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November 15, 2012

Procter & Gamble battery brand Duracell assisted with post-Hurricane Sandy relief efforts by bringing a little power to, coincidentally, Battery Park in New York. 


SUPPLIER NEWS — Procter & Gamble battery brand Duracell assisted with post-Hurricane Sandy relief efforts by bringing a little power to, coincidentally, Battery Park in New York. 


November 15, 2012

Acura Pharmaceuticals in December will launch an immediate-release pseudoephedrine tablet under the brand name Nexafed that will help impede conversion of the tablets into methamphetamine.

SUPPLIER NEWS — Acura Pharmaceuticals in December will launch an immediate-release pseudoephedrine tablet under the brand name Nexafed that will help impede conversion of the tablets into methamphetamine. Couched as the “next generation pseudoephedrine product,” Nexafed is a 30 mg PSE hydrochloride tablet that utilizes Acura’s trademarked Impede technology. 


November 15, 2012

Marrying its successful Salon Effects real nail polish strips with the popular gel polish, Coty’s Sally Hansen brand has once again brought innovative technology to the mass market with its new Salon 
InstaGel Strips.


NEW YORK — Marrying its successful Salon Effects real nail polish strips with the popular gel polish, Coty’s Sally Hansen brand has once again brought innovative technology to the mass market with its new Salon 
InstaGel Strips.


November 15, 2012

Change was in the air again this year at Sam’s Club as the warehouse club division welcomed yet another CEO and head merchant combination.

Change was in the air again this year at Sam’s Club as the warehouse club division welcomed yet another CEO and head merchant combination. In early 2012, Rosalind Brewer became president and CEO, and Charles Redfield was named EVP merchandising. The change could have had suppliers saying, “here we go again,” due to Sam’s history of senior leadership turnover. Instead, the transition was apparently painless for the 67% of survey respondents who sell products to Sam’s.

November 15, 2012

While daily coffee consumption is dominated by ground coffee — 35% of consumers drink roasted ground coffee every day — premium-priced single-cup coffee is gaining popularity and has led the growth in the coffee category between 2010 and 2012, according to Mintel.


While daily coffee consumption is dominated by ground coffee — 35% of consumers drink roasted ground coffee every day — premium-priced single-cup coffee is gaining popularity and has led the growth in the coffee category between 2010 and 2012, according to Mintel.


The single-cup market ballooned from $103 million in 2007 to an estimated nearly $1.8 billion in 2012, and Mintel expects to see upside for the segment until 2017 due to new innovations and more 
private-label pods.

 

 

November 15, 2012

Men’s shaving/grooming and deodorants may continue to dominate the male grooming segment, but there’s no doubt that guys are increasingly taking greater notice of skin care products — a trend that is expected to gain greater momentum going forward.


Men’s shaving/grooming and deodorants may continue to dominate the male grooming segment, but there’s no doubt that guys are increasingly taking greater notice of skin care products — a trend that is expected to gain greater momentum going forward.


November 15, 2012

Continued growth and increased competition from Amazon.com and the dollar stores. Improved in-stock levels offset by questionable in-store execution. Reduced buyer turnover and senior executives receptive to trading partner views.


Continued growth and increased competition from Amazon.com and the dollar stores. Improved in-stock levels offset by questionable in-store execution. Reduced buyer turnover and senior executives receptive to trading partner views.


November 15, 2012

“When you create something for [our various retail concepts], you are creating a new experience and environment that makes us different than our competitive set. Exclusivity of the experience is a large differentiator.” That was a key message that keynote retail speaker Shannon Curtin, Walgreens divisional VP and GMM for beauty, personal care and seasonal, had for attendees of the Oct. 17 Mack Elevation Forum.

WHEELING, Ill. — “When you create something for [our various retail concepts], you are creating a new experience and environment that makes us different than our competitive set. Exclusivity of the experience is a large differentiator.” That was a key message that keynote retail speaker Shannon Curtin, Walgreens divisional VP and GMM for beauty, personal care and seasonal, had for attendees of the Oct. 17 Mack Elevation Forum, held here at the Westin Chicago North Shore Hotel.

November 15, 2012

Walmart’s pharmacy footprint is poised for its most meaningful expansion in decades, thanks to shifting capital expenditure priorities that have begun to favor more aggressive expansion of smaller stores.


Walmart’s pharmacy footprint is poised for its most meaningful expansion in decades, thanks to shifting capital expenditure priorities that have begun to favor more aggressive expansion of smaller stores.


November 5, 2012

Walgreens is the newest to jump into the loyalty game. Still, its Balance Rewards managed to sign up 16 million members within just two weeks of its mid-September launch.

