In this Issue

Today, sales of all self-diagnostic devices — including blood pressure monitors and glucose meters, as well as home-test kits and pregnancy test kits — stand at about $1 billion across food, drug and mass outlets, up slightly with a little more than 2% growth.

(For the full category review, including sales data, click here.)

The lip segment is on the upswing with the shining star proving, once again, to be lip color. Lipstick continues to be the darling of the segment much to the detriment of lip gloss and lip treatments.

(For the full category review, including sales data, click here.)

CINCINNATI — Procter & Gamble in August launched its Clearblue Advanced Pregnancy Test with Weeks Estimator — the first and only pregnancy test that also provides an estimate of time since ovulation for women testing pregnant. The introduction will play brand dividends — before the new product’s sales could be tracked, Clearblue pregnancy test kits were already up 23.6% to $39.5 million, across U.S. multi-outlets for the 52 weeks ended Sept. 8, according to IRI.

The U.S. men’s grooming category is expected to see growth through 2017, albeit perhaps at a slower rate than previously predicted due in part to a tapering of new product launches and increased market saturation in such categories as shave. There’s no doubt, however, that men are increasingly stepping out of their comfort zone to embrace beauty routines.

Chances are, if a person doesn’t have diabetes, then they personally know someone who does. According to a recent poll conducted by Research Now, 75% of those surveyed reported they either had diabetes or knew a diabetic.

(For the full category review, including sales data, click here.)

You could call it a who’s who of the industry.

With a record-breaking crowd expected on hand, The Drug Store News Group has assembled an all-star lineup of some of the leading retail merchants and marketers in the industry for its 15th annual Industry Issues conference next month. All that and brand-building genius and TV celebrity Daymond John of ABC’s “Shark Tank” will deliver the exclusive lunchtime keynote.

’Tis the season for toy and electronics gifts. It’s no coincidence that it’s also the biggest time of the year for battery sales. Ramping up displays can help retailers optimize the season.

(For the full category review, including sales data, click here.)

WHIPPANY, N.J. — Bayer’s Contour Next EZ has captured $5.9 million in sales in a little more than one year on shelf, according to IRI. The system provides innovative technology for enhanced accuracy by combining a next-generation test strip with an algorithm, multipulse technology and a proprietary mediator.