Content about Category Reviews

Judging from the number of dietary supplement companies that are being snatched up by heavy-hitting suppliers in the over-the-counter space, the 5% uptick in supplement sales for the 52 weeks ended Aug. 12 is one trend that stands to continue. Sales across food, drug and mass (excluding Walmart) for that period totaled $1.5 billion, according to SymphonyIRI Group data. 


Procter & Gamble in March acquired New Chapter, and with that now fields a comprehensive line of supplements that goes well beyond the probiotic Align and the fiber supplement Metamucil it already owned. 


Similasan is one homeopathic company making a move into pediatric cough/cold. “Pharmacists have endorsed the Similasan brand,” noted Dan Quail, VP sales at Similasan, which will help bridge the eye/ear care sets with pediatric cough/cold. “So when mom goes into cough syrup, there’s a natural tie-in to take care of the ears and the eyes,” he said. “It’s a solution-driven process.”


The overall foot care category was relatively flat — down 0.9% — with $587.2 million in sales for the 52 weeks ended Aug. 12 across food, drug and mass (excluding Walmart), according to SymphonyIRI Group data. However, almost 2-out-of-3 foot care products sold are insoles, which bodes well for sales 
going forward. 


Sales of hair spray experienced a slight lift during the 12 weeks ended July 8, according to SymphonyIRI Group, as beauty mavens continued to turn to styling products to achieve a desired look and lock it in place.


Over the last few years of DSN’s coverage of the impending patent cliff and how it would affect the generic drug industry, IMS Health VP industry relations Doug Long predicted that the gradual commoditization of primary care drugs — long the lifeblood of generic drug makers — would lead to consolidation of the industry.


As Seen On TV products have become a powerhouse general merchandise category. Products backed witha substantial television advertising move year-round with sell-through rates that industry sources say range from 10% to 30%. Several chains have upsized the space they devote to 
the category.


New products are crucial to the category, and manufacturers keep new items flowing to retail. The pet category, housewares and personal care products have been particularly strong segments within the category.

2012 is turning out to be a pretty important year for generic drugs, important enough that some of the things happening over the past several months have begged comparison to 1984, probably the biggest milestone year for the industry.


For branded drug makers, the pharmaceutical patent cliff has never loomed higher or steeper. The exposure of so many of the world’s biggest-selling medicines to generic competition for the first time is redefining the pricing model for many of the most widely prescribed classes of pharmaceuticals — reducing costs for health plans, payers and patients; scrambling drug makers’ balance sheets; and potentially boosting both drug utilization and adherence rates as reduced out-of-pocket costs induce more patients to fill their prescriptions.


Housewares have moved beyond the Christmas selling season at drug stores. The products are becoming a year-round category for the channel as drug chains find ways to tie in kitchen items, tabletop accessories and appliances to key selling seasons.

The hair care segment has lost some of its luster. However, manufacturers of ethnic hair care products have been working feverishly to bring greater innovation to 
the market. 


According to SymphonyIRI Group, sales of hair styling gel/mousse slipped about 1.5% during the 12 weeks ended July 8 at food, drug and mass (excluding Walmart). During the same period, sales of women’s hair coloring dropped 4.6%, and hair relaxer kits were 
down 12.5%. The double-digit drop in hair relaxer kits comes as little surprise as many ethnic beauty shoppers are choosing to 
go natural.


Cleaning the face of makeup, dirt and other impurities in the morning and night is clearly an important part of a healthy skin care routine, and manufacturers continue to answer the call with products that promise to deliver even greater results.

According to the most recent 52-week data from Chicago-based market research firm SymphonyIRI Group, sales of facial cleansers rose nearly 6% to about $635 million.

Manufacturers continue to innovate in an effort to further grow sales and capture greater market share.

The slew of new facial anti-aging products hitting the mass market shows little signs of slowing — despite the lackluster category sales — as manufacturers feverishly work to stay on the cutting edge of innovation and bank on consumers’ undying desire to turn back the hands of time.


According to SymphonyIRI Group data, sales of facial anti-aging products slipped 0.8% to just shy of $800 million at food, drug and mass (excluding Walmart) for the 52 weeks ended July 8.