Chain Drug Review articles from March 2004

Chain Drug Review archives from March 2004

CVS, KKR likely to get Eckerd.
March 15, 2004... NEW YORK -- At presstime the sale of the Eckerd Corp. drug chain by parent J.C. Penney Co. was imminent and it appeared that CVS Corp. was likely to emerge the big winner. According to sources close to the negotiations, the most likely...

Boots lines find home at Target, CVS.
March 15, 2004... DENVER -- Target Corp. has given the beauty aisles of its stores here a hint of a British accent. Boots Co. PLC, the Nottingham, England-based drug chain, debuted 10 of its health and beauty care product lines in local Target stores last month....

What went wrong at Eckerd--and why.(Eckerd Corp.)
March 15, 2004... LARGO, Fla. -- What happened? How did it come to this? How did Eckerd, a drug chain that, at its zenith, was arguably the best-performing, most exciting, most charismatic and most envied retailer this industry has seen, get divested by an...

In wake of strike, price war looms.(supermarket chain employees get concessions)
March 15, 2004... LOS ANGELES -- Despite winning significant wage and benefit concessions from the United Food and Commercial Workers Union after settling the five-month-long grocery strike in southern California, Kroger Co., Albertsons Inc. and Safeway Inc....

Six Sigma is Albertsons next hope.
March 15, 2004... BOISE, Idaho -- Albertsons Inc. has announced a series of what executives call "major" organizational changes designed to create an infrastructure for long-term growth. The moves, few of which deal directly with the company's Osco and...

NACDS meeting analyzes the implications of RFID.(National Association of Chain Drug Stores; radio frequency identification)
March 15, 2004... CHANDLER, Ariz. -- The future of product identification has arrived, experts in the field told attendees at the NACDS Distribution and Logistics Conference here this month. "Some people who looked at RFID [radio frequency identification]...

CVS is among the winners at CPG Summit.(CVS Corp.)
March 15, 2004... SAN DIEGO -- CVS Corp. was among four companies honored for transforming the consumer packaged goods industry at the recent Reinventing CPG Summit held by Information Resources Inc. (IRI). CVS picked up the accolade for "Business...

McClellan leaving FDA to take the reins at CMS.(Mark McClellan)
March 15, 2004... WASHINGTON -- President Bush has nominated Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Mark McClellan to head the government's Medicare and Medicaid programs. The selection comes at a time when the federally funded health insurance programs...

Medicare drug benefit a big puzzle for seniors.
March 15, 2004... WASHINGTON -- Seniors are confused about the state of Medicare prescription drug law, according to a recent survey, which found that most are not aware that a new benefit has been passed. A Kaiser Family Foundation poll found that while...

Albertsons puts push behind PL.(Private Label)
March 15, 2004... BOISE, Idaho -- Albertsons Inc. has appointed Crossmark to represent its portfolio of private brands. Under their agreement, which takes effect April 1, Crossmark will provide a variety of marketing services in connection with Albertsons'...

Adams taps Fogarty.(Supplier News)(William Fogarty)(Adams Respiratory Therapeutics)(Adams Laboratories Inc.)
March 15, 2004... FORT WORTH, Texas -- William Fogarty has been named executive director of trade development at Adams Respiratory Therapeutics, formerly known as Adams Laboratories Inc. Most recently Fogarty was director of trade development at Pharmacia,...

Woman's day, CDR study 'what women want'.(Supplier News)(Chain Drug Review )
March 15, 2004... NEW YORK -- Woman's Day magazine has teamed up with Chain Drug Review to conduct a study whose results will be presented at the National Association of Chain Drug Stores Marketplace Conference in June. The study, entitled "What Women Want:...

Heartzels, a heart-healthy snack food, debuts.(Frito-Lay Inc.)
March 15, 2004... PLANO, Texas -- Frito-Lay Inc. is stepping up its drive to sell more healthful snacks by reaching out directly to the health care professional community. The move follows Frito-Lay's elimination of trans fat from chips and the recent...

Del Labs racks up another good year.(Del Laboratories Inc.)
March 15, 2004... UNIONDALE, N.Y. -- Del Laboratories Inc. posted improved sales and earnings for the quarter and fiscal year ended December 31, 2003. Net income for the fourth quarter of 2003 surged 32.6% to $6.46 million from $4.87 million in the...

