He’s an innovator because…he—with the support of his company Capsugel—has worked to globally support and promote the natural products and dietary supplement industry.

The Background:

Randy J. Dennin is vice president-global business development, Dietary Supplements for Capsugel, Greenwood, SC, a manufacturer of two-piece gelatin capsules, and a division of Pfizer, Inc. Mr. Dennin has served in various positions including production manager and vp/gm of Capsugel Americas Division.

Randy has worked on regulatory issues around the globe and been a leader in developing the market for dietary supplements. He is chairman of IADSA, the International Alliance of Dietary/Food Supplement Associations, an alliance of trade associations from 25 countries founded to address the increasing globalization of markets and global regulatory challenges. He is also chairman of NNFA Japan, a recently formed trade association that represents Japanese and American companies doing business in Japan.

Words of Wisdom:

What has been the biggest challenge you’ve faced thus far?

“The industry is so dynamic that the challenge is to keep up with all the changes going on. Especially as my world is more international than domestic, it’s very difficult at times to keep track of what regulatory changes are occurring around the globe.”

What should be the measure of success in our industry?

“Congress recognized the value of consumers taking more control of their health and the purpose of DSHEA was to allow us a measure of direct impact on consumers. Now, we need not just anecdotal stories, but real statistics about how supplements are making a difference. This goes beyond the science of supplements; it’s the true value of supplements. This will help draw more people to the market.”

Where would you like to see your company/your work/your industry in five years?

“As an industry I would like to see regulatory bodies following the intent of DSHEA and implementing the current legislation. We don’t need new legislation. This would address the quality issues and help build consumer confidence. With the continued inflammatory stories, consumers are now convinced dietary supplements are unregulated, which is not true. We need less hype and more factual coverage. This would help sustain our continued growth.”

Are we making a difference?

“Definitely, and I think market statistics bear that out. We have some challenges, but look at the figures; usage is up fourfold since the passage of DSHEA. However, consumers will not use a product where they do not perceive a benefit.”

If you could change one thing, on an industry-wide scale, that would open up new opportunities for all industry, what would it be?
“DSHEA was historic legislation, passed with the best intent, but the implementation has been somewhat of a disappointment from a regulatory point of view. If I had a magic wand, I would see DSHEA become law in practice.”