BYRD POWERING HBC WITH VITAMIN MUSCLE

JOEL ELSON

BURLINGTON, N.C. -- Byrd Food Stores here, in a move aimed at strengthening its health and beauty care variety, is adding about 60 items to its vitamin sections.

The retailer is introducing about 30 Nature's Made vitamins and a comparable number of Fleming Cos. Marquee private-label vitamins to its existing vitamin line, which currently features 10 stockkeeping units.

"Vitamins were a category we were missing out on, and never really had the space for," said Randall King, nonfood buyer at the 42-unit chain. The new mix, which will be featured in a 12-linear-foot section, is slated to be rolled out chainwide next month. The expanded sets will be merchandised on three, 4-foot shelves at eye level. They will be located in space that formerly housed first-aid products, which are being moved to an adjacent 4-foot section that contains alcohol, peroxide and related remedies. Though Byrd has no immediate plans to expand the vitamin variety or section size further, it may add about another 60 SKUs to the section. However, it will give the larger sets at least six months' trial before any other additions are made.