Hair care is evolving faster than a TikTok trend; retailers need to stay current to maintain market share
74 PHARMACY: TECH & AUTOMATION
AI-powered solutions are helping retail pharmacies run more profitably and deliver better patient outcomes
80 PHARMACY: GENERICS
Amid a barrage of challenges, the generics industry has continued to innovate
88 HEALTH: DIABETES CARE
Pharmacies are in a prime position to educate consumers about diabetes and its management
Women of Distinction
Women are a growing share of managers and professionals in corporate America, the Pew Research Center said.
WOMEN’S PRESENCE IN MALE- AND FEMALE-DOMINATED PROFESSIONAL OCCUPATIONS IS ALSO GROWING. WOMEN CONTINUE TO MAKE UP A LARGE SHARE OF THE 28 PROFESSIONAL OCCUPATIONS WHERE WOMEN WERE THE MAJORITY OF WORKERS IN 1980.
In July, the Pew Research Center released a report saying that women hold a rising share of high-paying occupations in the United States. They are also a growing share of managers and professionals, Pew said, citing an analysis of federal data.
The report indicates that women are making slow but steady gains in corporate America. In 2023, 46% of all managers in the United States were women. This is up from 29% in 1980. Women were 58% of workers in professional and related occupations in 2023, up from 52% in 1980.
Women’s presence in male- and female-dominated professional occupations is also growing. Women continue to make up a large share of the 28 professional occupations where women were the majority of workers in 1980. In 2023, for example, 80% of workers in these jobs were women, up from 77% in 1980. Also, women have made inroads among the 61 professional occupations where men were the majority of workers in 1980. They are now filling 38% of majority-male professional jobs, up from 23% in 1980.
This month, we are celebrating the women in this industry with our annual Top Women in Health, Wellness & Beauty. The program singles out exceptional women in three categories—Business Excellence, Commitment to Care and Rising Stars—recognizing women who are making strides in various levels of their careers. The program is a celebration of the past and the present. It recognizes and honors the women who are making or have made outstanding contributions to their companies and their communities, but it also is a glimpse into the future.
To read about all the winners of this year’s awards, turn to our cover story on page 24 and join us in saying congratulations to all the women who received recognition, but also to all of the women who were nominated. You may not have won, but being nominated signals that your co-workers and colleagues are paying attention to your skills and acumen.
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RITE AID CLOSES ALL STORES
Rite Aid announced on Oct. 3, that it has officially closed all of its locations.
On Rite Aid’s website, the company stated, “All Rite Aid stores have now closed. We thank our loyal customers for their many years of support.” The company also states that customers can request prescription and immunization records online.
The report noted that despite more than 60 years in the pharmacy business, Rite Aid has been having financial problems for years.
Rite Aid filed for bankruptcy protection in May. At the time, Rite Aid operated 1,250 locations nationwide—a significant drop from its roughly 2,000 stores in 2023, a CNBC report said.
Rite Aid previously filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in October 2023, which allowed it to cut $2 billion in debt and close hundreds of stores. However, the retailer continued to carry $2.5 billion in debt when it emerged from bankruptcy as a private company in 2024, the report said, noting that at one time, Rite Aid had more than 4,900 stores.
PFIZER REACHES AGREEMENT WITH TRUMP ADMINISTRATION TO LOWER DRUG COSTS
Following reports that President Trump was launching a direct purchasing platform TrumpRx.gov and was going to announce a deal with Pfizer to lower drug prices, the president met with Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla and members of his Administration in the White House. Pfizer said the agreement reached will ensure U.S. patients pay lower prices for their prescription medicines while strengthening America’s role as the global leader in biopharmaceutical innovation. In response to the four points covered in the president’s July 31 letter, Pfizer has voluntarily agreed to implement measures designed to ensure Americans receive comparable drug prices to those available in other developed countries and to price newly launched medicines at parity with other key developed markets. Pfizer will also participate in a direct purchasing platform, TrumpRx.gov, that
will allow American patients to purchase medicines from Pfizer at a significant discount. The large majority of the company’s primary care treatments and some select specialty brands will be offered at savings that will range as high as 85% and on average 50%, Pfizer said in a press release.
Specific terms of the agreement remain confidential.
“We are proud to join President Trump at the White House to celebrate this landmark agreement that is a win for American patients, a win for American leadership and a win for Pfizer,” said Albert Bourla, chairman and CEO of Pfizer. “By working closely with the Administration, we are lowering costs for patients and enabling greater investment in the U.S. biopharmaceutical ecosystem by ending the days when American families alone carried the global burden of paying for innovation. This is about putting all patients first and ensuring America remains the world’s leading engine of medical breakthroughs.”
Bourla continued, “We now have the certainty and stability we need on two critical fronts, tariffs and pricing, that have suppressed the industry’s valuations to historic lows.
Bourla added, “We’ve agreed to a three-year grace period during which time Pfizer products under a Section 232 investigation won’t face tariffs, provided we further invest in manufacturing in the United States. Additionally, we’ve established a balanced global pricing approach that continues to recognize the value of innovation while ensuring prices in the United States and other developed countries are both reasonable and sustainable, maintaining the strength of the U.S. market alongside other developed nations.
Bourla said, “This agreement allows us to invest even more boldly in the United States – fueling growth, creating jobs and returning manufacturing home. Our U.S. workforce of 31,000 colleagues, supported by 13 manufacturing and distribution sites and 7 major R&D facilities, underscores Pfizer’s vital role in building a stronger American economy.”
Bourla concluded, “We are committed to channeling unprecedented resources with an additional $70 billion dedicated to U.S. research, development and capital projects in the next few years. This builds upon our more than $83 billion investment in American biotech innovation from 2018-2024, showing how we are strengthening our commitment at this pivotal moment by shaping the future of medicine with the pursuit of pioneering breakthroughs and ensuring the U.S. remains the global hub for medical progress and improving lives. With this agreement in place, Pfizer can fully focus on delivering the next generation of cures, sharpening its focus in the areas where the company’s science, scale and agility can make the biggest difference for patients in areas like oncology, obesity, vaccines, and inflammation and immunology.”
October is American Pharmacists Month
At Cardinal Health, we recognize the role of a pharmacist is far more than fulfilling prescription orders. Pharmacists are a trusted resource in their communities and among the patients they serve, sharing expert guidance, administering immunizations and providing accessible care.
Pharmacies are doing all of this and more, expanding beyond the script and beyond the store to care for patients in more ways than ever.
This American Pharmacists Month, and all year long, we celebrate community pharmacists and thank them for the essential role they play in their patients’ healthcare journeys.
To learn
WALMART TO ELIMINATE SYNTHETIC DYES ACROSS ALL PRIVATE BRAND PRODUCTS
Walmart announced it is moving to eliminate synthetic dyes and the use of an additional 30 ingredients (including certain preservatives, artificial sweeteners and fat substitutes) from its private brand food products.
This action is a significant step forward in its ongoing mission to provide customers with affordable, high-quality private brand products, the company said. The change, which includes all Walmart U.S. food private brands such as Great Value, Marketside, Freshness Guaranteed and bettergoods, is in line with evolving customer preferences and in support of a more transparent food system.
“Our customers have told us that they want products made with simpler, more familiar ingredients—and we’ve listened,” said John Furner, president and CEO, Walmart U.S. “By eliminating synthetic dyes and other ingredients, we’re reinforcing our promise to deliver affordable food that families can feel good about.”
The move comes as part of Walmart’s journey to evolve its private brands in response to changing customer preferences. According to a new survey, Walmart customers are increasingly more interested in what’s in their food, with 62% of customers saying they want more transparency and 54% saying they review food ingredients.
This growing trend among customers is in part why the retailer launched bettergoods. Launched last year, bettergoods is a quality, chef-inspired private brand that includes a line of plant-based and “made without” items, with 70% of the items under $5, Walmart said. The company also noted that while this move is one of the largest private brand reformulations in retail history, it isn’t the first time Walmart has removed ingredients customers don’t want. Today, about 90% of Walmart U.S. food private brand products are free from synthetic dyes.
“This commitment demonstrates how Walmart is responding to changing customer preferences, while also setting the standard for providing exceptional quality and innovation at an outstanding value,” Furner said.
Walmart customers will begin to see the reformulated products rolling out over the coming months, with longer lead time changes planned to wrap up by January 2027.
GIANT EAGLE REDUCES PRICES ON MORE THAN 300 ITEMS
Giant Eagle has launched what it says is a “seasonal initiative” that will reduce or hold prices on more than 300 items across the store.
The promotion runs through the end of the calendar year and includes a variety of private label and branded items, including proteins, produce and pantry staples.
“We are excited to introduce our new seasonal pricing initiative, On Sale This Season,” said Justin Weinstein, executive vice president and chief merchandising and marketing officer with Giant Eagle. “By lowering the prices of key items that our customers frequently purchase, we intend to deliver reliable everyday value and savings opportunities for Giant Eagle customers as they shop for their families throughout the season.”
The “On Sale This Season” pricing initiative is an important element of Giant Eagle’s recently announced Because It Matters strategy, which reaffirms the grocer’s commitment to better everyday value, better quality and service, and a better overall shopping experience, all with a focus on prioritizing what truly matters to customers.
Savings across the store include items such as:
• Giant Eagle Brown Sugar: $1.99 per package (selected 16-ounce varieties)
• Giant Eagle Beans: 89 cents per can (selected 15.5-ounce varieties)
This story originally appeared in sister publication Store Brands.
ALBERTSONS SETS ITS SIGHTS ON INFLUENCER-LED RETAIL MEDIA
Albertsons is expanding its retail media capabilities, thanks to a new partnership with independent influencer marketing agency Linqia. Through the tie-up, the grocer’s retail media arm, Albertsons Media Collective, will be able to use creators to develop retail-specific content that integrates directly into retail media ecosystems.
“At Albertsons Media Collective, we’re always looking for innovative ways to connect with our customers in meaningful moments, and we’ve seen firsthand how creator-led content can transform the shopper experience,” said Liz Roche, VP of media and measurement at Albertsons Media Collective. “Linqia’s creator-led retail media offering brings a fresh, authentic approach to storytelling that resonates with today’s shoppers, whether they’re browsing online or walking our aisles.”
Continued Roche: “In our Lunar New Year activation with Linqia, engagement rates were more than four times higher on Facebook and triple on Instagram. That’s proof that authentic storytelling isn’t just engaging — it’s a performance driver for brands.”
Specifics of the initiative include:
• Creator-Led Content: Linqia taps an extensive network of creators, tailored by retailer and category such as food and beverage or household essentials, to create retail-specific content.
• Retail Media Integration: Through partnerships with leading retail media networks, Linqia runs that creator content natively within retail ad ecosystems.
• Closed-Loop Measurement: Retail media networks provide attribution and sales lift data, giving brands a clear picture of ROI.
“Shoppers expect more than a logo and a tagline — they want content that feels real, relevant and human,” said Daniel Schotland, COO of San Francisco-based Linqia. “By combining the authenticity of creators with the precision of retail media network targeting, we’re helping brands capture attention and convert it into measurable sales.”
Albertsons Media Collective has been busy as of late, most recently expanding the accessibility of its customer base to advertisers through a partnership with Tel Aviv-based advertising technology provider Perion Network Ltd. This will give advertisers the ability to activate against Albertsons’
Drug Store News Top Women in Health
Meijer congratulates these team members who are bringing more good to customer health.
Alexis Moss Staff Pharmacist
Maggie Watson Pharmacy Team Leader
Allyson Long Staff Pharmacist
purchase-based first-party audiences across Perion’s display and digital out-of-home formats.
