barbells and dumbbells. I'm excited to see where the journey'll take me next.
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