Drug Store News articles from September 2007

Drug Store News archives from September 2007

Anderson rallies the Rx troops.(NEWS & ANALYSIS)
September 10, 2007... BOSTON -- Painting a stark but hopeful picture of the threats that surround community pharmacy, the recently installed chief of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores called on pharmacy leaders here to become aggressive advocates for...

Post-acquisition, Rite Aid flexes bigger muscles.(NEWS & ANALYSIS)
September 10, 2007... BALTIMORE -- Bigger. Better. Bolder. That's Rite Aid's new credo, unveiled last month to thousands of veteran Rite Aid store managers and pharmacists who were joined by thousands more Brooks and Eckerd personnel attending their first Rite...

U.S. Chamber lends support in Medicaid payments battle.(NEWS & ANALYSIS)
September 10, 2007... WASHINGTON -- Pharmacy and congressional leaders opposed to the new Medicaid prescription payment rules that threaten community pharmacies picked up a powerful ally last month, when the U.S. Chamber of Commerce expressed strong support for...

Walgreens closes Option Care deal.(INDUSTRY WATCH)(Brief article)
September 10, 2007... DEERFIELD, Ill. -- Walgreen Co. on Aug. 20 completed its tender offer for Option Care and predicted its $850 million buyout of the specialty pharmacy and health services company would be completed shortly. With the expiration of an offer for...

Group asks HHS to delay Rx pad rules.(INDUSTRY WATCH)(Health and Human Services)(Brief article)
September 10, 2007... ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- The National Association of Chain Drug Stores thanked 76 healthcare organizations that signed a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Michael Leavitt, urging a delay in the implementation date of a statute requiring...

Beauty drives Duane Reade turnaround.(NEWS & ANALYSIS)(Duane Reade Holding Corp.)(Financial report)
September 10, 2007... NEW YORK -- Duane Reade's turnaround plan appears to be gaining traction, especially at the front end where cosmetics and beauty items are helping to drive solid growth. During the second quarter ended June 30 the pharmacy retailer posted...

Diabetes center services expand.(NEWS & ANALYSIS)(Duane Reade Holding Corp.)
September 10, 2007... NEW YORK -- Duane Reade has expanded the service offering at its Diabetes Resource Center, a training and educational facility that debuted earlier this year, to now include monthly support groups available to all New Yorkers. Originally,...

Survey: Patients support getting scripts from doctor.(NEWS & ANALYSIS)(Survey)
September 10, 2007... ST. LOUIS -- Raising a challenge to the retail pharmacy community, a health care technology and services company allied with physician groups asserts that a majority of patients would just as soon have their newly written prescriptions filled...

Rite Aid Corp.(PEOPLE IN THE NEWS)(appointment of Robert Easley and Jim Mastrian)(Brief article)
September 10, 2007... Rite Aid Corp. has named Robert Easley, a 16-year veteran of the H.E. Butt Grocery Co. as chief operating officer. He most recently served as senior vice president, chief marketing officer and head of pharmacy for the $11.5 billion chain. ...

Walgreens.(PEOPLE IN THE NEWS)(appointment of Roxanne Flanagan and Matt Sesto )(Brief article)
September 10, 2007... Walgreens has appointed Roxanne Flanagan and Matt Sesto as two new vice presidents of store operations. Flanagan has been with the company since 1993, most recently as a district manager. Sesto began working with the company in 1988 as...

Katz Group Canada.(PEOPLE IN THE NEWS)(appointment of Russell Cohen and James Beaumariage )(Brief article)
September 10, 2007... Katz Group Canada recently made two appointments, Russell Cohen as executive vice president, industry and government affairs and James Beaumariage as senior vice president of pharmacy services. Cohen most recently held the position of...

Food Marketing Institute.(PEOPLE IN THE NEWS)(appointment of Catherine Pobley )(Brief article)
September 10, 2007... The Food Marketing Institute welcomed Catherine Pobley to the position of FMI vice president of pharmacy services. Polley will spearhead FMI's new pharmacy public affairs program, launched this year to strengthen industry advocacy on federal...

Cardinal CEO addresses pressing challenges.(WHOLESALER ROUNDUP)
September 10, 2007... BOSTON -- Cardinal Health chief executive officer of healthcare supply chain services Mark Parrish spoke of tremendous technological advancements at a time rocked by challenges--rising costs, drug re-importation, mail order, Medicare Part D,...