According to the Albertsons and Perion, this collaboration will help advertisers connect with more than 100 million verified shoppers throughout their purchase journey by delivering relevant, real-time offers and personalized content through immersive, high-impact ad formats, both online and in the real world.
Albertsons Cos. operates more than 2,200 retail stores and 1,725 in-store pharmacies. The Boise, Idaho-based company operates stores across 35 states and the District of Columbia under more than 22 well-known banners.
This story originally appeared in sister publication Progressive Grocer.
TARGET LAUNCHES SELF-CHECKOUT FOR GUESTS WITH DISABILITIES
Target has launched accessible self-checkout, which the retailer described as a first-of-its-kind solution designed with and for guests with disabilities. Currently live in more than 200 stores, this new solution will reach Target self-checkouts nationwide by early 2026.
Developed with extensive input from the blind community, the user-first design was built to better serve blind and low-vision guests, with features that also support people with motor disabilities.
“As we head into the holiday season, Target is making shopping easier and more joyful for every guest. This new accessible self-checkout helps more people shop their way, with confidence, in our stores,” the company said.
At the heart of this innovation is a guest-first design that primarily supports people who are blind or have low vision, with additional benefits for guests with motor disabilities. The team partnered closely with the National Federation of the Blind, who provided valuable feedback throughout the development, design and testing process. Input from the blind community directly shaped the technology, which integrates seamlessly with Target’s existing self-checkout system and is intuitive to use independently.
Key features of the accessible self-checkout include:
• Braille and high-contrast button icons
• Headphone jack with adjustable volume
• Physical navigation buttons and a dedicated info key
• A custom tactile controller co-developed by Target and touchscreen technology partner Elo
• An audio experience with prompts for each screen and payment step throughout the checkout process
Target noted that accessible self-checkout came to life over the past few years through partnerships across UX, tech, product, accessibility and retail technology partner Elo. Insights from people who are blind or have low vision and Target team members nationwide were essential. This breakthrough was made possible by cross-functional teams representing the best of Target—individuals who brought passion, empathy and expertise to every step.
Target said it is also working with suppliers to encourage others to adopt the technology. Recently, team members showcased the solution at the NFB’s annual convention, giving thousands of attendees the opportunity to try it in person. This effort highlights what good jobs at Target look like— meaningful work empowering team members to create real change for our guests and communities.
“This season brings so much joy for our guests, but we know it can be overwhelming, too,” said Adrienne Costanzo, executive vice president and chief stores officer, Target. “That’s why even small wins matter–like an accessible self-checkout that helps guests shop their way, with confidence. Put that together with our no-wait checkout experience at staffed lanes or Express Self-Checkout, and you’ve got the kind of Target run we know guests are counting on. Because at the end of the day, shopping with us should be easy, move fast, and feel good—period.”
“Target’s new accessible self-checkout experience is unique not only because it is a first in the industry, but because it was designed through collaboration with the blind, incorporating our technical expertise and lived experience,” said Mark Riccobono, president of the National Federation of the Blind.
Riccobono added, “The rollout of this innovation further establishes Target as an industry leader in accessibility and a true partner of the blind in our quest for equal access to all aspects of modern life.”
Providing Quality Medicines Since 1932
For almost a century, Boiron has provided families with the purest medicines made from the earth’s best resources. From our renowned Arnicare® line, to trusted Oscillococcinum® and Camilia® brands, our expanding range meets the diverse needs of your customers.
*CLAIMS BASED ON TRADITIONAL HOMEOPATHIC PRACTICE, NOT ACCEPTED MEDICAL EVIDENCE. NOT FDA EVALUATED.
HY-VEE LAUNCHES KIDS CLUB
Hy-Vee is kicking off a new initiative to engage with future customers by launching a program just for kids. The Hy-Vee Kids Club is debuting this fall with activities throughout the year to educate and engage around food and wellness.
“The Hy-Vee Kids Club is a tangible example of Hy-Vee living our mission of making lives easier, healthier and happier,” said Tina Potthoff, senior vice president of communications for Hy-Vee. “Through engaging activities, we connect with children on essential life skills like nutrition and cooking, while also enriching the shopping experience and strengthening family and community bonds.”
The Hy-Vee Kids Club is open to kids of all ages. The free membership comes with a host of benefits that are intended to make shopping more enjoyable for children and their families. Kids receive personalized name tags, birthday cards with special perks and access to exclusive treats like free cookies, fruit and stickers during store visits.
Stores will regularly host themed events such as seasonal celebrations, cooking and crafts, character events and scavenger hunts. Monthly events like the Kids’ Halloween Party, Noon Year’s Eve and Grill Out with Dad foster community spirit while providing fun and educational experiences for kids, the company said.
Hy-Vee Kids Club members will regularly receive fun freebies, like birthday cupcakes, balloons and stickers. The HyVee Kids Club launched with a special kickoff event at all Hy-Vee stores on Oct. 4. Parents can also enroll their children anytime by visiting their local Hy-Vee store.
MEIJER PLANS WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA EXPANSION
Midwestern superstore chain Meijer is preparing to expand its presence in the Rust Belt, setting its sights on Western Pennsylvania.
“Building on our success in Northeast Ohio and the amazing response we’ve received from those communities, we have started acquiring properties in Western Pennsylvania,” Erin Cataldo, Meijer external communications manager, said in a statement provided to Progressive Grocer. “While there is no definitive timeline for the opening of new stores on these properties, we’re excited about the prospect of bringing our quality products and exceptional shopping experience to customers throughout Western Pennsylvania.”
The retailer has not yet announced any specific locations for its stores in the area.
“Our expansion into this market reflects our commitment to serving more customers with fresh, affordable groceries, one-stop shopping and outstanding service,” Cataldo said. “We look forward to introducing ourselves to these communities and are committed to being an active and engaged neighbor.”
The planned entry into Pennsylvania is Meijer’s latest store investment this year. Last May, Meijer opened three new supercenters in Northeast Ohio, not long after launching a neighborhood concept store in north suburban Detroit.
Grocery competition has been heating up in the region around Pittsburgh. Northeast regional fan favorite grocer Wegmans plans to break into the market with a store in Cranberry Township. Meanwhile, hometown retailer Giant Eagle appears to be defending its turf with its recent announcement of a $100 million investment plan.
“
Through engaging activities, we connect with children on essential life skills like nutrition and cooking, while also enriching the shopping experience and strengthening family and community bonds.”
— Tina Potthoff, senior vice president of communications for Hy-Vee.
Privately owned Meijer operates 500-plus supercenters, grocery stores, neighborhood markets and express locations throughout Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky and Wisconsin.
This story originally appeared in sister publication Progressive Grocer
AMAZON GROCERY PRIVATE LABEL FOOD BRAND DEBUTS
Amazon is launching Amazon Grocery, a new private label brand featuring more than 1,000 food items, which the company said are rated four stars or above. The selection includes everything from milk and olive oil to fresh produce, meat and seafood, with most items priced under $5.
The new private label brand unites Amazon’s customer favorite Amazon Fresh and Happy Belly brands into one cohesive grocery essentials collection, available through both Amazon.com and Amazon Fresh stores.
“With Amazon Grocery, we’re simplifying how customers discover and shop our extensive private label food selection while maintaining the quality and value our customers expect and deserve,” said Jason Buechel, vice president of Amazon Worldwide Grocery Stores and CEO at Whole Foods Market.
“During a time when consumers are particularly price-conscious, Amazon Grocery delivers more than 1,000 quality grocery items across all categories that don’t compromise on quality or taste – from fresh food items to crave-worthy snacks and pantry essentials – all at low, competitive prices that help customers stretch their grocery budgets further.”
Amazon’s private-label brands continue to gain momentum, with customers purchasing 15% more private-brand products in 2024 compared to the previous year across Amazon.com, Whole Foods Market and Amazon Fresh, the company said.
The Amazon Grocery assortment spans fresh produce, dairy, meat, seafood, versatile pantry staples and baking essentials, crave-worthy snacks and refreshing beverages with most items rated 4 stars or higher from thousands of satisfied customers. The line includes Amazon Grocery Cage-Free Large White Eggs, Caesar Salad with Chicken, Everything Pre-Sliced Bagels, Golden Pure Honey, Shredded Parmesan Cheese, Ground Beef, Oven Roasted Turkey Breast, Russet Potatoes, Cut and Peeled Baby Carrots, Jasmine Long Grain Rice and bite-size Brownies.
To celebrate the launch of Amazon Grocery, Amazon is introducing a variety of new items such as fresh bakery cinnamon rolls with decadent icing, refrigerated pizza dough to make quality creations at home, refreshing bottled spring water and refrigerated lemonade.
In the coming months, customers can expect even more variety including new frozen pasta meals, pie fillings, granola and sliced loaf cakes, as well as expanded selections of deli meats, canned beans, and frozen vegetables.
The new Amazon Grocery packaging features a modern, clean and distinctive design with bold, easy-to-read typography to enhance shopping ease and quickly identify high-quality, budget-friendly options when shopping Amazon.com and Amazon Fresh. With sustainability in mind, the new packaging reduces plastic usage, as seen in the packaging for Amazon Grocery apples which now use 50% less plastic than previous product packaging. The new packaging also emphasizes transparency with clear nutrition information and simple ingredient callouts, ensuring customers can make health-informed decisions.
Amazon Grocery products are available now online at Amazon.com and Amazon Fresh online and in stores across the country. Product availability may vary online and instore.
New and Noteworthy
HRG’s five notable products from September
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Product introductions declined in September after a huge surge in August, as employers added fewer jobs than expected and economic uncertainty returned.
In September, suppliers introduced 143 new products, 486 fewer products than the 629 items they introduced in August. Waukesha, Wis.-based HRG reviewed 51 products in the health category (compared with 13 in August), 60 items in the wellness sector (compared to 524 in August) and 32 products in the beauty aisle (compared to 92 in August) to see which ones stood out as Products to Watch:
1. Tylenol Precise Pain Relieving Patch
Kenvue says its Tylenol Precise Pain Relieving Patch contains 4% lidocaine, the maximum strength without a prescription. The unscented patch is designed with specialized adhesion technology and a modular design for improved flexibility. It is intended to provide targeted penetrating pain relief and stay on for up to 12 hours. One pack contains 3 patches.
2. Burt’s Bees Lip Milk
Burt’s Bees said it developed Burt’s Bees Lip Milk as a vitamin-enriched daily moisturizer with almond milk and jojoba oil. Materials indicate the non-sticky hydration is a lotion-like formula that absorbs quickly and provides long-lasting moisture. It comes in a Toasted Coconut scent. One tube is .34 oz.
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3. Theraworx for Foot Cramps Roll-On
Theraworx for Foot Cramps Roll-On by Avadim Technologies helps provide fast-acting relief for foot cramps, or sore and tired feet. It is designed to roll on with a no-touch application for targeted relief in feet, arches, heels and toes. Theraworx says the product is made with natural ingredients, moisturizes the skin, leaves no mess or strong odor and absorbs quickly. It comes in a 2.5-oz. bottle.
4. Equadose Tweezy Hair Remover
Apothecary Products said Equadose Tweezy Hair Remover is quick and easy to use. It is designed for the removal of nose and ear hair from the root, diminishing hair growth over time. The company website describes its unique mechanism that was developed to minimize pain and constructed from stainless steel for long-term use. One tweezer comes in a pack.