Walgreens is the newest to jump into the loyalty game. Still, its Balance Rewards managed to sign up 16 million members within just two weeks of its mid-September launch.

In many ways, Balance Rewards represents some of the best thinking in customer loyalty. There’s a better-health incentive linked to the Walk with Walgreens program. There are complementary health offerings tied to participation. It is mobile-enabled and ties into its multichannel strategy. Points don’t expire. And the data from the program will help inform every facet of Walgreens’ business.

November 5, 2012

Jelly Belly has added a Tabasco-flavored bean to its lineup of gourmet jelly beans. Red peppers, Avery Island salt and distilled vinegar, and a subtle sweetness have been combined to create a jelly bean designed to “ignite the taste buds with a peppery punch that hot sauce fans crave.” 


PLEASANT PRAIRIE, Wis. — Jelly Belly has added a Tabasco-flavored bean to its lineup of gourmet jelly beans. Red peppers, Avery Island salt and distilled vinegar, and a subtle sweetness have been combined to create a jelly bean designed to “ignite the taste buds with a peppery punch that hot sauce fans crave.” 


Tabasco Jelly Belly beans are available to ship in 10-lb. bulk cases now. The company plans to release the new flavor in 3.1-oz. Grab & Go bags, packed 12-count per caddy, 
in December.

November 5, 2012

Sales of color cosmetics lost some of its shimmer during the recession as beauty mavens reduced purchase cycles, traded down to value brands and cut back on experimenting with new products. However, consumers are returning to the category, which is likely to spell strong sales for spring and beyond.


Sales of color cosmetics lost some of its shimmer during the recession as beauty mavens reduced purchase cycles, traded down to value brands and cut back on experimenting with new products. However, consumers are returning to the category, which is likely to spell strong sales for spring and beyond.


November 5, 2012

The opportunity for weight loss certainly hasn’t gone away — sales of diet-aid liquids were up 12.8% to $1.2 billion for the 52 weeks ended Sept. 9 across food, drug and mass (excluding Walmart), according to SymphonyIRI.

The opportunity for weight loss certainly hasn’t gone away — sales of diet-aid liquids were up 12.8% to $1.2 billion for the 52 weeks ended Sept. 9 across food, drug and mass (excluding Walmart), according to SymphonyIRI. And due to the temporary absence of GlaxoSmithKline’s Alli — unavailable because of a raw-ingredient sourcing issue — sales of diet-aid tablets are down with a 7% decline to a dollar base of 
$205.4 million. 
Alli had been removed from the market in March due to the third-party supply issue and returned in late June. 


November 5, 2012

CVS/pharmacy certainly is the leader in terms of how to translate reams of shopper data into programs that drive profitable results. It’s been at it for almost 15 years, and its 70 million active cardholders makes for the largest loyalty program in retail pharmacy.

CVS/pharmacy certainly is the leader in terms of how to translate reams of shopper data into programs that drive profitable results. It’s been at it for almost 15 years, and its 70 million active cardholders makes for the largest loyalty program in retail pharmacy.

In a major nod to the program’s success, 67% of CVS transactions and 82% of all front-store sales are tied to ExtraCare, and card members buy 85% more items per trip versus nonmembers.

November 5, 2012

Procter & Gamble’s Pantene is looking to give women a newfound love for their hair with its new Expert Collection, which, according to the brand, marks an important milestone for Pantene and presents 10 years of research and expert results.


WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. — Procter & Gamble’s Pantene is looking to give women a newfound love for their hair with its new Expert Collection, which, according to the brand, marks an important milestone for Pantene and presents 10 years of research and expert results.


November 5, 2012



Target and CVS are some of the first retailers to group adult multivitamins and supplements available in gummy format into one 4-ft. set. The idea is to make shopping vitamins and supplements easier.



Target and CVS are some of the first retailers to group adult multivitamins and supplements available in gummy format into one 4-ft. set. The idea is to make shopping vitamins and supplements easier. For the 12 weeks ended Sept. 9, SymphonyIRI Group tabulated $202 million in sales of multivitamins, up slightly by 0.8%, across food, drug and mass (excluding Walmart).

November 5, 2012

Seasonal candy generates 40% to 45% of total category sales, according to data from the National Confectioners Association.

Seasonal candy generates 40% to 45% of total category sales, according to data from the National Confectioners Association. Christmas candy sales are expected to track last year’s sales, but with Easter falling early this year, NCA recommends that retailers set Easter candy as Valentine’s Day products are taken down. 


Products with play value remain popular with consumers, but manufacturers say those with a “try me” feature have the strongest sell-through.

