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A proliferation of high-drain electronics and healthcare devices are keeping consumers in need of more battery power. Recent category introductions have focused on providing consumers with such longer-lasting options as Duracell's new Quantum alkaline battery and Energizer's improved Ultimate Lithium batteries.

NEW YORK — E-cigarettes may be as effective as nicotine patches in helping smokers quit, according to a new study.

Researchers in Auckland, New Zealand, selected 657 smokers who were attempting to quit, dividing them into one group of 289 who received e-cigarettes, 295 who received nicotine patches and 73 who received placebo e-cigarettes without nicotine. The study was published online Monday in British medical journal The Lancet.

NEW YORK — More students in middle and high school are using electronic cigarettes, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In its Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report Friday, the CDC said that between 2011 and 2012, among students in sixth through 12th grades, e-cigarette use increased from 3.3% to 6.8%.

FREMONT, Neb. — Natura Pet Products brand California Natural is rolling out a new grain-free dog food option, Pork Meal and Sweet Potatoes Formula, along with a new packaging design to highlight the brand's philosophy of using limited ingredients.

NEW YORK — Are drug stores becoming the new convenience stores? A new survey by The Hartman Group indicates that for many shoppers, the drug store is a destination for convenient purchases — particularly, food and beverages.

In a survey of 1,900 adults in Seattle and Dallas, the Bellevue, Wash.-based research firm found that when respondents most recently visited drug stores, 24% of trips were for items for immediate consumption, while 29% were stocking up items. Significant percentages of purchases were for OTC, personal care and consumable items.

CINCINNATI — Febreze has launched the new Febreze Sleep Serenity collection, the brand’s first line of scents specifically designed for the bedroom to help consumers achieve better sleep, the company stated.

NEW YORK  — Prince Lionheart is launching a new line of toilet trainers for small children, the company said Wednesday.

The weePOD trainer will be available starting next month at Target stores for $27.99 and comes in a variety of colors. It includes a slip-resistant ring that keeps the trainer in place and provides handles for stability and support, as well as a hanging loop for easy storage, and a design that makes it easy to clean.

CHICAGO  — IRI announced it has acquired Aztec, a provider of market measurement and related services for consumer packaged goods, liquor and pharmaceutical manufacturers and retailers in Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, New Zealand, South Africa, Sweden and the United Kingdom. Aztec was acquired from Aegis Media.