Financial News

CHICAGO — Whether it’s soft, sexy waves, an elegant updo or frizz-free straight locks, hair is a woman’s greatest accessory, and many of the hottest looks are hard to achieve without the help of styling aids.


According to data provided by SymphonyIRI Group, a Chicago-based market research firm, sales of hairspray totaled $416.5 million, up 0.52%, at food, drug and mass (excluding Walmart) for the 52 weeks ended May 15. Sales of hairstyling gel and mousse rose 1.78% to $636.2 million during that same period.



Photo-processing is evolving, but it is far from finished. “While consumers are capturing, deleting and electronically sharing more images than ever before, they also are motivated to print larger [photos] and utilize their special images in other product forms,” said Bing Liem, VP sales for Fujifilm North America.


Retailers are finding profit opportunities in the “expressions” market, according to Gary Pageau, publisher of content development and strategic initiatives at the Photo Marketing Association.


DOYLESTOWN, Pa. — ProPhase Labs on Tuesday announced that it received a letter from the NASDAQ Stock Market indicating that the company no longer is in compliance with NASDAQ listing rules because the closing bid price per share of its common stock has dropped below $1 per share for 30 consecutive trading days.

ProPhase will have until Dec. 27 to push its stock price above $1 for a minimum of 10 consecutive trading days to regain compliance or risk being delisted.


Findings from the past year show that vitamin sales have been stronger than most other health and beauty categories. The recent emphasis placed by vitamin and nutritional supplement manufacturers on new multivitamin brands has delivered positive results. SymphonyIRI Group reported that, in the 24 weeks ended May 15, multivitamins outperformed the total vitamin category. 


Ten years ago the word probiotics wasn’t known, and five years ago it was a new word to most Americans. But thanks to the marketing of Activia yogurt by Dannon, which started in 2006, these microorganisms have garnered national attention. After Activia took the dairy market by storm, other foods fortified with probiotics, as well as probiotic supplements, followed suit.



Total U.S. beauty sales may be trending similar in the mass and prestige channels but with different drivers, according to market research provider the NPD Group.


Momentum in the beer category is coming from craft beers. “Craft beers are growing at a 10% clip,” said Eric Shepard, executive editor of Beer Marketer’s Insights. “Seasonals and variety packs are the big news, and Indiana Pale Ales are very hot right now.” 


PARIS — General Mills now has a 51% stake in Yoplait S.A.S. and a 50% interest in a related entity that holds the worldwide Yoplait brands, the company announced Friday.

General Mills acquired the ownership stakes from Europe-based private equity firm PAI Partners and Sodiaal, the largest dairy cooperative in France, for about $1.2 billion. With this transaction, Yoplait will be governed by a supervisory board with representation from General Mills and Sodiaal, as the remaining ownership stakes in both entities will continue to be held by Sodiaal.