Exclusive partnership brings the scientifically proven SMART STRAINS® range – built on the philosophy of the right strain, right time, right way – to pharmacies across Ireland

BR Healthcare has been appointed the exclusive distributor in Ireland for SMART STRAINS®, a premium range of scientifically proven probiotic supplements developed by internationally renowned gut health scientist, registered dietitian and founder of The Gut Health Doctor®, Dr Megan Rossi (PhD, RD, APD).

The partnership strengthens BR Healthcare’s portfolio with an innovative probiotic brand designed to meet growing consumer demand for targeted microbiome support across immunity, digestive health, women’s intimate health, support during antibiotic use and travelling, and babies and toddlers.

Under the new agreement, BR Healthcare will supply the complete SMART STRAINS® range to pharmacies throughout Ireland, providing retail partners with access to targeted probiotic formulations containing carefully selected strains that have been evaluated in placebo-controlled clinical trials for their intended use.

The appointment comes at a time when understanding of the gut microbiome continues to grow, with pharmacists increasingly seeking trusted, evidence-based probiotic solutions that they can recommend with confidence.

“We are delighted to partner with SMART STRAINS® and bring this scientifically proven probiotic range exclusively to the Irish pharmacy market,” said Laura Payne, Head of Healthcare at BR Healthcare. “Pharmacists are looking for products that combine strong scientific credentials with high-quality formulations, and SMART STRAINS® delivers on both. We look forward to supporting pharmacies across Ireland with a premium probiotic offering that meets the evolving needs of today’s health-conscious consumers.”

Unlike many probiotic supplements currently on the market, SMART STRAINS® takes a purpose-driven, strain-specific approach. In a category where many products contain broad combinations of strains without strain-specific clinical evidence for their intended use, SMART STRAINS® does things differently. Each formulation contains carefully selected probiotic strains that have been evaluated in placebo-controlled clinical trials, using the dose and delivery format supported by the research. The strain selection is informed by recommendations from international health bodies, including the World Gastroenterology Organisation’s global guidelines on probiotics. Rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach, every formulation has been developed to support specific health needs and life stages.

“Each type of bacteria, known as a strain, serves a unique function, requiring the correct delivery format and dose to truly make an impact, as proven in human clinical trials,” explains Dr Megan Rossi. “It has been years in the making, but SMART STRAINS® has been developed as the much-needed solution to fill the gap between the latest cutting-edge science and the generic, often misleading products consumers encounter. It’s about making live bacteria simple, reliable, and effective for everyone.”

Dr Rossi adds:

“Think about it this way: you wouldn’t take an iron supplement to treat a vitamin D deficiency, so why would you treat your gut with a generic supplement that doesn’t address your needs? The latest science shows us how crucial it is to get specific – something I discovered some years ago during my PhD in Probiotics. But since then, I’ve been deeply frustrated that despite the scientific world’s progress in understanding the uses of live bacteria in certain need states, the formulations I wanted to give my patients just weren’t available.”

Created to give consumers the right strain, at the right time, in the right way, SMART STRAINS® is a family of four targeted formulations, each developed to support a specific health need:

• For when you’re on Antibiotics & Travelling
• For your Immune System
• For Babies & Toddlers
• For your Vaginal Microbiome & Women’s Health

As consumer demand for evidence-based microbiome solutions continues to grow, the partnership between BR Healthcare and SMART STRAINS® will make clinically studied, strain-specific probiotic formulations more accessible to pharmacists and consumers across Ireland.

The partnership reinforces BR Healthcare’s commitment to supplying Irish pharmacies with innovative, high-quality healthcare brands that are supported by robust scientific evidence and strong consumer appeal.

Pharmacies interested in stocking the SMART STRAINS® range or learning more about the partnership are encouraged to contact BR Healthcare for more information.

About SMART STRAINS®

SMART STRAINS® is a premium probiotic supplement brand founded by internationally recognised gut health scientist and registered dietitian Dr Megan Rossi (PhD, RD, APD). Following her award-winning PhD in probiotics, Dr Rossi identified a major challenge within the live bacteria category: many products contained strains that had never been tested in humans for their intended use.

Built around the philosophy of right strain, right time, right way, SMART STRAINS® combines carefully selected probiotic strains that have been evaluated in placebo-controlled clinical trials with formulations informed by international health guidance, including recommendations from the World Gastroenterology Organisation. Rather than focusing on the number of strains, SMART STRAINS® focuses on selecting the right strain, at the right time, in the right way – using the dose and delivery format supported by the clinical evidence for the intended health benefit.

The range has been developed using clean-label formulations with no unnecessary additives, helping consumers choose probiotics with confidence.

About The Gut Health Doctor®

Dr Megan Rossi, founder of The Gut Health Doctor®, is one of the world’s leading gut health specialists and a leading Research Fellow at King’s College London. A registered dietitian for close to two decades, Dr Rossi holds an award-winning PhD in probiotics, recognised with the Dean’s Award for Outstanding Research.

She founded The Gut Health Clinic, where she leads a team of specialist gut health dietitians working with clients in London, Manchester, Bristol and virtually around the world. She is also the founder of the multi-award-winning gut health food brand Bio&Me and the founder of SMART STRAINS®, a targeted range of scientifically proven live bacteria supplements developed to revolutionise how people understand and use probiotics.

Dr Rossi is the author of multiple Sunday Times bestselling books, including Eat More, Live Well and How To Eat More Plants.

Learn more at www.theguthealthdoctor.com | @TheGutHealthDoctor