Check out this: Tecnu First Aid Gel

Does Your Diabetes Care Section Measure Up?
By Jennifer Johnston

Is your business adequately catering to their needs? If not, it should be. After all, the shopper with diabetes is worth eight times as much as the typical shopper for over-the-counter products, spending $2,200 more a year on retail pharmacy purchases.

Why do these shoppers spend so much more? The reason is because diabetes is no an acute or passive condition. This chronic condition requires patient commitment to the self-management of the disease, including daily self-testing of blood glucose, insulin injections, sugar regulation, and modifications in diet and lifestyle. Therefore, many prescriptions and OTC products needed for ongoing treatment.

Data from research firm Symphony-IRI  Group Inc. shows that home health care kits, of which diabetes-related products are a main

However, there are hundreds of other products that also meet the needs of the diabetes consumer, including crossover items from categories such as skin care, pain relief, cold and allergy, foot care, and even digestive health. Are your customers aware of these products and their benefits? Is your staff actively engaging diabetes shoppers?

Some individuals are reluctant to bring up their questions of concerns with their pharmacist of other staff members. All it takes to strike up a conversation about health options and create add-on sales opportunities is an inquisitive pharmacist asking question, “Do you need a refresher on checking your blood sugar levels?”

If a one-on-one approach seems to time consuming, invite patients to in-store events that feature expert advice, health screenings, product demonstration, coupons and health snacks. These events could be ongoing throughout the year and not limited to November during National Diabetes Awareness Month. Prediabetes should also be addressed in your retail setting. Encouraging and promoting healthy eating, exercise and overall health management every day will help the at-risk population while showcasing your business as an epicenter for health and awareness.

With more young people developing diabetes, technology is playing a greater role in the category than ever before. Smartphones are equipped with diabetes monitoring functions, meters are smaller, and testing requires less blood or no blood at all – some test kits even measure glucose through tear ducts. Personalization is becoming important as well. Glucose monitor cases can be customized with colorful skins, just like cell phones. Diabetes patients may now inject insulin through the use of slick-looking, customizable pens.

Does your diabetes care section measure up, or is it still geared to an aging population that does not embrace the condition? Today’s diabetes shopper is more self-sufficient than ever. Is your business still housing some products behind your pharmacy counter? From a merchandising standpoint, diabetes meters and strips belong in the front end. Limiting patient access can limit sales opportunities.

There are many ways to improve the experience of diabetes care shoppers in your store, and it’s important to take steps in that direction before a third of the population – and a third of your shoppers – is living with diabetes.

Frozen peas inspired doctor, patient to create hot-cold pack
By Abha Bhattarai, January 8
The Washington Post

“She handed me a pack of peas, and I was like, ‘Seriously? Peas?,’ ” said Dubbé, a managing partner at Walker Ventures in Glenwood. “Personally I think peas are made for the dinner plate, not to be sitting on my face.”

Dubbé did wind up using the peas, though. With the vegetables perched on her face, Dubbé and her doctor, Carol Balthazar, began to talk.

“We were sort of lamenting that there was no new or innovative solution for cold packs,” Dubbé said. “There was nothing that could form to your face.”

Four months and $10,000 later, the women had created TheraPearl, a hot-cold pack filled with squishy glycerin beads.

Balthazar engineered the product and helped secure the patents. Dubbé sent samples to spas across the country. Both women kept their full-time jobs.

In the four years since, TheraPearl has become profitable and has expanded to include 15 full-time employees.

Revenue has grown 200 percent in the past year, according to Daniel Baumwald, a senior vice president at TheraPearl. He estimates that the company had sales between $12 million and $15 million in 2011.

“We cannot believe how people have embraced the product,” Dubbé said.

Along the way, the company has scrapped many of its earlier notions about TheraPearl, which was originally being marketed exclusively to spas and beauty salons.

“We got the occasional mom at the spa, but for the most part the packs got lost in the hair and beauty products,” Baumwald said. “Now we’re fishing where the fish are.”

TheraPearl products now are sold in 10,000 pharmacies and stores across the U.S. and Canada, including Duane Reade in New York and Meijer stores in the Midwest. Tschiffely Pharmacy on K Street in the District has been carrying the packs for about two years.

“It’s pretty much one of the top sellers because it’s hot and cold, instead of just one or the other,” said Colpon Jones, a technician at the pharmacy.

Before he quit his job at Vitamin Water in May 2009, Baumwald stood outside the food court at Columbia Mall. He had samples of TheraPearl and spent a few hours asking passers-by what they thought of the product.

“I just asked them, ‘Do you think this is cool?,’ ” Baumwald said. “And when every single person said yes, I knew this had legs.”

The company is evolving. It plans to introduce shin and knee wraps this year, and hopes to expand into sporting goods stores. There are more superficial changes, too, such as changing to vertical packaging to take up less space on the shelf.

“Most of us are from the beverage industry, so we’re not only learning a new brand, but we’re also learning a new industry,” Baumwald said. “But the thing is, when you think of soft drinks, you think of Coke and Pepsi. When you think of sports apparel, it’s Under Armour and Nike. When you think of hot-and-cold packs — well, it’s nothing. It’s been an asleep, mundane category for all these years. We want to bring it back to life.”

Congratulations Betty Evans!

Wednesday January 25, 2012

Betty Evans of Evans Pharmacy won a gift from Olbas Herbal Remedies booth at CDMA’s 86th Annual Trade Expo. Karen Page of Olbas Herbal Remedies presented the Alps the Olbas Dog’s Hug-In-a-Mug Gift Basket, congratulations!

Patented Salese offers hours of relief from the symptoms of Dry Mouth

Dry Mouth causes serious oral health problems and it is estimated that 1,800 prescription and over-the-counter drugs, including medications for pain, obesity, allergies, asthma, colds, anxiety and depression cause dry mouth.  In addition, diabetics and patients receiving radiation treatment or chemotherapy typically suffer from dry mouth.

Salese is the answer for long lasting dry mouth relief.  Salese is a soft lozenge that slowly delivers ingredients over an hour or more.   Longer contact with the oral tissues equals to longer lasting relief and better oral health.

The key to Salese’s long-lasting properties is the patented Sustained Release Technology (SuRe™).products – Blistex Cold & Allergy Lip

In a recent clinical, Salese users had significantly longer dry mouth relief when compared to Biotene and OraMoist and over 60% stated that they would buy Salese.

Salese has built a strong following amongst dental professionals and is currently rolling out national pharmacy distribution.  In the coming months, Salese will be supported by traditional media such as print, couponing as well as targeted online media.
Salese™ is available in: Original Peppermint, Soothing Wintergreen and Sensitive Mild Lemon.
For more information please contact Jaime Zaguroli, CDMA Senior Category Manager at
(248) 449-0677 or zaguroli@chaindrug.com.

Cross-merchandising drives lip balm sales
Chain Drug Review

For lip balms to sell, they stress, multiple placement is critical.

And for their part, suppliers are helping to build interest in the category by keeping their lines fresh and innovative.

Formulated with soothing ingredients and an advanced analgesic, the product is said to alleviate lip discomfort and bring relief to those experiencing allergies, a cold or the flue.

Data from SymphonyIRI Group Inc. shows drug store sales of lip balms and cold sore medications during the 12  weeks ended August 7 soared by 9.5%. Overall mass market sales increased 7.6%.

Although the strong performance of these products owes a lot to seasonality and the need to protect one’s lips from summer sun, the lip balm and cold sore segment continues to be anchored by a cold-related product – GlaxoSmithKline’s Abbreva – which, according to SymphonyIRI data, accounts for more than a quarter of all sales in the category.

For more information please contact Jaime Zaguroli, CDMA Senior Category Manager at
(248) 449-0677 or zaguroli@chaindrug.com.

Homeopathy boosts shelf presence
Chain Drug Review

“Products from homeopathic manufacturers need to stand alongside traditional O-T-C category leaders,” says A. Nelson & Co. marketing director Curt Finckler. “However, they also need to clearly declare points of difference to drive consumers to them.”

In that study 11 mystery shoppers visited 52 drug stores across the United States and often picked out a conventional medication when they wanted a homeopathic formula and vice versa.

Representatives of the drug chains that stock homeopathic items in several categories say they merchandise these remedies alongside conventional over-the-counter items because consumers shop by symptom. Only a few drug chains still have separate homeopathic sections.

Andy Bormeth, a pharmacist who was executive director of the Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia Convention of the United States at the time of the Consumer Reports story, told the magazine that “official” homeopathic remedies should carry the initials HPUS, indicating that they conform to the organization’s guidelines.

For more information please contact Jaime Zaguroli, CDMA Senior Category Manager at
(248) 449-0677 or zaguroli@chaindrug.com.

Innovations in Denture Care
Health & Beauty Care Executive
November 26, 2011

Proctor and Gamble’s Fixodent brand takes a preventative approach to sealing dentures. Its Food Seal helps keep food out from between dentures and gums. “Fixodent Food Seal’s precision-tip nozzle gives control to apply thin lines of adhesive,” the company says. “This places the right amount of Fixodent where it can give a great fit and longlasting hold with less ooze and mess.” P&G also offers a travel-sized kit of adhesive solutions.

Combe Inc.’s line of denture care products includes adhesives, baths, and brushes. The company’s well-known Sea-Bond Denture Adhesive is “a thin wafer seal with three powerful adhesives that holds dentures in place all day without the ooze and mess of pastes,” Combe points out. The adhesives are available in Original, which is flavor-free, and Fresh Mint.

