Cough-Cold and Flu

Flu activity is gaining ground in Tennessee and North Carolina, according to the latest Walgreens Flu Index.

Out-of-stocks represent a significant missed-sales opportunity across both cough-cold categories and those ancillary categories people buy into when they're feeling a cold or flu coming on.

Much of Dave Wendland’s presentation has grown out of natural product research HRG has conducted over the last few years.

The spike in hospitalizations related to influenza-like illnesses has created spot shortages in anti-viral medicines and flu tests and has exasperated the supply issue with IV saline bags, agencies report.

Rather than only seeking natural remedies once they’re already sick, consumers are increasingly looking for immune-boosting products to keep them from catching the latest bug.

In much the same way that sales of cough-cold products are off to a fast start, so are lip balm sales.

Outside of the South, Connecticut, New Jersey and North Carolina are seeing significant gains in flu activity.

It's been a busy year for purveyors of cough/cold medicines, and these new products may have been just the thing to soothe what ailed their customers.