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EL PASO, Texas — Helen of Troy has become the new owner of the Pur water purification products business, the company announced Tuesday.

The company previously announced its intent to acquire Pur Water Purification Products company — including the worldwide Pur trademark, its current and future product line, assets related to the operations of the Pur business, manufacturing equipment and more than 200 patents — from Procter & Gamble in December.

Sales of household cleaning products have seen a decline over the last four years, according to a recent study by Mintel — a trend the market research company expected will continue until 2015.

Mintel attributed the dip in sales to consumers cleaning their homes on an as-needed basis and taking a more economy-focused approach to the category. Cleaning cloths/wipes, furniture polish and floor cleaners have had the best growth. Sales of green products slowed, but still show promise.

Craft beers — particularly seasonals — have provided much-needed innovation to the beer category, providing the category with double-digit sales increases for the last several years. Craft brews’ sales were up 16.2% for the 52 weeks ended in early October 2011, according to the Brewers Association. While craft brews represent 4.9% of total beer category volume, the segments accounts for 7.6% of retail dollar volume.

BATTLE CREEK, Mich. — In line with National Weigh-in Day on Jan. 2, Special K announced it is offering tracking tools, peer inspiration and motivation on its website, SpecialK.com, to help women achieve their weight-loss goals in 2012.

How it works: Users can customize their weight-loss plans with their lifestyles by selecting their meal plan and activity level. Afterwards, users then are given a personalized Special K plan that is unique to their needs and goals. Women easily can track their progress online via their mobile device, Special K said.

UTRECHT, Netherlands — Sara Lee has acquired an ultra-premium tea business based in Massachusetts.

The company said it acquired Tea Forté, a company founded in 2003 by former Museum of Modern Art designer Peter Hewitt, for an undisclosed sum. The acquisition, Sara Lee said, strategically fits the company's strategy to spin off its CoffeeTeaCo business. CoffeeTeaCo will retain the current management team of Tea Forté to run the business independently before integrating it into its international coffee and tea operations, Sara Lee noted.

SAN FRANCISCO — Ghirardelli is boosting its gourmet milk chocolate portfolio with the introduction of three new products.

The lineup now includes gourmet milk Creamy Devotion with 32% cacao chocolate, gourmet nilk Sea Salt Escape with sea salt and roasted almonds and gourmet milk Coconut Rendezvous, which features toasted coconut flakes.

Ghirardelli's gourmet milk line of products now are available in 3.5-oz. bars and 4.5-oz. and 5.25-oz. bags for suggested retail prices of $2.79 and $3.99, respectively.

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

PURCHASE, N.Y. — SoBe Lifewater has introduced three new beverages to its SoBe Lifewater with Coconut Water line.

The brand said the line now touts such tropical flavors as pacific coconut, pomegranate nectarine and mango mandarin.