Majestic Drug specializes in niche items for oral care. “Dentemp O.S. is the best temporary dental cement on the market,” according to Larry Fishman, ceo/pres. “In addition, Repair-It is the only denture repair kit on the market, and Reline-It is the only FDA-cleared denture reliner on the market. We are developing a product scheduled to be introduced at NACDS and ECRM in 2012.”

GlaxoSmithKline’s Polident brand uses a formula that is safe, hygienic, and non-abrasive. “Polident’s MicroClean formula kills 99.9% of odor-causing bacteria and more of the micro-organisms found on dentures than leading regular toothpastes,” the company says. The Polident line includes 3-minute Anti-Bacterial Denture Cleanser, Overnight Whitening, Partials, Smokers, and Dentu Crème.

Majestic Drug offers a selection of tools for denture cleaning. “For daily care, we feature Proxi-Plus, the only interdental brush on the market with a flosser on the other end,” Fishman says. “Our Dentool Jr. is a patented two-in-one dental instrument that is small enough to fit in a pocket, but becomes a full-size dental pick or scraper.”

Prestige Brands emphasizes thorough cleaning with Efferdent. “Innovations have come through our successful launch of Efferdent PM, an overnight denture cleaner,” says Joseph Juliano, senior brand manager oral care. “Now, we are preparing to launch a breakthrough product called Efferdent Power Clean Crystals in 2012.”

Growth Expected in Expanding Market
Suppliers are working to identify and capitalize on opportunities in this expanding category.

“The advances in technology and the Internet and the ever-changing needs of consumers will fuel Majestic Drug’s growth,” Fishman says. “This will keep the company at the forefront of the category with niche OTC oral and personal care products.”

Prestige Brands believes the biggest opportunity at retail is adjusting shelf space to better meet shoppers’ demands. “We believe retailers can benefit by carrying products on their shelf that better reflect these consumer demands,” Juliano says. “This includes carrying more productive SKUs from larger brands. In return, retailers will likely generate higher turns.”

Revive expects to continue contributing to market growth by attracting new consumers seeking natural solutions to everyday needs, Lesser says. “There is also opportunity in attracting consumers on budgets to our economical products through bonus offerings that help reduce expenses.”

Caregivers; A Costume-less Superhero
November 29, 2011

Out of love and devotion, over 44 million Americans commit themselves to caring for their loved ones. Their role, unpaid and often unacclaimed, is vital to the wellbeing of many of our friends and family.

Their work is nothing short of superhero. The family caregiver is tasked with balancing their professional and family life with the demands of caregiving. To do so requires no small sacrifice. And yet, our family caregivers do so with humility, abiding devotion, and without a flashy costume to flaunt their superhero status.

They’re not your prototypical spandex clad hero. They don’t tout their saving powers with bright hues. They carry on without distinguishing their caregiver status as anything extraordinary.

Their self-sacrificing is an inextricable element of our healthcare system, and they deserve more than our applause. Their invaluable service ensures that the aged and those suffering from chronic illness or disability have the long term care they need to live a quality, dignified life—something that cannot be matched in dollars.

This November, be sure to thank a caregiver. They don’t need a cape. Their love, compassion, and untiring service ensure our loved ones get the complete care they deserve.

Celebrate beyond November.

If you or someone you know is a family caregiver, rest assured a caregiver’s work does not go unnoticed. There is respite and ongoing support for the selfless service of a family caregiver. The demands are great, the work is wearying, and the life balance is difficult. Get the support you deserve.

Let this November be a caregiver’s November. To them, their daily sacrifices have become ordinary and routine. Let them know they are beyond ordinary.

Today and always, thank a caregiver!

Brought to you by Pill Pouch LLC.

RADIUS Retailer Portal Goes Live!
November 11, 2011

RADIUS is thrilled to announce the debut of our new RADIUS Retailer & Broker Website!

RADIUS website

*All brokers and stores will need to register and will be assigned an Acct # for access and ordering

PLEASE NOTE: Independent Natural Stores across the USA will receive postcards to notify them of our new website and Direct Ship Offers in the next few days. *You will receive a copy in the mail too. Please bring in your postcard to present to stores.

·        Access and PRINT all sell sheets, forms, etc.
·        24/7 Access to Training Videos, Recordings, Presentations, Materials and more
·        Order Carstock, Merchandising, and Sales Materials online
·        Direct your Buyers to order online 24/7 for easy access and increased sales when you are not available (*All accounts will be noted with appropriate Sales Representative to ensure proper allocation of commissions)

BENEFITS FOR STORES:

·        24/7 Ordering Online – Order anytime now!
·        50% Keystone Pricing and higher margin than Wholesale Pricing
·        Free Merchandising Materials can be added to any order – Displays, Trays, Buttons, Sell Sheets, Posters, Samples,  & other Sales Tools

*Please note, $75 minimum for DIRECT SHIP ORDER FREE FREIGHT

Thank you for all of your support and hard work and we look forward to any feedback you may have!

Happy Selling!!

For more information please contact Jaime Zaguroli, CDMA Senior Category Manager at
(248) 449-0677 or zaguroli@chaindrug.com.

Sonic toothbrushes for kids debut
Chain Drug Review

Both Dr. Fresh Inc. and Brush Buddies have launched sonic toothbrushes for children.

According to spokeswoman for Dr. Fresh, the Batman and Barbie brushes – which mark the first time the company has offered sonic toothbrushes for children – use high-frequency sound waves and bristles that rotate at high velocity to reduce plaque, stimulate gums and help remove stubborn food particles from between teeth.

Meanwhile, the Justin Bieber sonic brush is the latest entry in Brush Buddies’ growing line of educational and entertaining oral care products. It is also the company’s sixth Justin Bieber product, joining a pair of singing toothbrushes, and manual toothbrush, a microphone shape flosser, dental floss and travel kit.

The battery-powered device provides more than 30,000 brush strokes per minute and comes with a replaceable brush head and built-in tongue cleaner.

Colgate-Palmolive Co., for instance, offers a wide array of toothpaste and toothbrushes for younger consumers based on popular toys and cartoon programs.

Among the names licensed by Colgate are Bakugan, Littlest Pet Shop, Dora the Explorer and SpongeBob Squarepants.

In addition, the company offers My First Colgate, a line of toothbrushes and toothpastes designed for infants and toddlers.

For more information please contact Jaime Zaguroli, CDMA Senior Category Manager at
(248) 449-0677 or zaguroli@chaindrug.com.

Consumers are willing to spend for cough/cold relief
Chain Drug Review
September 26, 2011

And with the cold and flu season just around the corner, those in the category expect even stronger sales going forward.

According to SymphonyIRI Group Inc., sales in six of nine segments related to cough, colds, allergies and sinus conditions increased during the 12 weeks ended August 7. Those that declined – cough syrup, chest rubs and sore throat remedies – are expected to pick up as the colder weather sets in across much of the country.

In addition, some suggest that the strong performance of over-the-counter cough, cold and allergy medications is, in face, a result of the sluggish economy.

Investing in relatively inexpensive O-T-Cs, they say, can reduce the risk of having to incur the expense of a visit to the physician and the costs related to that visit. Some suppliers also see a bright future for many product areas on the broader cough and cold market because of the year-round need for these items and the fact that the nation’s demographics are working in the category’s favor.

“Growth potential remains strong for the overall category, given the opportunity to continually attract new users due to its year-round need,” says Brendan Leonard, president of Health Enterprises Inc., which markets a line of nasal cleansing products and washes. “The retail challenge is streamlining the assortment to provide consumers a compelling range of delivery options, not simply an assortment of brands.”

For more information please contact Jaime Zaguroli, CDMA Senior Category Manager at
(248) 449-0677 or zaguroli@chaindrug.com.

The Future of Natural Personal Care
Health & Beauty Care Executive
October 17, 2011

As more consumers are expressing interest in the category, Burt’s Bees, Inc. plans to shift that interest into desire in a couple of ways, says Jim Geikie, vp global brand marketing.

“First, we will introduce over 50 new products across categories, focusing on clinical benefits and superior natural ingredients,” Geikie explains. “Second, we will increase our marketing investments to broaden consumer awareness and understanding of the benefits of natural personal care products.”

With the growth in the natural personal care category comes increased innovation in ingredients, according to Elie Donahue, marketing director at Yes to Inc. “With advances in research and development, Yes to Inc. is creating natural formulas that achieve results without the use of harmful chemical additives. We are able to do a lot more with our formulas than even three years ago.”

As the technology of natural ingredients and formulas evolves, Watkins Inc. looks for new formulas and applications for its natural personal care products, says J.R. Rigley, vp sales & marketing.

“We incorporate these new ingredients and formulas into tangible products consumers desire,” Rigley explains.

Accessible, Updated Lines, Pkg. Attract Sales
With the surge of natural personal care products in the market, brands are reformulating their “naturally inspired” products to be truly natural, Rigley says.

“As natural products become more accessible and efficacious with great scents and effective prices, consumers will ask more often for truly natural products,” Rigley adds. “Watkins is in the process of launching new, all natural fragrances such as grapefruit and products like dry oil body mist and body scrubs.” Awareness extends beyond natural ingredients with the introduction of packaging with post consumer resin and other sustainable packaging.

Geikie says that while some consumers may dabble natural personal care and have an interest in natural personal care, Burt’s Bees discovered many are largely missing from the category because current offerings do not appeal to preferences from an indulgent product experience.

