HEALTH

Healthy holiday shopping season, but trouble could lie ahead, NRF says
NEW YORK — Despite caution among consumers, retailers wrapped up 2012 with a healthy holiday shopping season, according to a new report by a retailing trade group.

The National Retail Federation said Tuesday that holiday retail sales increased 3% over the year before, to $579.8 billion. December retail sales increased 0.8% seasonally adjusted from November and 2.1% unadjusted year over year. Nevertheless, the 3% increase was still below the NRF's projected 4.1% growth. Meanwhile, nonstore holiday sales grew 11.1%.
Revamped marketing campaign boosts sales of Alli
GlaxoSmithKline’s Alli is back. And while the brand is still slightly down versus year-ago sales — Alli posted a sales decline of 8.9% to $13.9 million across all channels for the 12 weeks ended Nov. 4, according to SymphonyIRI Group — overall, the category is trending up 15% in quarterly sales increases. The recent resumption of marketing efforts behind Alli coupled with recent New Year’s resolutions should maintain Alli’s position as the top-selling diet-aid tablet, and the only OTC option in the category.

Stress-free testing

EDINA, Minn. — Arkray recently launched Glucocard Expression, an audio-enabled blood glucose monitoring system that includes bilingual voice options so that consumers can hear their test results. Oversized picture icons and large tactile buttons also make the meter easier to use, and reliable test results are displayed in six seconds. Glucocard Expression also uses a small sample size and alternative site testing to increase comfort for users, Arkray stated.
Six for 2013

Rather than take off for the holidays, the editors of Drug Store News took a look at the year ahead and the trends, issues and headlines that will makes the news in 2013.

What do you think? Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn, and join the discussion there, or post your comments on DrugStoreNews.com ... Or, you can pretend it’s still 1999 and email your comments to [email protected]. Just don’t fax us.
Reuters: CVS/pharmacy will stock Tylenol in only half of its stores

NEW YORK — CVS/pharmacy has decided to stock Tylenol pain reliever in only half of its stores, according to a Reuters report published Monday.

According to the report, CVS will stock Tylenol in each market, but not in each store as CVS seeks to plug any out-of-stock holes left behind by the initial recall of Tylenol three years ago and the brand's slow trek back to shelf.
Lifes2Good launches pair of hair growth supplements

CHICAGO — Lifes2good Natural Healthcare recently announced the introduction of a pair of new hair growth supplements: Viviscal Extra Strength and Viviscal Man.

The new extra-strength formulation contains 50% more of the active ingredient AminoMar, a proprietary blend of ingredients and proteins said to promote existing hair growth. It also contains new ingredients biotin, iron and zinc.
CytoSport launches Evolve protein drink for women

BENICIA, Calif. — CytoSport on Tuesday launched Evolve, a naturally flavored protein shake that will serve as a complement to any woman's evolution toward a healthy lifestyle. Shaped by Muscle Milk, Evolve is the latest protein beverage innovation to hit CytoSport's portfolio. Available in early January 2013, Evolve can be found in the weight management or protein nutrition aisle at retailers nationwide.
New products meet demand for probiotics

NEW YORK — A recent survey commissioned by Dannon found that 68% of consumers believe certain probiotics help regulate the digestive system, yet one-third of Americans agree that they don’t get enough probiotics in their average daily diets.

That suggests an upside for an already hot category — sales of probiotics were up 16.2% across all channels to $232 million for the 52 weeks ended Oct. 28, according to SymphonyIRI Group data.
VMS for healthier pets

NEW YORK — Pet supplements represent a new mostly untapped market opportunity for the OTC section in the retail pharmacy setting. Consumers spent an estimated $52.9 billion last year on their pets, up 3.7% as compared with 2011 actual sales, according to the American Pet Products Association.
OTC choices based on advice, availability

At least half of consumers cite prior use (58%), in-store browsing (54%) and pharmacist’s recommendations (50%) as the most commonly reported methods used to select an OTC remedy, according to an online survey of more than 900 AccentHealth viewers conducted in September 2012. And 4-out-of-5 respondents indicated that their OTC remedies are easy to find.