INSIGHTS AND PERSPECTIVES

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — There is an important distinction to be made here, one that could place pharmacy operators and over-the-counter manufacturers on opposite sides of the aisle. And that's the call for a codified third class of drugs, made more or less by both the National Association of Chain Drug Stores and the National Community Pharmacists Association in their written submissions to the Food and Drug Administration on expanding the switch paradigm.

NEW YORK — Despite predictions that consumers in recessionary times would flock to cheaper over-the-counter drugs, the world's over-the-counter drug market grew just 3.5% in the past three years, according a report released by Kalorama Information.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — The past two weeks have seen two new additions to the list of retailers selling prescription drugs for pets, showing that this space, while still small, is growing in importance and offers a good way for retailers to drive customer traffic.

OAKLAND, Calif. — Scientists at Children’s Hospital Oakland Research Institute’s Nutrition and Metabolism Center have developed a low-calorie, fruit-based high-fiber vitamin and mineral nutrition bar called the CHORI-bar that improves biological indicators — the bar increased HDL cholesterol and glutathione but lowered homocysteine — linked to the risk of cardiovascular disease, cognitive decline and associated decline in antioxidant defenses, the group reported Wednesday.

CHICAGO — Motherhood influences the way women shop, according to Mintel research.

The research firm found that being a mother influences shopping habits as an increased emphasis is put on the safety, value and nutrition of everyday purchases:

• More than half of moms who only have children younger than 6 years old (51%) said they question how safe things are for their children to eat, use and wear;

• 40% said think about the long-term impact products have on their children;

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — More retail websites this year achieved a "threshold for excellence" on customer experience analytics firm ForeSee's annual Top 100 E-Retail Satisfaction Index.

ForeSee reported that 36-out-of-100 online retailers achieved a satisfaction score of 80 or higher, compared with 28-out-of-100 websites that received the distinction last year. Although Amazon.com topped the list with a 2012 satisfaction score of 89 — up three points from 2011 — many other retailers, particularly retail pharmacies and grocery retailers, earned a high score:

CHICAGO — Almost 100 million Americans use social media to shop, according to a new survey.

Agency network Leo Burnett Worldwide and its marketing services arm, Arc Worldwide, released results of the "SocialShop" study Wednesday showing that 95 million Americans, or 42% of Americans, are shopping through social media, while almost 73% of people are using social media more than a year ago.

CHICAGO — Merchandisers angling for that impulse purchase take heart: As many as 76% of buying decisions are being made in the store, according to research published Wednesday from Point of Purchase Advertising International. The findings are part of POPAI's "2012 Shopper Engagement Study."