Vitamins, Diet and Sports Nutrition

SAN CLEMENTE, Calif. — Hero Nutritionals on Wednesday introduced two sugar-free vitamins to its Yummi Bears line that are naturally sweetened with lo han fruit and inulin fiber.

“Overall the gummy vitamin category is up by 19% year over year, with the new sugar-free trend emerging," stated Claire Polson, national sales and marketing manager for Hero Nutritionals. “Additionally, the supplement alternative sweetener category grew by 10%, with the children’s multivitamin category driving it at 23% growth as compared to 2011.”

CHICAGO — Growth in 2013 will be slow-going in the first half of 2013 but will pick up at the end, suggested James Russo, SVP global consumer insights for Nielsen, during a webinar Wednesday afternoon. "The consumer remains in maintenance mode," he said. "Consumers are being pragmatic in their spending. Uncertainty dominates."

NEW YORK — Kraft Foods is adding to their line of flavored water enhancers with two flavors of Mio Fit, a portable liquid water enhancer with B vitamins and electrolytes, and has planned the brands first-ever Super Bowl spot to run during the third quarter of Super Bowl XVLII on Feb. 3.

NEW YORK — The National Advertising Division on Tuesday recommended that Nature’s Answer discontinue a wide range of Internet advertising claims for “Bio-Strath,” including claims that the supplement benefits children with ADD/ADHD, pregnant women, people recovering from cancer treatments, people with dementia and people with diabetes.

Nature's Answer agreed to comply. 

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Health Point Productions on Monday announced the second part of a three-part documentary on probiotics will be going into production. 

TYSONS CORNER, Va. — More than 80% of Americans are willing to pay more for Made in the USA products, according to a USA Today report published online late Monday night. 

Out of those shoppers actively seeking to buy all things American, 93% reported that they wanted to keep jobs in the U.S. as their primary reason for doing so, the report noted, citing a survey released in November by Boston Consulting Group.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — H. D. Smith on Tuesday announced the establishment of H. D. Smith Specialty Solutions, an organization structured to provide focus and alignment around specialty and traditional brand products, solutions and services. The wholesaler also announced the realignment of select executive leadership positions to best capitalize on the growing needs resulting from recent geographic and service expansions. These expansions include the acquisition of Valley Wholesale Drug in October 2012 and a planned majority ownership investment in Triplefin announced in January 2013.

CHICAGO — SymphonyIRI Group on Friday named Piyush Chaudhari president of the Americas. Chaudhari will report directly to Andrew Appel, SymphonyIRI’s president and CEO.