In this Issue

Wakefern Food Corp. continued to advance its health-and-wellness efforts over the past year, driven by a deep understanding of the needs of specific customer segments. One of those segments targeted by the operator of ShopRite supermarkets across six states are younger consumers.

By pharmacists: For pharmacists. That simple edict not only served as the genesis behind AmerisourceBergen’s new ABC Order system that was piloted last year, but also captures the spirit of how AmerisourceBergen and its Good Neighbor Pharmacy franchise operation approach independent pharmacy.

Hy-Vee is well-known for its health-and-wellness commitment, and the supermarket chain has been taking efforts up a few notches recently with new and expanded programs.

The Iowa-based company, which operates food stores in eight Midwestern states, has been growing programs for immunizations and in-store health clinics, while promoting in-store healthy foods’ departments and dietitians to support customer needs.

“The company prides itself on its dedication to health and wellness,” Kristin Williams, SVP and chief health officer, told DSN.

Masculine grooming choices are soaring — beard services are up 20%, men’s hair lightening 110% and men’s coloring 8%, according to Kline Pro, which also found men are especially interested in products for thinning hair, finishing and shine. The brands men look for include Layrite, Baxter and Jack Black.

(To view the full Category Review, click here.)

Purveyors of health products have been riding the baby boomer wave for some time now, and it doesn’t appear to be cresting any time soon. According to the Population Reference Bureau, the number of Americans ages 65 years old and older is projected to more than double from 46 million today to more than 98 million by 2060, and the 65-and-older age group’s share of the total population will rise to nearly 24% from 15%.

(To view the full Category Review, click here.)

Among the 22 novel new drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2016, about half were considered specialty drugs, and Diplomat identified four key specialty approvals that innovate in certain categories. Two of these were in the hepatitis C space, which has driven specialty growth for several years.

(To view the full Category Review, click here.)

For those retailers bold enough to sniff out a fresh opportunity, at least as far as the mass merchant space is concerned, aromatherapy realized some rosy sales gains in 2016. Citing Nielsen data, Piping Rock reported the aromatherapy opportunity in mass is racing along at an annual growth trajectory of 121%, reaching $44 million for the 52 weeks ended Dec. 31, 2016 across all outlets combined.

(To view the full Category Review, click here.)

Maybe men have been the secret all along to pumping up front-end sales.

(To view the full Category Review, click here.)