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Lip Balm in Sheer Berry from Kenvue leaves a glossy, sheer pink finish, the company said. Hyaluronic acid is meant to provide nourishing hydration for lips, leaving them soft, smooth and supple. The company said the balm is formulated with antioxidant vitamin E to defend against daily environmental aggressors and shea butter to help nourish and hydrate lips. It comes in a .5-oz jar.
All Under One Roof: Commerce, Concepts, Connections
• Tens of thousands of food and nonfood products
• 1,900 exhibitors
• 3,100 booths
• 65 countries
• 15,000 attendees
Reimagining Support for Specialty Patients
Therapies and technologies have advanced, but the lived experience of patients has often grown more isolating
By Jennifer Butler
The rapid expansion of specialty therapies has created more treatment options, but not necessarily better experiences for patients. Thirty years ago, fewer than 30 specialty drugs existed. Today, nearly 75% of the 7,000 new drugs in development are specialty therapies, offering hope to millions living with chronic and complex conditions. Yet amid all this progress, one element has been neglected: the patient’s emotional state. Therapies and technologies have advanced, but the lived experience of patients has often grown more isolating.
A recent report, “Loneliness and Health Behaviors,” highlights the impact of isolation on medication behaviors, and how it threatens the effectiveness of even the most innovative therapies. Among patients taking specialty medications, a staggering 70% report that loneliness interferes with taking their medications as prescribed. This shows that even our most sophisticated therapies fail when patients feel abandoned in their journey. This oversight matters because specialty medications require a level of commitment, persistence and trust far greater than most patients are prepared for. Onboarding to new treatments can feel overwhelming: 82% of prescribers believe it should take two weeks or less to get a patient on a new specialty therapy, yet just 22% say it takes two weeks or less. For many patients, that means weeks of waiting and plenty of time for fear, frustration or doubt to set in.
Once treatment begins, patients may face complex dosing schedules, challenging side effects or even stigma tied to their
Jennifer Butler, chief commercial officer at Pleio, brings more than 20 years of marketing and management consulting experience with a focus on healthcare.
condition. When these realities collide with emotional barriers, the consequences are stark: skipped doses, abandoned therapies or disengagement from care altogether.
For years, adherence strategies have focused primarily on such things as financial assistance, refill reminders or access support. While these tools are important, they rarely touch the deeper challenges of living with a chronic condition. A text message can prompt a refill, but it cannot alleviate fear. An automated call can confirm a shipment, but it cannot replace the sense of connection that patients crave when facing an uncertain future.
Addressing a patient’s emotional well-being also improves overall adherence. Specialty pharmacy, Gentry Health Services, introduced a human-first support program for patients onboarding onto an immunology biologic. The program prioritized trust-building, empathetic listening and connection with patients. The early results speak volumes. Within six months, Gentry reported an 80% increase in total average fills, a 65% increase in patient volume and a 5% lift in portion of days covered.
The lesson is clear. Delivering on the full potential of modern medicine depends on specialty pharmacy driving innovation in the drug but also in the patient experience around it. Technology can help, but trust, empathy and human connection ultimately drive adherence and outcomes.
Safety Beyond the Shot
Without proper disposal practices, used sharps can pose a serious risk
By Jeffery Miglicco
As flu season approaches, pharmacies and immunization clinics are preparing for an uptick in vaccinations. With this increase comes a rise in the use of needles and other sharps, essential tools for flu shots and other injections. While the focus is often on getting people vaccinated, it’s just as important to consider what happens after: the safe and compliant disposal of sharps.
Every year, millions of people across the country receive flu vaccines, and many organizations also use this period to catch patients up on other routine immunizations. This creates a significant rise in the number of needles used in a short timeframe. Without proper disposal practices, used sharps can pose a serious risk of accidental needle sticks, injuries or even the spread of infectious diseases.
Pharmacies and healthcare facilities are required to follow federal and state regulations for handling and disposing of medical waste. Sharps must be placed in puncture-resistant, clearly labeled containers and managed through compliant disposal methods. Immunizers are also required to maintain manifests and other documentation to prove proper handling. In addition, OSHA mandates training for staff who handle sharps, ensuring they understand how to reduce risk and stay compliant.
Jeffery
Miglicco is CEO of Pureway.
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Safe disposal doesn’t stop at the container. Many compliant programs rely on USPS-authorized mail-back systems or licensed transporters to manage removal.”
Safe disposal doesn’t stop at the container. Many compliant programs rely on U.S. Postal Service-authorized mail-back systems or licensed transporters to manage removal. With newer technologies available, pharmacies have multiple options to evaluate. Whether that’s a traditional pickup service, a mail-back program or a hybrid model designed for busy flu season demands.
Safe sharps disposal during flu season does more than prevent accidents. It contributes to broader public health efforts by reducing the chances of contamination and helping communities stay safe. When pharmacies prioritize compliance and safety, the cycle of protection extends from the immunization site to the larger community and environment.
For more information on compliant sharps disposal programs, visit pureway.com
Ketone Zone
Tecton Ketones aims to pioneer this emerging wellness category
Tecton Ketones co-founder and CEO Courtney Roundy explains how his company is pioneering this emerging category with innovation and consumer-friendly formats. He also shares how ketones can fit into daily routines while shaping the future of metabolic health.
Drug Store News: What is the biggest benefit of consuming exogenous ketones?
Courtney Roundy: Our unique, patented technology gives consumers access to the benefits of ketosis within 1 hour of consumption, without the burden of dietary restriction, to improve memory recall, decrease blood glucose, and support blood flow to the brain.
Tecton KetonesTM are structurally identical to the ketones produced during fasting or ketosis. Because they are not a precursor, the body absorbs and uses them immediately, allowing them to cross the blood-brain barrier and deliver fuel directly to the brain and muscle. This bioidentical design makes them both highly efficient and uniquely compatible with human metabolism. They are designed to be integrated seamlessly into any lifestyle, with options for shots or softgels, for both immediate support and long-term impact.
DSN: What are you doing to make the category exciting and visible to consumers who may not know ketones yet?
CR: Tecton Ketones is an emerging, category-defining advancement. We are the first bioidentical ketone molecule recognized by the FDA as a New Dietary Ingredient (NDI). Our marketing brings ketones into the wellness conversation in a way that feels accessible through social platforms, retail activations, media networks, and immersive education. This is the beginning of a movement to restore metabolic health across generations.
DSN: How can consumers use ketones to improve their daily wellbeing?
CR: We built Tecton Ketones around three clear product lines supporting cognitive function, metabolic health, and athletic performance. With shots and softgels for convenience and consistency, our packaging ensures that clean ketone fuel can fit seamlessly into daily routines.
Extending beyond improved daily function, our GLP-1 ActivatorTM line is clinically shown to significantly decrease HbA1c and blood glucose levels with continued use, propelling consumers to life-changing, sustainable health. This structure not only meets the needs of diverse consumers today but also provides a foundation for continued growth as awareness and adoption expands.
Courtney Roundy Tecton Ketones co-founder and CEO
DSN: How do you envision the ketone category growing, and what role do you want to play in shaping it?
CR: We see ketones moving from being viewed as an advanced supplement to becoming a foundation of everyday health, much like protein or electrolytes. As research continues to validate their role in cognition, metabolism, and performance, consumer adoption will accelerate across age groups and lifestyles. By setting the standard in science, safety, and accessibility, we intend to bring new life to the category and become a significant part of daily wellness culture for decades to come.
DSN: What is your product impact, and how does that drive your mission?
CR: We are committed to improving lives within our communities, building trust, and driving lasting consumer engagement and loyalty. Tecton Ketones is built to do more than launch another product line—we are redefining how consumers experience metabolic health.
For retailers, partnering with Tecton Ketones means aligning with a brand that delivers category-defining innovation and measurable social impact.
WOMEN OF DISTINCTION
Here are the winners of the 2025 Top Women in Health, Wellness & Beauty awards
By Julianne Mobilian & Nigel F. Maynard
DSN is proud to honor the 2025 award winners of this year’s Top Women in Health, Wellness and Beauty. The honorees represent a diverse group of leaders who are shaping the future of the retail industry, driving innovation in consumer health, wellness and beauty and inspiring the next generation of talent across the sector.
From retail organizations to supply-side companies, these women are making a measurable impact in their businesses and communities. Whether through advancing patient care, strengthening retail partnerships, expanding access to wellness solutions or bringing new beauty and personal care innovations to market, their work demonstrates both vision and leadership in a rapidly evolving marketplace.
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RISING STARS
Olga Alpeter
Elida Beauty
From frozen Italian food to cotton on a stick, Olga has seen it all in her 12-plusyear career at Unilever and now, Elida Beauty. As the marketing director for Q-tips and the Canadian business, Olga is the strategic lead for driving iconic brands out of the shadows and into a new phase of life. Be it with the latest campaign for cotton swabs “Don’t Fuzz it Up” or the launch of cotton balls with “We’ve Got Balls!”Olga is passionate about bringing humor into FMCG marketing.
Emily Anderson OrganiCare LLC
Emily leads the marketing strategy at OrganiCare, focused on the FemiClear brand, overseeing digital, retail media and brand initiatives. Over the past year, she successfully supported launches of multiple new products at national retailers including Walmart, CVS, Meijer and Wegmans, while driving measurable in-store sales growth of existing distribution through geo-targeted paid media campaigns. Emily also spearheaded improvements in SEO, content strategy and retail media optimization, resulting in increased online visibility and conversion.
Alex Andrade Haleon
Alex leads Haleon’s Oral Health business for CVS, bringing more than a decade of experience and a deep passion for retail excellence. Her recent wins include securing CVS’ first-ever exclusive toothpaste, increasing Haleon’s shelf space by 17% and launching a year-round display program that’s driven market-leading growth. Her impact extends beyond Oral Health, championing initiatives like MA OTC, U.S. Soccer activations, Trial & Travel and community engagement with Aetna.
Chirine Apple McKesson
As strategic marketing director, Chirine alongside her team, led the successful launch of Foster & Thrive, developing the brand’s identity and driving awareness across retail and pharmacy partners. She demonstrated strategic thinking and a collaborative approach, elevating McKesson’s private label brand portfolio through innovative campaigns and cross-functional team leadership. Chirine also co-founded McKesson’s MENA Employee Resource Group, showcasing her commitment to professional excellence and inclusivity.
Sophia Azarian Publix Super Markets Inc.
As senior manager of pharmacy licensing, quality and accreditation, Sophia leads initiatives to ensure regulatory compliance and uphold the highest standards of care. She holds a Pharm.D. and an M.S. in management from the University of Florida. Since joining Publix in 2007, Sophia has been dedicated to advancing pharmacy practice, enhancing patient outcomes and maintaining accreditations from organizations such as URAC and ACHC.
Jessica Barada Daymon
Jessica is the director of client services with 17 years of experience in the health, beauty and baby categories. Jessica’s passion is building relationships and driving her clients’ businesses with excellence. Jessica manages the top client portfolios in the health and beauty space and drives effective execution across the national retail footprint. She loves to drive private brand penetration and innovation for her clients. Jessica earned her M.A. in International Affairs from George Washington University.
Shakayla Byrd-Johnson CVS Health
Shakayla is a retail maven with more than 15 years of experience spanning healthcare, technology and apparel—bringing a uniquely well-rounded, customer-first perspective to her leadership at CVS Health. As category manager for feminine care, she led transformative assortment and planogram resets, while championing equity and access to period supplies for underserved communities. She is a passionate advocate for women’s health and drives innovation and elevates women-owned and founded brands.
Jessica Busse
Walmart
As the foot care merchant for Walmart U.S., Jessica is dedicated to providing customers with high-quality, affordable foot care products. She drives category growth and customer value by identifying new opportunities and fostering strong partnerships with internal teams and suppliers. Jessica is recognized for her commitment to price leadership, collaboration and innovative problem-solving.
