Prestige rides OTC crest in Q3 gains

IRVINGTON, N.Y. — Prestige Brands posted gains of 22.7% in revenue, reaching $90.6 million for its third quarter ended Dec. 31.

The company’s revenue from its five core over-the-counter brands — Chloraseptic, Clear Eyes, Compound W, Little Remedies and The Doctor’s NightGuard — increased 14% over the period. That kind of sales story is expected to improve in the coming year as Prestige assumes the reigns of the recently acquired Dramamine and Blacksmith Brands’ stable of brands — including cough-cold brands PediaCare, Luden’s and NasalCrom.

"Our strategy for growing the core OTC brands is well under way,” stated Prestige president and CEO Matthew Mannelly. “Increased investment in advertising and promotion coupled with new product introductions resulted in strong sell through during the quarter,” he said. “Consumption for Prestige’s core OTC brands, including Blacksmith Brands, grew 26.5% during the quarter."

With the addition of Dramamine, Prestige now fields nine core OTC brands, Mannelly said, representing approximately 90% of its OTC segment revenue.