Content about SymphonyIRI Group

January 3, 2012
Fitness trend boosts RTDs, nutritional shakes

“I want to lose weight.” That’s been one of the top four New Year’s resolutions for the past decade, according to a recent survey conducted by FC Organizational Products, makers of “To-Do” lists.

“I want to lose weight.” That’s been one of the top four New Year’s resolutions for the past decade, according to a recent survey conducted by FC Organizational Products, makers of “To-Do” lists. However, more people every year are resolving “to become more physically fit,” which goes a long way to explaining why ready-to-drink nutritional shakes and meal replacement bars are hotter than diet aids right now. 


January 3, 2012
Painless storytelling

Pfizer Consumer Healthcare is giving pain a bad name in marketing its pain-relief brand Advil as the “good” medicine, with Jon Bon Jovi signing on as a company spokesman.

ADISON, N.J. — Pfizer Consumer Healthcare is giving pain a bad name in marketing its pain-relief brand Advil as the “good” medicine, with Jon Bon Jovi signing on as a company spokesman. The message is part of Pfizer’s “Advil Stories” campaign, which has helped drive growth of the brand in a historically stagnant category — for the 12 weeks ended Nov. 27, Advil sales were up 2.9% to $74.3 million, according to SymphonyIRI Group across food, drug and mass (excluding Walmart). The advertisement aired Dec. 9.

December 5, 2011
Natural hair grows

Recent research indicates that there is a growing natural hair trend among African-American women in the United States, with a shift from relaxed to natural becoming so common that it has sparked growth of those hair care products that help hair “transition.”


Recent research indicates that there is a growing natural hair trend among African-American women in the United States, with a shift from relaxed to natural becoming so common that it has sparked growth of those hair care products that help hair “transition.”


The trend is evident in looking at sales of hair relaxer kits at food, drug and mass (excluding Walmart). According to SymphonyIRI Group, sales of hair relaxer kits slipped more than 7% for the 52 weeks ended Oct. 30.


December 5, 2011
Oh baby!

To help under-the-weather junior, Hyland’s has rebranded its pediatric line of products Hyland’s Baby.

LOS ANGELES — To help under-the-weather junior, Hyland’s has rebranded its pediatric line of products Hyland’s Baby. Hyland’s cough-cold liquid offerings are trending at 76.5% growth to $2.6 million for the 12 weeks ended Oct. 30, 
according to SymphonyIRI Group across food, drug and mass (excluding Walmart).


December 5, 2011
Painting a bleak picture – bleak, but not hopeless

“Just 1-in-4 consumers expect their financial position to improve in the coming year.” That’s the way SymphonyIRI Group saw it in its recently released report “The Downturn Shopper: Buckled in for a wild and crazy ride.”

“Just 1-in-4 consumers expect their financial position to improve in the coming year.” That’s the way SymphonyIRI Group saw it in its recently released report “The Downturn Shopper: Buckled in for a wild and crazy ride.” Among the highlights — or lowlights — of how consumers are responding to the pressure:


  • 49% visit the hair salon/spa less often;


  • 40% are trying fewer new products;


November 15, 2011
Perrigo gains approval for new store-brand infant formula offering

Perrigo on Tuesday announced it received Food and Drug Administration clearance to market and distribute infant formula that contains 100% partially hydrolyzed whey protein.

ALLEGAN, Mich. — Perrigo on Tuesday announced it received Food and Drug Administration clearance to market and distribute infant formula that contains 100% partially hydrolyzed whey protein. The store-brand Comfort Care infant formula is designed for babies with fussiness or gas and will be sold as a nutritionally comparable version of Gerber Good Start gentle infant formula at leading retailers in 2012.

Sales of the national brand are estimated to be $55 million for the latest 52-weeks, as measured by SymphonyIRI Group.

November 4, 2011
Aggressive ads up awareness

The personal massager category still is small at only $3.2 million for the 12 weeks ended Sept. 4, according to SymphonyIRI Group data across food, drug and mass (excluding Walmart), but the growth rate is trending at a 20.6% clip.


The personal massager category still is small at only $3.2 million for the 12 weeks ended Sept. 4, according to SymphonyIRI Group data across food, drug and mass (excluding Walmart), but the growth rate is trending at a 20.6% clip.


November 4, 2011
Men watch wallets 
with at-home products

The men’s grooming segment continues to be on the upswing as men continue to buy products that meet their grooming needs and increasingly turn to at-home solutions to help stretch their dollars.


The men’s grooming segment continues to be on the upswing as men continue to buy products that meet their grooming needs and increasingly turn to at-home solutions to help stretch their dollars.