“To address the white space in the category, Burt’s Bees is launching gud, a line of products that will appeal primarily to millennial women who ‘live life through their senses and savor every moment,’ or a woman of any age with the same spirit,” Geikie says, “gud products offer a fun and fragrance-led approach to body and hair care that are at least 97% natural,”

Meanwhile, Donahue says natural personal care is increasingly being seen as a viable alternative to traditional personal care, with products that work as well and feel as good and are as affordable. In turn, Yes To has created a brand that delivers on it four “love points” – do consumers love a product’s feel, look, and price point and will they love telling their friends about it.

“Yes To Cucumber Facial Towelettes epitomizes theses points and has been the number-one selling item in all of natural facial care for almost a year,” Donahue says. “At $5.99, this product is a seamless transition from its non-natural counterparts.”

Wide Offerings Draw Consumers to Natural
Yes To Inc. will continue to be a leader in product innovation within the natural personal care segment, according to Donahue. “We’ll maintain our philosophy of creating products that allow consumers to make an easy switch to natural alternative.”

Looking ahead, Watkins will expand its product line to offer more personalized regimens, Rigly says. “Whether it’s a new 100% natural baby line or new hand and body care application, we have the opportunity to optimize on the following our natural products and formulas offer to all consumers.”

For more information please contact Jaime Zaguroli, CDMA Senior Category Manager at
(248) 449-0677 or zaguroli@chaindrug.com.

Salutron builds Smart Health franchise
Chain Drug Review June 27

In late 2001 it saw an opportunity to deliver contact heart rat monitoring solutions to the fitness watch market and began partnering with some of the largest fitness brands in the country to eliminate the need for a chest belt in monitoring heart rate during exercise. In late 2008 Salutron created a brand, Smart Health, for the pharmacy market, to deliver the ability to monitor steps and heart rate in a watch. These elements are considered essential to starting a fitness routine.

“Our new Smart Health pedometer heart rate watch as a large, easy-to-read display and an easy-to-use navigation that completely delights our customers,” says vice president of business development Dion Hild. “And we have put the instructions on the back of the package.

“As the market share owner in health and wellness monitors, Smart Health will bring even more new consumers into the market. Since 2009, we have earned distribution in over 26,000 retail pharmacy outlets.”

“In 2011 we started a partnership with Lifetime TV’s morning show ‘The Balancing Act and Denise Austin,’” Hild says, noting that Austin will use the Smart Health products during her fitness segment. “It is a 36-week campaign [that began in April] focused on our target audience [female, 45-65, active, head of household].”

In addition, the company has launched a new website, smarhealthusa.com. As the site develops, it will include store locators, blog posts, doctors’ advice, health and wellness tips, and interactive health trackers, Hild notes. “Smart Health will have the ability to link tips and information directly from a retailer website,” she says. “We also have Facebook and Twitter accounts, and we are looking at additional marketing efforts in the fall. Promotional evens are primarily customized by retailers, but we do offer P-O-S displays to assist in consumer awareness.”

“Our products provide an incremental sales opportunity in an area that is strong focus for pharmacies: health and wellness. They are targeted directly toward a novice starting a fitness routine as directed either by a doctor or a decision to make a lifestyle change.”

Hild notes that Smart Health’s Step Counter, Heart Rate Monitor watch (at a suggested retail price of $39.99) is “an incredible value for this consumer. It provides the two key areas that an routine starts with – start walking a monitoring your heart rate.”

For more information please contact Jaime Zaguroli, CDMA Senior Category Manager at
(248) 449-0677 or zaguroli@chaindrug.com.

Salese offers hours of relief from symptoms of Dry Mouth
Featuring CDMA Associate Member Nuvora, Inc.

Dry mouth can cause serious oral health problems and it is estimated that staggering 1,800 prescription and over-the-counter drugs, including antacids, decongestants, antihistamines, antihypertensives, antidepressants and diuretics, have the potential to cause dry mouth. In addition to medication-induced xerostomia, dry mouth may also result from Sjogren’s syndrome, Diabetes, radiation treatment for head and neck cancers, chemotherapy and salivary gland disease.

Traditional products for xerostomia have included gums, hard candy and frequent water intake.  But the helpful ingredients delivered by conventional dry mouth products, such as sprays, rinses, gums and mints, are eliminated from the mouth very quickly.

Salese™ is the answer to long lasting dry mouth relief. Salese is a soft lozenge that slowly releases ingredients over an extended period of time of an hour or more.   Longer contact with the oral tissues equals longer lasting relief for the dry mouth sufferer.

Because Salese™ is a sustained release product, active ingredients (including essential oils, Xylitol, calcium phosphate) are delivered efficiently and continuously in small, optimum doses. These doses are up to 1,000 times less than conventional mouthwash, where the important ingredients are spit out and washed down the sink. Due to the extended contact created by Salese™, patients require fewer doses during the day and realize greater oral hygiene benefits and the fresh mouth-feel essential to those suffering from dry mouth. Salese™ is sugar-free, alcohol-free. It also helps to maintain a neutral pH balance in the mouth, which is essential to oral health.

The ingredients used in Salese lozenges are generally regarded as safe (GRAS). They kill bacteria, prevent or capture the malodors caused by VSCs, impede the formation of biofilm and help to achieve a healthy oral environment. Evidence shows that lowering the total bacteria in the mouth promotes cleaner teeth and fresher breath.

Salese™ is available in: Original Peppermint, Soothing Wintergreen and Sensitive Mild Lemon.

Learn more about Nuvora here!

For more information and orders, please contact Jaime Zaguroli, CDMA Senior Category Manager at
(248) 449-0677 or Zaguroli@chaindrug.com, or contact Lisa Hansen at (262) 377-9553 or lisa@hansenstahl.com.

Majestic Drug Co.
CDMA Platinum Member, Majestic Drug Co. is featured in the New Product Digest edition of Drug Store News.

Check it out here!

Will “Cantagion” film trigger sanitizer sales?
By Mike Duff
Source: Homeword Business

Executives at Walmart, Target, and elsewhere have commented on the trend toward more practical holiday gifts that has emerged since the recession, and more evidence emerges from the enthusiasm with which supermarkets are promoting their gift cards. However, home and housewares items also have benefited from the trend and, as this year winds down, sanitizers in particular can look forward to an extraordinary boost.

But the movie… sanitizers… gift-giving… do they really tie together?

They did for those promoting “Contagion,” as Violight can attest. Johnathan Pinsky, Violight’s vp, noted that, not long before its launch, the movies marketers bough 300 of the company’s cell phone sanitizers, which they included in the press package used to generate publicity for the movie.

“We’re counting on that,” Gregory Rosenthal, the company’s merchandise director makes them feel good. And it helps to dress up the bathroom

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions at
(248) 449-0677 or Zaguroli@chaindrug.com.

Drugstore Food More Costly
A new survey finds that groceris in drug stores and pharmacies typically are more expensive than in grocery stores.
Source: NACS Daily News

Consumerworld.org compared the prices of three drug stores – CVS, Rite Aid and Walgreen – with three supermarkets – Market Basket, Shaw’s and Stop & Shop – in the Sommerville, Mass., area. On the 25 household and grocery products compared, the drug stores priced the items 36 percent more than the average grocery store cost.

CVS spokesman Michael DeAngelis said customer demand was behind its addition of more groceries in stores, and that it focused more on the health and beauty care products than grocery items.

Featuring CDMA Platinum Member and CDMA staff favorite!

Questions about Radius products answered by Dr. Deborah Klotz and Dr. Robert Schlossberg

Watch the video now!

Kramer Laboratories offers leading footcare
Featuring CDMA Platinum Kramer Laboratories

Not Too Posh to Suck – Victoria Beckham Discovers Nosefrida the Snotsucker
Featuring CDMA Platinum Member
September 15, 2011

Nosefrida the Snotsucker was developed by Swedish ENTs and Pediatricians over 20 years ago, and has been used by European moms and dads for decades.  Swedish Momprenuer, Kaisa Levine, brought Nosefrida to the U.S. about 4 years ago, and  it is already considered a must-have by pediatricians.

Victoria is launching her new Spring/Summer 2012 collection at New York Fashion Week, so she needed to make sure Harper was healthy for the trip.  By using NoseFrida the Snotsucker she can clear Harper’s little nose, so that she can sleep and eat comfortably.

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions at
(248) 449-0677 or Zaguroli@chaindrug.com.

Greenwood Group opens up opportunities
Featuring CDMA Platinum Member Greenwood Group
Chain Drug Review June 27

“With over 425 combines years in the CPG (Consumer Packaged Goods) industry, Greenwood Group’s sales, marketing, consulting and logistics capabilities allow any company to operate with great efficiencies,” comments Patrick O’Leary, the president of the company.

This team of professionals helps companies draft strategic marketing and sales plans, and then seamlessly manages the execution of every phase. The results have been outstanding over the seven years since Greenwood opened its doors for business.

Tom Hodson, one of the partners who, with O’Leary, founded the company, says: “Our systems allow our clients to build customized plans to suite their needs. While we have some standardization to our process, each brand and each company has unique challenges. No two clients are ever alike and we recognize that. Our competition is rarely able to offer the flexibility we do, and that’s been an advantage for both us and our clients.”

The clients and Greenwood achieve results together. The goal for Greenwood is to become an integral part of the company and the brands, not just an outsourced sales agen or service provider.

