Content about Category Reviews

When buying bath and shower products, shoppers tend to choose products based mainly on scent and moisturization, according to a Mintel survey. Furthermore, men are increasingly opting for body wash in lieu of bar soap.

According to SymphonyIRI Group data, sales of body wash rose about 7% at food, drug and mass (excluding Walmart) for the 52 weeks ended Nov. 27. Taking the top spot, according to the data: Axe body wash for men.

According to the American Diabetes Association’s latest figures, 79 million Americans have prediabetes, but only 1-out-of-10 knows it. That suggests a terrific upside in the market of diabetes-testing supplies and diabetes-supportive products as more of those Americans become aware of their condition. 


Slim Fast and The Biggest Loser diets were identified as among the leading diets by U.S. News & World Report earlier this month. The ranking may reinvigorate sales across the Slim Fast franchise, which dropped to No. 11 across weight control liquids sold through food, drug and mass (excluding Walmart) for the 12 weeks ended Nov. 27 with $4.8 million in sales, according to SymphonyIRI Group. And while not necessarily associated with the Biggest Loser diet, Biggest Loser trainer Bob Harper’s signature diet aid tablet is on the rise with $1 million in sales, ranking No.

Cookies and crackers are a mature category with slow growth. Private label has been strong in the cookie category, a trend Mintel expected to continue for the next few years. Kraft Foods leads the category with its powerhouse Oreo and Chips Ahoy! brands.

Kraft also leads in the branded cracker category with a 37% market share, according to Packaged Facts, despite poor performance from its Ritz and Wheat Thins lines this year. Consumers remain interested in reduced sodium products.

Sales of household cleaning products have seen a decline over the last four years, according to a recent study by Mintel — a trend the market research company expected will continue until 2015.

Mintel attributed the dip in sales to consumers cleaning their homes on an as-needed basis and taking a more economy-focused approach to the category. Cleaning cloths/wipes, furniture polish and floor cleaners have had the best growth. Sales of green products slowed, but still show promise.

“I want to lose weight.” That’s been one of the top four New Year’s resolutions for the past decade, according to a recent survey conducted by FC Organizational Products, makers of “To-Do” lists. However, more people every year are resolving “to become more physically fit,” which goes a long way to explaining why ready-to-drink nutritional shakes and meal replacement bars are hotter than diet aids right now. 


Awareness around the benefits of krill oil versus fish oil — being just as effective with a lesser amount and the possibility that krill oil may leave more EPA and DHA in the body to be absorbed, according to two clinicals published in 2011 — may be a hot topic in 2012. The revitalized Schiff company will be increasing its support of its MegaRed krill oil supplement to as much as 24% of sales in 2012. And Pharmavite in 2011 launched its NatureMade Krill Oil as a new source of omega-3 fatty acids coupled with the antioxidant astaxanthin.

Zarbee’s has been expanding its pediatric cough-cold line featuring buckwheat honey with the launch of Zarbee’s Nighttime Cough and Sleep Drink, an over-the-counter nighttime cough remedy proven safe and effective for children 2 years of age and older.


While the need for weight loss is year-round in a country where 1-out-of-every-3 adults is considered obese, the business of weight loss still is seasonal. The first few weeks of January see a spike from the guilt-laden who had over-indulged during much of the holidays. That demand peters off slightly until just before bikini season in the spring. 


Whether it’s creating beachy waves, sexy curls or modern ponytails, women aren’t shying away from styling their best fashion accessory: hair. 


Sales of styling products are on the upswing, according to the data provided by SymphonyIRI. The market research firm reported that for the 52 weeks ended Nov. 27 at food, drug and mass (excluding Walmart), sales of hair spray/spritz rose just shy of 1% to about $418.8 million, while sales of hair-styling gel/mousse rose 1.8% to about $642.7 million.


Beauty market research company the NPD Group recently reported that total prestige makeup dollar sales in U.S. department stores were on the rise during the first 10 months of 2011, and gift sets proved to be no exception.

Between January and October, total prestige makeup dollar sales in U.S. department stores were $2.8 million, an increase of 8% in dollars compared with the same time last year. All prestige segments saw dollar growth.