News Briefs

EPIC Pharmacies, a nationwide buying group of over 1,500 independently owned pharmacies across the country, announced that it has made a significant decision in relation to securing the competitiveness of its member pharmacies.

McKesson will be the buying group's primary vendor of pharmaceutical products effective Oct. 1, 2022. This new arrangement will allow EPIC Rx members access to best-in-class pricing and savings that strengthen their businesses and help them provide patients with the highest level of care, the company said. 

Independent pharmacies are a critical healthcare component and serve prominently in rural and underserved areas. According to the National Community Pharmacists Association, 74% of community pharmacies serve population areas of less than 50,000. The collaboration between EPIC Rx and McKesson is an important component of how EPIC Rx has and will continue to support community pharmacies, the company said.

"Much thought and consideration were invested into this decision by our board of directors, which is proudly composed of independent pharmacy owners," said Brian Hose, EPIC Pharmacies board of directors chairperson and Sharpsburg Pharmacy owner. "Ultimately, this arrangement will allow our members to be better equipped to compete in today's evolving pharmaceutical marketplace."

Walgreens is keeping an eye on a container recycling program that performed well at its Boots banner in the United Kingdom.

After a 50-store test that began in 2020, Boots last year rolled out the Recycle at Boots program to an additional 650 stores, allowing customers to return hard-to-recycle HBC items, such as toothpaste tubes and mascara containers. Customers are rewarded with 250 Boots Advantage Card Points for every five containers returned.

During the trial period, consumers dropped off more than 500,000 used HBC containers, the company said. “The reaction from our customers has been overwhelmingly positive,” said Lucy Reynolds, director of communications and CSR at Boots UK, in a post on the company’s website.

Boots sends the used containers to its recycling partner, MYGroup, which sorts them, shreds them and forms them into plastic boards, which are then used to create new items, such as chairs and reusable storage containers, some of which are now being used at Boots warehouses.

Lauren Stone, director of corporate social responsibility at Walgreens, said the pharmacy retail chain’s U.S. division is watching the results from its sister banner carefully, although she said it’s not yet clear if a similar program could work in the United States.

“We’re definitely taking learnings from the work they’re doing over at Boots,” she said. “It’s something we would love to do if we can operationalize it here in the U.S.”

Womaness is continuing to address modern menopause solutions for women in their 40s and beyond with a brand-new skin care product.

Brighten Up, a 2-in-1 exfoliating toner is formulated with AHAs, BHAs and PHAs to help diminish dark spots, reduce wrinkles and improve the skin’s overall texture, the company said.

Other notable ingredients found in the product include lactic acid to aid in removing dead skin cells and Saccharum officinarum, a natural exfoliant that smooths and brightens the appearance of skin.  

Currently, Brighten Up is available for purchase online for the suggested retail price of $24.99.

International Delight is adding a hint of sweetness to mornings with the launch of a new iced coffee flavor — cinnamon churro.

Inspired by the flavors of fresh-made churros, the product contains an indulgent creaminess that is blended with a burst of cinnamon flavors, the company said.

“International Delight is known for transforming everyday coffee moments into celebrations of self-expression and joy,” said Kallie Goodwin, vice president of marketing for International Delight. “Consumers are clearly excited about the iconic and nostalgic flavor of churros, and we wanted to create a unique beverage that not only delivered on the dessert’s rising popularity but was also truly different from other ready-to-drink iced coffees in stores right now. We are thrilled to give our fans the ability to indulge in the delectable treat any season for any reason, right from the comfort of their home with International Delight Cinnamon Churro Iced Coffee.”

Made with real milk, cream and cane sugar, International Delight’s cinnamon churro iced coffee comes in 64-oz. cartons that retail for $4.59 each at major retailers nationwide.

Coffee mate is planning to kick off 2023 with not one but two candy-inspired coffee creamers.

The two new launches from the brand that consumers can be on the lookout for include Coffee mate Brown Sugar Cinnamon Pop-Tarts Flavored Creamer and Zero Sugar Twix Flavored Creamer.

“Coffee mate fans are always looking for fun, new flavors and we feel that each of these limited-edition collaborations uniquely meets that mark,” said Leonardo Aizpuru, Nestlé senior director of brand marketing and leader of the creamer business unit. “Pop-Tarts and Twix are both iconic brands in their own right, so we’re excited to bring each of these flavors to the creamer aisle. Plus, with consumers’ ever-growing interest in zero sugar options, we hope introducing Twix to our portfolio of zero sugar offerings is an added bonus for fans!”

In the Brown Sugar Cinnamon Pop-Tarts Flavored Creamer, consumers can expect to find cinnamon and brown sugar flavors. With the Zero Sugar Twix Flavored Creamer, notes of milk chocolate, caramel and cookie can be expected.

Both creamers will hit shelves in early 2023 for a limited time.

Better Nutritionals and DouxMatok, a food tech company and the developer of Incredo Sugar, are partnering to offer Better Nutritionals' network of customers sugar-reduced gummies.

Better Nutritionals is known for its leadership and quality in pectin-based gummies. Together, Better Nutritionals and DouxMatok have developed vegan nutraceutical products using Incredo Sugar, which enables a number of growth opportunities for customers, notably with the ability to offer products that are free of any artificial sweeteners, high-intensity sweeteners or sugar alcohols.

With Incredo Sugar, a sugar reduction solution that is made of real cane sugar, Better Nutritionals will introduce gummies that are 40% reduced in sugar and 33% reduced in calories compared to leading pectin-based gummies. The companies said that the products will not compromise on sweetness, taste or texture. All products also will be allergen-free, gluten-free, kosher and vegan.

“At Better Nutritionals, we have always prioritized high-quality and nutrition with our cutting-edge formulations of gummy supplements, and we’re thrilled to work with DouxMatok and its Incredo Sugar to uphold that commitment and innovate in the gummy category specifically,” said Sharon Hoffman, CEO of Better Nutritionals. “These core values are increasingly important to companies today and uphold our dedication to work with partners to develop and manufacture innovative products that prioritize health and wellness.”

The gummy vitamin market is expected to see $5.06 billion growth and a CAGR of 12.54% from 2022-2026, with supplements for children continuing to be a key emerging trend, according to a recent forecast report. The companies pointed out that concurrently, there is a surge in awareness of health concerns associated with the overconsumption of sugar and that there is a need to reduce sugar consumption especially among the younger population with childhood obesity rates surpassing 18% in the United States.

“Gummies are an important vitamin delivery system for children, but they are too high in sugar. By joining forces, Better Nutritionals and DouxMatok hope to support a major shift by providing lower sugar options with better health benefits for all consumers,” the companies said.

“Reducing sugar in a pectin gummy while keeping the full integrity of taste and texture is an extremely challenging feat,” said Alexis Gracia-Lugo, DouxMatok’s vice president of R&D applications for North America. “With the trust and expertise of a well-respected company like Better Nutritionals, we collaborated to develop breakthrough products with almost half the sugar. This is a huge accomplishment for the industry and signals a massive growth opportunity for companies.”