AmerisourceBergen celebrates Good Neighbor Pharmacy.(WHOLESALER ROUNDUP)
September 10, 2007... LAS VEGAS -- Celebrating the 25th anniversary of its pharmacy network Good Neighbor Pharmacy at its July trade show, AmerisourceBergen officially rolled out a new pharmacy platform called Independent Edge that has been designed to improve...

McKesson Corp. showcases its strengths at conference.(WHOLESALER ROUNDUP)
September 10, 2007... BOSTON -- The more than 2,000 independent pharmacy owners who gathered here for McKesson Corp.'s 2007 Pharmacy Strategies Conference and Trade Show got repeated pats on the back for their continued dedication to patient care and community...

Publix pharmacy customers offered free antibiotics.(NEWS & ANALYSIS)
September 10, 2007... LAKELAND, Fla. -- Supermarket chain Publix is shifting its focus from the famous $4-generics program, a firestorm that Wal-Mart ignited last year, to a new program that offers free antibiotics to pharmacy patients. Under the drug program...

Self-distribution, closings lift Longs' numbers.(NEWS & ANALYSIS)(Longs Drug Stores Corp. revenue report)(Financial report)
September 10, 2007... WALNUT CREEK, Calif. -- Longs Drug reported another three months of strong sales for its second quarter as it generated a 40 percent increase in earnings, continued to open new stores and completed its withdrawal from three states. Longs...

Has Wal-Mart set its sights on health care?(NEWS & ANALYSIS)
September 10, 2007... BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- With the development of a new format or formats under way at Wal-Mart, the prospect of how the company will pursue continued growth in the United States has piqued the collective curiosity of the retail industry. The...

FMI reports strong supermarket Rx market.(NEWS & ANALYSIS)(Food Marketing Institute)(Brief article)
September 10, 2007... ARLINGTON, Va. -- Supermarket pharmacies are thriving and multiplying, according to results from "Supermarket Pharmacy Trends 2007," a report by the Food Marketing Institute. Prescription sales represent 9.5 percent of all store sales, up...

Although 'turbulent,' Rx market up.(NEWS & ANALYSIS)
September 10, 2007... BOSTON -- The continuing impact of Medicare drug benefits, ongoing drug safety concerns, rising generics competition for off-patent big-name drugs, growing calls for universal health coverage and increasing oversight from the Food and Drug...

Letter to the editor.(Letter to the editor)
September 10, 2007... Dear Editor, Thank you for your coverage of the Fair Medicaid Drug Payment Act of 2007 in the Aug. 8 article, "Bill to alter Medicaid pay model drawing strong industry support." This legislation, introduced by Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont.,...

Anderson's first 100 days spell new deal for community Rx.(OPINION)(National Association of Chain Drug Stores)(Viewpoint essay)
September 10, 2007... It is widely believed that the ultimate success, and perhaps the enduring legacy, of any new presidential administration is determined within the first 100 days in office. Given Steve Anderson's reputation as a highly connected Washington...

Expanded chain strives to set industry pace.(BIGGER BOLDER BETTER)(Company overview)
September 10, 2007... NEW YORK -- With the acquisition this summer of Brooks and Eckerd from the Jean Coutu Group, Rite Aid joined the elite ranks of the Fortune 100, an accomplishment that reflects the retailer's corporate mindset--bigger, better and bolder. That's...

Rite Aid positioned to tackle Brooks-Eckerd acquisition challenges.(BIGGER BOLDER BETTER)
September 10, 2007... Some of the same 1U challenges that Brooks tacect in its Eckerd acquisition back in 2004 now will be tackled by Rite Aid executives, albeit from an entirely different perspective. For starters, Brooks was a 300-strong Northeast regional...

Rite Aid to make branding push personal.(BIGGER BOLDER BETTER)
September 10, 2007... With a newly acquired store base dominating the East Coast, Rite Aid will be attempting to create a brand identity on par with the New York Yankees, Starbucks and Harley Davidson, John Learish, senior vice president of marketing, told Rite...

Succession plan set with executive additions.(BIGGER BOLDER BETTER)(appointments)
September 10, 2007... Rite Aid has so far added three key executives this year in an effort to take the company to the next level--a national chain that measures up in stature, if not in earnings, to its peer chains CVS and Walgreens--and none of those executives...

Acquisition ups partners' sales.(BIGGER BOLDER BETTER)
September 10, 2007... Rite Aid has a pair of exclusive partnerships with GNC and drugstore.corn that offer customers a unique experience. Currently, there are nearly 1,300 GNC stores-within-a-store operating in Rite Aid locations across the country as part of a...

