In this Issue

Overall, sales of intimacy health products are down slightly. Sales of condoms are down 2.1% to $382.6 million, according to IRI for the 52 weeks ended Oct. 6 across total U.S. multi-outlets. Personal lubricant sales were similarly down — falling 5.3% to $207.5 million. Only sales of personal massagers were up 5.6%, but on a relatively tiny base of $25.7 million.

The highly saturated and competitive hair care category has experienced only modest increases in recent years, but industry observers predict the category will grow double-digits through 2017, thanks in large part to niche items and products that target emerging segments.

(For the full category review, including sales data, click here.)

Consumers never tire of candy. Euromonitor data indicates that U.S. dollar sales for chocolate increased 19% between 2007 and 2012, and non-chocolate sales were up 17%. Euromonitor and the National Confectioners Association expect solid growth in the next five years, with the category “adding more than $6 billion in sales between 2013 and 2018.”

Another key area, in which the learnings of ExtraCare are helping to inform the overall CVS Caremark retail strategy and personalize the shopping experience is in the way CVS Caremark designs and merchandises its stores.

NAPLES, Fla. — Change is not coming. Change is here. Are you prepared?

That’s the question regional chain pharmacies should be asking themselves as the healthcare landscape rapidly evolves and performance-based outcomes grow increasingly vital. That is why the 2014 NACDS Regional Chain Conference is perhaps more important than ever.

It’s been a busy month for news about CVS Caremark, as DSN raced to compile the special report on the company that appears in this issue. Each of the announcements only serves to amplify our “Power of One” theme.

Take its new joint venture with Cardinal Health, which will negotiate prices and source generic drugs for both companies.

Probiotics have continued to rake in sales this fall, and it’s a product category that still has plenty of growth potential. According to a survey by Procter & Gamble, 53% of women still don’t know what probiotics are, but 74% are interested in how their digestive system works.

(For the full category review, including sales data, click here.)

Sales of OTC female contraceptives ought to be significant in the coming year. Already, the category is up 2.3% to $232.7 million, and that number is expected to go up now that the Food and Drug Administration has approved Teva Women’s Health’s Plan B One-Step (levonorgestrel) without a prescription.