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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.

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Shopko announced Wednesday that Mike Bettiga has been named interim CEO to replace Paul Jones, who resigned to pursue another opportunity.

Bettiga is a 35-veteran of the company and most recently served as EVP and COO, a role he has held since April 2009. He began his career with Shopko as a pharmacist in 1977, and has held a number of positions during his tenure, including executive leadership of store, pharmacy and optical operations, retail health merchandising and responsibility for the Shopko Express stores.

RHINELANDER, Wis. — A meeting with federal officials last week indicated that pharmacists' importance in dispensing animal drugs is growing.

Last Tuesday, pharmacists and veterinarians met with officials from the Federal Trade Commission in Washington, D.C., for a four-session meeting that affirmed pharmacists' increasing role, according to online pet supply company Drs. Foster and Smith.

MADISON, Wis. — Consumer products company Spectrum Brands Holdings announced on Wednesday that its Remington personal care division has entered the U.S. women’s hair accessories market with a full line of basic-to-trend hair accessories, accessory storage items and brushes for both adults and teenage girls.

The new line includes such items as hair elastics that also can be worn as jewelry (pictured) and hair clips.

PLYMOUTH, Wis. — Sartori has introduced a limited-edition cheese.

New peppermint BellaVitano cheese is a unique artisan cheese that combines BellaVitano Gold with crushed peppermint candy, giving the cheese both a sweetness and bright pink hue to the creamy, crumbly texture. As part of the launch, a portion of all the proceeds of this product will be donated to the National Breast Cancer Foundation in support of breast cancer awareness, Sartori said.

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Shopko announced that a former JCPenney executive has joined the company.

Shopko said Craig Gourley will serve as its new SVP and general merchandise manager of home and hardlines. Gourley will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of merchandising for the home division, including developing strategies, negotiation of vendor partnerships and managing the buying team. He will report to EVP and chief merchandising officer Jill Soltau.

SUN PRAIRIE, Wis. — Eight pharmacy students have won scholarships worth $12,000, according to a group that calls itself the country's largest group purchasing organization for independent pharmacies.

The Independent Pharmacy Cooperative announced that the students were awarded scholarships of $1,500 each. The recipients of the scholarships, handed out at the IPC's 2012 Member Conference in Savannah, Ga., were awarded based on an essay competition. Matching funding came from McKesson.

RACINE, Wis. — ITW's global Space Bag brand now is part of SC Johnson.

SC Johnson said it agreed to acquire the space-saving storage brand and expects the deal to be finalized in next few months subject to U.S. regulatory clearances and currently is working on developing transition plans for the business. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

WAUKESHA, Wis. — A significant growth opportunity for independent pharmacy may be in its sales of over-the-counter products, according to a recent white paper published by the Hamacher Resource Group. Patient access to pharmacists and their product recommendations contribute to improved OTC performance within independent pharmacy, the report noted.

 MODESTO, Calif. — Save Mart Supermarkets announced the hiring of Brett Wing as VP of FoodMaxx operations. Wing comes from Cub Foods/Supervalu in Hudson, Wis., and brings 35 years of grocery store and senior management experience, the grocer stated.

MADISON, Wis., and RALEIGH, N.C. — Grooming products company Remington and software development firm Kadro Solutions have announced the release of the i-Light Pro mobile application for iPhone, Android and iPad, in conjunction with the U.S. release of Remington i-Light Pro Intense Pulsed Light hair removal system.

WAUKESHA, Wis. — Hamacher Resource Group announced that Tom Boyer, national account manager and co-owner at HRG, will be speaking to students in the pharmacy practice program at Campbell University this month.