Conversion to Customer World format set at rapid Dace.(BIGGER BOLDER BETTER)
September 10, 2007... Rite Aid began converting the Brooks-Eckerd storefronts to similes of its Customer World prototype and began installing Rite Aid's systems into its newly acauired six distribution centers almost as soon as the deal was closed in June. "We're...

Sandoz.(Supplier News)(introduction of metoprolol succinate )(Brief article)
September 10, 2007... Sandoz, a division of the Novartis Group, recently introduced metoprolol succinate 50 mg extended release tablets, a generic of Toprol XL. This generic will join Sandoz's production of the 25 mg metoprolol succcinate extended-release tablets....

Vyteris.(Supplier News)(introduction of Lidosite)(Brief article)
September 10, 2007... Vyteris has introduced its first product to the market, Lidosite. It is the first transdermal patch approved by the Food and Drug Administration to deal with pain from blood draws and laser removals of superficial skin lesions. The device numbs...

Icagen.(Supplier News)(ICAgen Inc. financing deal with Pfizer.)(Brief article)
September 10, 2007... Durham, N.C. drug company Icagen Aug. 14 announced a major financing and development deal with pharmaceutical giant Pfizer. The deal worth as much as $1 billion, is a much-needed boost for Icagen, which in recent months has lost both...

E-prescribing makes leap to Alaska.(CHAIN PHARMACY)
September 10, 2007... ALEXANDRIA, VA. -- The last legal and regulatory hurdles on the road to paperless prescriptions have been swept away. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Capping a three-year, nationwide lobbying effort by pharmacy leaders, electronic prescribing...

As diabetes epidemic rises, Kerr launches education site.(CHAIN PHARMACY)(www.fightdiabetesnc.com)
September 10, 2007... RALEIGH, N.C. -- Adding another layer to its deepening commitment to being a healthcare provider as much as a drug store retailer, Kerr Drug has launched a new Web site to combat diabetes among residents of North Carolina. The Fight...

Costco pharmacy chief Burnett tapped for Pratt Award.(CHAIN PHARMACY)(Costco Wholesale Corp.)(Charles Burnett)(Harold W. Pratt Award)
September 10, 2007... BOSTON -- Wholesale club pharmacy pioneer Charles "Charlie" Burnett, who over the past two decades has patiently built a major presence in retail pharmacy at club store giant Costco Wholesale, has won chain pharmacy's highest honor. ...

Pharmacy launches new 'Response' to emergencies.(CHAIN PHARMACY)
September 10, 2007... Healthcare organizations recently teamed up to introduce a new emergency relief program that will revolutionize the healthcare industry in the wake of a disaster. The program, called Rx Response, is designed to help support the continued...

Push to ease MedGuides wins support from Senate panel.(CHAIN PHARMACY)
September 10, 2007... ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- Responding to concerns voiced by the National Association of Chain Drug Stores, a key member of the Senate Appropriations Committee has moved to scale back the new requirements for medication guidance being imposed by the...

$1 million grant from Apotex leads NACDS Foundation awards.(CHAIN PHARMACY)(National Association of Chain Drug Stores)
September 10, 2007... BOSTON -- In an unprecedented breakthrough in corporate largess on behalf of pharmacy education, Apotex Corp. has donated $1 million to the NACDS Foundation to support the Pharmacy Partners Scholarship Program. Apotex vice president of...

Plan B success.(Q&A)(dialogue with Amy Niemann of Barr Pharmaceuticals Inc.)(Interview)(Brief article)
September 10, 2007... Barr Laboratories last month began distributing business reply card advertisements through Conde Nast's September Glamour magazine for adult consumers to use in purchasing the emergency contraceptive Plan B at the pharmacy counter. In the...

Strong season predicted in cough-cold.(OVER THE COUNTER)
September 10, 2007... While illness rates were down last year, companies reported that overall the cough-cold season last year was good, and they are expecting a much more active season this year. "At this time we already have commitments and programs to...

Warming to arthritis with heat wraps.(WHAT'S HOT)(Brief article)
September 10, 2007... Procter & Gamble, which in 2002 introduced its ThermaCare HeatWraps into pain relief aisles, is launching ThermaCare Arthritis, an air-activated heat wrap designed to help manage the pain of arthritis flare-ups with 12 hours of heat. ...