Lori Charron
CVS Health
Lori is the product development manager behind the Well Market brand at CVS, leading innovation across snacks, beverages and grocery items. Since joining CVS, Lori has held key roles in both beauty and consumables, including spearheading the Beauty Unaltered campaign and launching the Well Market line.
Kenzie Crakes Philips
Kenzie drives end-to-end brand strategy and execution for the U.S. grooming and beauty category at Philips. She digs deep into consumer insights and trends to unlock new opportunities—like launching Philips Norelco’s first unisex grooming tool: OneBlade Intimate. In her 10-plus years in CPG, she has spearheaded projects to recruit into categories, increase consumers’ basket and drive brand love for products tailored to each person’s needs and preferences.
Jenna Dowler Crossmark
Jenna is a customer business manager at Crossmark, where she manages key retailer relationships and supports CPG suppliers in the value channel. With a strong background in sales, category management and merchandising, she brings a results-driven mindset and a sharp eye for opportunity. Jenna is recognized for aligning execution with business goals and delivering solutions that resonate with clients and retailers.
Lauren Fisher Simply Good Foods
Gold Eneyo Cencora
Gold Eneyo, Pharm.D., serves as the director of clinical pharmacy services at Cencora. In her role, she drives pharmacy innovation and empowers pharmacists to deliver expanded care services. She develops programs and frameworks to overcome operational challenges, enabling services like immunizations, diabetes care and point-ofcare testing. She leads the expansion of clinical programs into new therapeutic areas, including health screenings and care gap closures for diabetes and hypertension.
Tenaj Ferguson Church & Dwight
Tenaj is a strategic brand marketing expert with more than a decade of experience driving engagement across beauty, wellness and food. She leads marketing at Hero Cosmetics where she fuels brand growth and consumer obsession. Previously, as director of marketing at L’Oréal, she led strategy and operations for portfolio brands across multicultural haircare and grooming.
Lauren is the sales leader for Atkins and Quest brands at ADUSA, bringing 15-plus years of experience with Simply Good. Known for her strategic and innovative thinking, she champions a teamwork-oriented approach. By collaborating closely with her broker business managers, data insight managers and retail teams, she has optimized sales, insights and execution. This strategy has resulted in best-in-class planograms, promotional results and significant new distribution gains.
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C HEER S T O
DSN Top Women in Health, Wellness & Beauty
Taylor Garvey Walgreens
Taylor is the associate category manager leading the transformation of the women’s wellness and sexual health categories. Over the past year, she has redefined strategy, assortment and merchandising— turning these aisles into destinations. With a sharp eye for emerging trends and a relentless focus on customer needs, Taylor has built a best-in-class experience that empowers women through access to care. Her curiosity fuels bold ideas, and her collaborative spirit makes them real.
Cheyanne Gorley
Piping
Rock Health Products
Cheyanne is a regional sales manager at Piping Rock Health Products, where she drives growth by managing key wholesale accounts such as Target and BJ’s. Within her two years at the company, she successfully developed and launched a private label program at a major retailer and contributed to branded growth across Nature’s Truth and Natural Vitality. With a strategic focus on partnership development, sales execution and category expansion, she consistently delivers measurable results in a competitive retail landscape.
Melody Gutierrez Arcadia Consumer Healthcare
Melody is director of customer operations at Arcadia Consumer Healthcare, playing an integral role in the company’s continued success as one of the fastest-growing consumer healthcare companies. She leads customer operations and demand forecasting, bridging the gap between sales forecasts and operational planning through the S&OP process to anticipate customer needs while driving business efficiency.
Katie Hall Walmart
Katie is the merchant for Cough, Cold and Flu at Walmart and is a driven leader passionate about solving customer needs through insights, strategic relationships and customer-centric innovation. She manages a highly seasonal and complex business, and her analytical mindset and collaborative spirit enable her to develop and execute complex strategies across teams and suppliers, consistently delivering strong results.
Sheena Harber Strategy Concepts
Sheena is an experienced event strategist with a passion for crafting meaningful, memorable experiences. At Strategy Concepts, she has helped curate and produce multiple high-impact client events, refining speaker selection, streamlining backend logistics and enhancing attendee experience through thoughtful activations. With more than 15 years in relationship-driven sales and event development, Sheena thrives on connecting people, bringing ideas to life and ensuring every detail contributes to a cohesive, impactful experience.
Carrie Hathaway iA
Carrie is a mechanical engineer with the company where she contributes to the design and optimization of pharmacy automation systems. Her responsibilities include designing and testing mechanical components, collaborating with manufacturing and procurement teams and ensuring compliance with company and industry standards. Most notably in the past year, she has led the development of a parts catalog featuring an interactive product tree to assist the field service team in identifying replacement parts.
Congratulations
to all the 2025 DSN Top Women in Health, Wellness & Beauty award winners.
We at The Compliance Team want to send a special congratulations to our Founder and CEO, Sandra Canally, RN, for her Business Excellence Award in DSN’s 2025 Top Women in Health, Wellness & Beauty.
Thank you, Sandy for your leadership and inspiration.
“ Show me a limitation and I’ll show you an opportunity.”
— Sandra Canally, RN Founder & CEO, The Compliance Team
Sara Kalem Walmart
As a merchant, Sara is responsible for assortment decisions for antacids and multicultural OTC. Over the past two years, Sara has been leaning into the growing diversity across the United States and has expanded multicultural store counts. She clustered key areas based on their customer demographics and regional preferences, leaning into heritage brands relevant to different nationalities.
Amy Ketterer Market Performance Group
Amy is the head of Amazon marketing and media at MPG and a trusted expert in the evolving e-commerce landscape. With more than 20 years of CPG experience, she has held sales, strategy and brand marketing roles at Procter & Gamble, working on brands like Pampers, Oral-B and Swiffer. Amy pioneered Amazon capabilities from the platform’s early search days, driving innovation in digital shelf optimization, search strategy and full-funnel media planning.
Carolyne Klug Haleon
Leveraging her curiosity and passion for retail, Carolyne has led multiple shopper teams over her 10-year career with the company. She is committed to helping solve complex business challenges through data analytics, storytelling and creative thinking. In her role as shopper engagement lead at CVS, she strives to help deliver better everyday health with humanity. Additionally, she has brought with her experience from several CPG organizations, including Conagra Foods and Keurig Dr Pepper.
Stephanie Kuhn CVS Health
Stephanie brings 18 years of experience at CVS Health, where she led the oral health and personal care categories with a focus on improving community health and access to care. She spearheaded partnerships, legislative advocacy and innovative retail strategies—driving double-digit growth and launching first-to-market brands like HiSmile. Her leadership expanded dental access through programs with Aetna and Colgate, while simplifying in-store experiences to boost regimen adoption.
Nicole Lee CVS Pharmacy
Nicole is a store manager with 28 years of experience. Over the past decade, she has also served as a training store manager in the Charlotte market, overseeing district-wide hiring for both pharmacy and front-store positions. In this role, she provided operational and immunization support to pharmacies and helped optimize workflow. Nicole has been recognized multiple times for her excellence, earning CVS Region Paragon awards in 2019 and 2020, and CVS’ National Paragon award in 2023.
Jessica Leighton CVS Health
Jessica has dedicated her career to merchandising, combining her passion for product and genuine enthusiasm for building meaningful connections. Over the past seven years, she has led a variety of beauty and personal care categories as lead director, category manager, driving growth and innovation across the business. She has developed impactful planograms and curated product assortments that resonate with shoppers—reflecting consistently strong results.
Shayna Lewandowski
Procter & Gamble
Shayna serves as the P&G Meijer Baby and Beauty team leader as well as the hair and skin care sales director. She is responsible for leading her team to develop joint business plans that drive sales, profit, market share and category growth. Over her 10-year career at P&G, Shayna has gained broad-based experience across multiple channels, internal and external selling assignments, and organizational leadership positions.
Victoria Madrid
Piping Rock Health Products
For the past five years, Victoria has been an integral leader at Piping Rock, driving success across branded and private label product lines. She oversees diverse accounts, ranging from grocery to value and dollar channels, with a keen focus on understanding each retailer’s needs and their consumers. Her commitment to fostering growth, building lasting partnerships and delivering tailored solutions has made her a trusted collaborator in the industry. Victoria also is known for her strategic insight, relationship-driven approach and positive attitude.
Anastasia Markou Tweezerman International, LLC
With nearly two decades of experience in product development, Anastasia serves as senior brand manager at Tweezerman, where she leads their private label division. Since joining Tweezerman, Anastasia and her team have driven a remarkable 300% increase in private label sales. Her group manages every stage of development, from initial concept to launch, ensuring that each product reflects their customers’ vision and meets the highest standards.
Jennifer Mazur (Formerly) Wakefern Food Corp.
Jen has been an HBC category manager with Wakefern for five years, and she has helmed several desks within the department during her tenure. Most recently, she has been the OTC buyer and outpaced the national market for both cough and cold season and allergy season, despite significant weather driven headwinds. She attributes her success to her relationship building with her vendor partners and a hyper-focus on the consumer.
Catharine Meketa-Poirot CVS Health
Catharine has spent the last few years rebuilding trust externally with supplier partners and internally with cross-functional teams to elevate the company’s retail media network, CVS Media Exchange, in a nascent advertising space that is rapidly changing. Her customer-first approach has reshaped how CVS connects commerce with health and wellness care. Establishing a work flow with merchant partners and other cross functional teams helped Catharine drive 34% YOY sales growth in Q1 and 10% in Q2.
Danielle Olson Piping Rock Health Products
Danielle is a results-driven sales manager with more than a decade of experience in the health and wellness industry. She has built a successful career fueled by passion for helping people lead healthier lives, as well as by her extensive knowledge of the vitamins category. Her strategic approach blends consumer and retailer insights, enabling high performing results.
Ashley Harris
Erin Hyde
Katherine Oslund
CPG by MPG
Over the past five years, Katherine helped launch and grow DTC beauty brands and legacy brands at Target. She helps ensure they are set up with a strong understanding of what it takes to support mass retail operationally and financially, while staying true to their brand voice.
Erica Phillips
Publix Supermarkets, Inc.
Erica oversees operations across seven states, leading teams to deliver exceptional patient care. She is focused on improving patient satisfaction through better health outcomes, medication adherence and cost savings for patients. Under her leadership, teams have enhanced operational excellence by streamlining processes, strengthening collaboration and optimizing associates’ skill sets.
Kelly Rafferty
CVS Health
Kelly serves as the director and senior category manager for Empowered Aging and Directed Spend at CVS Health. She manages a multi-billion-dollar P&L across seven healthcare categories and leads the OTCHS catalog and in-store merchandising for benefits and HSA/FSA programs. With more than 13 years of merchandising experience across the apparel and pet industries, Kelly brings a strong retail foundation and a fresh, innovative perspective to healthcare merchandising.
Jennifer Raibley Acme Markets
Jennifer Raibley brings more than 25 years of experience in community pharmacy, including 22 years with Acme Markets. Throughout her tenure, she has held a variety of roles, most notably serving as divisional pharmacy manager for the past decade. In this leadership position, Jennifer plays a key role in driving pharmacy operations, fostering business growth, implementing new initiatives and nurturing talent across her team.
Victoria Rizzotti Haleon
Victoria has demonstrated exceptional leadership and strategic vision in her customer strategy role at Haleon, where she leads strategy for the vitamins category. Over the past year, she drove transformative initiatives, aligning stakeholders and managing financials to streamline execution and improve performance. She delivered margin gains through cost-saving go-to-market strategies and optimized pack-level profitability. Victoria co-authored a five-year wellness strategy to reach 50 million more households by 2030.