November 4, 2011
New formulas boost sales

Sales of acne-fighting products have been on the rise, which comes as little surprise as manufacturers continue to develop innovative formulas and consumers strive for flawless, blemish-free skin.


Sales of acne-fighting products have been on the rise, which comes as little surprise as manufacturers continue to develop innovative formulas and consumers strive for flawless, blemish-free skin.


According to SymphonyIRI Group, sales of acne treatments increased 2.5% during the 12 weeks ended Oct. 2 at food, drug and mass (excluding Walmart).


October 20, 2011
SymphonyIRI: Budget grinch will restrict most holiday spending

As many as 71% of consumers earning less than $100,000 per year are planning to trim back their spending this holiday season, according to new research, “Holiday Shopping 2011,” released Tuesday by SymphonyIRI Group.

CHICAGO — As many as 71% of consumers earning less than $100,000 per year are planning to trim back their spending this holiday season, according to new research, “Holiday Shopping 2011,” released Tuesday by SymphonyIRI Group.

October 19, 2011
Color sticks to it

Lip color has its groove back. According to data from SymphonyIRI Group, lipstick sales at food, drug and mass (excluding Walmart) rose about 3% to $70.6 million for the 12 weeks ended Sept. 4.


Lip color has its groove back. According to data from SymphonyIRI Group, lipstick sales at food, drug and mass (excluding Walmart) rose about 3% to $70.6 million for the 12 weeks ended Sept. 4.


October 19, 2011
Energy segment boost

It may be time to start carving out more real estate for single-serve energy shots, or more appropriately for the food, drug and mass channel two-packs and four-packs of shots.

It may be time to start carving out more real estate for single-serve energy shots, or more appropriately for the food, drug and mass channel two-packs and four-packs of shots. Living Essentials can be credited with creating the category, and between its 5 Hour Energy and 5 Hour Energy Extra Strength, the company still drives the category with an 82.1% dollar share, according to SymphonyIRI Group data for the 52 weeks ended Sept. 4 across food, drug and mass (excluding Walmart).


October 19, 2011
Gone fishing

There’s a new fish oil on the market, and one that doesn’t have a chance at producing a fish “burp” — krill oil.

MISSION HILLS, Calif. — There’s a new fish oil on the market, and one that doesn’t have a chance at producing a fish “burp” — krill oil. Sales of essential fatty acids like those found in krill oil were up 5.5% for the 12 weeks ended Sept. 4 to $76.7 million, according to SymphonyIRI Group data across food, drug and mass (excluding Walmart).


October 19, 2011
Value, demos make up sales in cosmetics

The cosmetics segment has been on the upswing, and the momentum is likely to continue within the mass market as beauty mavens get increasingly thrifty and do their research when it comes to purchasing makeup.


The cosmetics segment has been on the upswing, and the momentum is likely to continue within the mass market as beauty mavens get increasingly thrifty and do their research when it comes to purchasing makeup.


The cosmetics segments for face (up 4%), lips (up 2.7%) and eyes (up 2%) all experienced a lift for the 52 weeks ended Sept. 4 at food, drug and mass (excluding Walmart), according to data from SymphonyIRI Group.


October 11, 2011
Flavored waters run deep

Sales of plain PET bottled water may be flat, but there’s significant action in flavored and enhanced waters. Glaceau’s Vitaminwater Zero saw triple-digit sales increases in all three channels (excluding Walmart) for the 52 weeks ended Aug. 7, according to the SymphonyIRI Group.

Sales of plain PET bottled water may be flat, but there’s significant action in flavored and enhanced waters. Glaceau’s Vitaminwater Zero saw triple-digit sales increases in all three channels (excluding Walmart) for the 52 weeks ended Aug. 7, according to the SymphonyIRI Group. Sales of the company’s Smartwater jumped 25% during the same period.

Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s also have introduced private-label electrolyte-enhanced still waters.

October 11, 2011
Fragrance bubbles in segment

The bath fragrance/bubble bath segment is experiencing modest growth, fueled by new product launches and consumers’ continued desire to bring the spa experience home.


The bath fragrance/bubble bath segment is experiencing modest growth, fueled by new product launches and consumers’ continued desire to bring the spa experience home.


Experiencing triple-digit growth during the 12-week period ended Aug. 7, according to market research firm SymphonyIRI Group, is Dr. Teal’s. In June, the brand announced the introduction of its first foaming liquid epsom salt. Dr. Teal’s Foaming Bath combines the therapeutic benefits of epsom salt with essential oils to relax achy muscles, soothe the senses and provide relief from stress.

October 5, 2011
Report: Closing price gap contributing to PL share decline

Private-label share is slipping across several key drug store categories, according to SymphonyIRI Group’s latest Times & Trends report, “Private Label: Brand Positioning in the New World Order,” published Wednesday.