Alliance sets Heartburn Awareness Month.(OVER THE COUNTER)(National Heartburn Alliance)(Brief article)
September 10, 2007... CHICAGO -- The National Heartburn Alliance announced the sponsorship of the first Heartburn Awareness Month, scheduled for November. The goal of Heartburn Awareness Month will be to screen, educate and treat heartburn sufferers. The NHBA...

Suppliers see new drivers for eye care category.(OVER THE COUNTER)
September 10, 2007... While the lens care solution recalls from both Bausch & Lomb and Advanced Medical Optics continues to impact eye care sales, Novartis and B&L, and soon Akorn, are looking to give consumers a new reason to visit the eye care section in drug...

Studies show echinacea may be rebounding as cold remedy.(OVER THE COUNTER)(Brief article)
September 10, 2007... WASHINGTON -- Echinacea's reputation as a natural cold remedy may be back on the upswing judging from a meta-analysis published recently in The Lancet. Sales of echinacea through the latest cough-cold season were down 14.8 percent to $15.1 mil...

FDA to explore safety of child cough-cold products.(Brief article)
September 10, 2007... BETHESDA, Md. -- The Food and Drug Administration in October will explore the safety and efficacy of children's cough and cold products during an advisory committee meeting of the Nonprescription Drug Advisory Committee. The FDA stated...

The aging of the baby boomers may be contributing to the uptick in personal lubricant sales more than has been previously thought.(Supplier News)(Survey)(Brief article)
September 10, 2007... The aging of the baby boomers may be contributing to the uptick in personal lubricant sales more than has been previously thought, according to a new survey published in last month's edition of the New England Journal of Medicine. Sales of...

LifeScan.(Supplier News)(Brief article)
September 10, 2007... LifeScan last month kicked off its "What's Your Color?" Giveaway, an online sweepstakes that offers entrants the chance to win one of 10,000 OneTouch UltraMini Blood Glucose Monitoring Systems in the color of their choice-limelight, pink glow,...

Procter & Gamble.(Supplier News)(Brief article)
September 10, 2007... The Food and Drug Administration last month issued an "early communication" about an ongoing safety review of Prilosec and Nexium, two prescription-only proton-pump inhibitors, that may affect Procter & Gamble's nonprescription Prilosec OTC....

Slim-Fast.(Supplier News)(Slim Fast Foods Co.)(Survey)(Brief article)
September 10, 2007... Slim-Fast last month launched an ad campaign that feeds off a new survey sponsored by Unilever. According to the survey, more than three-fourths of all women are larger than they want to be. More than half of the 2,000 women surveyed by TSC, a...

Natural care.(Q&A)(dialogue with Paddy Spence of Nature's Gate)(Interview)(Brief article)
September 10, 2007... The organic personal care segment at mass continues to gain momentum, as consumers demand more from products, and retailers respond by bolstering their merchandising. Paddy Spence, president of Nature's Gate, talked about the growth of the...

Ethnic presents beautiful opportunity.(BEAUTY CARE)(personal care industry focuses of consumer)
September 10, 2007... The expanding ethnic population represents great opportunities for the bath and body segment, and manufacturers are taking notice as many have recently taken steps to target such beauty shoppers. However, some industry observers agree that...

Bratz latest thing in nail.(WHAT'S HOT)(Brief article)
September 10, 2007... Following the success of its Girlie Girl nails for 'tweens, Pacific World, a manufacturer of nail care products and artificial nails, has inked a licensing deal with MGA to launch Bratz-licensed artificial nails. The Bratz nails ship on a...

188%.(BY THE NUMBERS)
September 10, 2007... 188% Percent increase in Hispanic population by 2050

Smaller manufacturers changing face of makeup.(Brief article)
September 10, 2007... The makeup industry is getting a new "look" as smaller, venturesome cosmetics manufacturers are beginning to proliferate and make their mark in the beauty department, according to a recent report by investment banking firm, The Mercanti Group....

Fall runway predicted to see color comeback in cosmetics.(THE BUSINESS OF BEAUTY)
September 10, 2007... It's that time of year again when Manhttan plays host to New York Fashion Week, a whirlwind event where fashion designers display their latest collections amid the famous tents that blanket Bryant Park. It is a momentous occasion for the...

Del Labs' parent files IPO to support brands, international expansion.(THE BUSINESS OF BEAUTY)(Del Laboratories Inc.)(Initial public offerings)
September 10, 2007... UNIONDALE, N.Y. -- DLI Holding Corp., whose subsidiary, Del Laboratories, is known for its Sally Hansen and N.Y.C. New York Color brands, filed in August an initial public offering in an effort to raise up to $200 million, a move the company...