“We have had our best successes when we truly partner beyond the ‘outsource’ mentality,” comments O’Leary.

For example, Greenwood offers smart media buying and couponing opportunities as well as product sampling programs to consumers and the all-important referrers.

The company’s Healthy Values initiative offers a simple, effective and affordable solution for creating such opportunities for manufacturers.

The some of the nation’s most highly ranked and recognized media can be employed at dramatic cost savings. It incorporates several other aspects as well and is growing in capabilities that will reach across several marketing techniques.

Greenwood’s portfolio has grown from just a couple of quality niche companies in July 2004 to a wider group of multibillion-dollar multinations.

Jeff Penchina, also a partner at Greenwood, explains, “Retailers expect us to bring them something new and innovative. They look to us for businesses that are incremental, and to find companies that are capable of dealing today’s CPG world. We often help to vet those opportunities and bring them to the retailer prepared and ready to get into the marketplace. This saves everyone time and helps with speed to market.”

Over the past three years the company has greatly expanded in the areas of marketing, media and consulting to form a deeper relationship with its clients and retailers.

Greenwood has recently opened up worldwide opportunities for its clients and other companies.

“Greenwood Global is an international partnership with Ceuta Healthcare, and we can now offer services on an international level to take any brand around the world, Imagine the possibilities. White space markets are ripe for U.S. brands. This is an important step for our company and the brands that want to work us,” O’Leary says.

Taking brands and companies at various stages and building them to reach their objective is what Greenwood does – whether that means building a business for successful sale to a suitor or building business to strengthen a company’s position.

With TheraTears selling to Akorn, Wild Child selling to Hyland’s and Kin of Shaves selling to Remington, Greenwood’s success helped position these companies for their determined goal of a “flip.”

For instance, the case of HeatMax, which had built its share of the private label air-activated heat business to more than 85%, Greenwood helped a global CPG giant build its business in North America, and it is still growing today.

Greenwood has achieved significant successes with innovations and profit brands that have added incremental sales and profits for the retailer community.

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions at
(248) 449-0677 or Zaguroli@chaindrug.com.

Retailers can get the right mix with Mars
Featuring CDMA Platinum Member Mars
Chain Drug Review June 27

“We attribute the category’s outstanding growth to Mars’ product innovation,” Mars Chocolate North America vice president of trade development Tim Quinn says. “In the past year we’ve introduced several popular new items, including M&M’s pretzel chocolate candies, DOVE chocolate swirl and SNICKERS brand peanut butter squared.”

In addition to offering new confectionery products, Quinn says that drug retailers should focus on merchandising, seasonal sales and healthy options for consumers. He says there are several ways that drug store retailers can transform three consumer trends into sales opportunities. First, Quinn notes, confection sales are impulse-driven. In the drug channel, more than 70% of confectionery brand decisions are made in the store, so retailers should maximize merchandising opportunities.

“Since candy is an impulse purchase, it’s important to place multiple points of interruption throughout the store to allow consumers to see and buy their favorite chocolate snacks,” he says.

In addition to the candy aisle, magazine racks and checkout counters, drug stores should merchandise candy in the cooer vault area, so consumers can pick up a candy par along with a beverage. The pharmacy and the cosmetics aisles are also great places to merchandise candy and capitalize on the high traffic and wait times for shoppers, Quinn says.

The second trend is consumers’ growing reliance on the trade class as a place to purchase seasonal snacks. Drug retailers should create strategic merchandising plans for seasonal candy, since it represents50% of confection sales for the channel, Quinn says.

“Retailers can maximize their shelf set’s performance by carrying an assortment of seasonal products from Mars Chocolate,” Quinn explains. “Mars items have the fastest on-shelf turn in the industry, averaging three times the shelf turn as the category average,”

Since 83% of Halloween consumers decide which candy brands they will purchase for trick-or-treating when they are inside the store, in-aisle signage and secondary displays are critical, according to Quinn. A new Mars dump-bin will remind consumers that their favorite brands are also in the seasonal aisle. Quinn recommends that retailers showcase what he calls the “candy dish” items together in one section. This includes candy for decorating, snacking and parties. Must-haves include a variety of M&M’s brand candies in a harvest blend of red, gold, and brown and a holiday blend of red and green.

For the winter holidays, two-thirds of households use candy as a gift – from stocking stuffers to hostess gifts. Several new items featuring the M&M’s characters carry suggested retail prices of $1.99, including stocking tin ornaments and box shaped like a Christmas tree. This year DOVE chocolate will debut several elegant holiday gift box options at $5.99.

Fortified with a blend of eight essential vitamins and minerals, MARATHON SMART STUFF bar is described as an excellent source of calcium. In addition, each bar contains 3 to 5 grams of fiber per serving. The new bar meets the Alliance for a Healthier Generation Competitive Food Guidelines for Snacks, meaning that is has less than 35 % calories from fat, 10% calories from saturated fat and less than 35% of its weight from sugar. The bar includes wholesome ingredients, such as blueberries, cranberries, and peanuts, and comes in Crunchy Multi Grain, Crunch Chocolate Crisp, Crunchy Honey Graham and Crunch Trail Mix flavors.

Quinn adds, that Mars can offer additional shopper insights via its “Mars V-Store,” which uses 3-D computer renderings and virtual reality technology to facilitate various types of retail testing. The insights gathered are used to improve merchandising, placement and signage; optimize SKU assortment; and ultimately advance consumer and shopper research.

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions at
(248) 449-0677 or Zaguroli@chaindrug.com.

TheraPearl brings next-gen relief
TheraPearl is a CDMA Platinum Member
Chain Drug Review July 18

TheraPearl’s doctor-designed Pearl Technology allows the packs to be malleable, reusable and nontoxic. There is no leakage or electric cord to contend with. The packs can be frozen or microwaved.

TheraPearl packs disseminate their cold or warmth in 20 minutes, the doctor-recommended time for heat or ice.

Athletic trainers and doctors recommend hot-cold therapy to prevent and treat sports injuries including back pain, strains and bruises. By helping to minimize the aftereffects of exercise, TheraPearl helps reduce downtime between gym visits.

“My patients are constantly asking more for the best way to implement hot and cold therapy into their fitness routine,” says Dr. Carol Baltazar, co-founder of TheraPearl.

The packs come in a range of shapes and sizes priced from $6 to $30. The latest line extension is TheraPearl Pals for children.

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions at
(248) 449-0677 or Zaguroli@chaindrug.com.

Natural Cold Remedies
Featuring CDMA Platinum Member Penn Herb Co.
Health & Beauty Executive August 15, 2011

Homeopathic medicines such as Boiron USA’s flagship Oscillococcinum for flu-like symptoms and Chestal and Children’s Chestal cough syrups offer consumers alternatives to traditional medications, along with the benefits and features consumers want, says John Durkin, vp sales & marketing.

“These medicines have an extraordinary record of safety for any class of drug,” Durkin adds. “They do not cause side effects or interact with other medications, herbs, or vitamins. Boiron homeopathic medicines for cough, cold, and flu are also safe for children aged 2 to 4.”

The cough & cold remedies market has undergone significant fluctuations during the past few years, and the industry is facing strong challenges from the FDA regarding the efficacy and safety of children’s remedies, according to Karen Page, national sales manager at Penn Herb Co., maker of Olbas.

“These challenges have resulted in a recall of infant cough formulas, and consumers are waiting for further decisions from the FDA about remedies based on dextromethorphan,” Page adds. “Olbas is well positioned to become the drug-free, natural, alternative remedy of choice.”

Dr. Sshen’s uses organic Chinese herbs in all three of its cold medicines, which co-founder Joel Schreck says are Chinese herbal formulas that have been perfected over generations. “It’s our understanding that 80% of all herbal remedies that are sold are for cold and flu remedies,”

TARGETS ADS, DISTRIBUTION, SOCIAL MEDIA KEY
Suppliers are utilizing ads, expanded distribution, and social media to form consumers about natural cold remedies.

Penn Herb has expanded distribution in the U.S., making Olbas remedies available to fine health food stores, select drugstores, and upscale supermarkets and through the company’s mail order catalog, retail store and website, Page explains. “We connect to consumers through Facebook and Twitter and advertise with in-store coupons and through health-oriented magazine journals.”

Gagnon says Herbs, Etc. reaches out to retailers with cold season specials and samples to give consumers.

Dr. Shen’s runs single product ads on Google, YouTube, and Facebook and plans to participate in print advertisements in trade publications, Schreck says. “Beginning after Labor Day, the unofficial start of the cold and flu season, we will run a special Internet campaign aimed at end-users for our chief cold products, Yin Chiao, Gan Mao Ling, and Zong Gan Ling.”

PROMOS, WIDER OFFERING TO BOOST SALES
Consumers have become more educated and concerned about the ingredients used in the remedies they choose for their families, Page says.

“Likewise, pediatricians are concerned with the safety and efficacy of cough products they recommend,” Page adds. “Retailers promoting natural, drug-free alternative remedies will likely be leaders in this dynamic market.”

The bulk of Dr. Shen’s’ marketing is aimed at cold and flu end-users, Schreck says. “By promoting our cold remedies, natural food and vitamin store can lure many consumers away from pharmacies and into their stores.”

Retailers have to think about helping consumers get over colds, as well as prevention and after-cold cleanup, Gagnon says. “Retailers can suggest formulas that are adaptogenic in nature, including herbs such as medicinal mushrooms, Ashwagandha, Holy Basil, and Siberian Eleuthero,”

Adding natural and homeopathic products can help food, drug, and mass retailers capture crossover shoppers from the natural crossover shoppers from the natural product channel and incrementally increase category sales, Durkin says. “Boiron products generally offer retailers higher margins than traditional OTC products.”

