News Briefs

Chloe’s continues to innovate the nondairy frozen novelty aisle with a new launch.

The brand is rolling out its new Marvel-inspired SKUs — tangy lemon-lime and orange variety packs, which feature the characters of Spider-Man and Ghost-Spider, and strawberry-mango pops with Avengers characters Thor, Doctor Strange, The Falcon and Captain Marvel.

In addition, Chloe’s is welcoming a no sugar option of its juice grape flavor, the company said.

“We are proud to expand our collection with Marvel and offer new varieties with the beloved Spider-Man and Avengers characters that span generations,” said Chloe’s president and co-founder Chloe Epstein. “All of our pops are made of the highest quality ingredients and are free from all the artificial stuff we want to avoid, but still offer an authentic, delicious, nostalgic experience. Both our new Marvel and No Sugar Added Pops are further extensions of our commitment to making better-for-you frozen treats more accessible for all.”

Consumers can find Chloe’s Spider-Man strawberry-lemon pops and Avengers cherry and grape variety packs at such retailers as Publix, Whole Foods Market, Sprouts, Jewel-Osco, Safeway, Albertsons, United, Market Street, Meijer, Giant Food, Giant, Stop & Shop, Price Chopper, Fresh Direct, Winco, Raley’s, Giant Eagle, Harris Teeter, Winn-Dixie, Family Fare, Martin’s, D&W and Fresh Thyme among others.

The no sugar added grape pops, which are made without any artificial ingredients, can be found at Sprouts, Raley’s, Winn-Dixie, United, Market Street, Giant, Martin’s and Fresh Direct among others.

Halo Top recently announced that it will be launching a brand new flavor — chocolate cake batter.

Featuring a chocolatey cake batter light ice cream with colored sprinkles, this new variant comes in a pint that contains 330 calories, according to the Le Mars, Iowa-based company.

In addition, the brand shared that it made a change to its Dairy Light Ice Cream recipe to feature a creamier texture while also maintaining the same taste and low calories it has become synonymous for.

“Throughout 2022, our fans can now enjoy their favorite Halo Top Dairy Light Ice Cream flavors with even creamier texture thanks to our latest reformulation. The new recipe will give fans all the delicious taste they know and love from Halo Top with an increase in creaminess,” said Pete Gargula, Halo Top brand manager.

Consumers can find Halo Top’s new chocolate cake batter light cream in the frozen aisle of grocery stores nationwide for the suggested retail price of $4.99 and a “now creamier” label on its packaging to indicate the revamped recipe.

Finishing Touch Flawless is continuing to expand its offerings with a brand-new tool designed to gently remove unwanted hair from the bikini area.

The Finishing Touch Flawless Bikini tool features thoughtful innovation and a modern design, and comes in a discreet and portable format that allows for a convenient fit anywhere, the company said.

Featuring a built-in LED spotlight to illuminate the skin while shaving, no downtime or recovery is needed after using, which allows for convenient usage when compared to waxing or lasering, according to the brand.

Designed with an angled head for hard-to-reach areas, this pain-free beauty tool is gentle on all skin types and retails for $19.99 at Ulta Beauty.

Hikma has completed its acquisition of Custopharm from Water Street Healthcare Partners, following approval from the Federal Trade Commission.

As previously announced on Sept. 27, 2021, the company acquired Custopharm for an initial cash consideration of $375 million on a debt and cash-free basis, with a further $50 million in contingent consideration payable upon the achievement of certain commercial milestones.  

Hikma noted that the company is the second-largest supplier by volume of generic sterile injectable medicines used by US hospitals and health care providers. The combination with Custopharm enhances Hikma’s R&D capabilities and pipeline and expands Hikma’s differentiated U.S. portfolio to close to 130 commercialized injectable medicines — a more than fivefold increase over the last decade.

In addition, the company shared that the acquisition complements its product portfolio and pipeline, adding up to 13 approved products and additional pipeline products, and enhances R&D capabilities, adding an experienced scientific team of dedicated R&D professionals with a proven ability to develop and commercialize complex sterile injectable products and a state-of-the-art R&D laboratory in California.

The acquisition also maintains Hikma’s strong regulatory track record. Custopharm has consistently obtained regulatory approval for new products with four first-to-market FDA ANDA approvals, including one CGT exclusivity for Calcitonin Salmon, which was launched in May 2021.

“The acquisition of Custopharm immediately strengthens our already strong U.S. injectables business by adding an attractive and profitable portfolio of marketed products, an exciting pipeline of future opportunities and a first-class scientific team with a strong regulatory track record," said Hikma CEO Siggi Olafsson. “This acquisition is highly complementary to our existing business and places us in an excellent position to better serve the growing needs of hospitals, doctors and patients. I am excited to welcome the team at Custopharm to Hikma as we continue to grow and strengthen our injectables business.”

There’s a new player introducing products in the generics market.

Long Grove Pharmaceuticals, founded in 2019 by strategic healthcare investor Water Street Healthcare Partners, announced that it will begin shipping its first products in mid-2022.

Long Grove bills itself as a company that "specializes in generic development opportunities with complex formulations, challenging manufacturing and supply chain dynamics, and unique regulatory approval pathways.”

The company shared that it is spearheaded by a multifunctional team of leaders with more than 100 years of collective pharmaceutical experience. “Together, they are pursuing partnership and product development initiatives focused on bringing long-awaited products to market across the hospital pharmacy, retail, clinic and alternative site channels,” the company said.

“The depth of our team’s expertise provides us with a specialized understanding of how to rapidly scale complex formulations and bring to market products known for having high barriers to entry,” said CEO Dan Robins. “We are deeply committed to leveraging our knowledge and network to cultivate needed solutions across the generics market that will improve customer choice and increase patient access.”

Long Grove Pharmaceuticals said that it employs the ANDA regulatory pathway to enable more rapid product approvals. It also develops proprietary products through the 505(b)(2) regulatory pathway. The company utilizes a variety of established manufacturers in North America, Western Europe and Asia.

The company also said it expects to innovate across the generic injectables, dermatological and topical markets.

A new flavor has joined Hostess Cr!spy Minis line of bite-sized snacks.

The new addition is mint chocolate, which combines mint and cocoa to create a creamy texture, the Lenexa, Kan.-based company said.

“Consumers are increasingly craving multitextured snacks, and this trend was central to the original launch of our Cr!spy Minis,” said Christopher Balach, general manager of Hostess Brands. “We’re excited to add another delicious flavor to this creamy-crunchy lineup of unique and innovative snacks.”

Featuring two layers of a creamy refreshing mint filling between crisp wafers topped with a chocolate-flavored layer, the Cr!spy Minis are made with real mint and cocoa and are free of high fructose corn syrup and artificial colors and flavors, the company said.

Available in a resealable 7.3-oz. package, Hostess Cr!spy Minis in mint chocolate retails for $3.49 and can be found at retailers nationwide.