CONSUMING RELIEF

Apr 30, 2007 12:00 PM, By WENDY TOTH


         Subscribe in NewsGator Online   Subscribe in Bloglines

Due to rising health care costs, more Americans are researching their own health conditions — gastrointestinal being among the most prominent — and are likely to shop retailers that are willing to help them along the way.

While sales are up for the stomach remedies category, retailers that aid consumers in the health care decision-making process are at an advantage, retailers and industry experts said.

Overall, sales for the gastrointestinal tablets category for the 52 weeks ending March 25, 2007, were up 7.9% from a year ago to $1.7 million, according to Information Resources Inc., Chicago. Gastrointestinal liquid remedy sales were up 5.18% to $482.6 million.

“The general public is becoming more educated on topics like colon cancer, increasing incidences of acid reflux and the availability of probiotics, which stabilize intestinal digestion,” said Alan Smith, pharmacy category manager for Bi-Lo, Greenville, S.C. “This awareness is causing increased visits to the [stomach remedies] category.”

In addition, the change of products such as Prilosec OTC, from Procter & Gamble, Cincinnati, to over-the-counter from prescription-only medication, “has definitely opened the category to wider use,” said Jim Linden, director of pharmacy, Nash Finch Co., Edina, Minn.

Prilosec OTC was introduced in 2003. According to IRI, it is the top-selling antacid tablet, up 9.48% from last year to $1.05 billion. It is also the highest-earning single product being tracked by IRI in the category.

Laxative MiraLAX, from Schering-Plough HealthCare Products, Kenilworth, N.J., went over-the-counter in late March and may provide a sales boost to complementary items like multivitamins and calcium and fiber mixes, Smith said.

“MiraLAX is a long-prescribed formula that chronic users are very familiar with, and will help folks that have tried gritty mixes or can't swallow pills,” Smith said. “The product can be mixed with any liquid beverage.”

This product will boost sales because “patients are always looking for something that will improve their personal situation, so they most likely will try it,” Linden said.

Other products that remain “rocks in the category” at Bi-Lo are Pepcid AC, Zantac, Pepto-Bismol and Tums, according to Smith.

Pepcid AC from Johnson & Johnson/ Merck Consumer Pharmaceuticals Co., New Brunswick, N.J., was the third-highest-selling brand of antacid tablets, according to IRI, following private-label products, which ranked second.

Pepcid AC sales were at $68.7 million; however, dollar sales were down 8.25%, while sales for private-label antacid tablets were up 4.89% to $126 million.

Zantac 150 antacid tablets from Pfizer, New York, ranked fourth, up 21.12% to $66.6 million. Pepcid Complete Antacid Tablets — at $54.1 million, up 14.3% — were fifth, while Gas-X antacid tablets from Novartis Consumer Health, Parsippany, N.J., came in sixth, up 18% at $46.4 million.

Pepto-Bismol, from Proc-ter & Gamble, was first in the stomach remedy liquid/powder category, up 4.31% to $61.1 million, IRI reported.

“Prilosec, Pepcid and Zantac 150 continue to perform well at Publix,” noted Maria Brous, spokeswoman for Publix Super Markets, Lakeland, Fla.

The majority of these popular products target heartburn, also known as gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD. “It would be fair to say that America, for many health conditions, is undermedicated,” said consultant Jim Wisner, president, Wisner Marketing Group, Libertyville, Ill. “GERD would be among the more prevalent of those, with the risk of esophageal damage — and if you're not treating acid reflux, it's greater.”

Want to use this article? Click here for options!
© 2010 Penton Media Inc.


Acceptable Use Policy
blog comments powered by Disqus

Subscribe / Renew to Supermarket News

Supermarket News

The most reliable source of industry news and insight...in print and online.

 

 


Refresh: A Whole Health Blog

Bob Vosburgh

Bob Vosburgh:

Read More Refresh

Most Viewed News

Read More News

SN Videos

Food Safety Challenges and Solutions

Supervalu’s Dr. John Hanlin addresses food safety issues in local sourcing, sanitation and cold chain.

Insights From SN’s Marketer of the Year

Jon Wendel, senior vice-president of Marketing, Hy-Vee, discusses the role that Marketing plays at his company.

Misconceptions About Hispanic Shoppers

Sidney Hopper, COO of United Supermarkets’ Amigos banner, clarifies some misunderstandings about Hispanic shoppers.

View All




Related Penton Sites



Plan a food industry meeting with MeetingsNet.

Subscribe to SN

Latest Cover

IRI Times & Trends

2009 CPG Year in Review: A Market Redefined by Personalized Shopping. IRI's Times & Trends highlights new developments and critical events across all major CPG categories and channels, providing powerful benchmarking data to help guide your strategic decisions. The February 2010 issue of Times & Trends explores economic, channel, department and category performance over the past year.

View All IRI Reports

Upcoming Events

March 22-24, 2010
2010 IRI Reinventing CPG and Retail Summit
Information Resources Inc.
JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country
312.726.1221

March 25-27, 2010
Global Pet Expo
American Pet Products Association and Pet Industry Distributors Association
Orange County Convention Center
Orlando, Fla.
203.532.0000 or 443.640.1060
pida@ksgroup.org

View All Upcoming Events

Subscribe to SN

More Premium Content

newsletter image

SN Free Daily Update

The food trade’s leading daily news service. Register Here

Home Use

Home Use

Value, convenience and product uniqueness are familiar criteria for supermarket buyers scanning the exhibit floor for new products...

Ready to Go

Ready to Go

Twice-a-week fish fries and roasted, three-legged chickens get some of the credit for keeping prepared-food sales up at Dash's Market in Buffalo, N.Y.

In the Soup

In the Soup

As a shopper enters the condensed soup segment of a grocery store, her internal clock begins to tick.

Subscribe to Premium Content Today!

Subscribe to Premium Content Today!

Corporate Finance

Read in-depth coverage of quarterly reports.

Marketing Trends

New promotions, new pricing, new products.

Subscribe to Premium Content