Vitamins, Diet and Sports Nutrition

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Vestcom on Tuesday launched VitaAisles, a shopper-friendly, comprehensive in-store education program designed to support consumer demand for health information regarding vitamins, minerals and supplements. 

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.

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.  

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.

SALT LAKE CITY — Zarbee's on Tuesday noted that more consumers have gravitated toward natural solutions over allopathic medicines, at least through the end of December, citing Nielsen scan data. 

For the 12 weeks ended Dec. 31, supplemental immune system boosters and homeopathic cough and cold medicines were up 13%, Zarbee's reported. The trend is even more pronounced across children's remedies with allopathic medicines declining 15% in the 12 week period while sales of pediatric natural solutions were up 19%, and now make up more than 20% of the category. 

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.

Interest in vitamins, minerals and supplements as a viable consumer product with strong profit-bearing potential has got to be at an all-time high right now, judging from the number of merger and acquisition deals scrolling across the latest finance news feeds.

HORSHAM, Pa. — Symphony Health Solutions on Tuesday named Frank Lavelle CEO.