Stephanie Ryskasen Haleon
Stephanie is a senior net revenue manager at Haleon, leading U.S. pricing and price pack architecture strategy. With 16 years of experience across revenue management, sales finance, trade marketing and operations, she’s built roles from the ground up and led transformative initiatives. Over the past year, she launched a new pricing strategy that aligned competitive intelligence with strategic playbooks, boosting premium and value-based growth.
Rachel Turner Market Performance Group
Rachel is a senior sales manager at MPG, leading initiatives on the Meijer account. She has played a key role in launching brands, driving more than $5 million incremental net sales. Recognized as a leader within the team, Rachel is known for her strategic mindset, strong collaboration and clear communication with both clients and retailers. Rachel is committed to exceeding the expectations of both clients and retail partners, leveraging her expertise to thrive in a highly competitive marketplace.
Maggie Watson Meijer
Maggie has 12 years of pharmacy experience across roles including technician, intern, relief, staff and team lead. She supports key initiatives such as the TLR project and leads COVID vaccine clinics for schools, nursing homes and community efforts. Maggie is also a peer leader for compliance. Her extensive volunteer work includes supporting the Miracle League, tutoring inner-city girls in STEM, assisting at senior centers and fundraising for major health organizations.
Jessica Yarmaloff JOH
Jessica is a passionate leader with more than 15 years of experience in the health, beauty and wellness industry. She drives growth across HBW categories for JOH and its clients by identifying incremental opportunities and collaborating cross-functionally. Skilled in data analysis, visualization and strategic planning, Jessica transforms complex data into actionable insights that support informed, results-driven decisions.
Zouyi Zheng iA
As an industrial test engineer, Zouyi has a passion for understanding systems from the bottom-up, as exemplified by her deliberate attention to detail and desire for agency since her first day. Within six months of starting her role, Zouyi engaged closely and grew alongside the team that she was assigned to, a high-impact project with iA’s first unit of use system. Her work along with the team resulted in a 20% throughput increase compared to the previous iteration.
Heather Zenk Cencora
Heather has 20 years of pharmacy, procurement, distribution and supply chain experience. She leads operations for a resilient U.S. supply chain for human and animal health distribution networks. She led Cencora’s COVID-19 response team where she served as a vital resource to government, healthcare providers and pharmaceutical manufacturers.
*Not pictured: Lauren Cody Suave Brands Company
Chrissy Keene Target
Amy Baxter Pain Care Labs
Dr. Baxter created Buzzy to address needle hesitancy by blocking vaccination pain. As CEO of the all-women Pain Care Labs, Buzzy is now in 28 countries. After a colleague used Buzzy to avoid opioids post-knee replacement, she developed FDA 510k VibraCool recovery and post-op neuromodulation products. This year, she published two pivotal trials on DuoTherm, her latest device for preventing opioid prescribing and restoring low back function.
Emily Flaugher McKesson
Emily is VP and general manager of payor solutions at McKesson, where she leads the strategy, development and execution of solutions that bridge the gap between payors and providers. With more than 13 years at McKesson, she oversees a portfolio that enhances managed care, pharmacy reimbursement and patient access. Known for her innovative, collaborative and dedicated leadership, Emily has launched initiatives that improve contract performance and streamline reimbursement.
COMMITMENT TO CARE
Lynne Fruth Fruth Pharmacy
Lynne has pushed for PBM reform and assisted other pharmacies across the nation to effectively lobby for PBM legislation at the state level. Fruth Pharmacy was instrumental in getting PBM legislation passed in West Virginia that established minimum commercial reimbursement. The law was recognized as model legislation for the United States. When a patient whistleblower brought evidence of a PBM overcharging the State Employee Plan and its members, Fruth sprang into action and was successful in fighting for passage of legislation to provide fair reimbursement while also exposing the PBM for grossly overcharging patients.
Allyson Long Meijer
Allyson goes above and beyond to support her patients, always prioritizing their well-being. She offers personalized product recommendations and encourages follow-up conversations for consistent care. Working in her own community, Allyson has built trusted relationships through frequent interactions at local venues like the YMCA, parks and church. Patients seek her out for honest advice, knowing she has their best interests at heart.
Katie McClendon CVS Pharmacy
Katie McClendon, Pharm.D., brings more than 18 years of experience in community pharmacy. She leads her team in driving innovation and developing new clinical services that expand the scope of practice for pharmacists. Katie is committed to implementing strategic initiatives that enhance operational efficiency, with a strong focus on improving the patient experience.
Emina Mednolucanin Kroger Health
Emina began her career with Kroger Health 15 years ago as a pharmacy technician. In her current role, she oversees overall operations, which include a team of 110 associates, servicing more than 150 stores. She strive to create an environment where her team feels supported and uplifted to practice and perform at the top of their licenses and do what they do best— caring for their patients and communities they serve.
CONGRATULATIONS
to all the 2025 Top Women Health, Wellness, Beauty!
BREA DOING
VP Business Excellence, Senior
Director Sales, Amazon
Business Excellence Award
LAUREN FISHER
Sales Manager, Grocery Rising Star Award
A special Thank you to Brea and Lauren for your dedication to providing smart and satisfying nutrition for all. Our brands, company and industry are healthier because of you. Thank you!
Alexis Moss Meijer
Alexis Moss, Pharm.D., began her career with Meijer in Lorain, Ohio, after graduating from the University of Toledo in 2020. This year, she co-founded Amherst Kids Closet, a free retail space offering clothing, shoes and essentials to local children—distributing more than 15,800 items since March 2025. Alexis also serves as grand secretary of Lambda Kappa Sigma and mentors pharmacy students. She advocates for the profession through school outreach and committee service.
Ashley Peixoto CVS Pharmacy
Ashley has been with CVS since 2008, holding multiple roles along the way, from front store cashier to the photo department to the pharmacy. She was a shift supervisor before switching to pharmacy full-time. Ashley coaches and trains new technicians and helps her team to expand their skill set. She shines seeing her fellow technicians share her passion for the pharmacy profession.
Marissa Sullivan Walmart
As a merchant overseeing complete nutrition, Marissa leads strategy, supplier relationships and product curation—most importantly, ensuring customers have access to essential nutrition. She identifies product gaps for those in critical need and curates specialized items ranging from wound-healing supplements to feeding tube-compatible formulations. In addition to the business, Marissa supports the mentorship and development of other women in the industry.
Ana Maria Alexander CVS Health
Ana Maria is a seasoned retail executive with 20-plus years of experience in category merchandising and strategic leadership across health and apparel. As senior category manager for wellness at CVS Health, she oversees vitamins, diet/nutrition and children’s remedies, driving innovation and strong financial results. Ana Maria is known for her passion for analytics, trend-forward assortments and impactful storytelling. She led record-setting growth in vitamins, launched top-performing brands and earned praise for her merchandising execution.
Rochelle Allen Albertsons Companies
The Talent Acquisition team, under Rochelle’s leadership, achieved major milestones in 2025. The team has a high-volume recruitment proof of concept and introduced a new pharmacy hiring process that reduced time-to-fill and improved retention. A new TA Dashboard was developed to enhance visibility and performance tracking, supported talent attraction initiatives through realistic job previews and centralized recruitment marketing, driving cost efficiencies.
BUSINESS EXCELLENCE
Ashton Alsup Walmart
A driven merchant and customer advocate, Ashton is passionate about transforming how shoppers are served online and in-store. At Walmart, she led innovative, results-driven strategies in the body care space, including launching wholebody deodorant and co-creating limited-edition collaborations like Dove x Crumbl Cookie, earning her a nomination for Merchandising Team of the Year. Ashton is pursuing a Master of Liberal Arts in management from Harvard University’s Extension School.
Lucy Atalaryan CVS Pharmacy
Lucy is a district leader overseeing one of the highest volume districts in the organization. With expertise in leading complex markets, Lucy is known for driving strong business results while developing high-performing teams. She is passionate about talent growth, focusing on coaching, accountability and building future leaders. By balancing strategy with execution, Lucy consistently delivers operational excellence, elevates customer experience and fosters a culture of performance and growth.
Carriejean Bell Daymon
Carriejean brings over 36 years of experience in manufacturing and retail. She began her career at The Hershey Company in marketing and category development before joining Daymon 18 years ago as a sales analyst on the Rite Aid account. She advanced to business manager roles in merchandising and beauty, and last year joined the Amazon account team, where she secured six new Own Brand ASINs generating more than $1 million in annual POS volume.
Kassi Bender
Market Performance Group
Kassi brings more than 25 years of experience in the CPG industry, with a focus on health and wellness brands. As senior director of sales for the Walmart team at Market Performance Group, she leverages deep retail knowledge and strong partnerships to drive growth for emerging and established brands. Known for her calm, thoughtful approach, Kassi builds meaningful, long-term relationships within Walmart and the supplier community.
Claire Biermaas Cencora
Over the past two decades, Claire has been a driving force in the Cencora organization, contributing her expertise, leadership and unwavering commitment to the company’s customers and their experience with the company. Claire has led efforts in marketing, strategy, customer experience and innovation. Today, she leads the corporate partnerships team, responsible for Cencora’s largest, most transformative customers. Her unwavering dedication to her team and to the customers they serve is felt by all, daily.
Wafaa Berrady Care Pharmacies
Wafaa is the CFO of Care Pharmacies, a cooperative supporting hundreds of independent pharmacies nationwide. With more than 20 years of experience, she leads Care’s financial operations, driving initiatives that improve vendor reporting, rebate accuracy and member returns. In the past year, Wafaa spearheaded key process improvements that enhanced transparency and strengthened financial performance across the network.
Mary Billingsley McDaniel Walmart
Mary is Walmart’s merchandise director for intimate health within personal care. With more than 20 years at Walmart, she transforms “shy buy” categories into empowering experiences. Guided by her motto—“Let’s talk about it”—Mary supports women from their first period to menopause and beyond. In 2024, she was nominated for Walmart’s Merchandising Impact Award for removing size inequality in Assurance Bladder Leak underwear, ensuring equal value for all sizes.
Denise Brintlinger Kroger Health
As Kroger Health’s central operations manager, Denise oversees the day-to-day operations at high-volume pharmacies, assisting leadership in their decision-making and mentoring. Currently, she has also been assigned a special role of working with Kroger’s Peyton Distribution Center warehouses to improve and polish current processes as they relate to inventory, credits, customer service and the distribution of prescription medications for our pharmacies across the country.
Sandra Canally The Compliance Team
Sandy is founder and CEO of The Compliance Team, one of the nation’s leading healthcare accreditation organizations. She was the first nurse oncologist at Hahnemann Hospital and a research liaison to the National Cancer Institute before establishing The Compliance Team in 1994, where she developed her industry-leading accreditation model that transformed the healthcare accreditation industry. “Sandy’s decades of dedication to pharmacy are outstanding. In this ever-changing environment, we rely on her expertise and leadership,” said Byron Yoshino, Pharm.D., president & CEO, Pharmacare Hawaii.
Jodie Cartwright Walmart
As VP of pharmacy merchandising at Walmart, Jodie oversees a high-performing team spanning merchants, merch ops, strategy and growth and merch enablement. She directs efforts to enhance access and affordability through Walmart Pharmacies, fosters robust business relationships to support strategic growth and ensures alignment with Walmart’s overarching vision for accessible health care. Jodie is a dedicated leader, focused on delivering quality care to Walmart patients and empowering associates to uphold these same values.