Wrigley enters new arena.(Wm. Wrigley Jr. Co. launches Eclipse mints)(Brief Article)
March 15, 2004... CHICAGO -- Wm. Wrigley Jr. Co. is entering a fast-growing category with its first mint product in the United States: Eclipse mints. The product will be available in peppermint and winterfrost flavors at a suggested retail price of $1.49 for...

CutisPharma adds two SKUs to compounding line.(Progesterone MC5 and Progesterone MCl0)(Brief Article)
March 15, 2004... BEVERLY, Mass. -- CutisPharma Inc. has recently launched two SKUs of its unit-of-use compounding kits--Progesterone MC5 (5% progesterone in moisturizing cream) and Progesterone MCl0 (10% progesterone in moisturizing cream). In addition,...

'ShooperMapping' makes sense out of loyalty card data.(Cartwheel L.L.C. ShopperMapping service)
March 15, 2004... DENVILLE, N.J. -- Loyalty card programs have given retailers unprecedented access to shopper information that can be used to drive business growth. But the question is how to use that information. Cartwheel LLC, a new company created...

Profoot taps director of marketing.(Steven Bruner appointed)(Brief Article)
March 15, 2004... NEW YORK -- Steven Bruner has been named director of marketing at Profoot. He will be responsible for comprehensive category management, including promotions, co-op advertising, planogramming and data analysis. "With his eight years...

Chain drug stocks up 5.9% in Feb.(Business)
March 15, 2004... NEW YORK -- Chain drug stocks surged in February. Analysts look for the industry to have a strong year in 2004 as the economy continues to recover and pharmacy sales growth remains robust. >From January 30 to February 27 Chain Drug...

Penney lists Eckerd as discontinued line.(Business)
March 15, 2004... PLANO, Texas -- After three consecutive quarters of deteriorating operating results at its drug store division J.C. Penney Co. pulled the trigger and officially put its Eckerd Corp. unit on the block, classifying it as a discontinued operation....

Duane Reade net declines 52% for year.(Business)
March 15, 2004... NEW YORK -- Buffeted by December snowstorms that held back sales growth and escalating operating expenses, Duane Reade Inc. saw net income dip for both the fourth quarter and fiscal 2003 year, although the company did manage to meet the low end...

Big drug store suppliers register strong sales gains.(Business)
March 15, 2004... NEW YORK -- Affected by significant negative swings at six companies--all triggered by charges related to restructuring, litigation, acquired in-process research and development projects or by merger-related costs--profits at 25 major...

Retail excitement is trying the 'unthinkable'.(My Turn)
March 15, 2004... NEW YORK -- Boots, Target and CVS, three world-class retailers, have embarked on a bold and innovative marketing experiment that will go far in determining the power of brands and branding in a mass market environment. Indeed, if successful the...

Drug chains' convenience strategy put to test.(My Turn)
March 15, 2004... The long, contentious dispute between the three top supermarket operators in southern California and their store-level associates has finally come to an end. The agreement between Kroger Co., Safeway Inc., Albertsons Inc. and the United Food...

The newest hot markets: men & tweens.
March 15, 2004... SPIRIT ANTONIO BANDERAS Antonio Banderas is one of the most successful men's fragrances in Europe, and it is about to shake up the segment in the U.S. mass market. The launch represents an entirely new approach to the fragrance category by...

As economy revives, chains do their part.(Cosmetics: "success comes when retailers and vendors work together to keep it fresh.")(Eye makeup )
March 15, 2004... NEW YORK -- Will the color cosmetics category rebound in 2004? "The industry flattened in 2003, affected by the nation's economic slowdown," notes Jack Stahl, Revlon Inc.'s president and chief executive officer. "We believe that the beauty...

Brighter, lighter hues for spring, summer.
March 15, 2004... NEW YORK -- As March progresses and days lengthen and brighten, the top color cosmetics suppliers are bringing a similar refreshing glow to their spring and summer color collections. For example, Procter & Gamble Co.'s Cover Girl line is...

CVS Corp.'s "Beauty on the Door" initiative has made it easier for shoppers to find the products best suited to their beauty care needs.(Brief Article)
March 15, 2004... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] CVS Corp.'s "Beauty on the Door" initiative has made it easier for shoppers to find the products best suited to their beauty care needs. The program was first developed in 2001, when the drug chain moved its...

