Financial News

OMAHA, Neb. — ConAgra Foods is acquiring a private-label pretzel maker, the company announced.

ConAgra said its acquisition of Lancaster, Pa.-based National Pretzel includes three bakeries located in Lancaster, Pa., Hanover, Pa., and Visalia, Calif. Additionally, more than 700 National Pretzel employees are expected to join ConAgra when the transaction closes, ConAgra noted.

The acquisition is expected to close within 30 days. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

While sales of shaving cream — which research has shown to have a relatively high level of penetration among men — have experienced single-
digit growth, sales of razors climbed more than 13%.

According to SymphonyIRI Group, sales of shaving cream rose 3.43% to $282.38 million during the 52 weeks ended Oct. 2 at food, drug and mass (excluding Walmart). During that same period, sales of razors rose 13.5% to $282.4 million.

SEATTLE — Starbucks announced Thursday plans to reinvent the $1.6 billion premium juice market with its all-cash purchase of San Bernardino, Calif.-based Evolution Fresh for $30 million.

The acquisition, which is part of a strategy to move beyond coffee into the health-and-wellness segment, gives Starbucks a path to open new health-and-wellness stores in the coming year, it said, although Starbucks has not yet revealed many stores it will open, their location or the name.

The hair coloring segment is experiencing growth, albeit modest growth, as men look to turn back the hands of time.

According to data from SymphonyIRI Group, sales of men’s hair coloring rose 0.31% to $140.6 million for the 52 weeks ended Oct. 2 at food, drug and mass (excluding Walmart). The biggest gainer, according to the data: Irene Gari Cover Your Gray for Men, which experienced a sales boost of nearly 72%.

Research by Euromonitor International has suggested that an improving economy, combined with product innovation, has prompted upper-income shoppers to return to department store beauty counters for premium skin care products. Meanwhile, many in the lower income segments continued to struggle with high unemployment rates and rising gas prices, reducing their spending power for mass market skin care products. Judging by the numbers, that just might be the case.

At least that’s largely the thinking behind the new “Guy Aisle” prototype that Procter & Gamble created within a CVS/pharmacy store in Charlotte, N.C.

Unveiled in September, the new CVS/pharmacy men’s grooming section features products specifically designed for him, including Gillette, Old Spice and Head & Shoulders.

“Men are buyers, not shoppers,” stated Michael Norton, director of external relations for male grooming at Gillette, which is owned by P&G.

Consumers still are watching their dollars, as evidenced by solid sales of private-label facial cleansers; however, product innovation also is helping to drive growth among the branded products.

According to SymphonyIRI Group, sales of private-label products took the lead for the 12 weeks ended Oct. 2 at food, drug and mass (excluding Walmart).

ROCKY HILL, Conn. — Third-quarter sales for Henkel rose 1.7% over the prior-year period, the company announced in its earnings release.

Third-quarter sales increased to 4.03 million euros (about $5.53 million). The company also said that after adjusting for foreign exchange, sales improved by 5.7%. Additionally, organic sales — which exclude the impact of foreign exchange and acquisitions/divestments — realized a 6.5% increase.