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions at
(248) 449-0677 or Zaguroli@chaindrug.com.

Drug Store News
BD Medical launches Emerald syringe line
By Alaric DeArment
August 15, 2011

FRANKLIN LAKES, N.J. — BD Medical has launched a line of syringes designed to address medication delivery needs while benefiting the environment, the company said Monday.

Homeopathy gains traction
Mass Marketing Retailer
August 1, 2011

Boiron USA has seen its most successful products – Oscillococcinum for flu-like symptoms and Children’s Chestal cough syrup – expand their distribution from natural product markets to mainstream stores. The company expects to repeat that process with it Arnicare Gel topical pain reliever.

The product, which has already proven to be the fastest growing homeopathic topical pain-relief brand, based on its success in the natural channel, is poised to move into mass retail stores. To support the move, Boiron has conducted extensive research on its target audience (mainly women from 25 to 64 who suffer from muscle pain from everyday activities) and redesigned its packaging.

The launch came on the heels of a warning from the Food and Drug Administration about benzocaine, an ingredient in many oral pain relievers. The FDA recommended that children under 2 do not use products with benzocaine, except when directed and supervised by a doctor.

Camilia, which is free of benzocaine, promises to do more than just numb pain like general pain relievers or anesthetics. Instead, it specifically targets gum digestive disorders, as well as pain associated with teething, the company says.

Similasan Corp., based in Highlands Ranch, Colo., is the U.S. division of Similasan AG, a Swiss company. The company recently added tow pediatric products to its cough-cold line: Similasan Kids Cold & Mucus Relieve cough expectorant syrup and Kids Cough Relief cough syrup. Both are made with 100% natural ingredients and are free of sugar, alcohol and dyes.

A third player in the U.S. market is Lost Angles-based Hyland’s, founded in 1903.

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions at
(248) 449-0677 or Zaguroli@chaindrug.com.

Thermal pain relief offered by Bruder
Chain Drug Review, June 27

In 2011 Bruder is celebrating 25 years of providing thermal analgesic and therapeutic products for medical professionals and consumers.

“We are so proud of our medical heritage and of our innovative state-of-the-are products being used today in institutions and homes around the world,” says marketing manager Sharon Burkart.

The use of natural products to manage pain at home has become very popular again. Many factors are driving this trend: the aging of the population, heightened concerns over the long and short term side effects of using over-the-counter oral medications, rising health care costs, and an increasing movement toward self-care and self-medication.

This is being compounded by the potential dangers inherent in the growing number of different prescribed drugs consumers are taking.

In response, Bruder has developed a full line of innovative thermal topical products that provide safe, effective and east-to-use ways for consumers to manage their pain more naturally.

Utilizing patented and proprietary technologies and broad knowledge base, Bruder has developed a comprehensive line of thermal pain management products, designed to relieve chronic and acute pain, for both medical professional and consumer use.

Bruder’s microwave-activated Thermalon moist heat wraps employ a new technology that brings moist heat treatments that were traditionally available in clinics into the home. These unique wraps meet all the criteria of an ideal analgesic and represent a major breakthrough in the delivery of safe, drug-free, non-systemic pain relief, notes Brukart.

The wraps are microwaved for a minute and then applied to provide relief that begins immediately and lasts for hours, she says. There are no wires, mess, odors, or stick patches, and no waiting.

Bruder has employed this unique delivery system to create new category growth opportunities with its Thermalon Dry Eye and Sinus compresses.

This pad represents a major advance in safety, reliability and effective self-administered moist heat treatments, say Burkart.

In the fist aid category, the company is introducing a new line that features a patented one-piece pad and wrap system that is designed to deliver timed-release cold and heat therapy economically and safely in any setting.

Its transdermal pain relief spray is a unique botanical analgesic spray activate by applied heat that is clinically proven to deliver fast, effective pain relief, says Burkart. It has all-natural ingredients to moisturize and nourish skin.

“Our product development resources are focused on providing products designed for safety, prove efficacy and convenience of you,” Burkart remarks. “Our commitment is to deliver the highest-quality products supported by guaranteed satisfaction and a promise of integrity.”

“Today Thermalon brand products are available in over 30,000 retail locations.”

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions at
(248) 449-0677 or Zaguroli@chaindrug.com.

Intimacy products gain traction in
chain drug stores
Chain Drug Review July 18

Rockhard Laboratories president Joshua Maurice calls the segment “a fast growing, dynamic set for chain drug retailers.” As expression of sexuality becomes more mainstream, retailers can take advantage by capturing new sales and customers, he says.

“The sexual wellness category offers retailers a chance to break out of the traditional family planning concept and offer a wide range of items that appeal to a broad range of consumers, whether these products be supplements like RockHard Weekend or toys, lotions and lubes,” Maurice explains.

Driving the category are several factors, first and foremost marketing, he says. For example, RockHard Weekend is advertised weekly through television, print and radio, in-store sales are driven via tagging, regional ads, SPIFFS (special payment incentives for fast sales) and co-op spending.

Kama Sutra Co. president Beverly Pollington Sirjani says that while intimacy products are more accepted now than five years aga, skepticism remains among some buyers, who are concerned that consumers will be offended by such items. That’s a shame, because it shoots down the category before products can get on shelf, she notes.

At the same time, there are “pioneering buyers who aren’t afraid to push the envelope,” says Pollington Sirjani, who has won distribution for Kama Sutra products at CVS/pharmacy and Walgreen Co. She adds that these buyers are willing to “let the consumer decide” the category’s viability, which was demonstrated by 72% growth in 2009.

Kama Sutra does its party to support retailers by providing “beautiful, high-end” and inoffensive packaging, she said at the NACDS Marketplace Conference last month.

The sexual wellness market is in “full force” abroad and is one of the fastest growing e-commerce categories in the United States, according to Donna Marie Faro, U.S. sales manager for Lelo Inc., which has launched the Intimina line of intimate wellness products. Given the short shrift retailers have given the category to date, it’s an incremental business, she said at Marketplace.

Retailers have been open to Intimina because it provides over all wellness benefits, including nutrients, moisturization and stress relief as well as intimacy enhancement, Faro said. It can be merchandised with family planning products or in the wellness aisle, she added, or even with incontinence products.

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions at
(248) 449-0677 or Zaguroli@chaindrug.com.

Majestic shows commitment to quality
Chain Drug Review June 27

Its extensive line of products includes a variety of problem solvers. For example, Majestic’s Reline-It and Repair-It brands offer the denture consumer access to complete dental repair at home. Each dental product is dentist-developed, dentist-recommended or both.

These items are being supported by a yearlong national print campaign.

The company recently announced the promotion of Nilda Oyola to the position of national sales and marketing manager.

“Innovation, creativity and energy reach an all-time high at Majestic with the promotion of Nilda to this executive position,” remarked the company president Larry Fishman. “It wasn’t very long after she was hired as a receptionist 23 years ago that Nilda’s intelligence and commitment to Majestic Drug were recognized.”

“At Majestic we make it a point to recognize and support quality, whether it is in a valued employee like Nilda or in the products we sell,” added Fishman. “We are pleased to have provided Nilda with an opportunity for success. We recognized her potential, acknowledge it and supported her in the decision to pursue a college degree while working full-time.”

In May 2010, while attending Orange Community College/State University of New York to earn her degree in business administration, Oyola was one of 76 students selected from several thousand applicants nationwide to participate in the National Community College Aerospace Scholars pilot program. This opportunity culminated in a three-day workshop in Houston, where Oyola toured NASA and met with astronauts.

“Providing our employees with an atmosphere where they can excel is what we encourage at Majestic,” said Fishman. “We are proud of the record of personal growth and achievement that Nilda has had here. Having worked with Nilda at Majestic over the past 23 years, I can say that the best is yet to come, for her and us.”

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions at
(248) 449-0677 or Zaguroli@chaindrug.com.

Dream Water promotes ‘a better sleep’
Chain Drug Review June 27

The completely all-natural, zero-calorie sleep enhancer blends three natural active ingredients, GABA, 5-HTP (also known as tryptophan) and melatonin to help induce sleep. Melatonin has been proven to be useful for insomnia and jet lag, while GABA has a calming effect and has been used for relieving anxiety, and 5-HTP has been used for treating sleep disorders.

The 2 1/2-ounce Dream Water shot comes in two great tasting flavors, Snoozeberry and Lullaby Lemon.

Dream Water hit the market in 2009 at Duane Reade, and has been at a third of all Walmart stores since September and at Walgreens chain wide since November.

Most recently it launched at 300-store Paradise Shops airport convenience store chain. That roll out enabled the supplier to distribute over 100,000 samples to people traveling around the country and worldwide. Dream Water is hoping to duplicate that gift-with-purchase sampling effort with other chains, including GNC, where the product will be introduced nationwide.

Much of the product’s publicity is due to the prevalence of insomnia. As many as 70 million Americans, or one-third of the adult population, suffer from chronic sleep loss or sleep disorders, at a yearly cost of $16 billion in health care and $50 billion in lost productivity.

In the spirit of sleep and relaxation Dream Water will have two masseuses in its booth at NACDS Marketplace, and “everyone is welcome to a message,” says Platzner.