Retail strategies protect margins.
March 15, 2004... NEW YORK -- Chain drug retailers once counted on cosmetics as one of their strongest gross margin producers, but the economic downturn and the subsequent consumer demand for value has caused them to increasingly turn to exclusive store brands...

Intros are lifeblood of trendy category.(Cosmetics)
March 15, 2004... NEW YORK -- New products remain the lifeblood of the cosmetics category, and the leading beauty suppliers are poised to launch a plethora of items intended to stir up excitement and sales for retailers. The bright spot in color cosmetics...

Caboodles names Heim president.(Cosmetics News)(Brief Article)
March 15, 2004... Caboodles Cosmetics LLC has announced the appointment of Jim Heim as president. He will be responsible for overseeing all of the Caboodles business, including She She Cosmetics. "With this appointment, I look forward to undertaking the...

L'Oreal Paris appoints Nosek VP, sales operations.(Cosmetics News)(Brief Article)
March 15, 2004... L'Oreal Paris, a division of L'Oreal USA, has appointed John Nosek to vice president of sales operations. He previously served with Maybelline New York's Garnier division as vice president of sales. In his new post Nosek will direct...

Revlon signs new spokeswoman for Almay brand.(Cosmetics News)(Brief Article)
March 15, 2004... Revlon Inc.'s Almay brand has signed model and room Elaine Irwin-Mellencamp as its new spokeswomen. She will be featured in Almay's new global advertising campaign beginning this month. "Elaine's beauty, talent, warmth and personal style...

Shimmer Sheers line extended.(Cosmetics News)(Brief Article)
March 15, 2004... Neutrogena Corp. has extended its Neutrogena Shimmer Sheers All Over Color line, which offers highlights for cheeks, eyes and lips. The dermatologist-developed formula includes aloe, vitamins A, C and E, as well as conditioning emollients...

Biocosmetic launches color kit collection.(Cosmetics News)(Brief Article)
March 15, 2004... Biocosmetic Research Labs' Black Opal has launched a collection of lip color and eye shadow kits. The lip color kits consist of three lipsticks and one lip gloss, while the eye shadow kits include a moisture-rich eye shadow that comes in a...

New Lipfinity product debuts.(Cosmetics News)(Brief Article)
March 15, 2004... Procter & Gamble Co. has launched Max Factor Lipfinity Everlites, a longwearing, lightweight formulation billed as lasting up to 10 hours. Using the same PermaTone semipermanent color technology found in its original Lipfinity brand,...

Colomer kicks off outdoor ad campaign.(Cosmetics News)(Brief Article)
March 15, 2004... Colomer U.S.A. Multicultural Group is launching a nationwide outdoor advertising campaign to support two of its key brands: Revlon Realistic and Creme of Nature Colors. "Our outdoor advertising campaign is focused on our flagship brands as...

Stahl on Revlon's future prospects.(Cosmetics)
March 15, 2004... NEW YORK -- One of the questions that has been hanging over the beauty care industry in recent years is the fate of Revlon Inc. The company, which had been accruing debt at an alarming rate, recently obtained an amendment to its credit...

CDMA offers an exclusive beauty line.(Cosmetics)(Brief Article)
March 15, 2004... NOVI, Mich. -- The Chain Drag Marketing Association (CDMA) is launching an extensive marketing program to support Essentials for Beauty, a line of cosmetics and skin care products available exclusively to its members. "We feel there is a...

Puig sets the stage for the launch of Banderas line.(Fragrance News)(Brief Article)
March 15, 2004... Puig Personal Care Division USA is planning to launch Antonio Banderas men's fragrance in drug stores and other mass outlets in the fourth quarter of 2004. Already one of the most popular men's fragances in Europe, the Antonio Banderas...

TV show inspires two new scents.(Fragrance News)(Brief Article)
March 15, 2004... Beauty Innovations has launched two products in the spirit of the popular American Idol television show: Idol Spirit for Men and Idol Moments for Women. "Just as on the American Idol TV show, we wanted the selection process for these...

