In this Issue

Rising commodity costs and brutal competition have been squeezing profits from the ready-to-eat cereal category. Dollar sales for the 52-week period ended Dec. 26, 2010, were down 3%, according to SymphonyIRI Group. Sue Viamari, editor of SymphonyIRI’s Times and Trends, said the category has been in decline during the past several quarters, and there was a 0.7% decline in price per volume during the same period.


Move over Snuggie and ShamWow — more direct-response products are coming to retail.


“Over the past five years, there’s been an explosion of these products at retail,” said Tom Haire, editor of Response Magazine, a publication that covers the direct-response industry. “Retailers see products that fly off the shelves because they’ve been advertised so heavily, and manufacturers see an opportunity to extend the life of the brand.”

All the hype around H1N1 
that was so prevalent in 2009 is gone, leaving only the tough comparisons a year later. That makes the first half of the 
2010-2011 cough-cold season an H1N1 hangover with overall sales of $4.6 billion, representing a slight decline of 1.8%, for the 52 weeks ended Dec. 26, 2010, according to SymphonyIRI Group. What was missing in 2010 was the 2009 summer of sickness that reached a crescendo in September.

When ScriptPro started 
in­troducing pharmacy robots, it entered an industry where the pharmacist was mostly dolling out medications. Today, pharmacy automation and technology continue to evolve, freeing pharmacists’ time and taking on everything from workflow automation to smart-phone applications.

Generic drug usage already has been on the rise year after year, with no sign of slowing down. As Jody Fisher, VP marketing for healthcare analytics at market research firm SDI, has told Drug Store News, generics accounted for more than 70% of products dispensed at retail pharmacies and are set to increase further this year.


HARRISBURG, Pa. — The Pennsylvania Supreme Court in December ruled in favor of Wegmans and supermarkets across the state over whether or not the grocers could sell beer on their premises — the ruling expands what many consider to be the most restrictive alcohol distribution laws in the country. 


In Pennsylvania, beer can be purchased only from a restaurant/bar or beer distributor. Beer distributors can sell only by the case or keg, while restaurants and bars cannot sell more than 16 12-oz. beers per purchase. 


Digi-Piggy

TORRANCE, Calif. — Earlier this month, Cisco Sales Corp. introduced Digi-Piggy at the 108th Toy Fair in New York. Digi-Piggy calculates the value of all U.S. coins inserted and then displays the total on a digital readout on the pig’s snout. The Digi-Piggy is made of durable plastic with a simple twist-off lid, and is designed for children ages 3 years and older. The price point is $14.95.


HOOFDORP, Netherlands — Sneaker and sports apparel manufacturer ASICS in March will open a new flagship store here, on the Stadhouderskade, at the entrance of greater Amsterdam’s most popular running path, the Vondelpark.


Beyond the basic sneaker-purchasing experience, the 6,458-sq.-ft. store touts several exclusive features, including:

• 
Running Lab, which offers extensive body analyses, including foot shape, leg alignment, running technique, strength and endurance, and customized advice on how to improve technique and performance;