GMDC presents new HBW study at recent GMDC Health Beauty Wellness conference
GMDC
GMDC released primary research from their multi-year study, Consumer Shopping Habits for Wellness and Environmentally Conscious Lifestyles. The three-year study, underwritten by GMDC's Education Leadership Council and select GMDC member companies, is designed to summarize current research that defines the Health and Wellness (H+W) consumer.More

Industry Sourcing Guide — category sales information available 24/7 for GMDC members
GMDC
A valuable resource for association members and other industry professionals who use the Internet to locate products and services for the entire retail General Merchandise and Health Beauty Wellness industry.More

Promote your news release in the GMDC Weekly Insights
GMDC
The GMDC Weekly Insights reaches more than 7,000 readers and decision makers in the general merchandise, health beauty wellness, wholesale and retailing industry. Your release will appear in the next available issue of GMDC Weekly Insights. Simply indicate whether you've posted your release through a wire service to begin the process. The service is free to members. Please send all contact information and press release requests to info@gmdc.org.More

CodeBaby characters incorporate innovative technology — dramatic discounting is still available!
GMDC
GMDC has collaborated with technology partner CodeBaby to offer significant pricing discounts for GMDC members. Enhance your website and engage your own online character in business-to-business and business-to-consumer capabilities!More

Recall InfoLink — don't wait for the next product recall
GMDC
The recently passed Food Safety Modernization Act will bring many changes as the Food and Drug Administration steps up its regulatory oversight of recalls. GMDC has partnered with a state-of-the-art company, Recall InfoLink, to offer a considerable discount that will allow you to strengthen your recall preparedness!More

SAV Transportation Group — save time and money!
GMDC
Are you looking for a program that will help you streamline the shipping process, improve your quality of service and bring you closer to your customers? SAV Transportation Group has access to 21 national and regional LTL carriers that provide superior service to all 50 states!More

CPG loyalty: Sports drinks among strongest
MarketingDaily
Despite the economy and the growth of private label, brand loyalty has increased in 45 of the top 100 CPG categories over the past three years, according to a new report from SymphonyIRI Group. Some — like sports drinks — have seen significant gains.More

What's in store for private label
Beverage Industry
We've heard of blind taste tests between competitive products. Oftentimes, consumers can't tell the difference between a national brand and its private-label equivalent. However, in recent years, retailers have taken it to a whole new level. These days, consumers might find it difficult to pick out a private label product on-shelf because of the way it's packaged and marketed.More

Mark Schumacher joins Emerson Group
Drug Store News
Emerson Group has expanded its team, the company announced. Mark Schumacher, an industry veteran that has worked as a retailer HBC category manager, will focus on category and shopper insights for Emerson Group.More

Giant-Landover names Hucker as new president
Supermarket News
Ahold's Giant-Landover division recently said it had appointed former Wal-Mart and Aldi executive Anthony Hucker as its new division president. Hucker will take over Oct. 3 for Don Sussman, who served as interim president at Giant since the end of 2010 and will resume his role executive vice president of supply chain for Ahold USA.More

GSK Consumer Healthcare taps new chief customer officer
Drug Store News
GlaxoSmithKline's Consumer Healthcare division has appointed a former Kraft Foods executive as its new chief customer officer. In his new role, Keith Loranger will be responsible for leading the GSK Consumer Healthcare's sales function to increase sales and profit for the company's oral health and wellness categories, including such brands as Aquafresh, NicoDerm CQ and Tums, among others.More

Duracell, wireless power company Powermat team up
The Denver Post
Procter & Gamble Co.'s Duracell battery unit is partnering with Powermat Ltd., hoping to get cell phone users to ditch their traditional power chargers. The two companies are teaming up to make small charging mats and receivers that wirelessly juice up cell phones and other small electronics.More

ClearLight Partners acquires majority interest in Evriholder
Home Furnishings News
Private equity firm ClearLight Partners has acquired an ownership interest in Evriholder Products, LLC, a provider of impulse-purchase housewares. With a product portfolio spanning storage and organization, cleaning, bath and personal care, barware and kitchen categories, Evriholder will use the investment from ClearLight to fund a range of growth initiatives, including new product and program development and acquisitions.More

US retail sales stall on lack of job growth
Bloomberg
Retail sales in the U.S. unexpectedly stagnated in August as a lack of employment and limited income growth restrained demand, highlighting the risk the economy will stall. The unchanged reading followed a 0.3 percent gain for July that was smaller than previously estimated, Commerce Department figures showed in Washington.More

Swiffer boosts products with HD Clean technology
Drug Store News
Swiffer has updated its products with high-definition technology to offer a deeper clean. "Swiffer is going beyond traditional methods to deliver a clean so extraordinary that the definition of clean as we know it has been elevated to the idea of 'high definition,'" P&G's home care external relations manager Jeff Pierce said.More

Yankee Candle introduces Perfect Pillar
Drug Store News
Yankee Candle has introduced its latest candle form. The Perfect Pillar features an easy-to-remove peel-off label, adding to the overall clean, contemporary look of this decorative candle form, Yankee Candle said.More

Introducing ProNutrients™, a new line of dietary supplements from the makers of Centrum
Business Wire
Pfizer Consumer Healthcare, makers of Centrum® multivitamins, recently announced the launch of ProNutrients™, a line of supplements from the most trusted multivitamin brand helping to increase confidence in supplementing and make nutrition possible.More

Revolutionary new product from the Kleenex Brand soothes sore noses on contact
PR Newswire
Kleenex brand, America's softest tissue, is bringing a new innovation to the facial tissue category with the introduction of Kleenex Cool Touch tissue, the only tissue that actively releases a cool sensation to soothe a sore nose on contact. The new facial tissue, which will be available in stores in September, is just in time for cold and flu season, when many people will be looking for ways to soothe sore, dry noses.More

Maybelline NY introduces its new Great Lash Lots of Lashes mascara
Drug Store News
Maybelline New York has expanded its mascara portfolio with the September launch of its new Great Lash Lots of Lashes. The popular Great Lash brand, known for its bright pink and green packaging, now features, with Lots of Lashes, a new heart-shaped elastomer brush to simplify the application process.More

Upward mobility
Supermarket News
Smartphone use is becoming more pervasive at retail, and it's not just consumers who are optimizing visits with mobile apps. Third-party field associates are likewise trading paper and pen for devices that support real-time reporting, facilitate location verification and allow for assignment modification on the fly.More

Bi-Lo takes to the road for 50th anniversary
Progressive Grocer
Bi-Lo has embarked on a trip to its stores in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee in a classic Airstream trailer as a way to celebrate the company's fiftieth year in business. At each stop during the eight-week tour, which runs through Oct. 20, consumers will have the chance to win prizes and receive special gifts.More

Wal-Mart announces women-friendly initiatives
Los Angeles Times
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. recently announced several new initiatives to promote women workers and women-owned businesses as part of an effort to improve its corporate image. The nation's largest retailer continues to deal with accusations that it doesn't have an equal workplace and may face individual claims of sex discrimination after the U.S. Supreme Court threw out a class-action suit by female workers this year.More