Looking ahead, he says the company will always be working on innovation and incubating line extensions.

Skin care bridges customers’ health and beauty needs
By Jennifer Johnston/Chain Drug Review/June 27, 2011

However, a closer look reveals that certain segments did notably well during the same time frame. Antiaging body products, for example, saw a sales increase of 14%; fade/bleach products were up 18%; sales of liquid body washes were up 13%. These numbers include results for food, drug and mass outlets, except Walmart.

The reason behind the increased use of antiaging products is clear. Baby boomers are turning 65 at a rate of 7,500 per day, and many don’t like what they see in the mirror. From maintaining an active lifestyle to preserving a younger-looking appearance, this generation is leading the antiaging trend across many categories, including skin care. With older Americans typically more affluent than the younger demographic, antiaging products should continue to perform well for some time.

Sales of liquid body washes continue to rise, propelled in part by growth in the men’s skin care segment. In the past 12 months alone more than 40 new men’s skin care products were introduced to the marketplace from such brands as Dove, Suave, Dial and Lubriderm. Axe and the newly rebranded Old Spice continue to draw in a younger male demographic. As “his and hers” body cleansing products become standard shower accessories, this trend show s no sign of slowing.

A look back at hand sanitizers shows that they were up 73% in 2009 from the prior year. This was due to the large H1N1 flu outbreak. Some stores even experienced temporary outages of product as consumers raced to keep the virus at bay. However, a slower 2010 flu season created the biggest drop in any skin care segment in 2010 – a decrease of 33%.

Products perceived as natural or organic continue to attract a wider audience. Products containing fewer chemicals, such as those that are marketed as sulfate-free, represent a trend that began in the hair care category is not crossing over to skin care.

Manufacturers are beginning to capitalize on the “less is more” trend of promoting minimal and natural ingredients in their lotion and cleansing products.

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions at
(248) 449-0677 or Zaguroli@chaindrug.com.

Consumables’ star rising at drug chains
By Chain Drug Review/June 27, 2011

The battle has been joined as drug chains bulk up their food offerings to attract time-pressed shoppers seeking to make fill-in purchases.

CVS/pharmacy, for example, has rolled out an urban store format with nearly double the amount of space for consumables as in other outlets. One store in New York City as a 27-door wall of cold cases with soft drinks, bottles water, beer and frozen food.

Rick Molchan, vice president of the Retail Innovation and Store Design organization at CVS, said the company conducted extensive shopper research understand city residents’ unmet needs. The expanded consumables offerings, including fresh, on-the-go food, is one notable response.

Grab-and-go food is also a hallmark of Walgreen Co.’s Duane Reade unit. And the parent company as been so impressed with the New York chain’s DR Delish line of foods and beverages that it as rolled out some of the items in Walgreens units.

Rite Aid Corp. has gone so far as to co-brand stores with Save-A-Lot supermarkets.

President and chief executive officer John Standley said he was “very encouraged” by the early results of the Save-A-Lot Rite Aid format, which debuted in the Greenville, S.C., market.

The Save-A-Lot portion of the store has a full grocery shop that includes meat, products and dairy, and is 40% less expensive than traditional supermarkets.

“The stores have done extremely well since opening and, as a groups, are coming up over 100% on the front end, with pharmacy run consistent with trends before the conversion,” noted Standley.

“Feedback from our Rite Aid customers has been extremely positive, and adding Save-A-Lot to these stores has attracted many new customers.”

GOJO Industries

How elderly people are guzzling energy drinks to try to keep up with the younger generation
By Daniel Bates on 2nd June 2011

But now ‘energy shots’ have become a surprise hit among elderly people who don’t want to slow down.

Drinks like ‘5 Hour Energy’ are now being stocked alongside nutritional milkshakes and wrinkle creams at stores targeting older customers.

Free samples handed out at events for pensioners have been snapped up whilst one manufacturer has begun taking out full-page adverts in AARP magazine.

Doctors are now being given coupons with instructions to pass them out to older patients so that they can get over their fatigue.

5-Hour claims its ingredients can lower cholesterol and even fight dementia, but it is the pick-up from the huge dose of caffeine that is drawing people in.

A can of Red Bull has a paltry 76 milligrammes whilst a can of Coca-Cola has 35.

Among those who regularly drink the beverage is 65-year-old salesman Ron Moerbe, from Raleigh, N.C.

He said he drinks up to three a day to stay alert on the road.

I’m reverse discriminate,’ he told the Wall St Journal.

‘I don’t see why kids need ‘em.’

5-Hour Energy is by far the market leader in the ‘energy shot’ market and claims 80% of tit $1billion annual revenue, even if health experts are not convinced by its claims.

She said that most people already get enough of the vitamins and nutrients 5-Hour claims it can give you.

‘Medically and physiologically, it doesn’t hold water,’ she said.

Colin Milner, founder of the International Council on Active Aging, added that the right diet and exercise were the key to staying fit in old age.

But he added that energy shots: ‘Give you a big caffeine rush and away you go’.

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions at (248) 449-0677 or Zaguroli@chaindrug.com.

Toothbrushes recommended for Healthy Gums in Scholastic Parent & Child Mother’s Day feature with Dr. Oz!

Wine-flavored chocolates and other gourmet snacks set new trend
Source: Relaxnews Monday, 30 May 2011

That’s the conclusion of organizers at the 15th annual Sweets & Snacks Expo this year, which wrapped up Thursday in Chicago and is considered a harbinger of snack food trends to come.

Consumers can expect to see more snack foods and sweets that layer multiple, complex, and sometimes unexpected flavors, organizers said.

Combinations like chili and mint-flavored sweets, dual-filling truffles, and gourmet, artisanal flavors like cracked pepper and Asiago cheese-flavored chips.

Simply 7 Snacks, for example, showcased a range of Lentil chips and Hummus chips – of which the latter is made from chickpea flour – in flavors like Bruschetta, Spicy Chili Pepper and Creamy Dill. The products are availale on Amazon in the US.

The Cabernet Caramel, meanwhile, is enveloped in a 58-percent dark chocolate shell. A wine and caramel filling also has a hint of salt. The chocolates are sold online.

The wine-flavored chocolates were one in five products recognized as best new products. The others included:

Albanese Confectionery’s Awesome Blossoms: Flower-shaped gummies

Jelly Belly Chocolate Dips: Chocolate-coated jelly beans

Trolli Big Bold Bears: Troll or monster-shaped gummies

A chocolate candy called Gimme – crisp rice puffs dipped in dark chocolate, infused with vitamin D3 and sealed in a candy shell – also signals a new trend in vitamins masked as sweets.

Despite a lagging economy, snacks and sweets experienced growth in 2010, as they’re considered affordable indulgences.

The Sweets & Snacks Expo drew 14,000 attendees  from 69 countries around the world this year.

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions at
(248) 499-0677 or Zaguroli@chaindrug.com.

Food inflation accelerating as Nestle, McDonald’s react to commodity surge
Source: Alan Bjerga and Leslie Patton – Wed May 25 14:02:08 GMT 2011

U.S. food-price inflation may top the government’s forecast as higher crop, meat, dairy and energy costs lead companies including Nestle SA, McDonald’s Corp. (MCD) and Whole Foods Market Inc. (WFMI) to boost prices.

Retail-food prices will jump more than the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s estimate of 3 percent to 4 percent this year, said Chad E. Hart, an economist at Iowa State University in Ames. Companies will pass along more of their higher costs through year-end, said Bill Lapp, a former ConAgra Foods Inc. chief economist. The USDA will update its forecast today.

Groceries and restaurant meals rose 2.4 percent in the four months through April, the most to start a year since 1990, government data show. During the period, rice, wheat and milk futures touched the highest levels since 2008, and retail beef reached a record. Yesterday, J.M. Smucker Co. announced an 11 percent price increase for Folgers coffee, the best-selling U.S. brand, after the cost of beans almost doubled in a year.

“It’s going to be a tough year” for U.S. shoppers, said Lapp, who is president of Advanced Economic Solutions, an agriculture consultant in Omaha, Nebraska. “You’re looking at an economy where a lot of consumers are under some serious pressure from food and fuel costs.”

Even after a drop in commodities this month, seven of eight tracked by the Standard & Poor’s GSCI Agriculture Index are higher than a year earlier as adverse weather damages crops, rising demand erodes inventories and a weak dollar boosts demand for U.S. exports. Corn futures are up 98 percent, wheat gained 67 percent, raw sugar advanced 44 percent, and rice jumped 25 percent.

Crop Damage
Dry weather during this year in Europe, China and the southern Great Plains of the U.S. may cut crop yields, while floods along the Mississippi River this month may slow planting of corn, soybeans and rice. The U.S. is the world’s largest agricultural exporter.

Higher wholesale costs over the past two years are still working their way through the supply chain, and companies including foodmakers and grocers are showing more willingness to pass along the increases to consumers, said Hart, the Iowa State agricultural economist.

Delayed Retail Increases
Surging prices for corn, used mostly as livestock feed, have contributed to the rally in wholesale beef and pork costs during the past year, as livestock producers limited herd expansion to limit expenses on feed.

“The biggest impact is six to 12 months out” for meat prices, Hart said.

Whole Foods, based in Austin, Texas, and the largest U.S. natural-goods grocer, said vendors have increased food prices this year. “Right now, we’re able to pass it all on,” Co-Chief Executive Officer Walter Robb said May 4 in a telephone interview.

