Content about Chicago

CHICAGO — With the explosion in such mobile devices as smart phones, Walgreens is expanding its access across an ever-wider array of options for health consumers, president and CEO Greg Wasson told shareholders at the company’s annual meeting Wednesday.

CHICAGO — Beauty companies will be looking to get "down to Earth" in 2011, according to Mintel, an independent provider of market intelligence.

CHICAGO — Sunstar Americas, a maker of Gum and Butler brand products, is offering its Gum Soft-Picks in new 15- and 80-count packages.

Gum Soft-Picks have 76 soft, flexible rubber bristles that slide between teeth to remove food and gently massage gums. According to the company, Gum Soft-Picks are safe to use on dental implants, bridges, crowns and orthodontics.

To date, Gum Soft-Picks have been offered only in a package of 40, retailing for $3.49. Now Sunstar is offering a new 15-count package for $1.50 and an 80-count package for $5.99.

CHICAGO — Boosted by a very weak comparison period, ShopperTrak’s National Retail Sales Estimate reported that total GAFO retail sales for the last Saturday before Christmas (Dec. 18), or "Super Saturday," increased a sharp 15.1%, compared with last year, while the company’s retail traffic index reported a similar 10.1% total U.S. foot traffic uptick for the same period.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — In a major alliance to foster preventive health in the United States, Walgreens has partnered with the Department of Health and Human Services to provide free flu vaccinations to as many as 350,000 low-income and uninsured Americans.

Walgreens will provide more than $10 million worth of vouchers for free flu shots, which HHS will help distribute.

CHICAGO — Healthy eating behavior varies by generation, according to new research by NPD.

The "Healthy Eating Strategies by Generation" report found that younger generations — i.e., adults ages 21 to 54 years — have the least-healthy diets. But while older generations have better diets than their younger counterparts, it seems that 4-out-of-5 adults still need to improve the quality of their diet.

CHICAGO — Health experts have addressed the benefits of drinking wine to boost overall health, and it seems that most consumers are taking notice.

CHICAGO Instant gratification translates well among customers that seek incentives for their participation in loyalty programs, according to new research.

Mintel found nearly half (47%) of consumers surveyed said that instant redemption opportunities motivated them to use a particular loyalty program more than others. Such incentives as cash-back opportunities would be a deciding factor, 36% of respondents said.

CHICAGO — A social media go-to-market strategy is fast becoming a must-have for companies these days, especially those companies operating in the healthcare arena. It’s no longer enough to push patient education out through a branded online page, not with the growing prominence of social media sites. Today, companies need to seed that education across Facebook and Twitter and/or actively engage bloggers and heavy users to successfully get that education out to the masses online.

CHICAGO An investigational drug made by Johnson & Johnson is more effective in reducing the risk of stroke in patients with a trial fibrillation than a widely available generic, the drug maker said Monday.

J&J announced results of the phase-3 “Rocket-AF” trial of rivaroxaban, saying results showed that a once-daily dose of the drug worked better than warfarin, the most commonly used drug for preventing stroke in AF patients. Rivaroxaban also was comparable in terms of safety.

CHICAGO — At a time when consumer takeaway is low and financial resources are limited, retailers and suppliers need to dig beneath the surface to find creative ways to grow sales; it’s about exploring your hidden assets. And it was a key takeaway of a recent Elevation Forum meeting, held here last month.

CHICAGO and DEERFIELD, Ill. In an effort to keep travelers healthy throughout the holiday season, a leading global online travel company and one of the nation's largest drug store chains have joined forces through new cross-promotional marketing programs.