Vitamins, Diet and Sports Nutrition

PORTLAND, Ore. — Entia Biosciences on Monday announced the launch of Ergo4Health/Kidney, a new nutritional supplement intended for individuals who are concerned about kidney health. The product comes in easy-to-swallow 500 mg capsules.

The OTC e-commerce channel is the 900-lb. gorilla in the traditional domestic and global retail worlds. A U.S. brand owner is now confronted with a global pricing discipline challenge. The speed and ubiquity of product pricing and information has forced the issue. To paraphrase Hermione in “Harry Potter,” everything has changed.

ARLINGTON, Va. —  Health and wellness represents a significant growth opportunity for supermarket retailers, according to 81% of the food retailers who participated in a recent Food Marketing Institute survey. That's up from 70% in 2014, FMI reported.

MADISON, Wis. — Prevagen's sponsorship of Josh Bilicki continued this weekend as he competed in the second of three road courses in the NASCAR XFINITY Series. Prevagen first announced its sponsorship of Bilicki, a native of Richfield, Wisconsin, last week. Bilicki raced in the No. 8 B.J. McLeod Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.

SECAUCUS, N.J. — The Vitamin Shoppe on Monday launched Spark Auto Delivery, a convenient and differentiated product subscription service that will allow customers to save on their favorite wellness items while receiving them on a flexible, automated shipping schedule.

While everyone is focusing on pure play online giant Amazon, what they are likely missing is how brick and mortar retailers are driving ecommerce sales growth, noted TABS Analytics last week in a blog. "The TABS Analytics 10th Vitamin and Minerals Study revealed that online sales by traditional brick and mortar retailers propelled the market to an all-time high, growing an estimated 6% in the last year to reach $13.5 billion in annual sales," the company reported. "Walmart.com, specifically, had a breakout year for VMS sales. ...

SEATTLE — Vitamin Packs, the next generation vitamin subscription service, on Thursday announced the launch of its new affiliate program, which offers health and wellness influencers the opportunity to deliver customized vitamins and nutritional supplements to consumers. Within the last four weeks, Vitamin Packs has experienced significant growth with more than 6,000 health-conscious consumers completing the Nutritional Assessment to reveal their personalized vitamin and nutrient recommendations.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Meijer and Spectrum Health today announced they have collaborated to launch a line of co-branded over-the-counter products.

“As the nation’s ninth largest grocery retailer, Meijer has an undeniable presence throughout the Midwest,” Spectrum Health SVP and chief strategy officer Roger Jansen said. “We are excited to work with Meijer. This collaboration enables Spectrum Health to meet consumers where they are on their health-and-wellness journey.”