Roslyn Chapman
The
Chapman Edge
Roslyn “Roz” Chapman heads The Chapman Edge, a Chicago consulting firm offering sales and customer service support to manufacturers. Prior to founding The Chapman Edge in 2000, Roslyn gathered extensive corporate experience through her roles in various multinational companies such as Johnson Products and Alberto Culver. Roslyn participates in organizations like WE, ECRM and NACDS. She has authored 15 articles in trade journals and received awards from Global Beauty Association, Revlon, Alberto Culver and others.
Danelle Cobb
The
Emerson Group
Danelle is a seasoned e-commerce and omni-channel leader with over a decade of experience driving digital growth for major retail partners. At The Emerson Group, she manages Walmart’s e-commerce business for beauty and personal care brands—partnering closely with Walmart and brands to drive innovation, boost digital performance and execute with excellence. Based in Bentonville, Danelle is known for her relationship-first, consultative approach and positive energy.
LaTonya Cross McKesson
As senior manager of trade show experience at McKesson, LaTonya leads strategic planning and execution for regional, national and international events to elevate brand visibility and stakeholder engagement. Through streamlined logistics and improved vendor coordination, she’s delivered significant YOY cost savings. In partnership with vendor teams, LaTonya has implemented process improvements that reduce delays and enhance McKesson’s enterprise-wide presence across a portfolio of more than 130 annual trade shows.
Abby Dekkers McKesson
Abby leads strategic initiatives with precision, vision and a collaborative spirit. As senior director, she drives alignment across commercial, legal, finance, and supply chain teams, ensuring seamless execution and measurable outcomes. Her role in high-impact negotiations showcases her ability to navigate complex partnerships and deliver lasting value. Known for creating calm structure from chaos, Abby earns consistent engagement from key stakeholders through proactive communication and strategic foresight.
Kathleen Devlin i-Health
Kathleen’s passion lies in meeting unmet consumer needs by growing leading brands like Azo, Estroven and Culturelle within the grocery channel. With a strong foundation in sales and business development, she leverages her expertise in personal care to craft joint business plans that drive sales, profit, market share and category growth. Kathleen is a strategic, results-driven leader who excels at building meaningful relationships both internally and externally. Her ability to foster successful broker partnerships and execute sustainable strategies has consistently delivered impactful business outcomes.
Deborah Dixon
Precious Mineralz LLC
Deborah has 40-plus years of experience in research and development, product development and commercialization of medical devices and diagnostics, food safety diagnostics and consumer products. As majority owner of Precious Mineralz LLC, she brings valuable best practices from organizations such as Becton Dickinson and Neogen Corporation. Improving patient and consumer experiences/outcomes has been important in all her roles, and it’s a major factor in the company’s launch of the emerging brand Out of Mountains skin care products.
Breana Doing
Simply Good Foods
Breana is a results-driven senior sales leader with a deep passion for e-commerce and more than 13 years of experience driving growth for Simply Good Foods’ health and wellness brands. Her strategic mindset and proactive focus on business development have consistently transformed challenges into opportunities, delivering significant revenue gains and operational efficiencies in the e-commerce space. Known for her collaborative approach, Breana focuses on building strong cross-functional teams and fostering strategic relationships with key retail partners.
August Drake
iA
August is an influential technical sales executive with a track record of translating complex operational challenges into strategic, customer-focused solutions. Over the course of her career, she has advanced through roles in solutions design, engineering and leadership. August has led initiatives to provide innovative robotics, material handling automation and software solutions in a wide array of industries including distribution, fulfillment, health systems and retail pharmacy.
Henna Durani McKesson
Henna is VP of strategic sales at McKesson, leading high-stakes business development with the company’s largest national customers. This past year, she secured McKesson’s largest-ever win—a $50B strategic partnership—by aligning divergent customer and enterprise priorities into a shared vision, well before the formal RFP. She also authored McKesson’s HighTrust Selling Playbook, a model for earning repeatable trust in complex decisions.
Angelica Esparza-Trujillo Thea Pharma Inc.
Angelica is the associate director of sales planning and account management at Thea Pharma, where she leads national sales strategies and a team of account managers representing all major retailers. She played a pivotal role in transitioning iVIZIA from RX to OTC, driving growth across food, mass and drug channels. Her strategic leadership, deep industry expertise and commitment to innovation have helped redefine the eye care category.
Kimberley Felice-Dooley CVS Health
Kimberley brings more than 30 years of experience in retail and supports strategy, merchandising and execution for CVS’ general merchandise business. She has overseen multi-year growth in seasonal and everyday categories, pioneered cross-functional initiatives in supply chain and helped bring customer-led innovation to life across CVS retail locations. Kimberley has a passion for mentoring others and creating inclusive environments where people thrive. She also serves her community through outreach programs that support children with special needs and underserved youth.
Rita Finley
The Emerson Group
Rita is a market insights and intelligence leader at The Emerson Group, bringing more than 30 years of expertise in CPG, retail insights and brand management. As category manager for the Walgreens customer team, she leads strategy across health and beauty categories, delivering double-digit sales growth and expanding distribution. Known for turning consumer, shopper and retail insights into actionable strategies, Rita uses advanced analytics to drive innovation and unlock category growth.
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Jill Fitzgerald Market Performance Group
With experience across startups, large corporations and service organizations, Jill brings a well-rounded, real-world perspective to her role as EVP of business development at Market Performance Group. She thrives at the intersection of strategy and execution, using data and consumer insights to drive smart, scalable growth. Known for her practical creativity and people-first approach, Jill builds strong teams, turns ideas into action and helps brands win in today’s complex omnichannel world.
Jacqueline Flam Stokes NielsenIQ
As managing director of beauty and health at NielsenIQ, Jacqueline brings more than two decades of experience guiding beauty brands and retailers through data-driven strategy and market transformation. She helps clients uncover consumer and category opportunities that fuel growth and align with long-term goals. A frequent speaker at industry events, Jacqueline shares insights on emerging trends, shopper behavior and retail innovation.
Carla Frehn Cencora
With more than 25 years of healthcare marketing expertise, Carla serves as VP of retail services for Good Neighbor Pharmacy at Cencora. She leads a team of 80 marketers and merchandisers supporting independent pharmacies by enhancing their visibility, fostering community connections and driving business growth. Carla has been instrumental in launching key initiatives like the Elevate Provider Network, Pharmacy Ownership program and the Good Neighbor Pharmacy digital offering.
Brooke Gilliam Maesa
Brooke is an award-winning sales development executive with 15-plus years of experience in beauty and personal care. She is VP of customer development at Maesa, a Bain portfolio company and next-generation beauty leader. Over five years, Brooke has grown the customer base more than tenfold and built a high-performing sales team from a solo role to 11 professionals, driving consistent portfolio growth. She mentors winners of the Maesa Magic Incubator annually and was honored as Maesa’s Manager of the Year.
Kristine Glancy Market Performance Group
Kristine serves as EVP at Market Performance Group, leading the Minneapolis office. With 25-plus years in CPG and retail, she is a transformative leader known for driving growth, innovation and change through a hands-on, people-first approach. Her success spans sales leadership, brand management and organizational transformation. Kristine is passionate about building strong, diverse teams and fostering cultures of authenticity, transparency and high performance.
Patricia Glaspie First Choice Sales & Marketing
Patricia is the senior director of specialty beauty and well-being at First Choice Sales & Merchandising Group, where she drives strategic growth across leading national retailers in the health and beauty care category. With more than two decades of experience, Trish is known for her collaborative leadership, strong retail partnerships and ability to scale both emerging and established brands. She brings an extensive background in sales with a proven track record of driving revenue growth.
Meg Gomsak
L’Oreal Dermatological Beauty
With two decades in beauty, retail and healthcare, Meg, director of integrated health at L’Oréal Dermatological Beauty, drives vital partnerships optimizing access and education for skin health. Over the past year, she strengthened the Dermatology & Retail Alliance, a groundbreaking initiative uniting traditionally competing retailers and leading dermatologists on shared missions. Last year’s event gathered a record 12 retail chains and 16 dermatologists. Her efforts included launching a dedicated website for collaboration, as well as an impactful “Sun Responsibly” PSA campaign.
Sandra Greefkes XiFin, Inc.
With a passion for advancing technology and healthcare innovation, Sandra serves as VP of product marketing and partner relations at XiFin. In 2023, she spearheaded XiFin’s inaugural Pharmacy Transformation Survey, a groundbreaking initiative that explores pharmacy expansion, barriers and opportunities, and the financial and policy forces shaping the industry. Known for translating technology innovation such as AI and automation into meaningful market impact, Sandra continues to drive initiatives and collaboration between providers and payors across the healthcare ecosystem.
Ashley Harris Market Performance Group
Ashley is the director of enterprise analytic solutions at MPG, leading a team responsible for delivering client-facing technology solutions. With 15 years of experience in the CPG industry, she brings deep expertise in data, analytics, reporting project management. Since beginning her role in February of this year, Ashley has driven process improvements that enhanced solution delivery, increased client satisfaction and reduced operational costs.
Rachel Harris
The
Emerson Group
Rachel brings a well-rounded CPG background, pairing entrepreneurial drive with strong sales and finance expertise. She leads sales for the beauty, baby and personal care businesses for the Walmart team at The Emerson Group, taking a relationship-first approach to deliver customer excellence and innovative merchandising. Known for her initiative, positive energy and results-driven focus, Rachel builds lasting partnerships and high-performing teams.
Sasha Harris CVS Health
Sasha brings more than 15 years of retail experience to her role as director of women’s health, where she leads baby, feminine and personal intimacy categories. She co-leads the HERE for Her platform, winner of the 2024 Effie Award for Crisis Response, and led the team that launched the CVS First Period Kit, named “best and most inclusive” by the The New York Times’ Wirecutter. Sasha expanded colleague benefit access to reproductive and menopause products, driving cultural relevance and measurable business impact.
Rachel Henry Beacon Wellness Brands, Inc.
As director of sales at Beacon Wellness Brands, Rachel leads growth across the drug and grocery channels for category-defining brands including plusOne Intimate Wellness, Plum Beauty Facial Tools and Palmperfect Shave. She is passionate about advancing intimate care and helping shape the emerging menopause care category. Rachel’s work centers on creating space at retail for intimate wellness and menopause solutions—driving significant category growth with national drug chains and opening doors with grocery retailers entering the space for the first time.
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Lori Hoard
Cardinal Health
Lori, senior manager of network and payor relations for Cardinal Health’s PSAOs, leverages her extensive experience in managed care, PBM operations, pharmacy operations and healthcare regulations to support retail pharmacies at independent and chain levels. She leads a team that expertly supports approximately 7,000 pharmacies navigating complex reimbursement challenges, contract compliance and ever-changing regulatory requirements. Lori provides pharmacies with the strategic insight and practical solutions they need to focus on providing high-quality care and improving patient lives.
Candie Holland Walmart
With more than 19 years at Walmart, Candie has cultivated deep expertise in retail strategy, customer engagement and category transformation. For 16 of those years, she worked closely with customers, gaining insight into their evolving needs. As merchant for women’s intimate health and sexual health, she envisioned and developed a comprehensive women’s wellness journey by creating a key destination for all women’s intimate health needs. Her leadership has redefined the category, empowering customers through every stage of life with solutions that prioritize accessibility, education and a customer-first approach.