Nail trends move in multiple directions.(THE BUSINESS OF BEAUTY)
September 10, 2007... Think of it as an accessory to any outfit. Whether it's the natural look or trendy jeweled applications, nails define individuality. Manicure and pedicures make as much of a statement as the clothes. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] This year's...

Manicures on the fly.(IN THE NEWS)(Brief article)
September 10, 2007... MIAMI -- Mass market retailers looking to attract nail salon-goers into their nail care aisle have a new player that should be on the radar, an express nail care service called :10 Minute Manicure. Looking to meet the needs of women on the...

Q what type of nail care products do you buy at F/D/M stores?(SHOPPER BUZZ)(Brief article)
September 10, 2007... "I buy nail polish and emory boards, sometimes basecoat and topcoat. I like to keep my nails trim." --Carol Price, 58, London [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "I usually look for nail polish. I buy Sally Hansen because it lasts longer." ...

Customers willing to spend more to meet hair needs.(THE BUSINESS OF BEAUTY)
September 10, 2007... Consumers' willingness to pay higher prices for hair care products that address specific color, condition or type, as well as professional hair products, continues to drive sales in the U.S. hair care market. According to Euromonitor...

Actress Ali Larter co-star of the series "Heroes," has teamed up with Dove Hair Care to stand for "real beauty" on the Red Carpet at the 59th Annual Emmy Awards on Sept. 16.(IN THE NEWS)(Brief article)
September 10, 2007... Actress Ali Larter, co-star of the series "Heroes," has teamed up with Dove Hair Care to stand for "real beauty" on the Red Carpet at the 59th Annual Emmy Awards on Sept. 16. She is forgoing the usual pre-awards show professional hairstyling...

Q What do you look for when buying hair care products?(SHOPPER BUZZ)(Brief article)
September 10, 2007... 'I look for quality and not too expensive, especially when it comes to hairspray, mousse and conditioner. But, I also buy products from my hairdresser." --Ruth Cohen, 60, London [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "I used to just look for...

Fiber, protein build up snack bar sales.(CONSUMABLES)
September 10, 2007... Snack bars and granola bars still have momentum in both the snack and meal replacement categories. Bar dollar sales were up 5.7 percent last year, according to Information Resources Inc. data, more than double the total consumer packaged goods...

5.7%.(BY THE NUMBERS)(Brief article)
September 10, 2007... 5.7% Bar dollar sales growth rate for 2006

Botanical infused chocolate bars battle PMS.(WHAT'S HOT)(Premenstrual syndrome)(Ecco Bella)(Jamieson Laboratories Ltd.)(Brief article)
September 10, 2007... Giving chocolate a boost among PMS-suffering women who crave it, manufacturers are marketing products that associate chocolate with pre-menstrual syndrome relief. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Ecco Bella, an American company, sells the...

Kellogg Co.(Supplier News)(Brief article)
September 10, 2007... Kellogg Co. revealed its new cereal package designs with a pronounced focus on emphasizing nutrition information. Beginninng in October, the new boxed cereal packages will feature on the front a "Nutrition at a Glance" banner, also known as...

Yoplait.(Supplier News)(Brief article)
September 10, 2007... Yoplait has unveiled its Yo-Plus yogurt, which contains Optibalance, a unique blend of probiotic cultures and natural fiber. Yo-Plus combines the benefits of probiotics, which helps consumers regulate their digestive system when eaten...

Kellogg's.(Supplier News)(K2O Protein Water Mix)(Brief article)
September 10, 2007... Kellogg's Special K brand introduced in August its special K2O Protein Water Mix, offering consumers a beverage with 5 grams of protein to help quell hunger and meet water intake. The product is the latest weight-management tool that offers...

Innovation builds in drug store candy aisle.(CONSUMABLES)
September 10, 2007... Candy may not spring to mind as a top traffic-producing category, but retailers are finding that by highlighting the newest confections and tapping into key promotions, candy can be a powerful draw. "Candy is largely an impulse purchase,...

Hostess.(Supplier News)(Brief article)
September 10, 2007... For the first time since World War II, Hostess' Twinkies featuring banana creme filling will be a regular fixture in stores nationwide. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The banana flavor, the original filling flavor of the famous snack, was...

