New Products

PASADENA, Calif. — Playmaker Nutrition recently announced its planned foray into retail outlets in September with a line of supplement products targeting teens and tweens. In addition to launching the line of supplements, Playmaker Nutrition plans to use its Web presence as a springboard to fitness and nutrition tips to help improve athletic performance, adopt a healthier lifestyle and maintain optimum wellness.

Drug Store News recently sat down with Tom Hadfield, CEO of AeroDesigns, to discuss the company’s new delivery system for energy — the AeroShot Energy— and the brand’s inherent point of differentiation.


Drug Store News: What is AeroShot?


The pet category remains strong. The American Pet Products Association expected that consumers will spend $52.87 billion on their pets this year. About $12.56 billion of that will be spent on supplies and over-the-counter products.


Bob Vetere, president of the organization, said the category’s next big area will be health-related products, treats and foods. “We are keeping our pets longer and are looking to keep them healthier right from the beginning,” he said.

With summer officially under way, it comes as little surprise that sales of sun care products rose during the most recent 12 weeks available from SymphonyIRI Group. Product innovation and greater consumer education on how to protect skin from the sun’s harmful rays also helped fuel growth.


According to SymphonyIRI Group, sales of suntan lotions and oils rose more than 2% to $388.67 million during the 12 weeks ended July 8 at food, drug and mass (excluding Walmart).


The recent launch of a number of new probiotic products from several large suppliers should be a boon to the popular digestive-support supplement, sales of which were up 16.5% to $169.2 million for the 52 weeks ended July 8 across food, drug and mass (excluding Walmart), according to SymphonyIRI Group data.


WOODRIDGE, Ill. — Trudeau has debuted the Reusable Party Cup.

Reminiscent of the red plastic cups that frequently make appearances at festivities across the country, Trudeau's reusable cup seeks to echo the same sentiment without affecting the environment.

"We are very enthusiastic and proud to be manufacturing our new reusable Red Party Cup," Trudeau USA EVP Marty Armstrong said. "Americans across the country can continue to celebrate and reuse their personal Red Party Cup over and over again while also saving the environment."

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Armada Health Care has integrated its ApproveRx prior authorization system with a pharmacy software system made by KeyCentrix, the companies said.

Armada and KeyCentrix announced the integration of ApproveRx with RxKey. ApproveRx is a Web-based platform designed to streamline the prior authorization process for prescribers and pharmacies. Armada is a group-purchasing and channel-management organization for specialty pharmacies.

SUPPLIER NEWS — The maker of Splenda has introduced a new zero-calorie sweetener. McNeil Nutritionals said Nectresse, made from monk fruit extract, is 100% natural. As part of the product launch, the brand has tapped journalist Lisa Ling to serve as its spokeswoman. Nectresse sweetener is available in both single-serve packets (40 servings) and canisters (140 servings) for suggested retail prices of $3.99 and $6.99, respectively.