Erin Hyde Market Performance Group
Erin is the senior director of sales for H-E-B and Publix at Market Performance Group, where her passion for excellence has fueled her team’s rise as a top performer. With more than 15 years of CPG leadership and prior roles at BIC and Danone, she is recognized for building strong retailer partnerships, inspiring collaboration and driving measurable results. In the past year, 52% of her portfolio outperformed market growth in unit sales. Erin has led transformative program launches, introduced best-in-class processes and created a centralized business review platform to strengthen insights, execution and strategic alignment.
Mary Beth Johnson
Market Performance Group
Mary Beth is a dynamic retail strategist with more than 15 years of experience driving growth for some of the nation’s most recognized brands. Known for transforming shelf space into sales space, she has built lasting partnerships with Walmart, Sam’s Club and other key retailers, blending data-driven insights with creative strategies to deliver impactful results. With an MBA from Harding University, Mary Beth has led category reinventions, unlocked new growth opportunities and inspired cross-functional teams to excel. Her proven track record, innovative thinking and commitment to excellence have made her a standout leader in the retail industry.
Chelsey Jones McKesson
Chelsey joined McKesson in 2013 serving several roles under the Health Mart Atlas PSAO and most recently was promoted to national VP of payor solutions and sales. Her team oversees the sales of these value-added services along with field consultants to independent retail, health system and specialized pharmacies. The goal is to assist pharmacy’s understanding of PBM contracts and help them navigate this complex landscape within their operations. Chelsey also serves on the Retail Solutions Council and is a mentor for the Women’s Empowered employee resource group.
Christine Keihm Camille Rose
A self-described product junkie, Christine has more than 20 years experience in the beauty and wellness space including hair, skin and nail care, color cosmetics and supplements. She has a proven track record of success with her keen understanding of a diverse consumer base and retailer demands. She is the chief growth officer for Camille Rose haircare leading marketing and sales teams. With a consumer first POV, Christine is passionate about driving growth while overseeing the creation of omni-channel initiatives. She is grateful to those who have shared this journey with her personally and professionally.
Kristi Keith CVS Health
Kristi is lead director of consumer experience and innovation for CVS store brands, driving strategic transformation across the entire portfolio. She led the launch of a centralized specification database, integrating AI and computer vision to streamline product data and enhance decision-making. Kristi established a dedicated consumer experience function, enabling internal evaluations and vendor studies that deliver cost optimization and insights across 300-plus products annually. She expanded the automated retail program, advancing healthcare access and brand visibility. Her leadership fosters collaboration, innovation and data-driven excellence across cross-functional teams, delivering meaningful impact for CVS Health.
Ashley Keller XiFin, Inc.
Ashley brings more than 20 years of experience in the pharmacy industry. She is a senior product manager at XiFin, specializing in clinical services. She has a strong track record of driving innovation and operational excellence in healthcare technology. Ashley plays a pivotal role in bridging clinical expertise with product strategy, ensuring that solutions allow pharmacies to get paid for clinical services. With a background that spans healthcare operations, product development and leadership, Ashley is known for her ability to translate complex clinical needs into technology solutions.
Kimberley Kingsley Arcadia Consumer Healthcare
With her 20-plus years of experience in supply chain and engaging leadership style, Kim has built the infrastructure and capabilities to support Arcadia’s triple-digit growth over the last four years—installing best-in-class sales and operations planning; institutionalizing top performance, ownership and accountability across the Arcadia team and extended partners; and creating an empowerment culture that enables her team to lead and shine. Kim is particularly recognized for linking operational performance to business outcomes and customer satisfaction, deep commitment to cross-functional success and vast capacity to deliver solutions for increasingly complex supply chains and go-to-market strategies.
Jennie LaMar
The Emerson Group
Jennie is a category manager with the Emerson Group, supporting the Walgreens Team. She partners with Walgreens corporate category teams to deliver solution-based insights that drive growth and shopper loyalty. With expertise in assortment, promotions and shopper behavior, Jennie focuses on actionable recommendations that balance retailer needs with consumer demand.
Shalimar Dalal Makaar
Obliphica Professional Hair Care
Shalimar has devoted her career to redefining luxury as an attainable part of everyday life. Since her family founded the business in 1986, she has expanded its global reach, consistently identified high-performing products and positioned them for success. In 2013, she acquired and reimagined Obliphica Professional, transforming it into a seaberry-powered luxury hair care brand delivering time-saving, results-oriented solutions.
Kasey Mathues
The Emerson Group
Kasey is the director of analytics at The Emerson Group, where she leads a high-performing team advancing storytelling, insights and strategy for the food and value COT. In the past year, she has transformed the analytics team into a center of excellence, empowering field analysts through the Omega data platform to deliver smarter reporting, dynamic dashboards and impactful storytelling. A passionate advocate for thought leadership, Kasey drives strategies that go beyond data to uncover opportunities, shape solutions and accelerate growth for both brand and retail partners.
Catherine Mazzella
The
Emerson Group
Catherine is a dynamic leader with more than 15 years of expertise in e-commerce and omni-channel retail. At The Emerson Group, she helps oversee Walmart’s e-commerce business and launched their Walmart Marketplace division, driving innovation and digital transformation. With a track record of success spanning startups to her time at Walmart eCommerce, Catherine has led high-impact teams, developed cutting-edge digital strategies and delivered exceptional results. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, she brings strategic vision and analytical expertise to every role. Outside of work, she devotes her time to her most important role: being a mom to three sons.
Elisa McDermott
Beacon Wellness Brands, Inc.
Elisa has decades of sales leadership experience in health, wellness and beauty across multiple categories and brands. As VP of sales, Beacon Wellness Brands, she has collaborated with retail partners to bring the plusOne brand to its market leadership position in intimate wellness, and to continue to drive category growth in this flourishing segment of women’s health. Elisa has also led sales initiatives that brought Plum Beauty to its beauty tools category leadership. In addition, Elisa champions the Palm Perfect brand, which is the No.1 value women’s electric shaver in the U.S. market, per the company.
Jennifer Moyer J.R. Watkins
Jennifer has more than 30 years of experience in marketing, business development and relationship management with a focus on private equity backed consumer healthcare. She is the chief growth officer for J.R. Watkins, a heritage personal care brand, and previously led the marketing teams at Clarion Brands, Insight Pharmaceuticals and Lansinoh Laboratories, managing a variety of niche OTC, personal care and supplement brands. Jennifer attended the University of Michigan-Dearborn, where she earned her marketing management degree.
Maura Mullen JOH
Maura has been at JOH for 23 years where she makes the sales call at ADUSA. She has worked within the New England market for the past 39 years in a variety of positions, including retail representative, planogram/analyst and category buyer, and each of these roles has helped her be successful in her current role. Maura is supported by a team of talented and dedicated people at JOH; their contributions are critical to her success, she said.
Melissa O’Connell JOH
Melissa transitioned into private label product development at CVS, where she spent nearly four years gaining invaluable retail experience. In 2014, Melissa joined JOH as an account executive, drawn by a shared passion for building brands and strong retail partnerships. Her time at JOH has been marked by a deep commitment to collaboration and results with retailers and brands, culminating in the honor of receiving the Harry O’Hare Award in December 2023—an award recognizing excellence and leadership within the organization. As a director at JOH, Melissa supports the account executives and analytics/insights team focused on JOH’s CVS business.
Jenny O’Neill Dollar General
Since joining Dollar General in 2009, Jenny, VP and division merchandise manager, has progressed from hands-on product selection roles to managing and overseeing the full scope of specific product categories. Prior to her current VP role, Jenny served as senior buyer of health products at DG, overseeing DG Wellbeing, a healthcare expansion initiative seeking to decrease critical gaps in health access. She also spearheaded the development of DG’s award-winning OhGood! private brand, a range of affordable, fun and nutritional supplements.
Daria Park CVS Pharmacy
Daria, CVS health field leader in Los Angeles, has 21 years of impact across community pharmacy, progressing from pharmacy technician to field leadership. During the Pacific Palisades wildfires, she and her team ensured uninterrupted medication access and clinical services for the community. Renowned for empathy, resilience and collaboration, she consistently supported store colleagues and residents, even after evacuation. As a mentor and community advocate, Daria champions health education and disaster relief, empowering future leaders while caring for the elderly.
Laure Pellarin Maesa
Laure began her career as a purchasing manager in Paris before launching the U.S. subsidiary in 2007. She has been pivotal in the company’s success, driving operational efficiencies that resulted in substantial savings. As SVP of innovation operations and strategy, Laure has successfully reduced innovation lead-times from 15-18 months to 9-12 months and is currently spearheading 280 innovation projects for 2025/2026. Her leadership fosters a culture of collaboration and creativity, enabling teams to navigate challenges effectively.
Mary Perrin Market Performance Group
With more than 30 years of retail experience, Mary has built an accomplished career leading supply chain and operational strategies that drive business growth. Throughout her career, she has held diverse leadership roles, with a primary focus on inventory management and process optimization. Mary is director of supply chain and operations at Market Performance Group. Known for her collaborative leadership and relationship-building abilities, Mary partners with cross-functional stakeholders to boost sales, optimize inventory levels and deliver operational excellence.
Casey Price CVS Health
Casey is a seasoned omnichannel merchant with a deep understanding of evolving customer needs, having driven more than $100 million in growth over the past five years. In her role as lead director of photo services at CVS Health, Casey has led the transformation and modernization of the business, introducing exclusive offerings such as same day personalized drinkware and forging strategic partnerships, including the integration of Google Photos’ print-to-store service.
Melba Quintana
The Emerson Group
With 19 years in the CPG industry, Melba began in logistics and advanced into category management, specializing in health and beauty. In 2021, she transitioned to sales at The Emerson Group, leading the beauty category for Wakefern Food Corp. She now manages Southeastern Grocers, Harris Teeter and Puerto Rico Supplies. Over the past year, she has delivered consistent growth and profitability across all accounts through strategic planning, collaborative partnerships and data-driven execution.
Erin Rausch Vantage Point Logistics
Erin is a forward-thinking healthcare leader and current chief growth officer at VPL, where she advances innovative pharmacy and supply chain strategies to improve patient access and outcomes. Her career spans payors, manufacturers, distributors and technology companies, with leadership roles at Independence Blue Cross, Humana, Baxter, Pharmion, Flipt Rx and AmerisourceBergen. Erin brings a unique end-to-end perspective across the healthcare delivery ecosystem and is recognized for building strategic partnerships, driving specialty pharmacy innovation and turning complex challenges into practical solutions.
STAY AHEAD
Gabrielle Reese Haleon
As customer strategy operations lead at Haleon, Gabrielle drove improvements in sales forecasting, trade activation and strategic planning. She also partnered with the marketing organization to launch Haleon’s first enterprise partnership with the U.S. Soccer Federation, driving trade activation strategies. She has worked in the CPG industry for 12 years with a breadth of experience across data and analytics, category management, sales operations and strategy. She brings strategy to life through collaboration, data-driven decision-making, and process optimization to meet both Haleon and customer objectives.
Samantha Reyes
The Emerson Group
With more than 25 years of CPG industry experience, Reyes brings a unique combination of complex analytical abilities and proven selling skills to The Emerson Group. She spent the last 10 years at Emerson leading the beauty business for Rite Aid and has recently moved on to the value channel. In addition to sales, she played a key role in launching the Emerson Mentoring Program, which she continues to lead today. Reyes holds an MBA from Northeastern University.
Marguerite Rivara Maesa
As VP of sales strategy and operations, Margi and her team are responsible for all commercial sales operations, including channel distribution and promotional strategy, forecasting and trade management. For the past18 months at Maesa, Margi has driven key initiatives to streamline operations and processes across the organization, and brought strategy and insight to Maesa’s cross category planning and execution.
