Robert Gielow on Longevity Products, Pharmacy Access and Consumer Trust with a focus on the German speaking market

Daphna sat down with Robert Gielow, founder of Mentry Pharma, to discuss what it really takes for foreign supplement and longevity companies to enter the pharmacy markets of Germany, Austria and Switzerland. He explains why many brands misunderstand the German-speaking market: distribution and pharmacy listings alone do not create demand, pharmacies are not straightforward sales channels, and sceptical consumers require multiple trust-building touchpoints before making a purchase.The conversation explores the practical realities of regulation, market access and enforcement, the differences between brick-and-mortar and online pharmacies, and why many market entries fail when companies focus on sales projections rather than customer acquisition and long-term retention. Gielow also discusses the challenges of consumer education, the influence of misinformation on social media, and the widening gap between rigorous scientific evidence and the content that attracts the greatest online attention.Finally, he argues that prevention remains undervalued across healthcare systems and that longevity does not have to depend on expensive interventions. Instead, he makes the case for focusing on the fundamentals: regular movement, good nutrition, quality sleep, strong relationships, and learning to listen to the body’s signals.https://www.mentry-pharma.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertgielow/00:00 Welcome and Episode Setup02:16 Meet Robert and Mentory Pharma04:18 How Mentory Pharma Started08:31 Why Distribution Alone Fails11:04 Pharmacies Aren't Salespeople13:59 Why Brands Fail in Germany19:12 Regulation Reality Check25:39 Influencers vs Real Science28:17 What Even Is Longevity28:42 Vitamin D Rules Clash31:09 Enforcement Reality Check32:49 Why Prevention Lags35:39 Pharma Shifts to Prevention38:07 Markets Ahead of Europe43:25 Longevity for the Rich46:08 Back to Simple Habits50:34 Building Credible Brands55:26 Rapid Fire Takeaways57:55 Closing Reflections