Pheromones key to Inner Realm line.(Fragrance News)(Brief Article)
March 15, 2004... Northern Group is introducing Inner Realm Spa, a line of items formulated with human sensory pheromones. "Realm is a trademark we've owned for about two years," says Northern president Robert Crames. "The key brand up to now has been Realm...

Coty extends Healing Garden.(Fragrance News)(Brief Article)
March 15, 2004... Coty Inc. is extending its popular Healing Garden line with two new items. Healing Garden Mandarintheraphy is billed as an instant energizer for fatigued minds and bodies. The collection includes botanical extracts of mandarin, ginseng and...

Michael Jordan gift set from Five Star makes debut.(Fragrance News)(Brief Article)
March 15, 2004... Five Star Fragance Co. has introduced the Michael Jordan four-piece gift set. The collection contains an eau de cologne spray, moisture balm, body shampoo and body soap. In addition Five Star recently launched a five-piece Royal...

Drug chains: star performers.(Fragrances: promotions, sharp merchandising and a targeted mix have brought success)
March 15, 2004... NEW YORK -- Although the fragrance category continues to struggle at mass market retailers, the one ray of hope is the chain drug channel, according to retailers, suppliers and the latest sales results. While dollar sales of perfumes and...

Eckerd Corp.'s newest drug store in Miramar, Fla., features a full line of designer fragrances in a compelling beauty care section located near the store's entrance in the left quadrant.(Brief Article)
March 15, 2004... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Eckerd Corp.'s newest drug store in Miramar, Fla., features a full line of designer fragrances in a compelling beauty care section located near the store's entrance in the left quadrant. The department also includes...

Coty is flagrance megapower.(Fragrances)
March 15, 2004... NEW YORK -- While chain drug retailers can take credit for an upsurge in sales in the fragrance category in their trade class, they acknowledge that it would not be possible without strong support from category leader Coty Inc., including the...

'Navarro's on top of what's new, hot'.(Fragrances)(Brief Article)
March 15, 2004... MIAMI LAKES, Fla.--Navarro Discount Pharmacies, which has long been in the vanguard when it comes to offering extensive and compelling beauty care sections, has taken its upscale fragrance concept to new heights in its recently opened store...

Voting gets under way for the 2004 FiFi awards.(Fragrances)
March 15, 2004... NEW YORK -- The Fragrance Foundation has distributed ballots for its 2004 FiFi Awards, which honor the fragrance industry's creative achievements. Now in its 32nd year, the FiFi Awards ceremony will be held at the Hammerstein Ballroom here...

What's needed: innovation, freshness, focus.(Nail care: suppliers involved in other beauty segments don't always devote as much as time to nail care)
March 15, 2004... NEW YORK -- There is little argument among those involved in the nail care category that the business is in need of a lift. Sales in most segments of the $650-million-a-year business are down for the third consecutive year, and retailers...

Treatment is where the action is.(Nail Care)
March 15, 2004... NEW YORK-- The segment of the nail care that has shown the most activity in recent months and the one that is seen as the area with the greatest potential for reinvigorating the category is treatments. And, while Information Resources Inc....

Well-known name in removers enters new category.(Medtech Products Inc.)(Brief Article)
March 15, 2004... IRVINGTON, N.Y. -- Medtech Products Inc., which has established a name for itself in nail care with its Cutex line of polish removers, is making its first foray into the treatment category this spring. The company recently introduced five...

Artificial nails set to rebound.(Nail Care)
March 15, 2004... NEW YORK -- Despite a sales falloff in the artificial nail care segment over the past year, those involved in the category see signs that the market could be poised for a rebound. Information Resources Inc. data shows that in the overall...

In color the look preferred today is natural.(Nail Care)
March 15, 2004... NEW YORK -- Nail polish and enamel suppliers continue to roll out new colors in an attempt to revive a sagging segment of the nail care category. With the wide range of shades that were popular a few years ago now just a distant memory,...

To reach teens create an image, gain their trust.(Nail Care)
March 15, 2004... NEW YORK -- Teenagers are perhaps the most fickle and demanding group of consumers chain drug retailers and their suppliers will ever encounter. Selling products to those shoppers has always been a challenge, industry participants say, and...

Nail art turns tweens into full-time converts.(Nail Care)
March 15, 2004... NEW YORK -- Very often the first foray a young girl makes into the world of beauty products is in nail care. While that usually means polishing her nails with any of a variety of products aimed at girls, it has also come to include...

