News Briefs

EPIC Pharmacies, a nationwide buying group of over 1,500 independently owned pharmacies across the country, announced that it has made a significant decision in relation to securing the competitiveness of its member pharmacies.

McKesson will be the buying group's primary vendor of pharmaceutical products effective Oct. 1, 2022. This new arrangement will allow EPIC Rx members access to best-in-class pricing and savings that strengthen their businesses and help them provide patients with the highest level of care, the company said. 

Independent pharmacies are a critical healthcare component and serve prominently in rural and underserved areas. According to the National Community Pharmacists Association, 74% of community pharmacies serve population areas of less than 50,000. The collaboration between EPIC Rx and McKesson is an important component of how EPIC Rx has and will continue to support community pharmacies, the company said.

"Much thought and consideration were invested into this decision by our board of directors, which is proudly composed of independent pharmacy owners," said Brian Hose, EPIC Pharmacies board of directors chairperson and Sharpsburg Pharmacy owner. "Ultimately, this arrangement will allow our members to be better equipped to compete in today's evolving pharmaceutical marketplace."

International Delight is adding a hint of sweetness to mornings with the launch of a new iced coffee flavor — cinnamon churro.

Inspired by the flavors of fresh-made churros, the product contains an indulgent creaminess that is blended with a burst of cinnamon flavors, the company said.

“International Delight is known for transforming everyday coffee moments into celebrations of self-expression and joy,” said Kallie Goodwin, vice president of marketing for International Delight. “Consumers are clearly excited about the iconic and nostalgic flavor of churros, and we wanted to create a unique beverage that not only delivered on the dessert’s rising popularity but was also truly different from other ready-to-drink iced coffees in stores right now. We are thrilled to give our fans the ability to indulge in the delectable treat any season for any reason, right from the comfort of their home with International Delight Cinnamon Churro Iced Coffee.”

Made with real milk, cream and cane sugar, International Delight’s cinnamon churro iced coffee comes in 64-oz. cartons that retail for $4.59 each at major retailers nationwide.

Coffee mate is planning to kick off 2023 with not one but two candy-inspired coffee creamers.

The two new launches from the brand that consumers can be on the lookout for include Coffee mate Brown Sugar Cinnamon Pop-Tarts Flavored Creamer and Zero Sugar Twix Flavored Creamer.

“Coffee mate fans are always looking for fun, new flavors and we feel that each of these limited-edition collaborations uniquely meets that mark,” said Leonardo Aizpuru, Nestlé senior director of brand marketing and leader of the creamer business unit. “Pop-Tarts and Twix are both iconic brands in their own right, so we’re excited to bring each of these flavors to the creamer aisle. Plus, with consumers’ ever-growing interest in zero sugar options, we hope introducing Twix to our portfolio of zero sugar offerings is an added bonus for fans!”

In the Brown Sugar Cinnamon Pop-Tarts Flavored Creamer, consumers can expect to find cinnamon and brown sugar flavors. With the Zero Sugar Twix Flavored Creamer, notes of milk chocolate, caramel and cookie can be expected.

Both creamers will hit shelves in early 2023 for a limited time.

Better Nutritionals and DouxMatok, a food tech company and the developer of Incredo Sugar, are partnering to offer Better Nutritionals' network of customers sugar-reduced gummies.

Better Nutritionals is known for its leadership and quality in pectin-based gummies. Together, Better Nutritionals and DouxMatok have developed vegan nutraceutical products using Incredo Sugar, which enables a number of growth opportunities for customers, notably with the ability to offer products that are free of any artificial sweeteners, high-intensity sweeteners or sugar alcohols.

With Incredo Sugar, a sugar reduction solution that is made of real cane sugar, Better Nutritionals will introduce gummies that are 40% reduced in sugar and 33% reduced in calories compared to leading pectin-based gummies. The companies said that the products will not compromise on sweetness, taste or texture. All products also will be allergen-free, gluten-free, kosher and vegan.

“At Better Nutritionals, we have always prioritized high-quality and nutrition with our cutting-edge formulations of gummy supplements, and we’re thrilled to work with DouxMatok and its Incredo Sugar to uphold that commitment and innovate in the gummy category specifically,” said Sharon Hoffman, CEO of Better Nutritionals. “These core values are increasingly important to companies today and uphold our dedication to work with partners to develop and manufacture innovative products that prioritize health and wellness.”

The gummy vitamin market is expected to see $5.06 billion growth and a CAGR of 12.54% from 2022-2026, with supplements for children continuing to be a key emerging trend, according to a recent forecast report. The companies pointed out that concurrently, there is a surge in awareness of health concerns associated with the overconsumption of sugar and that there is a need to reduce sugar consumption especially among the younger population with childhood obesity rates surpassing 18% in the United States.

“Gummies are an important vitamin delivery system for children, but they are too high in sugar. By joining forces, Better Nutritionals and DouxMatok hope to support a major shift by providing lower sugar options with better health benefits for all consumers,” the companies said.

“Reducing sugar in a pectin gummy while keeping the full integrity of taste and texture is an extremely challenging feat,” said Alexis Gracia-Lugo, DouxMatok’s vice president of R&D applications for North America. “With the trust and expertise of a well-respected company like Better Nutritionals, we collaborated to develop breakthrough products with almost half the sugar. This is a huge accomplishment for the industry and signals a massive growth opportunity for companies.”

Market research and consulting firm Global Market Insights said in a new report that the cannabinoids market value is projected to exceed $63 billion by 2030.

The company said the rise in the prevalence of Parkinson’s disease, muscle disorders, seizures, anxiety and more will drive the market demand. In addition, rising government initiatives to provide better health care, as well as consistent efforts by industry participants to harness innovative production technologies, will also help increase the product penetration of cannabinoids. 

“The presence of a supportive regulatory landscape will play a key role in augmenting the cannabinoids market revenue, given the substantial increase in the number of cannabinoid product approvals in the last few years,” the company said in the report, Cannabinoids Market Analysis by Type, By Application, Industry Analysis Report, Regional Outlook, Growth Potential, Competitive Market Share & Forecast, 2022 – 2030. 

The company estimates that the Cannabigerol, or CBG, segment may register a CAGR of over 25% through 2030. This is credited to the product’s increasing availability and the rising number of new product variations introduced in the market. 

One of the fall season’s most popular flavors, pumpkin spice, is now available as a scent in a new CBD oil from LumiZen Wellness.

“We all see the pumpkin spice craze happen every year, and within the CBD community there’s been a recent demand for pumpkin spice products,” said a spokesperson for LumiZen Wellness. “So, we took one of our best sellers and did the research and development needed to offer a full spectrum pumpkin spice tincture that can be enjoyed safely.” 

Pumpkin spice products are popular during the fall months and can be found in such items as pumpkin spice lattes, pumpkin spice ice cream and pumpkin-flavored pet food.

The growing popularity of the CBD market is on a similar track, experiencing flourishing growth in recent years, the company said, which is why the brand has adopted the pumpkin spice craze with a special edition line of Pumpkin Spice 1,000 mg Full Spectrum CBD Tincture, which features the allure of pumpkin spice aroma and taste.