Content about Category Reviews

The nation’s highest court has agreed to hear three cases stemming from the longstanding but controversial practice by which branded and generic drug makers agree to delay introduction of a me-too medicine as its brand-name counterpart nears the end of its patent protection. A ruling by the Supreme Court could alter the delicate balance sometimes struck between the two industries as they scramble to either delay or hasten the onset of generic competition for big-selling, patented drugs.

NEW YORK — Fragrance gift sets are no doubt a popular choice during the holiday season, and manufacturers hope that this year is no exception.

Over the course of the entire year, 40% of individual fragrance sales take place during the holidays, while 80% of fragrance gift set sales occur during the holiday season, according to stats from the SymphonyIRI Group database cited by Coty.

The greeting card category is shifting. Category giants American Greetings and Hallmark face the threat of competition from e-cards and are challenged by increased segmentation of the card category. Hallmark estimates that over the past decade, the number of greeting cards sold in the United States has dropped from 6 billion to 5 billion annually.


The Greeting Card Association reports that while greeting card unit sales have fluctuated over the past several years, the industry continues to generate annual revenues of $7 billion to $8 billion.


Sales of primary batteries used in consumer products should grow 2.4% each year, according to research from Freedonia Group.


That’s good news for a category that has seen a fair share of decline in recent years. Freedonia Group sees a shift in the product mix toward more expensive primary batteries, particularly superpremium alkaline and primary 
lithium products.


Alkaline batteries will continue to dominate the market, and should generate 84% of sales in 2015.

Boehringer Ingelheim recently expanded its popular laxative brand with Dulcolax Laxative Tablets for Women, specifically formulated with a “comfort-coating” to protect a woman’s stomach. 


Beauty market research company NPD Group recently reported that prestige gift sets were once again on the rise within U.S. department stores.


While all prestige gift sets saw double-digit gains, the greatest lift was reported in makeup gift sets. Between January and October 2012, total makeup gift sets rose 26% to $116 million compared with the January to 
October 2011 period.


Total skin care gift sets increased 23% compared with the year-ago period to reach $276 million.


Total sales of fragrance gift sets climbed 10% to $479 million versus 
last year.


Handheld frozen foods have grown quickly in the last two years, and Mintel expects growth to continue. U.S. retail sales are expected to top $3.8 billion 
by 2016.


Depilatories continue to enjoy strong growth, thanks in large part to product innovation and new entrants to the segment.

According to data from SymphonyIRI Group, a Chicago-based market research firm, sales of depilatories rose about 13% for the 12 weeks ended Oct. 7 at total U.S. multi-outlets, which covers supermarkets, drug stores, mass-market retailers (including Walmart), military commissaries, and select club and dollar retail chains.

After several lackluster years, cookie sales were up in 2011 and are likely to show slight gains this year. The category was buoyed largely by sales of basic cookies, according to a recent report from Mintel, while premium cookie sales were hurt by a tight economy and increased media attention on America’s obesity epidemic. Mintel forecasts more growth for the premium segment from 2013 to 2016.


This holiday season will be both a splurge and save season for toys. Parents will splurge for one or two toys, but will round out their holiday shopping with less expensive items, according to Adrienne Appell, a spokesperson for the Toy Industry Association.


Sales of facial anti-aging products continued to slip — perhaps as consumers continue to watch their spending or try to navigate the inundated anti-aging market — while sales of facial moisturizers experienced an uptick, according to data from SymphonyIRI Group.


While daily coffee consumption is dominated by ground coffee — 35% of consumers drink roasted ground coffee every day — premium-priced single-cup coffee is gaining popularity and has led the growth in the coffee category between 2010 and 2012, according to Mintel.


The single-cup market ballooned from $103 million in 2007 to an estimated nearly $1.8 billion in 2012, and Mintel expects to see upside for the segment until 2017 due to new innovations and more 
private-label pods.