News Briefs

Designer Greetings has acquired Oklahoma City master greeting card distributor QPS and their sub distributors: United Wholesale, Cards N Such, Intermountain Greetings, Cards Plus, Northwest Cardco, MDS, Maida and Kibby.

This is the largest acquisition of a greeting card distributor in North America’s history and marks the 17th acquisition for Designer Greetings.

Designer Greetings CEO and president, Steven Gimbelman, said, “QPS has been a distribution partner of Designer Greetings for over 15 years. We’ve developed a solid relationship over the years and the natural progression for an acquisition was imminent. QPS, under the leadership of Paul Casperson, grew the business over the years from repeated greeting card distributor acquisitions, namely United Wholesale, Northwest Cardco, Cards N Such, Intermountain Greetings, Cards Plus, MDS, Maida and Kibby.  QPS has always provided excellent product and superior service to its thousands of partner retailers throughout the United States. We are happy to welcome QPS to our family of partner acquisitions.”

There’s a new way to experience Native’s aluminum and paraben-free stick deodorants.

New from the brand is its line of Deodorant and Body Sprays, which are ozone-friendly and natural propellant spray that offers all-day odor protection.

Featuring water, fragrance and such plant-oil derived skin conditioning ingredients as caprylic/capric triglyceride and dipropylene glycol to help keep users fresh, it also contains denaturated alcohol made from plants for fast-drying, the company said.

Available scents include coconut and vanilla, cucumber and mint, eucalyptus and mint, lilac and white tea, sea salt and cedar, and sweet peach and nectar.

Retailing for $14 each, Native’s new Deodorant and Body Sprays are available for purchase online.

Mars’ popular Snickers brand is entering with nutrition performance category with a line of protein bars.

Snickers Hi Protein Bars, which contain chocolate, caramel and peanut ingredients, are packed with 20 g of protein per serving, the company said.

“Mars is consumer obsessed, and after talking with many consumers through the product development process, it was clear that the performance nutrition category was missing one key ingredient — delicious tasting products,’ said Michelle Deignan, senior brand director at Mars Wrigley. "With the demand for delicious tasting protein bars increasing, Snickers Hi Protein Bars are guaranteed to be a hit whether you work out avidly, casually or are looking for a delicious snack with more protein.”

Consumers can get their hands on Snickers Hi Protein Bars in January 2023 at select retailers. It will expand to additional retailers in the coming year.

Chips Ahoy! is looking ahead to 2023 and its upcoming 60^th birthday celebration by previewing a brand new launch — Chewy Confetti Cake Cookies.

“We all know that Chips Ahoy! is here for the happy. Now, for its 60th birthday, it’s here for the party!” said Natalie Gadbois, senior brand manager for Chips Ahoy! “Our chewy cookies introduce new tastes, flavors and sensory experiences that we know Gen-Z looks for, while still keeping the same, familiar Chips Ahoy! cookie quality fans of all ages have come to know and love. With colorful rainbow sprinkles mixed in with irresistible confetti cake flavor, Chips Ahoy! Chewy Confetti Cake Flavored Cookies taste great on their own or can be paired with ice cream for one deliciously happy treat!”

Featuring rainbow sprinkles and a confetti cake flavor, Chips Ahoy! Chewy Confetti Cake Cookies will be available in stores nationwide beginning in January for a suggested retail price of $4.99.

Bare Performance Nutrition is embracing the holiday spirit with new flavors of several of its popular products.

New additions include Strawberry Whey Protein, Orange Dreamsicle Peak Sleep and Strawberry Electrolyte Drink Mix.

“The holiday season is filled with overly rich, calorie-laden treats that are great on the surface but leave us feeling tired, unmotivated, and generally not so merry. It was my goal this year to expand fan-favorite offerings by introducing novel flavors that invoke childhood nostalgia but without any guilt,” said Nick Bare, founder of BPN. “There's no doubt these sweet and year-round flavors will provide a refreshing break from yet another year of your great aunt's 'world-famous' fruit cakes.”

The Strawberry Whey Protein Powder contains a blend of 88% whey and 12$ casein protein. The Strawberry Electrolyte Drink Mix works to help support hydration needs, improving performance and reducing fatigue. Lastly, the Orange Dreamsicle Peak Sleep aims to promote rest and recovery, the company said.

Bare Performance Nutrition’s new launches are available for purchase online.

Power Life is debuting a new addition to its performance-enhancing products — Peak Replenish.

Made with electrolytes to help promote increased hydration as well as physical performance so users can fuel energy while nutrients are delivered. It also aids the body to rebuild muscles and reduce post-exercise muscle soreness, the company said.  

Featuring BetaPower derived from beets to help support cellular hydration, it also contains CocOganic Plus from freeze-dried coconut water for its mix of essential electrolytes; GivoMag to supply the body with magnesium; Aquamin to provide calcium and 72 other trace minerals; and essential electrolytes to keep cells hydrated.

Currently, Power Life Peak Replenish is available for purchase online for a suggested retail price of $59.95.