Seppic has entered the cognitive health market with the launch of Sepibright at the ongoing Vitafoods Europe tradeshow.
Live on the showroom floor in Barcelona, Spain, the manufacturer speaks with Nutrition Insight, discussing the effectiveness of this upcycled ingredient and the rising demand for natural supplements.
We also touch on key themes for the company, such as healthy aging, active nutrition, beauty-from-within, and sun protection, and how these are connected through the digitalization of consumer habits.
Salma Zahidi, product manager, says: “Seppic entered the cognitive health market with Sepibright to address a rapidly growing market demand for brain health solutions. As the global population ages, cognitive decline has become a primary health concern. This decline often manifests as decreased processing speed and memory.”
“Maintaining cognitive ability through proactive nutrition has become a key priority for consumers. According to Innova Market Insights, brain and mood health and mental acuity are among the fastest-growing claims in dietary supplements.”
Innova data further reveals that mental acuity claims grew over 22% CAGR (Jul 2019–Jun 2024), while brain and mood claims grew above 12% in the same period. Together, the combined claims occurred in 53% of supplement category launches in Jul 2023–Jun 2024.
Zahidi touts Sepibright as Seppic’s first patent-pending nootropic active ingredient, which was eco-designed by developing it through a circular economy approach, using upcycled strawberry leaves sourced from Brittany, France.
“This premium botanical extract is produced using a water-only extraction process and is standardized in polyphenols and ellagitannins to provide antioxidant and neuroprotective properties.”
Rapid clinical results
Zahidi details that the most surprising clinical results from Sepibright’s first cognitive performance trial are that it delivered rapid results in only six weeks of supplementation. The study is pending publication at the moment.
Sepibright’s strawberry leaf extract was found to boost senior memory 18% in six weeks.“In a first gold-standard clinical trial, pending publication, involving seniors aged 60–80, Sepibright demonstrated a concrete dual-action efficacy by simultaneously enhancing long-term memory and reducing perceived stress.”
“Most notably, Sepibright achieved an 18% reduction in visual memory errors, an 11% improvement in visual memory score, and a significant decrease in stress levels,” she adds. “Furthermore, the study highlighted a significant improvement in verbal long-term memory for participants aged 60–69, after 12 weeks of supplementation.”
Digital transparency drives natural demand
Seppic’s product manager, Sarata Sarr, observes that today, consumers are more attentive about their purchases, keeping a keen eye on quality and responsibility as their primary benchmarks.
“While the demand for naturality isn’t new, we are witnessing a hyper-acceleration impulsed by the democratization of information. In this era of ‘digital transparency,’ from TikTok experts to rating apps, consumers can evaluate ingredients in real-time. In the food supplement market, natural excipients and colors are no longer ‘secondary’ ingredients, as they have become trust indicators.”
“This shift is driven by two key trends: the foodification of supplements, where consumers judge their supplements with the same rigor as their food, scanning labels for additives and demanding clean label alternatives. Second is conscious consumption through the ‘Buy Less, Buy Better’ movement, where buyers prioritize quality and low environmental impact.”
Reflecting on these shifts, Sarr points to Seppic’s portfolio, designed for this natural demand. For instance, its film-coating range focuses on innovating natural coloring solutions to bridge the gap between visual appeal and clean label standards. She highlights a study finding that 60% of a consumer’s initial assessment of a product is based solely on color.
At Vitafoods Europe 2026, Seppic is unveiling a concept for a film-coated dietary supplement designed for weekend warriors. Placing weight on visual identity, the company is showcasing its “Warrior Orange,” created from natural agents Sepifilm, colored red 5370 PW, and Yellow 3361 PW. This color is also noted to align with the 2026 trend of orange as a “dopamine color,” enhancing mental alertness and optimism.
Beauty-from-within concept tasting
At the show, Seppic’s Social Media Tasting Bar features several concepts developed with contract manufacturer partners in various forms, from galenic, traditional capsules and tablets to gummies, liquid shots, and functional chocolates.
Vitafoods showcases Seppic’s clinically proven cognitive and beauty-from-within actives.Here, the company highlights eight beauty-from-within concepts, which also touch on healthy aging, active nutrition, and sun protection. Although distinct, Virginie Grenier, marketing manager for Nutrition, tells us that they are linked by a powerful market accelerator: “the digitalization of consumer habits.”
“The nutricosmetics sector is currently experiencing a high-growth phase, primarily fueled by a new generation of digitally native consumers who use platforms like TikTok and Instagram not just for discovery but as primary commercial engines.”
She adds that social media ad spend in the supplement category has also surged in recent years.
“However, this hyper-connectivity has a double-edged effect: digital overload. As consumers face constant ‘always-on’ mental fatigue, this has also become a primary market driver for cognitive supplements.”
“In this digital-first landscape, Seppic’s active ingredient portfolio directly addresses the evolving needs and expectations of the nutricosmetic market. A prime example is our Social Media Tasting Bar at Vitafoods, which showcases eight beauty-from-within formulas — ranging from traditional capsules to modern ‘foodified’ formats — each specifically designed as a blueprint to address a trending digital demand.”
Grenier underscores that whether customers are seeking Seppic’s established nutricosmetic ingredients or Sepibright, all these ingredients have three “unshakeable pillars.”
“They are of natural origin, rigorously clinically proven, and highly efficacious even at a low dose. By delivering versatile, high-quality active ingredients, we empower our clients to innovate and lead the market in the evolving digital landscape.”