Financial News

When buying bath and shower products, shoppers tend to choose products based mainly on scent and moisturization, according to a Mintel survey. Furthermore, men are increasingly opting for body wash in lieu of bar soap.

According to SymphonyIRI Group data, sales of body wash rose about 7% at food, drug and mass (excluding Walmart) for the 52 weeks ended Nov. 27. Taking the top spot, according to the data: Axe body wash for men.

Gum sales might not be soaring at the rate they once were, but industry experts say there’s still steam left in the category. Functional gums may become a bigger part of the category. Wrigley and Trident both introduced gums with benefits. Wrigley’s relaunched Extra Ice brand is positioned as having oral benefits, and Cadbury’s Trident Vitality contains vitamin C. Kraft also launched a Stride flavor, Whitemint, featuring Olympic snowboarder Shaun White.

CHICAGO — A biscotti maker now owns a Canada-based cookie brand.

Nonni's Foods said it has acquired the ThinAddictives brand from V.I.S., which is known for its nameksake almond thins, along with its state-of-the-art baking facility in Ville St-Laurent, Quebec. The ThinAddictives brand includes cranberry almond, pistachio almond and chocolate almond flavors.

STAMFORD, Conn. — In an effort to help chronically ill Americans that rely on safety net clinics for their medical care, AstraZeneca has donated $3.8 million worth of prescription medicines to AmeriCares.

PARSIPPANY, N.J. — Watson Pharmaceuticals has acquired the Australia and Southeast Asia generic pharmaceutical business of Strides Arcolab for $392.4 million in cash.

New products and innovation helped drive sales of depilatories. According to SymphonyIRI Group, sales of depilatories rose more than 15% to $23.4 million for the most recent 12 weeks ended Nov. 27 at food, drug and mass (excluding Walmart).


Olay recently entered the segment with its new Olay Smooth Finish Facial Hair Removal Duo, a two-step system to remove unwanted facial hair. Earlier in 2011, Veet launched its Ready-to-Use Hair Removal Wax Strips For Face & Body and also reformulated its Veet Fast Acting creams for normal and sensitive skin.

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — After weeks of speculation, Kodak and its U.S. subsidiaries officially filed voluntary petitions for Chapter 11 business reorganization.

AMSTERDAM — Ahold experienced several bright spots during its fourth quarter and full year, the Dutch supermarket company said.

Fourth-quarter net sales totaled $9.4 billion, a 4.5% increase above the year-ago period, while net sales for the year increased by 2.5% to $39.1 billion.