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CHICAGO — Information Resources Inc. and SPINS on Wednesday announced the integration of SPINS’ natural/organic food segmentation and industry expertise with IRi’s Consumer Network household panel. The coupling is expected to create a natural/organic segmentation capability that empowers CPG manufacturers and retailers to more effectively identify and market to consumers and shoppers in the fast growing natural/organic sector.  

NORTH CHICAGO, Ill. — An experimental drug regimen under development by AbbVie could change the way hepatitis C is treated, according to a special designation it received from the Food and Drug Administration.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens will sell its six-building office campus, where it will remain a tenant, for $85 million, according to a report published Tuesday by Chicago Real Estate Daily. 

According to the report, Walgreens hired Jones Lang LaSalle to sell the 38-acre campus, which it would lease back for 10 years.

CHICAGO — Generic drug maker Hospira marked its fifth year marketing knock-off versions of biotech drugs in Europe Wednesday as it presented at the 2013 Biotechnology Industry Organization International Convention this week.

The drug maker said it delivered more than 5 million doses of biosimilar medicines to patients in Europe and Australia. The convention includes multiple sessions devoted to such topics as biosimilar regulatory approval, manufacturing and market formation, the company said.

CHICAGO — Wrigley has entered the "energy" arena with Alert Energy Caffeine Gum. Each piece contains 40 mg of caffeine, the equivalent of a half cup of coffee. The company said the gum is targeted to adults who consume caffeine for energy and are looking for a "portable solution." The gum's bitter taste is designed to deter children from using it. The gum is available in eight-piece packs in fruit and mint flavors, and has a suggested retail price of $2.99.

CHICAGO — Hispanics often tick to their own traditions when it comes to selecting protein-rich foods, according to a new study.

Hispanics consume disproportionately high amounts of legumes, eggs, chicken and seafood compared with non-Hispanics, and the level of importance of these foods remains relatively unchanged from five years ago, and tradition and heritage drive meal choices among both Spanish- and English-speaking Hispanics, according to the NPD Group's "NET Hispanic" study. NET stands for "national eating trends."

CHICAGO — Costco and IRI announced Wednesday that they will change a program that the club retailer describes as a single, global solution for category, point-of-sale and supply chain tracking, as well as extend the program to Mexico.

LAS VEGAS — No longer will the SymphonyIRI Group crunch data for the betterment of consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies everywhere, the company's president and CEO Andrew Appel told a packed conference room at the data aggregator's 2013 Summit here.

CHICAGO — The University of Illinois at Chicago College of Pharmacy on Wednesday announced that it is the recipient of a five-year, $2.1 million grant to train graduate and postdoctoral students in natural product drugs and dietary supplements. The grant is funded by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, one of the National Institutes of Health.

CHICAGO — The Network of Executive Women, whose mission is to attract, retain and advance women in the retail and consumer products industry through education, leadership and business development, has unveiled its "2012 Annual Report."

The report opens with the personal stories of 10 network members, who explain how their engagement with NEW changed their companies, careers and lives. Among those features are Kim Tisdale, manager of expense payables at Wal-Mart Stores, and Chris Albi, VP merchandising at Kroger.

CHICAGO — Dry shampoo introductions are on the rise as the segment accounting for 3% of global shampoo launch activity in 2012, up from 1% in 2008, according to new research from Mintel Beauty & Personal Care.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens will no longer source branded prescription medicines directly from suppliers beginning in September, the Chicago-based retailer announced Tuesday as part of a significant partnership between Walgreens, Alliance Boots and AmerisourceBergen that includes Walgreens and Alliance Boots potentially taking a 7% stake in the Pennsylvania wholesaler. Walgreens will begin sourcing generic medicines from AmerisourceBergen beginning in the calendar year 2014.