Il-yang Pharmaceutical withdraws from Daiso after five days
Backlash from the pharmaceutical industry prompts decision
Other pharmaceutical companies also reconsider Daiso sales
Il-yang Pharmaceutical withdrew its decision to supply health functional foods to the fixed-price household goods store Daiso just five days after announcing it.
According to industry sources on the 28th, Il-yang Pharmaceutical decided to stop selling nine types of its health functional foods stocked at Daiso. Earlier, Asung Daiso, which operates Daiso, began selling about 30 types of health functional foods from Il-yang Pharmaceutical and Daewoong Pharmaceutical at over 200 stores nationwide starting from the 24th.
On the 24th, customers visiting Daiso Emart Mokdong store in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul, are lining up at the checkout counter. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung
The products supplied by Il-yang Pharmaceutical to Daiso include ▲Vitamin C chewable tablets ▲Saw Palmetto Zinc ▲Popping Vitamin C ▲W Probiotics ▲Vitamin D 2000 IU ▲Calmadi Zinc Manganese ▲Eat & Q ▲Low Molecular Collagen 1250 ▲Vitamin C 1000mg. The prices of these products are set at two fixed price points of 3,000 KRW and 5,000 KRW per month’s supply, according to Daiso’s policy. This is reported to be about one-sixth the price of the products sold on Il-yang Pharmaceutical’s own online mall. The pharmaceutical company was able to lower the prices by reducing secondary ingredients and content while minimizing packaging costs.
Il-yang Pharmaceutical stated, "The withdrawal from Daiso has been decided," but added, "We have no separate official position." However, it is reported that since the supply volume to Daiso was small, no separate recall measures will be taken.
Il-yang Pharmaceutical’s withdrawal from Daiso is interpreted as a response to backlash from some sectors of the pharmaceutical industry. After news of Daewoong Pharmaceutical, Chong Kun Dang Health, and Il-yang Pharmaceutical selling health functional foods at Daiso spread, some pharmacists reportedly even mentioned a 'general medicine (OTC) boycott movement' against specific pharmaceutical companies. Additionally, Kwon Young-hee, the newly elected president of the Korea Pharmaceutical Association, held meetings with the three pharmaceutical companies on the 26th and 27th and issued a statement urging corrective actions.
Daewoong Pharmaceutical and Chong Kun Dang Health are also reportedly reviewing internally whether to withdraw from Daiso. Daewoong Pharmaceutical is selling 26 types of health functional foods at Daiso, and Chong Kun Dang Health was planning to start selling two products, Lactofit Gold and Lutein Zeaxanthin, as early as next month.
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