New Products

DENVER — A new mobile app-driven social network devoted to medical marijuana has attracted $150,000 in seed money from an investment group.

MassRoots announced Thursday that it had closed the seed investment from members of the ArcView Group. The social network, launched in July 2013, has more than 25,000 active users. MassRoots allows users to maintain their privacy and anonymity by not requiring their name, email or phone number to join.

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — PureCircle, a producer and marketer of stevia, announced that the Food and Drug Administration has approved PureCircle's Rebaudioside M (Reb M) as a general purpose sweetener for foods and beverages in the United States. 

MONROVIA, Calif. — Regulators in Canada have given a maker of health kiosks the green light to start marketing its products there.

Stayhealthy said Health Canada's Medical Devices Bureau had granted it a license to sell its HealthCenter Kiosk, models 650 and 650-C. The kiosks measure blood pressure, heart rate, total body weight, body-mass index, total body composition and vision and can incorporate data on blood glucose.

DALLAS — Skimpy Mixers, a new drink mixer, will be available Dec. 26 to Jan. 2 at select Walmart locations across the nation as part of a limited-time only promotional launch. The mixers are made with real fruit juices and are low in sugar content and calories. The product will officially launch in February.

The company’s founders first came up with the idea while attending a friend’s Bachelorette pool party. They loved the drinks that were being served and were surprised that they couldn't taste the alcohol content. 

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.

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — Whether it’s Argan oil, Moroccan oil, jojoba oil or another type of oil — there’s no denying that hair oils are hot. These nourishing oils promise to deeply penetrate hair to restore health and shine.

HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. — Mars will launch a new M&M flavor in May, M&M’s Brand Birthday Cake Chocolate Candies. The flavor “symbolizes family celebrations, so we think it’s a great fit with our M&M’s brand,” said Larry Lupo, Mars Chocolate North America’s VP sales for convenience and drug channels. The milk chocolate infused with birthday cake flavored candies will be available in a 1.4-oz. single pack for $1.09 and an 8-oz. stand-up-pouch for $2.99.

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.)