McDonald’s, Cracker Barrel
Oak Brook, Illinois-based McDonald’s, the world’s biggest restaurant chain, raised U.S. menu prices 1 percent in March to help offset higher commodity costs, Chief Financial Officer Peter Bensen said during an April 21 conference call. The company expects food expenses to increase as much as 4.5 percent in the U.S. and Europe this year.

Double-digit gains in pork, butter, coffee and lettuce costs during the three months ended April 29 led Lebanon, Tennessee-based Cracker Barrel Old Country Store Inc. to raise restaurant menu prices by 1.5 percent in March. Commodity inflation has been “above our expectations,” Chief Executive Officer Michael Woodhouse said yesterday on a conference call.

A prolonged economic slowdown would curb demand and may halt further price increases, said Lapp, the former ConAgra economist. Unlike in 2008, when food rose at the fastest pace in 28 years, consumers are quick to seek cheaper alternatives, he said.

Earlier this month, San Diego-based Jack in the Box Inc., a fast-food chain with restaurants mainly in the western U.S., raised its prices 1.5 percent, saying it was being cautious about increases because of the competitive environment. BJ’s Wholesale Club, a discount grocery retailer based in Westborough, Massachusetts, said May 18 that consumers were trading down to less-expensive brands.

The USDA, which bases its forecast on price gains that have already occurred and projections of how increases will play out over the rest of the year, tends to be conservative in its estimates, according to Iowa State’s Hart.

New USDA Forecast
The department issued its latest monthly projection for 2011 food inflation today, leaving its estimate unchanged at 3 percent to 4 percent. The USDA last raised its forecast in February. Since then, adverse weather has limited prospects for crop supplies more than the government expected, and crude oil is up 42 percent from a year earlier, putting more pressure on agricultural prices, Hart said.

Food prices measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics rose 0.3 percent in April, bringing this year’s gain to the highest since a 3 percent increase in the first four months of 1990.

In the first four months of 2011, meat and fish prices rose 4.3 percent, according to the bureau. Consumers paid about $2.722 for a pound of ground beef, a 14 percent increase, while a fresh whole chicken cost $1.261 a pound, slightly lower than $1.28 at the start of the year.

The price of a pound of field-grown tomatoes last month reached $2.27, the highest since 2004 and up 43 percent from the beginning of the year, the bureau said. Fresh fruit and vegetables, which are more volatile because of weather, fell 1.3 percent in April. They have already risen 3.4 percent this year, according to government data.

How often should you advertise?
The answer may surprise you
Source: The Winning Edge

What are people actually thinking about as they read your ad in a local paper? Thomas Smith, a nineteenth-century London businessman, offered the following advice to advertisers in 1885. It is still applicable today:

1. The first time people look at any given ad, they don’t even see it.

2. The second time, they don’t notice it.

3. The third time, they are aware that it is there.

4. The fourth time, they have a fleeting sense that they’ve seen it somewhere before.

5. The fifth time, they actually read the ad.

6. The sixth time, they thumb their nose at it.

7. The seventh time, they start to get a little irritated with it.

8. The eighth time, the start to think, “Here’s that confounded ad again.”

9. The ninth time, they start to wonder if they may be missing out on something.

10. The tenth time, they ask their friends and neighbors if they’ve tried it.

11. The eleventh time, they wonder how the company is paying for all these ads.

12. The twelfth time, they start to think that it must be a good product.

13. The thirteenth time, they start to feel the product has value.

14. The fourteenth time, they start to remember wanting a product exactly like this for a long time.

15. The fifteenth time, they start to yearn for it because they can’t afford to buy it.

16. The sixteenth time, they accept the fact that they will buy it sometime in the future.

17. The seventeenth time, they make a note to buy the product.

18. The eighteenth time, they curse their poverty for not allowing them to buy this terrific product.

19. The nineteenth time, they count their money very carefully.

20. The twentieth time prospects see the ad, they buy what it is offering.

Sugarfree options Draw New, Loyal Consumers

The SUGARFREE MARKET is experiencing solid growing market share and sales, thanks to new consumers turning to the segment for health concerns and buoyed by longtime sugarfree fans of popular branded items, sources tell Candy & snack TODAY.

Data shows non-chocolate sugarfree confectionary is valued at more than $76 million, representing 4.7 percent increase for the 52-week period ending January 30, according to SymphonyIRI Group, Inc. data.

Suppliers overwhelmingly point to health concerns in the U.S., predominately diabetes-related restricted sugar diets, as providing the momentum for these positive sales results and chiefly for increasing the base of sugarfree consumers now and in the years to come.

Health Issues Bring In Consumers

Examining 2001 National Diabetes Fact Sheet released January 26, 2011, by the American Diabetes Association (ADA), rates of the disease are not only on the rise but spreading among age and demographic groups without prejudice. In total, 25.8 million children and adults in the U.S. today, or 8.3 percent of the total population, have diabetes. In 2010, 1.9 million new cases were diagnosed in people aged 20 and older. Addressing this trend, a move by Bazooka Candy Brands in the past year was said to surprise the trade by its targeting of the kids’ candy segment when it debuted Sugarfree Ring Pops.

The impetus behind the extension, according to John Budd, vice-president of marketing, was simply to give consumers a non-sugared option “that is indistinguishable in flavor. “Tastes are evolving and there is definitely a segment of the consumer base that is interested in these forms of treats,” Budd suggests.

Moms, he adds, were a consideration not so much for diabetes concerns but for dental caries, and adds while the product is currently formulated with Splenda, “we are looking at stevia because we know these consumers are also interested in all-natural.”

Sugarfree Ring Pops are in three-ct peggable bags of strawberry, watermelon and blue raspberry and currently offered in the sugarfree confectionary sets at Walmart Stores, Inc., “so they really stand out there as a novelty kid item” broader distribution is expected in 2011, Budd tells Candy & Snack TODAY.

In terms of merchandising, he says while Ring Pope are a unique item in such sets, sugarfree-seeking consumers go looking for these types of products and, segregating sugarfree “makes the shopping experience easier and more enjoyable”.

Another non-chocolate segment innovation can be found in Jelly Belly Candy Co.’s launch of sugarfree jelly bean gift box sets.

Vice-President of Marketing Rob Swaigen notes sales overall are good for the company’s sugarfree items, and that the giftable extension looks to open up the field even more. “The big picture on sugarfree is that a lot of people have been brought into the segment and all that new trial is developing is solid new base of consumers. “Of course, products have to taste good, “he smiles, adding feedback on Jelly Belly’s Splenda sweetened offerings is continually positive. Sugarfree gummy bears and jelly beans are hits with consumers, Swaigen adds, revealing the company’s 3.1-ounce assorted flavor peg bags of jelly beans are its top seller in the segment, as the gift box quickly gains ground.

Further, Jelly Belly redesigned packaging across its sugarfree lines to include 40 percent reduced calorie callouts. He said in today’s health-focused environment, such claims are “more meaningful in the long term” than bygone carb and sweetener-type messages.

Brand Fans Relish Sugarfree Alternatives

Because Atkinson Candy Co. offers a sugarfree version of every one of its major brands, including Chick-O-Stick, Peanut Butter Bars and Mint Twists, President Eric Atkinson says the consumer fan base for these items just keeps growing. “You better believe it make a lot of people happy to find their favorite candies in a sugarfree version.” He says, citing how the company combines Splenda with polyglycitol syrup to make the taste profile “as close as you can get to the traditional version.”

Doubly advantageous, Atkinson continues, is the demographic for the company’s Peanut Butter Bars, which he says already skews older, so when they are told but their doctors to reduce or eliminate sugar intakes, their favorite candy can still be enjoyed.
The company also offers a wide range of gourmet sugarfree hard candies under its Gemstone Candies by Atkinson line in flavors ranging from old-time favorites such as root beer and horehound to neoclassic pomegranate and lemongrass. The sugarfree products Atkinson sells have become so popular, he notes, that a buyer looked at sales numbers during a recent meeting and opted to order more sugarfree items from the company that sugared. “It’s a sign of the times,” he suggests, “we’ve had a fairly sustained business in this segment for years, but it’s about to go up way up.”

Similarly for Storck USA L.P.’s Werther’s Original brand, indications point to hearty consumer demand in the coming years, suggests marketing manager Ben Jones. “Sugarfree candy will become more and more top of mind with consumers. A category once perceived as limited to people with very strict health conditions, now is not only relevant to diabetics, but a great way for weight managers to enjoy a sweet treat without ruining their diet.”

He shares how sales of Werther’s Original Sugar free are up by double-digit rates every year for the past four, claiming the brand experienced such boosts “even when the total segment declined slightly.” In the 52 weeks ending January 23, the brand was up 17 percent in dollars sales, according to SymphonyIRI data provided by Storck. In additional to original, the brand is represented in the segment by Werther’s hard candies in caramel coffee, caramel cinnamon and caramel mint.

Later this year, caramel apple will join the line and with it move into several new pack types, Jones tells Candy & Snack TODAY. Graphics, however, remain “very similar to those of our base business to build off the brand’s equity,” he shares. “We launched 7.7-ounce assorted laydown bags to give our consumers variety and value in one package, and flip-top boxes of unwrapped hard candies that allow on-the-go consumption,” Jones reveals.

“Our story line in Sugarfree has been to offer products to satisfy concerns about health but still have a satisfying treat, “says American Licorice Co. Communications Manger Michael Kelly. He too confirms that consumers loyal to the company’s Red Vines have flocked to its sugarfree black and strawberry varieties, both launched back in 1990.

