Phytopresso applying ancient knowledge in folk medicine to create modern products
Latvian company Phytopresso develops modern health drinks and nutritional supplements based on ancient Nordic folk medicine, but with a modern approach to product development. The company has been operating on the market for four years, during which time it has created a diverse product line consisting of both capsules and small-volume, dosed liquid dietary supplements. The company has received support from the Jelgava office of the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia through its business incubation programme and is currently in the process of restructuring its business and planning its further development.
The founder of Phytopresso is Austrian entrepreneur Thomas Auer, who came up with the idea for such a product based on his personal experience and while searching for natural alternatives to chemical-based nutritional supplements. The company works closely with doctors and pharmaceutical specialists in the development of its products, paying particular attention to quality, the suitability of raw materials, and the origin of products. As the company’s CEO emphasises, Phytopresso’s goal is not to create a short-term stimulating effect, but to develop functional solutions for everyday well-being: mental clarity, concentration, balanced energy, and other needs that most people face in today’s fast-paced lifestyle.
Although the company’s product range also includes dietary supplements in capsule form, Phytopresso’s main focus and distinguishing feature in the market is its liquid, dosed dietary supplements in small 60 ml bottles. This form was chosen deliberately because, as the company points out, it ensures higher bioavailability of active ingredients and allows for faster effects compared to other forms of dietary supplements.
In the initial stage of the company’s development, the products were available both on the Latvian market and abroad—they were offered in small quantities in several European countries, including Austria and the Czech Republic. This product sales testing phase gave the company the opportunity to assess market requirements, pricing policy, and the specifics of distribution channels for this type of product. At the same time, the company came to the conclusion that the specifics of the market and the high costs of pharmaceutical production require a more precise business model and more targeted product positioning. As a result, Phytopresso is currently undergoing a business restructuring process—the company is reviewing its operating model, re-evaluating its market positioning and pricing strategy, and actively seeking cooperation partners abroad.
“We are currently working to return to the market stronger than ever, with new manufacturing partners and a revamped brand. The goal is to find a development path that maintains the high quality of the product while making production and the supply chain more efficient, as well as more clearly defining the target audience and the most appropriate distribution channels,” Mr Auer says.
For about four years, the company has also been participating in the business incubation programme set up by the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia in Jelgava. Mr Auer acknowledges that the programme’s support has been valuable not only for gaining practical knowledge, but also for getting to know the business environment and exchanging experiences. The opportunity to learn from the approach, thinking, and communication style of young entrepreneurs has been particularly useful, helping to broaden the view of the market and the company’s development opportunities.
In future, the company plans to continue working on product innovations, where, as the CEO acknowledges, the support tools of the business incubation programme could also play a significant role, especially in the areas of innovation, prototyping, and product development.
Information material prepared with the support of the European Regional Development Fund
