News Briefs

NationsBenefits, a company offering supplemental benefits and healthcare fintech solutions serving the healthcare-managed care market, announced a direct point-of-sale integration strategy and basket analyzer technology that is now accepted at Publix Super Markets.

As a result of the new direct integration strategy and BAS technology implementation, eligible Medicare Advantage members of NationsBenefits who want to spend their health plan-funded benefit dollars on pre-approved healthy products can now do so at Publix.

"Our direct point of sale integration and basket analyzer technology are designed to empower our health plan partners’ members to make healthier choices with ease," said Glenn Parker, CEO of NationsBenefits. “This means we eliminate many of the grievances members typically experience when attempting to spend their healthcare benefit dollars. Product eligibility checks are accurate and seamless for our health plan customers and their members.”

The company said the integration represents a significant milestone in NationsBenefits’ mission to build the most advanced, merchant acquirer agnostic retail network serving the healthcare benefits and managed care market.

Post Consumer Brands has released and discontinued some iconic cereals. This January, the company is bringing back two dessert-themed favorites for a limited time only—Mega Stuf Oreo O’s and Chips Ahoy! cereal.

Mega Stuf Oreo O’s cereal combines the crunchy, chocolatey Oreo O’s cereal featuring real Oreos with a generous helping of mini marshmallows, creating an unbelievably delicious breakfast combination.

Chips Ahoy! cereal puts the nostalgic taste of Chips Ahoy! chocolate chip cookies right into your breakfast bowl, making mornings a little more fun.

‌Both cookie cereals are available at Walmart while supplies last.

Ritual is introducing Natal Choline, a supplement in a clinically-backed form to support babies' cognitive function when taken during pregnancy.

Noting that over 95% of pregnant women and 90% of women aged 19 years old and older aren’t getting enough choline from diet alone, Ritual said that through a clinical study completed at Cornell University, researchers found that supplementation at 550 mg of Choline helped promote information processing speed in infancy and sustained attention in early childhood to age 7 years old.

The company said it developed its Choline with that exact dosage to help improve the cognitive performance in babies. Like all of its products, it is vegan, non-GMO project certified, third-party tested for heavy metals and Made Traceable. It is designed to enhance the effects of a prenatal or postnatal vitamin and to be taken once daily—with or without food.

Orbit Gum is ringing in the new year with its new white sweet mint soft chew gum. 

Featuring a sweet mint flavor, the gum comes in a crunchy exterior and chewy center that is bursting with flavor and helps freshen breath, the brand stated. 

“We know consumers can be self-conscious about their smiles, so we hope that Orbit white sweet mint can help give everyone an extra boost of confidence, and inspire moments of everyday happiness in 2024,” said Maria Urista, vice president at Mars Wrigley. “Our soft chew format is a fan favorite and we're excited to deliver this beloved flavor as part of our Orbit White lineup to keep everyone feeling their best.”

The new white sweet mint flavor is rolling out to retail shelves in a 40-count bottle at retailers nationwide. 

The Pharmacy Quality Alliance has released a third edition of the PQA Social Determinants of Health Resource Guide. The third edition of this guide profiles 40 SDOH services, including eight new services and updates to 10 initiatives from the previous two editions. Created by PQA, the guide spotlights SDOH screenings, referrals and interventions focused on improving medication use quality.

The guide covers services that address at least one of seven SDOH barriers, plus expands the number of interventions that focus on food and nutrition. It also highlights tactics employed by successful SDOH programs.

“Throughout developing the guide, we have identified several tactics among successful initiatives such as community partnerships, training and cultural sensitivity," said Amanda Rya, education director at PQA. “These tactics can be considered by those developing their own SDOH programs and are testaments to the power of innovation, adaptability and unwavering dedication to improving the quality of medication use.”

The guide has been instrumental in identifying real-world interventions and screenings that have addressed SDOH, especially programs that are not described in peer-reviewed journals and other grey literature.

“PQA members continue to expand the work they are doing to address social determinants of health for the populations that they serve,” said Micah Cost ,CEO of PQA. “The third edition of the guide takes a closer look at food and nutrition security. We know that individuals without reliable access to affordable, nutritious food are more likely to encounter challenges related to medication access and outcomes of medication therapy.”

Access the resource guide here.

This activity was supported by an independent education grant from Merck.

HRG’s Dave Wendland, vice president, strategic relations, will be moderating the education breakout session, “Bringing Nonfood Destinations to Life,” Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024, at 1:00 p.m. ET at the Food Marketing Institute’s  Midwinter Conference. T

The session will focus on how strategically positioning nonfood categories can add items to shoppers’ baskets and bolster loyalty. Panelists Joe Toscano, vice president, trade and industry development, Nestle Purina PetCare Company; Bill Wolfenden, vice president food and alternate channels, Haleon; and Jill Blanchard, president, Advantage Solutions; will share insights about assortment planning, merchandising tactics, omnichannel trends, and digital marketing, and provide creative ideas to engage customers.

Wendland stated, "I'm excited to bring these three industry powerhouses together to explore ways to spotlight nonfoods within the grocery channel. There are unrealized opportunities for grocers to expand sales to current customers and solidify loyalty by focusing on categories such as pet food and digestive health. When shoppers realize these items are competitively priced and recognize how convenient it is to pick them up as part of their regular weekly trip, they’ll wonder why they haven’t been purchasing them at the grocery store all along."