Center Store

SUPPLIER NEWS — Hallmark has partnered with the U.S. Postal Service to make sending greeting cards hassle-free. New postage-paid greetings, which will range in price from $2.69 to $3.99, feature the U.S. Postal Service’s Intelligent Mail bar code on the front of the envelope. More than 200 varieties of everyday postage-paid greetings will be available.

WESTON, Fla. — For a limited time, a spring water brand is rolling out new packaging through a new marketing partnership with Paramount Pictures/Nickelodeon Movies.

H20 said its new "Rango"-themed bottles, which will be available through May, feature the namesake character from the animated film. H20 also launched a commercial starring Rango, the company said.

H20 products are available at Kmart, Whole Foods and other retailers.

BROOMFIELD, Colo. — Soy milk brand Silk has added a coconut milk product that contains no dairy, no lactose and no cholesterol.

New Silk Pure Coconut, now available in grocery stores nationwide, joins Silk's lineup of soy milk products, which include original, vanilla and almond flavors. Silk Pure Coconut is calcium-fortified and is an excellent source of vitamins D and B12, so that those who are either lactose-intolerant or just prefer the taste of soy milk over traditional milk can get the nutrients they need, the company noted.

NORTHFIELD, Ill. — The active gum category has a new functional addition. Kraft Foods recently introduced Stride Spark, a gum that contains vitamins B6 and B12, two essential nutrients known for helping to release energy in the body.

Manufacturers have been boosting new gum flavors with vitamins and supplements in an effort to help consumers meet their daily nutritional requirements and keep the category exciting. The strategy has worked — gum has seen steady growth over the past few years, outpacing many other confection segments.

The drug store channel isn’t maximizing its potential in the consumer electronics category. According to research by TWICE and the Stevenson Co., CE sales at Walgreens, Rite Aid and CVS amounted to $111 billion last year, less than 1% of the chains’ combined revenue. At Walmart, electronics comprise about 7% of sales. TWICE’s research also revealed that CE sales at all three drug chains were down last year.

BETHEL, Conn. — A new lineup of Duracell power inverters and laptop power adapters has been introduced for a spring launch. This is the first line to market advanced USB 2.1 Amp charging ports across inverters and laptop adapters.

The definition of snacking has broadened, and more choices are competing for the consumer dollar. Consumers also continue to want more for their money.

Value is a big issue for consumers when it comes to purchasing snacks. Research from SymphonyIRI Group revealed that 80% of consumers actively look for the best value when buying snacks, and 42% are cutting back on money spent on snacks.

Meanwhile, competition is increasing from fast food chains that are adding smaller-sized snackable foods to their menus.

NEW YORK — Consumers always want more, whether it is a thinner, lighter iPad, a faster car or a muffin with more blueberries. The same is true in the world of coupons, where a stumbling national economy caused shoppers to demand more coupons from consumer packaged goods companies.