High-profit implements go upscale.(Nail Care)
March 15, 2004... NEW YORK -- The latest trend in the nail implements segment can be described with a single word--upscale. Stores stocking cutting-edge implements from such suppliers as Del Laboratories Inc., Revlon Inc. and Tweezerman Corp. are finding...

Culver to debut TRESemme line.(Hair Care News)(Brief Article)
March 15, 2004... Alberto-Culver Co. next month will launch the TRESemme Specialized Styling line. The collection comprises seven products in four functional segments: smoothing, curling, volumizing and freeze-holding. The two smoothing products are a...

Unilever offers foam conditioner.(Hair Care News)(Brief Article)
March 15, 2004... Unilever Home & Personal Care USA has extended the Dove hair care line with a foam conditioner. The mousselike product is said to be effective because it disappears quickly into wet hair and washes out clean in the shower. Dove foam conditioner...

New Basics coloring brush.(Hair Care News)(New Basics Inc)(Brief Article)
March 15, 2004... New Basics Inc. is shipping the EZcolour hair coloring applicator for the full coloring process and touch-ups. Designed to work with most coloring products, the patent-pending system derivers a colorant with an antigravity mechanism to...

Newhall extends La Bella brand.(Hair Care News)(Brief Article)
March 15, 2004... Newhall Labs has expanded its La Bella line with a nonaerosol hair spray in a trigger bottle. The company has also repackaged and extended the La Bella shampoo line and is boosting the brand's advertising. The new shampoos are scented with...

Frieda launches Brilliant Brunette.(Hair Care News)(Brief Article)
March 15, 2004... Andrew Jergens Co. has extended the John Frieda franchise with Brilliant Brunette, billed as the first comprehensive line formulated to address the specific needs of brown hair. The line of 13 products includes Shine Release shampoo, Shine...

Vitalis updated by Idelle Labs.(Hair Care News)(Brief Article)
March 15, 2004... The classic Vitalis men's hair care brand has been updated by Idelle Labs Ltd. with a full portfolio of new products, including three shampoos, two conditioners, two hair sprays and a gel mousse. Idelle is also revamping its Final Net...

Drug chains stay on trend.(Hair care: unique, upscale brands, professional products are in demand at retail)
March 15, 2004... NEW YORK -- Chain drug hair care consumers are trading up. That is the consensus of the category's suppliers and merchandisers. The appeal of diverted professional products and other premium entries is winning over women who can enjoy...

Retailers know how to compete on price.
March 15, 2004... NEW YORK -- As much as chain drug consumers are trading up to salon products, there is still a market for value brands. That's evident from Walgreen Co.'s decision to lower its price on White Rain hair spray from $1.99 to 99 cents. The...

Diverted lines versus PL.(Brief Article)
March 15, 2004... NEWYORK -- Chain drug retailers focusing on diverted salon products should be wary of inconsistent supplies, according to category experts. "The biggest challenge is consistency of goods," says Pete Columbia, senior vice president of sales...

Newest hot items get things moving.(Hair Care)
March 15, 2004... NEW YORK -- Of the six hair care subcategories tracked by Information Resources Inc. (IRI) in the year ended January 25, the styling/setting gel/mousse segment was the least disappointing. Four groupings--spray/ spritz, color,...

Binge line extensions.(Hair Care News)(Freeman Beauty Labs)(Brief Article)
March 15, 2004... Freeman Beauty Labs has extended its Binge line with Sundae Splurge Intense Weekly conditioner, Hair Preserves Color Keep shampoo and conditioner, and With A Twist Curling Gel-to-Mousse. The products are targeted at image-conscious, style-savvy...

New formula for Clairol.(Hair Care News)(Brief Article)
March 15, 2004... Clairol Natural Instincts hair color from Procter & Gamble Co. has been recast with a "damage-neutralizing formula." The new ingredient promises to provide fresh, enlivened color and maintain healthy hair. The formula is said to quickly...

Helen of Troy revises license.(Hair Care News)(Brief Article)
March 15, 2004... Helen of Troy Ltd. has revised its licensing agreements for the Revlon brand name. Helen of Troy and Revlon Inc. have extended their pact, including renewal options, for a total of 59 years. The revised agreements expand North American coverage...

