A childhood bout with salmonella pushed Budge Collinson into the vitamin business.
The 37-year-old Davidsonville native was told he’d be a lifelong carrier, but his mother, Linda, nursed him back to health using natural remedies.
Now the Collinsons own Crofton-based Infusion Sciences. Their anti-aging multivitamin supplement, Youth Infusion, has received medical endorsements and is now being sold nationally at The Vitamin Shoppe. Its largest export client is South Korea and Budge Collinson filmed a series of infomercials that will air in regional markets.
“Essentially, what I did was come up with a product that is more or less your multivitamin,” Budge Collinson said. “You’d be surprised at how good it tastes considering it’s all vitamins. It’s got so much potential, we’re very hopeful.”
Infusion Sciences’ product comes as part of the $29-billion vitamin and supplement industry. Its growth over the last five years is due to factors like increasing consumer concerns toward health and the aging population, according to IBISWorld’s Vitamin & Supplement Manufacturing market research report. Over the next 10 years, the field is expected to grow at an average annual rate of 4.2 percent.
It is a trend that has long been felt at the Annapolis-based Sun & Earth Natural Foods. Located on West Street, the shop carries and promotes organic and natural food eating choices. This is the time of year where its vitamin supplies start to dwindle, as customers seek to build up their immunity. Some top sellers are fish and cod oils, multiples and Omega threes.
“There’s a lot of commercials on TV about fish oil and most people are aware that fish oil is important to them,” Sun & Earth Manager Gail Billings said. “A lot of people have special ailments and they come in for supplements that help that ailment.”
Infusion Sciences’ Youth Infusion is a powdered water supplement with 35 natural ingredients, including resveratrol, Vitamin-D and CoQ10 for heart health and diabetes. The product and its founder have been featured on Fox News Channel’s “Fox and Friends” and several other regional news outlets. Earlier this year, Dr. John D. Martin, director of heart and vascular services at Anne Arundel Medical Center, endorsed the product and said it can help his patients improve their cardiovascular health.
In the 1980s, Linda Collinson made her own skin care products when she began experiencing skin allergies. Her company, LaCrista Natural Skin Care Products, sold products at Safeway, Giant and Sam’s Club. She sold the firm to a Frederick man nine years ago, but later bought it back. They are planning to bring the skin care products back next year under the Infusion Sciences brand.
Linda Collinson said she is not anti-drugs when it comes to health issues such as strep throat, but she does prefer to remain natural when it comes to her health.
“Whenever there’s a health issue I go about it the alternative way because I do think there’s a cure for everything naturally,’’ said Linda Collinson, who is the senior director of Infusion Sciences. “Budge is into health because I’m into health. He kinda went down the same line.”
Youth Infusion aims to put the proper nutrients and minerals in a user’s system, but they still have to exercise. The Collinsons said the ingredients in the vitamin can help lead users toward a healthier lifestyle.
“This essentially has all the nutrients to feed the foundation,” Budge Collinson said. “It’s really got a little bit of everything that is gonna support every system of the body.”
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