Financial News

MINNEAPOLIS — Supervalu on Tuesday reported first-quarter fiscal 2012 net sales of $11.1 billion (down 3.7% versus last year) and net earnings of $74 million (up 10.4%), or 35 cents per diluted share. Posted net earnings beat the analyst consensus of 33 cents per diluted share.

Health still is a priority for Americans, as sugary cereals are declining and cereals with health benefits, like whole grains, vitamins and minerals, are experiencing slow but steady growth.


Overall, sales of ready-to-eat cereals were flat, up 0.2% in the 12 weeks ended June 12 to $1.5 billion. Of the top 10 cereals tracked by SymphonyIRI Group, only six brands experienced single-digit gains, and most were up less than 4%. The reason: rising prices, popularity of cereal bars and the convenience of bagels and toaster pastries.

Sales in the digestives aisle going forward look positive, especially as an aging population begins paying closer attention to healthy diets, including the right amount of dietary fiber to keep things “regular” and supplementation with probiotics for overall digestive health. 


It is no secret that consumers have changed their mindset and shopping behavior in the wake of the weakened economy. Today’s shoppers continue to have a greater focus on more cost-effective at-home beauty solutions, and hair coloring is no exception.


Sales of hair coloring rose more than 5% to $1.08 billion at food, drug and mass (excluding Walmart) for the 52 weeks ended June 12, according to SymphonyIRI Group.


During that period, women’s hair coloring rose close to 6% to $943.7 million, while men’s hair coloring rose 1.4% to $140.7 million.


ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Lansinoh Labs has announced the acquisition of the Earth Friendly Baby brand of natural shampoos, bubble bath and skin care products.

As expected, consumers’ desire for products that make oral care easier — not to mention ones that help battle such oral conditions as dry mouth — helped drive strong growth of portable oral care.


For the 12 weeks ended June 12, portable oral care proved to be the shining star, with sales rising nearly 29% to $3.25 million, according to SymphonyIRI Group. Among the top 10 brands, dry mouth treatment Biotene topped the list with $1.2 million in sales, a boost of nearly 83%.


LITTLETON, N.H. — Retail sales of insecticides and other mosquito-related products are trending upward thanks to an unusually active mosquito season. A wet winter and spring, together with recent heavy flooding throughout much of the middle of the country has resulted in standing pools of water and ideal mosquito breeding conditions. This summer’s high mosquito population has been good news for companies like Tender Corp., the maker of AfterBite, a product that has shown increased sales over the past month.


With more than half of women in the United States between the ages of 25 and 58 years battling some form of acne and the average age for acne patients on the rise, according to the American Academy of Dermatology, it is no surprise that sales of acne treatments have experienced an uptick at food, drug and mass. The sales trend is likely to continue as manufacturers continue to develop formulas to battle adult acne.