Financial News

Sales of primary batteries used in consumer products should grow 2.4% each year, according to research from Freedonia Group.


That’s good news for a category that has seen a fair share of decline in recent years. Freedonia Group sees a shift in the product mix toward more expensive primary batteries, particularly superpremium alkaline and primary 
lithium products.


Alkaline batteries will continue to dominate the market, and should generate 84% of sales in 2015.

 MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Fred's on Thurday reported a total sales decline of 1% to $150.4 million for the four weeks ended Nov. 24. Comparable store sales for the month declined 3.6% versus an increase of 1.5% in the same period last year.

As many as 26% of consumers increased their usage of over-the-counter products in the past year, according to an online survey of more than 900 AccentHealth viewers conducted in September. Anticipated increases in OTC use for the upcoming year are driven by those who have already reported a rise in usage in the past year.


To see more Patient Views, click here.

The lower cost of OTCs was cited as the primary reason viewers have increased and plan to increase their OTC usage. 


While the term homeopathy may remain as foreign to the American consumer as allopathy, as a relative “class” within each of the respective categories where homeopathic remedies exist, more and more shoppers are placing those homeopathic products in their baskets.

Beauty market research company NPD Group recently reported that prestige gift sets were once again on the rise within U.S. department stores.


While all prestige gift sets saw double-digit gains, the greatest lift was reported in makeup gift sets. Between January and October 2012, total makeup gift sets rose 26% to $116 million compared with the January to 
October 2011 period.


Total skin care gift sets increased 23% compared with the year-ago period to reach $276 million.


Total sales of fragrance gift sets climbed 10% to $479 million versus 
last year.


The greeting card category is shifting. Category giants American Greetings and Hallmark face the threat of competition from e-cards and are challenged by increased segmentation of the card category. Hallmark estimates that over the past decade, the number of greeting cards sold in the United States has dropped from 6 billion to 5 billion annually.


The Greeting Card Association reports that while greeting card unit sales have fluctuated over the past several years, the industry continues to generate annual revenues of $7 billion to $8 billion.


CINCINNATI — Kroger remained one of the few outperforming supermarket operators Thursday morning as the grocer exceeded analyst consensus adjusted earnings per diluted share by 3 cents with 46 cents per share. Actual reported net earnings were even higher — 60 cents per share — as Kroger benefitted from a settlement with Visa and MasterCard and from a reduction in the company's obligation to fund the UFCW consolidated pension fund created in January. 

Kroger shares were up 3.4% to $25.90 in late morning trading. 

HYDERABAD, India — Dr. Reddy's Labs has appointed a new CFO and head of its North America business, the generic drug maker said.

Dr. Reddy's said Umang Vohra will take over the role of EVP and head of generics for North America, starting in January 2013. Vohra has been CFO of Dr. Reddy's for the past four years.

Saumen Chakraborty will take over as CFO of Dr. Reddy's following Vohra's reappointment. Chakraborty is currently president and global head of quality, human resources, information technology and business process excellence.