Teen items find favor with adults.(Hair Care)(Brief Article)
March 15, 2004... NEW YORK -- Hair care products for teens can also have appeal for the older consumer. In fact, mothers who try their teenagers' styling products sometimes end up buying them for themselves, according to Sheree Ladove-Kent, the president...

Cross-cultural lines gain users.(Hair Care)(Dax Inc)
March 15, 2004... NEW YORK -- Just as in society at large, multiculturalism is in vogue in the hair care market. Dax Inc., for example, bills its new Gel-it as the ideal gel for the style of British soccer star David Beckham or mixed-race American movie...

Chain promos tout hair care.(Hair Care)
March 15, 2004... NEW YORK -- The importance of hair care to chain drug retailers can be gauged from the cover of a Rite Aid Corp.'s flyer last month. The chief executive officer of the drug chain is pictured at the top of the page holding a container of...

'Men care about their looks too'.(Hair Care)(Dax Inc)(Brief Article)
March 15, 2004... NEW YORK -- Hair care suppliers are increasingly targeting men, as evidenced by recent initiatives from Dax Inc. and Unilever Home & Personal Care USA. Dax' new High & Tight Hair Dress line of styling products features yellow and green...

Global unveils Elements brand.(Hair Care News)(Brief Article)
March 15, 2004... Brazil-based Global Cosmetics Co., the leading manufacturer of hair gels in Latin America, has introduced the NY Looks Elements line. The shampoos, conditioners, treatments and styling creams are organized into families--Eco, Sun, Sea, Day and...

Maybelline line has microminerals.(Hair Care)(Brief Article)
March 15, 2004... Maybelline New York has introduced a new color line, Gamier 100% Color. Billed as the first and only multipatented hair color with microminerals, Gamier 100% Color targets young women who view dramatic color as a fashion accessory. The 18-shade...

La Dove extends two collections.(Hair Care)(Brief Article)
March 15, 2004... La Dove Inc. is extending its tropical flora-based Sellecca Shine line and Head Wear teen styling brand. The new Sellecca Shine Moisture collection includes a shampoo with guava, avocado and calendula; conditioner with kukui nut oil and kelp;...

For web daters gray hair won't work.(Hair Care)
March 15, 2004... PITTSBURGH -- When it comes to choosing a date, gray hair is an online turnoff. That is the conclusion of a survey of about 7,000 online daters sponsored by Date.com and Combe Inc.'s Just For Men hair color. The survey, which polled...

Big players, small can find a niche to fill.(Skin care)
March 15, 2004... NEW YORK -- Skin care remains one of the most crowded, segmented, competitive--and lucrative--categories in chain drug stores. As Carrie Bonner, project manager of consumer practices at Kline & Co., a consulting and market research firm...

'Fear of aging is the strongest of drivers'.(Skin/Bath Care)
March 15, 2004... NEW YORK -- Take a large demographic group like the baby boomers who are not crazy about aging, add a raft of technological advances in cosmetology and, say industry experts, it all adds up to a thriving market for "antiaging" creams, lotions...

'The golden age for skin care is now'.
March 15, 2004... NEW YORK -- As the skin care category continues to expand with new products, technology and promotions, retailers are responding enthusiastically. "It's one of the fastest-growing segments within beauty," says a spokesman for CVS Corp.,...

Alberto-Culver's new moisturizer.(Skin/Bath News)(Brief Article)
March 15, 2004... Alberto-Culver Co. has launched St. Ives Fresh [H.sub.2]O body moisturizer, a gel-cream that hydrates dry, flaky skin and leaves it feeling fresh and revitalized. The product features fast-absorbing, custom-made Aqua Capsules containing...

Vita-K solution expands DIY line.(Skin/Bath News)(Brief Article)
March 15, 2004... Vita-K Solution is expanding its line of DIY skin care treatments with two new products: a home microderabrasion kit and Vita-K Solution for deep facial lines. The microderm-abrasion kit, which retails for $19.99, includes a resurfacing...

OrganicOptions debuts in style.(Skin/Bath News)(Brief Article)
March 15, 2004... West Warwick, R.I.-based OrganicOptions, Dendera Body Cafe's latest product introduction to the U.S. market, is being launched with an innovative merchandising display that accentuates the quality and appeal of the OrganicOptions...