CHICAGO — Private-label share is slipping across several key drug store categories, according to SymphonyIRI Group’s latest Times & Trends report, “Private Label: Brand Positioning in the New World Order,” published Wednesday.

September 12, 2011
At-home trend colors segment

It is no surprise that hair coloring continues to see growth at food, drug and mass as beauty mavens increasingly turn to more cost-effective, at-home beauty regimens 
and manufacturers continue to turn up the notch on innovation, developing such products as no-drip foam formulas.


It is no surprise that hair coloring continues to see growth at food, drug and mass as beauty mavens increasingly turn to more cost-effective, at-home beauty regimens 
and manufacturers continue to turn up the notch on innovation, developing such products as no-drip foam formulas.


As anticipated, sales of hair coloring 
at food, drug and mass (excluding Walmart) 
were up 5.2% for the 12 weeks ended Aug. 7 to $254.3 million, according to SymphonyIRI Group.


September 12, 2011
Brushing up on good habits

Innovation — and a bit of fun for the little ones — is the name of the game when it comes to manual and power toothbrushes as manufacturers look to grab consumers’ attention.


Innovation — and a bit of fun for the little ones — is the name of the game when it comes to manual and power toothbrushes as manufacturers look to grab consumers’ attention.

Sales of both manual and power toothbrushes are on the rise, albeit not as robust as other segments within the oral care category. According to SymphonyIRI Group, sales of manual toothbrushes rose 2.7% to $466.9 million at food, drug and mass (excluding Walmart) during the 52 weeks ended Aug. 7. During that same period, sales of power toothbrushes rose 2% to $216 million.

September 12, 2011
Seasonal, novelty sweets flavor sales

Consumers still have a sweet tooth despite a sour economy. U.S. confectionery sales at food, drug and mass stores continue to grow at a pace of 4.2%, outpacing overall store sales, according to data from the National Confectioners Association.


Consumers still have a sweet tooth despite a sour economy. U.S. confectionery sales at food, drug and mass stores continue to grow at a pace of 4.2%, outpacing overall store sales, according to data from the National Confectioners Association.


Chocolate is the key growth driver, with sales up nearly 8% in the drug channel, according to SymphonyIRI Group data for the 52-week period ended July 11. Sweet and savory combinations are one of the segment’s top trends, according to NCA.

September 12, 2011
Taking it to-go

Portable oral care continues to experience strong growth and, if prior sales periods are any indication of what’s ahead, the segment will likely continue to flourish.

Portable oral care continues to experience strong growth and, if prior sales periods are any indication of what’s ahead, the segment will likely continue to flourish.

Sales of portable oral care for the 52 weeks ended Aug. 7 at food, drug and mass (excluding Walmart) experienced double-digit growth, climbing 43% to $13.2 million, according to SymphonyIRI Group.

September 12, 2011
Toothpastes help polish sales

The expansive oral care market continues to swell as manufacturers further develop toothpastes that promise to provide specific results.

The expansive oral care market continues to swell as manufacturers further develop toothpastes that promise to provide specific results.

According to SymphonyIRI Group, toothpaste sales for the 52 weeks ended Aug. 7 at food, drug and mass (excluding Walmart) rose nearly 5% to $1.35 billion. Those toothpastes that experienced the greatest growth were those that touted such benefits as whitening and easing tooth sensitivity.

September 9, 2011
SymphonyIRI: Brand value, not price, key to driving loyalty

SymphonyIRI Group on Thursday released a brand report highlighting what elements help drive brand selection and brand loyalty.

CHICAGO — SymphonyIRI Group on Thursday released a brand report highlighting what elements help drive brand selection and brand loyalty.

September 1, 2011
Rob Holston named EVP of Symphony Analytics North America

SymphonyIRI Group has appointed Rob Holston as its EVP of the company's Symphony Analytics North America division.

CHICAGO — SymphonyIRI Group has appointed Rob Holston as its EVP of the company's Symphony Analytics North America division.

Holston, who joined SymphonyIRI in 2009, will continue reporting to SymphonyIRI president and CEO John Freeland. Prior to joining SymphonyIRI, Holston was practice leader for shopper marketing at Deloitte Consulting.

August 24, 2011
Awareness shines in sun care

As expected, sales of sun care products experienced a boost in the most recent 12 weeks, according to SymphonyIRI Group, and it is likely that a greater consumer awareness of the dangers of the sun’s harmful rays and product innovation helped fuel growth.


As expected, sales of sun care products experienced a boost in the most recent 12 weeks, according to SymphonyIRI Group, and it is likely that a greater consumer awareness of the dangers of the sun’s harmful rays and product innovation helped fuel growth.