General Merchandise



It may be more than just coincidence that Walgreens has decided to really blow the doors off of retail pharmacy in the same city that screams horsepower every year over Memorial Day weekend. Because even as those Indy 500 drivers are chugging their milk at the Brickyard, Walgreens’ pharmacists will be celebrating a victory of their own as they and their customers help redefine what “drug store” means in shopper parlance.

CINCINNATI — Procter & Gamble has trimmed its financial outlook for its April-June 2012 quarter and has unveiled preliminary guidance for fiscal year 2013.

Speaking at the Deutsche Bank Global Consumer Conference in Paris, P&G board chairman, president and CEO Bob McDonald said, "we are making the necessary adjustments to our growth strategy to increase focus on our core business and to achieve more balanced growth across geographies, product categories and the top and bottom lines."

DALLAS — Huggies has tapped a U.S. Spanish-language television personality to provide Hispanic parents with tips, advice and a new webisode series on parenthood.

ATLANTA — Brawny has launched a national campaign and partnership with Wounded Warrior Project to help support and raise awareness of the needs of injured service members and their families across the nation.

WASHINGTON — After a strong first quarter, consumers in May took a more practical approach to their spending. According to a National Retail Federation release on Wednesday, May retail sales (excluding automobile, gas stations and restaurants) decreased 0.3% seasonally adjusted from April but increased 4.8% unadjusted year over year, marking 23 consecutive months of retail sales growth.

LOS ANGELES — Saban Brands has announced the return of the Popples franchise.

The company said it will reintroduce the brand — which was popular in the 1980s — with the introduction of such merchandise as accessories, plush toys and more by fall 2013. By spring 2014, Saban Brands plans to introduce new Popples characters and expand merchandise to include publishing, stationery, party goods, crafting and more.

PITTSBURGH — Heinz has introduced a multipurpose vinegar-based cleaner.

Heinz all-natural cleaning vinegar is 20% stronger than traditional distilled white vinegar, the company said. Available in a one-gallon jug, the new product carries a suggested retail price of $3.79.

HACKENSACK, N.J. — Nuk has expanded its portfolio to include two new products.