Content about Food

WASHINGTON — The Council for Responsible Nutrition on Wednesday honored the 100th anniversary of the "vitamin," a term that was coined by Casimir Funk, a Polish-American biochemist, in 1912. In the century since then, scientists have uncovered the specific functions of vitamins and established the many benefits of adequate intakes of the nutrients.

PLEASANTON, Calif. — Safeway is looking to its recently launched Just for U loyalty program, which this month became available across all U.S. divisions, to help drive a positive sales story through the rest of the fiscal year. The key differentiator for that program is Safeway's ability to personalize the loyalty card experience to a factor of one.

"Registration is on track," Steve Burd, Safeway chairman and CEO, told analysts during a conference call late Thursday morning. Safeway is capturing approximately 70% of its customers into the loyalty program.

ST. CHARLES, Mo. — With pharmacies looking to expand their business in pet prescriptions, pet supplements may no longer be such a dog of a category. At the very least, a significant position in pet supplements, along with shelf talkers, can raise awareness that pharmacies aren’t just for the two-legged anymore.


True-Dose features patented supplement solutions that are easier to administer to the family pet with a flavored, liquid formulation that can be added to either dry or wet food through a measured delivery device to provide precise dosing.

The most recent numbers show that sales of depilatories continue to be on the rise, which actually comes as little surprise given not only the time of year, but also the innovative products hitting the market.


Sales of depilatories rose about 8% to more than $31 million during the 12 weeks ended June 10 at food, drug and mass (excluding Walmart), according to SymphonyIRI Group.


NEW YORK — It seems that traditional grocery stores and established food brands may lose their position in the market due to a confluence of changing demographics, economic factors and customer preferences, according to new research from global investment bank Jefferies and global business advisory firm AlixPartners.

TEWKSBURY, Mass. — Holistic Select has added two new grain-free recipes to its lineup.

WEST CHICAGO, Ill. — Jel Sert has acquired three functional beverage brand names from Solis Brands.

As states grapple with tight budgets, rising Medicaid costs and the anticipated expansion of Medicaid following the Supreme Court's decision to uphold the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, policymakers should consider how community pharmacists can help reduce expenses. In addition, new evidence offers a fresh reminder of the perils of managed care in Medicaid and the need for proper oversight of managed care entities.

ALEXANDRIA, Va.  — The National Association of Chain Drug Stores announced on Tuesday the donation of 9,500 lbs. of consumer goods to be dispersed to various charitable organizations throughout the Denver area, following the completion of the recent NACDS Marketplace Conference.

NACDS Marketplace exhibitors donated leftover products ranging from cosmetics, health and hygiene products, food and beverages and household supplies, to other consumer products available in retail pharmacies.

ST. LOUIS — Fancy Feast has introduced new breakfast-inspired meals for cats.

New Fancy Feast Mornings gourmet cat food includes six varieties, such as:

• Souffle with white meat chicken, garden veggies and egg;

• Souffle with turkey, garden veggies and egg;

• Souffle with wild salmon, garden veggies and egg;

• Medley with white meat chicken, garden veggies and egg in sauce;

A mile high here at NACDS Marketplace 2012, spirits are riding about as high. All things considered, this is a pretty good time to be in the drug store business.

Pharmacy dollars and scripts are ahead of the overall trend, and on the front-end, dollars and trips are up considerably as consumers are trading trips to the big boxes for more quick trips to the drug store.

TAMPA, Fla. — Natural skin care brand Aubrey, which is sold at natural food stores, has introduced new travel-sized moisturizing lotions for those on the go.

As with its entire range of personal care products, Aubrey packs its lotions with herbals and plant extracts in their most natural form, and no synthetic additives or petrochemicals of any kind, the company said. The travel size collection includes Evening Primrose, Collagen and Almond, Sea Buckthorn, unscented, Rosa Mosqueta and Honeysuckle-CoQ10.

The lotions are priced at $6.49 each.