Content about OTC

While the recession has caused some pet lovers to cut back spending on toys and treats, when it comes to their pets' health, consumers aren't skimping. A recent Packaged Facts consumer survey shows that 43% of dog owners and 36% of cat owners purchase some type of specialty nutritional formula pet food or supplemental nutritional products. In 2012, sales totaled about $1.3 billion, according to Packaged Facts.

There is perhaps no greater value in the OTC space than having a friendly face guide you to the health information you need — when you are physically in the store. That value will resonate even more with consumers once they realize that the guide is a dedicated position who is there to help them access health information at the shelf with the Drug Facts Label or through a Web-enabled tablet. And when that interaction graduates from providing direction to requiring an actual consultation, the OTC health guide can serve as a bridge to the pharmacist.

One of the ways retailers help consumers realize their full healthcare value is through the kind of outcome management Safeway pharmacists adopted earlier this year to help people quit smoking. Safeway pharmacists have received specialized training — developed by the University of California San Francisco School of Pharmacy — that covers optimal smoking-cessation counseling techniques.

With the steady accumulation of purchasing power attributed to the Hispanic-American community, marketers more and more are targeting Latinos. Here's why: the Hispanic-American population numbers more than 54 million today, with a total buying power of $1 trillion — expected to reach $1.5 trillion in the next two years — and 1.8 million households generating incomes greater than $100,000. DSN called in Reny Diaz, director of client engagement for Nielsen, for additional perspective about the Hispanic-American opportunity.

Walmart last fall partnered with HumanaVitality on the Vitality Healthy Food program, where members earn Vitality Points for getting active, losing weight and eating healthier. Those Vitality Points can be redeemed on more than 600,000 rewards, including movie tickets and merchandise.

As part of that, HumanaVitality members have been given a card that collects 5% in savings for select products featuring Walmart's "Great for You" icon. The savings can be applied to a future Walmart visit.

ALAMEDA, Calif. — Abbott Diabetes Care earlier this week initiated a voluntary recall of its FreeStyle lnsulinx Blood Glucose Meters in the United States.

"Our first priority is to safeguard the health and safety of patients," stated Heather Mason, SVP Diabetes Care, Abbott. "We are committed to ensuring that our customers are able to continue to test their blood glucose with confidence, and we initiated this voluntary recall to ensure our products continue to meet the highest standards of quality and safety."

AUSTIN, Texas — A veterinary group in Texas is urging pet owners to protect their cats and dogs from heartworms.

The Texas Veterinary Medical Association is marking Heartworm Awareness Month in April, warning about the ease by which mosquitoes can transmit the illness to pets.

CAMPTON, Ky. — Chuck Woolery, TV personality and game show host, has recently acquired a minority stake in Nature’s Health Connection, Inc., the makers of Australian Dream Arthritis Pain Relief Cream.

Mr. Woolery, who has recently appeared as a spokesperson in a radio commercial campaign for the pain relief cream, began using Australian Dream to treat his own minor arthritis pain. Mr. Woolery was so satisfied by the results he experienced with product, he decided to invest in the company.

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.

SEATTLE — Online retailer Amazon has announced the launch of its new 50+ Active and Healthy Living Store, which features hundreds of thousands of nutrition, wellness, exercise and fitness, medical, personal care, beauty, entertainment items and more — all in a single destination for customers in the 50-plus years age range.

HIGHLANDS RANCH, Colo. — Similasan North America today annouced the addition of two new team members to join the company at the director level.