Content about General Merchandise

FAIRFAX, Va. — ThinkGeek's GeekLabs on Wednesday announced the launch of four votive candles scented to evoke special memories, from a pizza arcade to a high school locker room.

"You always see candles that take you on 'exotic journeys'," staid Ty Liotta, chief of GeekLabs. "We wanted to create something more accessible. Something that every geek will relate to."

MIAMI — Green Innovations on Monday expanded its recently formed strategic advisory board, the company announced.

Joining the advisory board is Mark DeFilippo, a 20-year category management veteran from Walgreens. DeFilippo managed several categories across the front end, including candy and batteries, and OTC products such as cough-cold, pain and sleep remedies.  

CHICAGO — Most Valentine's Day celebrants plan to shop a week or less before the holiday, and many wait until Feb. 13 or 14 to make their final purchases, according to research by the NPD Group, a leading global information company.

RICHMOND, Va. — MeadWestvaco Corporation on Thursday launched its inaugural consumer satisfaction study, “Packaging Matters.” The study explores the role of packaging in product satisfaction as consumers purchase, transport, use and dispose of products across 10 different categories. 

CINCINNATI — Local Kroger stores will discontinue doubling coupons and will instead lower prices on about 3,500 items, according to a report published in the Business Courier last week. The new everyday lower prices and corresponding shelf tags were rolled out on Monday. 

Kroger will cease doubling coupons up to 50 cents by March and the change is only taking place across the Cincinnati/Dayton division. 

CHICAGO — With the path to purchase evolving, merchandising has increased across just more than half of CPG categories and declined in 47% of categories, SymphonyIRI Group reported Tuesday. 

The drug channel has seen the most erosion in merchandising support, with declines in 60% of the categories within the channel in 2012.

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS/pharmacy is touting its stores as a "one-stop shop" for Valentine's Day shopping.

The retail pharmacy chain said Tuesday that stores had stocked up on items like cards and candy, including chocolates from companies like Hershey's, Lindt, Dove, Ferrero Rocher, Ghirardelli, Godiva and others.

LOS ANGELES — The All American Pet Co. said its new line of nutrition bars for dogs is on its way to Walmart.

The company said Thursday that its three SKUs of NutraBars were on their way to "the world's largest retailer" for its first purchase order, though it didn't mention Walmart by name.

"We can get the retailer, but we can't write the retailer's purchase order," AAPT CEO Barry Schwartz said. "We created the bar and have the capabilities to meet the demand."

Walmart recently announced that it would source $50 billion of the products sold in its stores in the United States over the next 10 years, according to a report in USA Today.

MINNEAPOLIS — Pampers, part of Procter & Gamble, is expanding its line of Swaddlers diapers, the company announced this week. Previously available only up to size 3, the company will now offer sizes 4 and 5 at Target stores nationwide. From Jan. 27 through Feb. 2, Target guests will receive a free $20 Target gift card with an in-store purchase of two Pampers Swaddlers, Cruisers or Baby Dry economy packs.

CHICAGO — Growth in 2013 will be slow-going in the first half of 2013 but will pick up at the end, suggested James Russo, SVP global consumer insights for Nielsen, during a webinar Wednesday afternoon. "The consumer remains in maintenance mode," he said. "Consumers are being pragmatic in their spending. Uncertainty dominates."

HOUSTON — A new website features gourmet tea and coffee products.

GourmetCafeSpot.com, owned by Texas-based Internet company Pagee Distributing, features such coffee and tea products as tea pots, water kettles, coffee grinders and roasters, coffee machines, espresso machines, tea and coffee blends.