Vitamins, Diet and Sports Nutrition

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.

ATLANTA — Medagate, a wholly owned subsidiary of InComm Holdings, on Monday announced the launch of the MasterCard Dual Value Health Card, the first dual network healthcare spending card. The Dual Value Health Card enables employers and health plans to combine a member/employee healthcare funding purse with a restricted-spend purse for targeted items and incentives.

EASTON, Md. — Konsyl Pharmaceuticals on Wednesday named Roger Giannico VP sales and marketing. Giannico has more than 25 years of experience in health care product sales and marketing management, most recently at ChaseHealthAdvance Patient Financing, a division of JP Morgan Chase. 

Giannico earned his MBA at Dowling College in Oakdale, N.Y., and has been an adjunct professor at Stony Brook University.

FERNDALE, Mich. — Ferndale Healthcare on Thursday unveiled a redesigned corporate web site www.ferndalehealthcare.com to make it easier for a variety of target audiences to navigate the site.

PITTSBURGH — Giant Eagle on Thursday announced a new Winter Low Price Lock on hundreds of popular products. 

WASHINGTON — The Council for Responsible Nutrition on Thursday announced that John Blair, SVP of NSA, has been named chair of the association’s board of directors. Blair, who will hold the chairmanship through 2014, succeeds Jim Hamilton, president of DSM Nutritional Products, USA.