Center Store

CINCINNATI — In an effort to support its Children’s Safe Drinking Water program, Procter & Gamble is enlisting Facebook users to participate in the program's global efforts.

WAYNE, N.J. — A leader of the "As Seen on TV" consumer goods category has appointed a new EVP marketing.

Ideavillage Products said Jordan Stanley, a former executive at Y&R Worldwide, will serve as EVP marketing for the company, overseeing the company’s marketing and new product positioning efforts, as well as manage its Direct Response TV initiatives under Ideavillage CEO Anand “Andy” Khubani.

MINNEAPOLIS — Cheerios is extending its multigrain cereal line for the first time.

New Multi Grain Cheerios peanut butter cereal offers consumers the rich, indulgent flavor of peanut butter without derailing their diets by touting five whole grains and 110 calories per serving, the company said.

Gum sales might not be soaring at the rate they once were, but industry experts say there’s still steam left in the category. Functional gums may become a bigger part of the category. Wrigley and Trident both introduced gums with benefits. Wrigley’s relaunched Extra Ice brand is positioned as having oral benefits, and Cadbury’s Trident Vitality contains vitamin C. Kraft also launched a Stride flavor, Whitemint, featuring Olympic snowboarder Shaun White.

CINCINNATI — Fabric softener brand Bounce has teamed up with a hit Off-Broadway show to underscore the role of black clothing in a woman's wardrobe.

Through its partnership with "Love, Loss, and What I Wore," Bounce will engage women across the country in a conversation about what black clothing means to them and how it helps them to look and feel their best. The partnership is based on the idea that “nothing will ever be the new black,” a line said in the play.

LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y. — More than 130 Canon ImagePrograf iPF6300 large-format photo printers now are in operation at digital photo centers in Fred Meyer stores in the Northwest, Canon announced Wednesday.

The printers are designed so that consumers can print high-quality, poster-sized print collages of memorable moments.

Candy is a powerhouse category for the drug channel. Candy and gum represent more than 6% of center-store sales, according to the National Confectioners Association, and contribute $3 billion annually to the channel.

Chocolate, which has been a strong category, is experiencing sales deceleration since manufacturers and retailers have passed higher production costs onto consumers.

BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Peeps is embracing Valentine's Day with new Peeps marshmallow chicks.

The Peeps chocolate dipped strawberry creme-flavored marshmallow chicks are available in a 3-count tray in both milk chocolate and dark chocolate.