NutriChews, a homegrown Filipino brand of children's gummy vitamins, is winding down its business as founder Airon dela Cruz cites rising taxes, government fees and online selling expenses that have made operations increasingly difficult to sustain.
Dela Cruz announced the decision in a Facebook post covered by Radar on November 3, saying the company had exhausted its efforts to keep the business running.
"Nilaban namin pero wala talaga," he said, describing the financial pressure from what he called "never-ending" taxes and government charges, as well as selling costs on Shopee and Lazada and expensive advertising.
He also revealed that he had gone a year without drawing a salary to keep the business afloat, adding that it was "really not the best time to be a business owner in the Philippines."
A brand built for Filipino families
Dela Cruz said he started NutriChews after growing up in a family that struggled to afford basic needs, including vitamins. He wanted to offer parents a more affordable option for their children's nutritional needs.
The brand marketed orange-flavored gummy vitamins for children aged two to 12. According to its website, each gummy contains 12 nutrients, including DHA, lutein and vitamins A, B, C, D and E.
NutriChews also said its DHA was sourced from Germany and its gummies were manufactured in an ISO-certified facility in Taiwan.
Remaining stocks offered at discounted prices
As the business winds down, Dela Cruz is selling remaining stocks at discounted prices to help cover obligations to employees and people handling the packing and shipping of orders.
Three bottles are being offered for P599, down from the regular price of P1,500, according to his announcement.
He said proceeds from the clearance sale would go toward paying the people who helped run the business rather than generating profits.
The founder has not released a detailed breakdown of the company's outstanding obligations or the specific taxes, fees and platform charges that contributed to its financial difficulties.
While NutriChews' closure highlights the challenges faced by small business owners, the founder's account also underscores the financial pressures of maintaining a homegrown brand in an increasingly competitive retail and e-commerce market.