Diamond Foods.(Supplier News)(Brief article)
September 10, 2007... Diamond Foods this summer introduced Emerald Marcona Almonds. The new, limited-release snack was shipped in July to select retailers nationwide and is packaged in Emerald's distinctive hourglass-shaped canisters. Emeralds Marcona Almonds...

Innovative Candy Concepts.(Supplier News)(Brief article)
September 10, 2007... Atlanta-based Innovative Candy Concepts launched Too Tarts SmartChoice Rock "N Raisins, the newest addition to its healthier line of snack foods. The one-of-a-kind, natural fruit snack features chewy raisins dipped in an assortment of...

School supplies go high-tech.(GENERAL MERCHANDISE)(Binney and Smith Inc. Crayola Products Div.)
September 10, 2007... School supplies aren't the flashiest category for drug retailers, but several suppliers have put a new spin on old standards this fall to generate a buzz in the stationery aisle. Crayola is leading the way with its new Total Tools line that...

Suppliers let students mix work and play.(GENERAL MERCHANDISE)(Brief article)
September 10, 2007... LOS ANGELES -- School supplies don't have to be all work and no play. And that's why suppliers are coming out with new products that make rudimentary learning tools a little more interesting. The July debut of "The Simpson's Movie" came...

Annual DVD avalanche starts in October.(WHAT'S HOT)(Brief article)
September 10, 2007... Fall is here, and that means drug stores are preparing for a steady stream of summer hit movies to arrive on DVD. The season will start with 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment's "Fantastic Four 2: The Rise of the Silver Surfer" on Oct. 2,...

Master Link Marketing.(Supplier News)(Brief article)
September 10, 2007... Master Link Marketing in August debuted its new Master Design Seatbelt Adjuster, a clip that helps eliminate discomfort caused by some seatbelts. The plastic clip snaps in place over the lap belt and snags the shoulder strap, moving it to a...

Captain and Tennille Christmas Show.(Supplier News)(Brief article)
September 10, 2007... Fans of 1970's pop music can relive those days next month with the release of the first and only Captain and Tennille Christmas Show. The show aired on network TV as part of the pop duos' shortlived TV variety show and will be released on DVD...

Don't Bug Me.(Supplier News)(Brief article)
September 10, 2007... All-natural and organic products are hotter than ever, and a company called Don't Bug Me has come out with a skin patch with all-natural ingredients that keeps mosquitoes and other pests away. The Don't Bug Me Patch uses vitamin B1 and aloe to...

Worthington Industries.(Supplier News)(Worthington Industries Inc. receives Product of the Year award )(Brief article)
September 10, 2007... Worthington Industries has earned the Product of the Year award from Creative Child magazine for its Balloon Time Party Foil Helium Balloon Kit. The interactive toy set includes a helium-filled tank, 15 colorful foil balloons and assorted clip...

The Baggler.(Supplier News)(Brief article)
September 10, 2007... People who have a difficult time toting bags or often have multiple bags to carry are getting help from The Baggler. The 5-inch long device features a rubber grip and three solid hooks that carry bags and can support up to 54 pounds. The...

New wave of stronger portable chargers arrives.(GENERAL MERCHANDISE)(Survey)
September 10, 2007... ST. LOUIS -- With more than 55 million iPods traveling everywhere with their owners, having a portable power source is a must, and battery markets are tapping into that need with powerful portable chargers for people on the go. Energizer...

Greeting card suppliers continue to diversify.(GENERAL MERCHANSIDE)
September 10, 2007... KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Sales of traditional greeting cards have been sluggish the past few years, and that's why the industry's biggest suppliers are teaming with new partners to kick start sales with cards that offer more than words and images....

Unilever.(Supplier News)(appointment of James Lawrence )(Brief article)
September 10, 2007... Unilever has appointed James Lawrence as chief financial officer, succeeding Rudy Markham. As of Sept. 1, Lawrence joined Unilever from General Mills, where he served as vice chairman and chief financial officer. He has served as chief...

Playtex Products'.(Supplier News)(Brief article)
September 10, 2007... Playtex Products' Wet Ones skin care brand has developed new Wet Ones for Sensitive Skin Moist Wipes, which are free of such ingredients as alcohol and fragrance. Enriched with cucumber extract, chamomile, aloe, vitamin E and provitamin...

C'watre.(Supplier News)(Brief article)
September 10, 2007... C'watre oceanic skin care is promoting its new Kanreki line of skin care products, which are made with odoroki, or modified seawater. Odoroki, a core of 78 essential nanonutrients, minerals and salts, provides individual cells with a "first...