“We have some very loyal folks, and as things change in their lives, they don’t want to give up their favorite candy, “he says, noting there is a slight texture difference in the alternative formulation, but that it hasn’t deterred Red Vines lovers. “The consumers that buy sugarfree now are extremely dedicated to the brand.”

‘A lot of people have been brought into the segment and all that new trial is developing a solid new base of consumers.’

Rob Swaigen Jelly Belly Candy Co.

Kelly also points out that American’s sugarfree licorice is in fact strawberry flavor, while the iconic Red Vines sugared version remains the proprietary “Red Vines Flavor.” In line with the positive trending, Crystal Light sugarfree candy has seen a year-over-year increase of 45 percent, while total company sales of Sorbee International, LLC posted a 40 percent jump in the period, according to CEO Dan Werther. He confirms the notion that brand and equity in sugar candies transfer well into sugarfree to improve performance in the segment. “Gone are the no-name products of the past in this sector,” he suggests, “Branded items sell regardless of whether they’re sugar or sugarfree, so we’ve had great sell through on our items because consumers respond to what they know.”

Pet bags holding hard candies and chews round out the Crystal Light line, and Werther reveals new flavors will join lemonade, cherry pomegranate and wild strawberry in 2011, following releases in the beverage aisle from licensor Kraft Foods, Inc. In addition, he reports expanded distribution, notably in c-stores, is helping the recent boost in sales.

“For us the biggest impact to business in 2010 was that freight was up across the board, and especially because we were also shipping more products to more stores, so it’s a good thing not just for Sorbee but for the category that sugarfree is getting onto more retail shelves,” he says.

Exclusive Suppliers Build Momentum

For Hillside Candy Co,. and its 31-year presence in this segment, “sugarfree has always been and will always be, our main business,” asserts Susan Rosenthal Jay, vice-president of marketing/exports. “When we launched we had one item and from there, we’ve focused solely on the better-for-you market before it was even popular,” she states.

Firm in it’s commitment to using Splenda, the company promotes that the sweetening agent “has no aftertaste, is neither toxic nor carcinogenic, and has no effect on carbohydrate metabolism, “making it ideal for diabetics. And Jay maintains these facts hold meaning for today’s consumers. She says the market and Hillside sales have benefited from the Internet, where interest has grown and information is being shared about not just sugar alternatives, but the better-for-you products arena overall.

“During the past several years especially people have been online learning more about healthy lifestyles, which has only improved our business,” Jay says.

Thirteen flavors are available in peg bags of the company’s GoLightly brand, plus “a few dozen bulk flavors, “she tells Candy & Snack TODAY. Solid-color twist wraps were introduced recently as well and marketed toward themed party events, she states. With a robust international presence across 20 countries and many private label customers, Hillside “is always focused on developing new flavors and continuing to expand in different channels,” Jay adds.

Also, intent on new developments, Armand Hammer, president and CEO of Innovative Candy Concepts (ICC), is currently promoting the company’s new Fruit Blasts, miniature bottles filled with sugarfree liquid candy that can be consumed alone or added to beverages for flavor boosts, he asserts.

Hammer puts the “guilt-free” aspect of sugarfree front and center.

“The bigger picture is that sugarfree is a good thing for the industry because if you have candy positioned as health, people will eat more and you also attract a big market of those who might now buy the category normally.”

He also remarks that retailers are showing keener interest in buying sugarfree items “because they know best what their consumers are looking for and now they’re seeing that customers demand healthier choices,”

In kid’s candy, ICC has made inroads with a series of sour and sweet sugarfree products, from sprays to get novelty suckups resembling baby bottles with liquid candy inside.

Growth in sugarfree candy, Mark Sesler, senior vice-president and chief marketing officer for Russell Stover Candies, Inc., states, is being driven by three factors; improved merchandising by retailers, a combination of diabetes diagnoses and the more general consumer search for better-for-you confectionary, and the proliferation of pack types and flavors. “Consumers like variety and choice,” he says, “those who desire sugarfree candy are no different.

Chocolate’s ‘Bright Future’

Russell Stover markets sugarfree products under three brands—Russell Stover, which enjoys more than a 50 percent share, Whitman’s and Pangburn’s Millionaires. Rounding out the offerings are 10 boxed chocolate varieties, 25 peg and laydown bags, tablet bars, hard candies and even sugarfree granola snack bars.

Packaging was recently updated on each of these brands, according to Sesler.

He describes how across brands, Russell Stover Sugarfree products will carry “our famous bow, which also serves as a flavor differentiator, and the new Whitman’s sugarfree peg line is dominantly yellow, which aligns itself with the patriarch of the brand, the Whitman’s Sampler.”

Concurring, Asher’s Chocolates President Jeff Asher says: “We’ve seen a nice uptick in sales in our sugarfree lines, which represent about 44 percent of our total business,” He too points to the most recent figure on diabetes, noting: “While 25 million are diagnosed, there are so many who don’t even know they are diabetic.

The ADA data indicates at least seven million Americans are as yet not diagnosed. The company debuted sugarfree chocolate-covered potato chips in 2010, adding to its more than 100 sugarfree SKU’s.

Asher says packaging is being revamped on its sector offerings, and that many traditionally boxed chocolates are now moving into reclosable standup pouches. Sugarfree items in Asher’s signature blue boxes will be modified in 2011 to reflect the design of the new bag format, he says. “Sugarfree customers are extremely loyal. Once they find a good sugarfree product, then tend to come back again and again and tell their friends,” Asher states. “The future of sugarfree is bright, “Sesler tells Candy & Snack TODAY. “The consumer base is growing and product lines are expanding to meet their expectations. Retailers are recognizing that when merchandised effectively, it can deliver good sales and profits, which are all incremental to the current candy sales base.”

Positioning Sugarfree for Impact

Long gone are planograms that relegated sugarfree confectionery to aisle space near pharmacies, and sources report retailers are coming up with dynamic ways to get products noticed on-shelf. But differing merchandising concepts exist, as suppliers suggest the merits of both inline integration and dedicated sets. “Products should be shelved in their own section adjacent to sugar candy items,” Storck’s Jones suggests. “When consumers decide what type of candy to buy, sugar versus sugarfree is one of the first decisions they make. By separating the two, retailers can make the shopping experience more efficient and productive.”

Taking another view, Jelly Belly’s Swaigen offers: “If retailers employ effective brand blocking having more of a same brand in s set versus sugarfree butting up against traditional confections they give shoppers choices and make a lot of shelf impact.”

The company also offers four-foot bulk displays with gravity feed fixtures that can be profitable standalone merchandisers, Swaigen says, to achieve the same effect.

Russell Stover’s Sesler adds because merchandising in this sector “has evolved, it has become abundantly clear that the best way to merchandise sugarfree is in the primary candy aisle, but as a set within a set,” He add: “Retailers will maximize the opportunity if they merchandise peg bags, laydown bags and bars in the same sugarfree set.”

In addition to this, however, he says pharmacies are very productive locations. “Although the consumer base is really quite broad, those individuals who are affected by diabetes index quite high as to the purchase of sugarfree candy.”

Jones says no matter where sugarfree items are placed, it’s a sure bet consumers are seeking them out in earnest. “Growth is coming from two sources: innovation and penetration,” he says, explaining new products, pack types and flavor variety are feeding demand while “increased penetration is attracting new households” of diabetics, the health-conscious and dieters.

Sorbee’s Werther likewise says the more suppliers out there bring the innovation through new and refreshed products; the better growth will continue to be at retail. “Diabetes has an impact on the segment, that can’t be denied,” he says. “But what’s also driving consumption has a lot to do with product availability. Retailers have really done a great job with sugarfree to the benefit of everyone especially consumers who need it.”

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions at (248) 935-2362, x677 or Zaguroli@chaindrug.com.

The Future of Period Protections
Source: Health & Beauty Care Executive

New period protection products center on advanced fit, protection, and natural and organic materials.

Procter & Gamble Co. says it has developed a wide range of products to fit different body types, period flows, and preferences. For example, the Always Infinity line of pads feature Microdots for fast absorption and form-fitting channels that move with women’s bodies for an intimate, three dimensional body fit and great leakage protection.

Heather Inyart, brand manager, Playtex Gentle Glide at Energizer Personal Care, says young women are looking for feminine protection products that give them confidence and keep up with their every move. The company’s Playtex Sport Super Plus Tampons offer “the best protection for the heaviest days” and give women protection for when it’s needed most.

In response to consumers’ requests, Evofem Inc. reduced the size of the rim on its Instead Softcup to provide an even better fit and will begin replacing the current version in June, according to Tracey Croughwell, vp sales & marketing.

“Consumers also requested an environmentally friendly product,” Croughwell adds. “While Softcup already reduces waste because of its long wear time, we created a reusable Softcup that can be used for up to on menstrual cycle. Considering that on average, women use 20 tampons per cycle, that represents a significant waste and cost reduction. Reusable Softcups will be available in August.”

According to Rebecca Alvandi, marketing & development directory at Maxim Hygiene Prodcuts, the company has refined its message to help women understand the company’s mission and the main benefits of its organic and natural tampons, pantyliners, and sanitary pads.

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Feel free to contact me if you have any questions at (248) 935-2362, x677 or Zaguroli@chaindrug.com.

The Future of Natural Personal Care Source: Health & Beauty Care Executive

The Future of Blood Pressure Monitors Source: Health & Beauty Care Executive