 

 

November 5, 2012

Retailers are facing challenges in a rapidly changing photo-processing category. One huge shift has been in category leadership. One dominant brand is no longer directing — and pouring advertising dollars into — the category, so retailers need to take a more active role in marketing 
photo processing. 


Retailers are facing challenges in a rapidly changing photo-processing category. One huge shift has been in category leadership. One dominant brand is no longer directing — and pouring advertising dollars into — the category, so retailers need to take a more active role in marketing 
photo processing. 


Another challenge is what to market. Consumers are still ordering prints, but they are increasingly viewing, manipulating and saving their photos online.


November 5, 2012

Telebrands’ new Lint Lizard should be a hot holiday item. The 40-inch vacuum attachment is designed to specifically clean a clothes dryer’s lint catcher and outer vent. It attaches to almost any vacuum host and features a long, 
flexible neck. 


FAIRFIELD, N.J. — Telebrands’ new Lint Lizard should be a hot holiday item. The 40-inch vacuum attachment is designed to specifically clean a clothes dryer’s lint catcher and outer vent. It attaches to almost any vacuum host and features a long, 
flexible neck. 


Lint buildup can be a big problem for clothes dryers. Too much lint buildup can clog a dryer and cause its motor to burn out as the dryer is forced to work harder. Better cleaning allows a dryer to run more efficiently. The lizard retails for $10.99.

November 5, 2012

The battle to capture and retain customers in a world where price, convenience and even customer service have become commoditized is in full swing.

The battle to capture and retain customers in a world where price, convenience and even customer service have become commoditized is in full swing. “The risk is you end up in a loyalty war [where] companies begin to use the loyalty scheme or the loyalty component of [the card] as another form of price escalation,” warned Bryon Pearson, president of LoyaltyOne and contributing editor to Colloquy, a magazine that has covered the loyalty marketing industry since 1990. “The intelligence that sits behind these programs is where the real value is,” he said.

November 5, 2012

Whatever dazzling visions science fiction may offer of the widgets of the future, the long, uphill road of technology inevitably leads to the smaller and the simpler.

Whatever dazzling visions science fiction may offer of the widgets of the future, the long, uphill road of technology inevitably leads to the smaller and the simpler. The horse and carriage gave way to the automobile; vacuum tubes gave way to transistors; and computers that took up entire rooms and required intricate climate-control technologies now fit in one’s pocket. 


Technologies used in health care have undergone a similar transition, and much of that has happened in the last few years thanks to the spread of mobile technology. 


November 5, 2012

While there is still plenty of room for improvement, a growing number of patients have either already received or plan to receive a flu shot this year compared to one year ago. According to an online survey of more than 900 AccentHealth viewers conducted in September, 57% of patients have received or plan to receive a flu shot this year, versus 53% in 2011. 


While there is still plenty of room for improvement, a growing number of patients have either already received or plan to receive a flu shot this year compared to one year ago. According to an online survey of more than 900 AccentHealth viewers conducted in September, 57% of patients have received or plan to receive a flu shot this year, versus 53% in 2011. 


To see more Patient Views, click here.

November 5, 2012

New introductions should put some heat back into the soup category. The category’s performance — according to a recent report from Mintel — has been lukewarm, with a compounded annual growth rate of only 1% from 2006 to 2011.

New introductions should put some heat back into the soup category. The category’s performance — according to a recent report from Mintel — has been lukewarm, with a compounded annual growth rate of only 1% from 2006 to 2011.

Mintel expects performance to improve as the economy bounces back and as manufacturers bring more innovation to the sleepy category. The market research firm expects the soup market to reach $7.2 billion in sales in current dollars by 2016, a compounded growth of more than 2%.

November 5, 2012

The Food and Drug Administration has approved a generic drug for treating blood pressure and chest pain.

FDA approves cardiovascular drug

MORRISTOWN, N.J. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a generic drug for treating blood pressure and chest pain. Actavis announced the approval of diltiazem hydrochloride extended-release capsules.
The drug is a generic version of Valeant’s Tiazac. The branded drug and its generic equivalents had sales of about $76.3 million in 2011, according to IMS Health.



November 5, 2012

Playmaker Nutrition is looking to knock multivitamin sales out of the ballpark with a new gummy line targeting teens and tweens.

PASADENA, Calif. — Playmaker Nutrition is looking to knock multivitamin sales out of the ballpark with a new gummy line targeting teens and tweens. Of course, with sports-stars-cum-company-founders backing their play, the gummies may appeal to more than just kids. The all-start lineup includes Summer Olympics gold medalist and NBA star Kevin Love, Winter Olympics gold medalist Lindsey Vonn, Oakland Raiders running back Darren McFadden and Colorado Rockies outfielder Carlos Gonzalez.