Center Store

Bootlegging, debauching and murdering its way through the second season, HBO’s Prohibition-themed series “Boardwalk Empire” has dramatized an era alien to its viewers but whose vestiges have remained in much of the country.


Dr Pepper Snapple Group recently manned up behind a campaign supporting their action-adventure diet soda for men: Dr Pepper Ten. Drug Store News tapped Eddie Hicks, VP national accounts, to get the low-down.


DSN: Why men? What is the opportunity? 


SUPPLIER NEWS — Kimberly-Clark’s new portable cleaning wipes are designed to eliminate smudges from touchscreen devices. Packaged in resealable pouches, the wipes easily remove fingerprints, makeup, and skin oil and grease; won’t scratch glass surfaces; and virtually are lint-free, Kimberly-Clark said. KimTech* wipes are available in two packs (10 wipes per pack) and three packs (with 20 wipes per pack) for a suggested retail price of $3 and $7.49, respectively.


SEATTLE — Jones Soda announced it has received 2012 retail authorizations from several U.S. and Canada chains.

Jones Soda said its products will be sold at such U.S. retailers as Safeway, Winn-Dixie and Publix, Kum & Go convenience stores and all U.S. military commissaries, in addition to Food Land in Canada, which further expands Jones' product distribution within the Sobeys chain of stores.

Earlier in the year, Jones Soda also secured authorizations for Ralphs, Albertsons, Giant Eagle, Cub Foods and ShopRite stores, the company said.

With consumers eating more meals at home, frozen food sales are soaring. Packaged Facts predicted the frozen food category will grow to $70 billion in 2015, an increase of $14.1 billion (or 25%) over 2010. According to a recent study from the market research firm, 72% of consumers said they purchased frozen prepared food.

NEW YORK — A new cardio dance workout is being released on DVD from Gaiam.

"Rhythmica," which stars NYC Crunch fitness instructor Marc Santa Maria, combines results-driven workouts with the latest dance techniques to create a truly unique exercise experience, Gaiam said. "Rhythmic"a offers three 20-minute workouts, including the Get Fit House Party, Latin Dance Mix and Hip-Hop Fat Burn routines.

Rhythmica will this week at Target stores and wherever DVDs are sold.



It was the best of times. It was the worst of times. It’s that kind of Dickensian double-speak that personifies the tone of the holiday forecasts this year — forecasts that have really been all over the board.

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


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


• 40% are trying fewer new products;