Content about SymphonyIRI Group

CHICAGO — SymphonyIRI Group on Wednesday announced that Andrew Appel has joined the company as president and CEO.

Appel, who also joins SymphonyIRI’s board of directors, succeeds John Freeland, who moves into a new interim role as executive vice chairman and will remain on the board of directors until his retirement later in 2012.

CHICAGO — Pampers Cruisers/Swaddlers with Dry Max, Gillette Fusion ProGlide and P.F. Chang's Home Menu were the top three new product introductions in 2011, according to the SymphonyIRI Group "2011 New Product Pacesetter" report released Tuesday afternoon. Respectively, Pampers generated $296 million in first-year sales, Gillette Fusion ProGlide generated $169.4 million and P.F. Chang's Home Menu generated $101.6 million. The three were the only new brands to break the $100 million barrier in year-one sales through 2011.

Sales of facial anti-aging skin care products at mass have been on the down slope. According to SymphonyIRI Group, sales of facial anti-aging products slipped 4.2% during the 12 weeks ended Jan. 22 at food, drug and mass (excluding Walmart).


Innovation is helping to bolster sales of power toothbrushes. According to SymphonyIRI Group, a Chicago-based market research firm, sales of power toothbrushes rose more than 3% during the 52 weeks ended Jan. 22 at food, drug and mass (excluding Walmart).


Back pain is one of the leading reasons adults under the age of 45 years call in sick to work, second only to the common cold, according to the American Pain Foundation. All told, back pain results in about 83 million lost work days each year and is cited as one of the more common work-related injuries, especially among those working in physically demanding jobs, and the leading cause of job-related disability and work limitations in those under 45 years of age.




The tooth-whitening segment may not be as red hot as it was in years past, but it’s still on the upswing as consumers continue to look for ways to achieve a whiter, brighter smile. 
According to SymphonyIRI Group, a Chicago-based 
market research firm, sales of tooth-whitening products inched up about 0.6% during the 52 weeks ended Jan. 22 at food, drug and mass (excluding Walmart).


Men’s body grooming has grown in popularity, especially among the younger generation, resulting in growth in the men’s grooming/shaving scissors segment at mass. According to data from SymphonyIRI Group, the category grew nearly 26% 
to more than $103 million for the 12 weeks ended Jan. 22 at food, drug and mass (excluding Walmart). The segment will likely continue to grow as manufacturers develop new innovative products, such as Clio Designs’ Hypergroom Body Groomer, a triple blade, battery-operated body groomer.

CHICAGO — SymphonyIRI Group on Tuesday unveiled its latest segmentation solution called DigitaLink, which leverages SymphonyIRI’s Consumer Network Panel, MarketPulse research and analytic capabilities to segment shoppers into unique profiles, enabling suppliers and retailers to better manage marketing efforts with online consumers.

Having flawless-looking skin is not only a result of high-performing facial makeup that delivers exceptional coverage; it also really starts with clear, healthy skin. That’s why it comes as no surprise that sales of facial cleansers and acne treatments are still on the rise.

According to data from SymphonyIRI Group, sales of facial cleansers rose about 4%, as sales of acne treatments rose 3.4% at food, drug and mass (excluding Walmart) during the 12 weeks ended Nov. 27.

New products and innovation helped drive sales of depilatories. According to SymphonyIRI Group, sales of depilatories rose more than 15% to $23.4 million for the most recent 12 weeks ended Nov. 27 at food, drug and mass (excluding Walmart).


Olay recently entered the segment with its new Olay Smooth Finish Facial Hair Removal Duo, a two-step system to remove unwanted facial hair. Earlier in 2011, Veet launched its Ready-to-Use Hair Removal Wax Strips For Face & Body and also reformulated its Veet Fast Acting creams for normal and sensitive skin.

Slim Fast and The Biggest Loser diets were identified as among the leading diets by U.S. News & World Report earlier this month. The ranking may reinvigorate sales across the Slim Fast franchise, which dropped to No. 11 across weight control liquids sold through food, drug and mass (excluding Walmart) for the 12 weeks ended Nov. 27 with $4.8 million in sales, according to SymphonyIRI Group. And while not necessarily associated with the Biggest Loser diet, Biggest Loser trainer Bob Harper’s signature diet aid tablet is on the rise with $1 million in sales, ranking No.

The drug store channel has had strong sales in the beer category despite lackluster industry performance. Dollar sales for the beer category in drug were up nearly 6% for the year to date ended Oct. 30, 2011, according to SymphonyIRI Group data. Food and convenience store beer sales were up only 0.6% and 2%, respectively.