Allergy

WAUKESHA, Wis. — Cold and allergy is the leading front-of-store category as measured by dollar sales for independents, Hamacher Resource Group reported in a blog on Monday. All told, the category represents 17.9% of all health, beauty and wellness sales.

That total is slightly down, 0.6%, from last year’s percentage, but HRG is confident cough cold sales will swing up in the coming season.

DUBLIN — As more consumers continue to capitalize on the value of a national brand equivalent through the appeal of the kind of own brand mindset many retailers have today, private label has never looked so promising. Not only is there continued growth in core categories due to the migration of consumers from national brand to store brand, but also the potential for new OTC product classes to emerge as the administration struggles to make healthcare more affordable.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Meijer and Spectrum Health today announced they have collaborated to launch a line of co-branded over-the-counter products.

“As the nation’s ninth largest grocery retailer, Meijer has an undeniable presence throughout the Midwest,” Spectrum Health SVP and chief strategy officer Roger Jansen said. “We are excited to work with Meijer. This collaboration enables Spectrum Health to meet consumers where they are on their health-and-wellness journey.”

There’s a global race right now to become the global drug chain leader. It brings three very different things together: the board game Risk, an iceberg and a Bob Dylan song. I’ll explain.

WAUKESHA, Wis. — Hamacher Resource Group on Wednesday introduced a new infographic series to help community pharmacies maximize sales. "Increasing the Market Basket — Ideas for Cross-Selling Merchandise," offers suggested complementary items to add to front-end health, beauty and wellness departments as space is available to improve the shopper experience and increase impulse purchases.

In April, Drug Store News and Mack Elevation co-hosted the third annual New General Market Summit. The one-day thought leadership event examined the changing face of the American shopper — driven not only by the growth of multicultural and millennial consumers but also by the influence these consumers are having on all consumers — and how the best brands are able to connect on an emotional level, as well as build community and advocacy with an ever-more diverse consumer.

SOLON, Ohio and SAN FRANCISCO — Efficient Collaborative Retail Marketing has acquired a technology company that has been changing how retailers discover new suppliers.

The company on Tuesday announced the acquisition of RangeMe, which streamlines new product discovery in a way that ECRM said will complement the foundation it has laid in helping buyers discover new products and improve category planning effectiveness.