Lindsey Ryan Bayer Consumer Health
Lindsey leads Bayer’s U.S. commercial strategy and operations. She excels in developing and implementing omnichannel health and wellness strategies that enhance the shopper and patient journey. By leveraging her extensive expertise in the consumer packaged goods and healthcare sectors, Lindsey fosters cross-divisional strategies that drive shared value across the U.S. market. Her strong track record in P&L management and strategic planning underpins her success.
Ashley Schmidt Inmar Intelligence
Ashley leads the strategy and execution of the end-to-end client experience across the healthcare business. With deep expertise in pharmaceutical revenue cycle management, returns and regulatory compliance, she has driven transformative improvements in customer satisfaction, retention and growth. Previously, Ashley secured critical regulatory approvals across multiple jurisdictions and spearheaded initiatives that generating more than $200 million in revenue. A strategic, trusted leader, she collaborates cross-functionally to deliver innovative, client-centric solutions.
Sarah Seifert Bausch + Lomb
Sarah brings more than 20 years of CPG and retail experience, with a proven track record of business growth through data driven decision making. At Bausch + Lomb, she is a recognized leader in analytics and insights and omnichannel category management. She leverages her deep industry knowledge to develop strategies that deliver value and results. Sarah’s ability to translate complex data into actionable business opportunities has made her an invaluable leader and trusted business partner to her retailers.
Deeannah Seymour
pH-D Feminine Health
Deeannah is CEO and co-founder of pH-D Feminine Health, one of the top-selling U.S. feminine care brands. Their holistic products are designed to empower women with greater options to take control of their vaginal wellness and are sold at every major U.S. and Canadian retailer, in more than 55,000 stores. She is on the 2025 Forbes 50 Over 50 List, an EY Entrepreneur of the Year and pH-D has been on the INC 5000 list for the past five years. She credits her success to her incredible team.
Jeanine Singer McKesson
Jeanine is senior VP of national and key accounts and field sales for McKesson’s strategic, community and specialized pharmacy segment. She leads a national team of sales and pharmacy professionals dedicated to advancing community pharmacy and elevating the role of pharmacists in patient care. Jeanine was instrumental in launching Amplify—a groundbreaking initiative that provided targeted funding to pharmacy associations in all 50 states. She serves on McKesson’s Foundation Board and Employees’ PAC, is a member of the NCPA Innovation Center and recently celebrated her 30th anniversary with McKesson.
Christiane Sodano CVS Health
Christiane is a dynamic and result-driven leader who uses her decades of merchandising and product development to drive innovation with a focus on elevating the customer experience. Over the past three years, she has helped transform the seasonal assortment and successfully launched new categories. She excels in streamlining processes, building partnerships and implementing long-term strategies to help create a culture that develops high-performing teams.
Elyse Stoltz Dickerson Eosera
As the CEO and co-founder of Eosera, Elyse has propelled the ear care company from a small startup just 10 years ago into a powerhouse brand with products on the shelves of more than 28,000 stores nationwide. Recently featured in The New York Times, Elyse is a thought leader in the health and wellness industries, launching innovative, over-the-counter solutions like Ear Wax MD, Ear Pain MD and Ear Itch MD.
Jennifer Sullivan CVS Health
Jennifer is leading transformation initiatives to improve value perception through pricing and discounts. With a background in marketing, loyalty and personalization, Jennifer has driven digital-first strategies, AI-based offer decisioning and omnichannel coupon innovation. She’s recognized for delivering measurable customer and financial impact, and has earned multiple CVS awards for innovation. She is passionate about making sound business decisions that build toward the long-term vision, while also delivering financial value in the short term.
Krystyna Testa Wakefern Food Corp.
Krystyna brings more than 20 years of experience across a variety of categories in the consumer goods industry. She has built a reputation for strategic leadership, collaboration and driving innovation in health and beauty care. As a strong merchant, Krystyna focuses on identifying emerging trends, adapting to customer needs and helping shape a more sustainable business model. In her role as associate director, she’s proud to contribute to meaningful improvements and help the business stay ahead in a fast-changing market.
ACTIONABLE INSIGHTS & CONNECTIONS POWERING BUSINESS GROWTH
EnsembleIQ is the premier resource of actionable insights and connections powering business growth throughout the path to purchase. We help retail, technology, consumer goods, healthcare and hospitality professionals make informed decisions and gain a competitive advantage.
EnsembleIQ delivers the most trusted business intelligence from leading industry experts, creative marketing solutions and impactful event experiences that connect best-in-class suppliers and service providers with our vibrant business-building communities.
If you accepted or processed Discover credit cards between 2007–2023, you could be eligible to get a payment from a class action settlement.
**YOU MAY BE ENTITLED TO A SETTLEMENT PAYMENT**
To receive a payment, file a claim by May 18, 2026. WHAT IS THIS ABOUT?
A proposed class action settlement has been reached in three related lawsuits. The lawsuits allege that, beginning in 2007, Discover misclassified certain Discover-issued consumer credit cards as commercial credit cards, which in turn caused merchants and others to incur excessive interchange fees. The misclassification did not impact cardholders. Discover denies the claims in the lawsuits, and the Court has not decided who is right or wrong. Instead, the proposed settlement, if approved, will resolve the lawsuits and provide benefits to Settlement Class Members.
WHO IS INCLUDED?
The Settlement Class includes all End Merchants, Merchant Acquirers, and Payment Intermediaries involved in processing or accepting a Misclassified Card Transaction during the period from January 1, 2007 through December 31, 2023. To view the full Settlement Class definition, including defined terms and excluded entities, go to www.DiscoverMerchantSettlement.com.
WHAT CAN I GET?
To receive a settlement payment, with very limited exceptions, you will need to file a claim by May 18, 2026 and/or provide additional information to the Settlement Administrator. Under
the proposed settlement, Discover will make payments to eligible Settlement Class Members who submit valid claims. Discover has agreed to pay between $540 million and $1.225 billion plus interest in connection with this settlement. Your settlement payment amount will be calculated based on a variety of factors.
YOUR OTHER OPTIONS.
You can file a claim for a payment by May 18, 2026 and/or provide additional information. Alternatively, you can exclude yourself from the settlement by opting out, in which case you will receive no payment under this settlement and retain any right you may have to sue Discover about the claims in these lawsuits or related to the Misclassified Card Transactions. If you do not exclude yourself, and the Court approves the settlement, you will be bound by the Court’s orders and judgments and will release any claims against Discover in these lawsuits or related to the Misclassified Card Transactions. If you do not exclude yourself, you can object to or comment on any part of the settlement. The deadline to either exclude yourself or object to the settlement is March 25, 2026. Visit the website for information on how to exercise these options.
DeArcy Vaughan McKesson
DeArcy is an accomplished healthcare executive with 20-plus years of leadership across pharma, community, specialty and managed care pharmacy. As VP of pharmacy retail operations at McKesson, she advises and coaches Health Mart independent pharmacy owners across the Southeast, driving financial performance, clinical innovation and operational excellence. She leads strategic initiatives and mentors teams to deliver measurable results while advancing patient outcomes. She’s the founder of Clinicians Collaborative special interest group for healthcare professionals at McKesson.
Maria Warrington Beacon Wellness Brands, Inc.
Maria is the CEO of Beacon Wellness Brands, overseeing growth and innovation for the company’s diverse portfolio of brands, including plusOne, Plum Beauty and Palmperfect, among others. She previously served as Beacon Wellness Brands’ CFO and COO. Prior to that, Maria held several senior finance and operations roles at Wolverine Worldwide, one of the world’s largest marketers and licensors of branded apparel. She holds an MS in accounting and an MBA from the D’AmoreMcKim School of Business at Northeastern University and a BA in economics from Tufts University.
Katie Wendlandt Walgreens
As a senior manager at Walgreens, Katie leads IT infrastructure implementation and support for more than 8,000 Walgreens pharmacy locations nationwide. With more than two decades at the company, she has helped transform the way technology is deployed in stores by driving efficiency, reducing disruption and improving the experience for patients and team members. A lifelong learner and passionate mentor, she is known for blending strategic vision with hands-on leadership.
Katie Williams XiFin, Inc.
Katie and her team work to drive strategic client initiatives, support successful product implementations and foster a customer-centric culture throughout the client success organization. Her team’s primary role is not only to be a client advocate, but to improve processes that promote customer loyalty, engagement and long-term relationships. She has a proven track record of driving client engagement, operational excellence and business growth in complex healthcare environments with the largest retail pharmacies in the country.
Kristen Wudyka Meritain Pharmacy Solutions
Kristen have been a practicing pharmacist for almost 20 years in various areas of pharmacy including community, specialty, sales, PBM and TPA solutions. In her current role, Kristen leads an incredible team of pharmacists, nurses and specialized pharmacy technicians who lead Meritain’s CARE program-cost avoidance research effort. The company helps to strategically reduce costs for specialty medications for small business owners. Since program inception in 2020, she has saved clients and members more than $55 million.
Jenni Zilka
Cencora
As president of Good Neighbor Pharmacy, Jenni leads an extensive team of experienced professionals committed to helping independent community pharmacies simplify their business operations, amplify their brand and protect their independence. She leverages more than 20 years of pharmacy experience as she oversees an extensive roster of programs and services designed to enhance Good Neighbor Pharmacy members’ in-store experience, marketing and business performance.
*Not pictured:
Lauren Brindley, Ulta Beauty
Brigid Elam CVS Health
Christine Greer Nature’s Way
Nadia Khan Maesa
Scalp Care to Smart Tools
Hair care is evolving faster than a TikTok trend; retailers need to stay current to maintain market share
Hair care today goes far beyond just shampoo and conditioner. With competitive channels steadily gaining ground on the mass market’s long-standing dominance, retailers are tweaking assortments to stay relevant.
Hair care sales in mass stores rose 4% for the first half of 2025, according to Circana. Unit sales were flat, suggesting the sales hikes were linked to higher prices. Prestige hair care, however, posted a 6% dollar increase with unit gains as well.
Ingredient-forward innovation, K-beauty crossovers, scalp health, hair growth and next-gen tools are all ammunition to power mass sales into 2026. Those sales drivers signal a broader consumer shift to looking for root-causes to their hair health, according to Yarden Horowitz, co-founder of Spate, a company that tracks search queries on Google and TikTok.
TikTok, in fact, has further fueled interest in scalp care. “Right now, I’m seeing a big trend in scalp health, which is the base to healthy hair,” said Chad Cook, creative director of Privé Products. They also want simplified, yet effective, solutions with fewer chemicals, he added.
The forms are emerging to help with scalp health, including hair masks, scalp serums and hair texturizing powders. Searches
for serums, for example, jumped 143%, according to Spate. Brands racking up interest in searches linked to the scalp include Seapuri, Divi and Ouai.
Karseell, a collagen repair mask available on Walmart.com and Amazon, is rising up the charts thanks to before-and-after posts on social media. The brand is averaging 78 million weekly views on TikTok, and 39.2 million average monthly searches on Google Search, per Spate.
Lola from Rio combines ingredient stories with formulas designed for stronger hair. The brand has a range of products with ingredients that match hair needs. For example, the ginkgobiloba-infused Rapunzel range was developed to reduce hair loss and is available in several forms, including a Strengthening Mask and Hair Tonic. Lola from Rio’s portfolio includes other lines, such as Meu Cacho Minha Vida for textured hair and Densidade for limp strands. The brand made its U.S. debut in Walmart and is also sold in select CVS doors.
Thinning hair is a major consumer concern for all ages. Whatever the reasons—from aging to hair shedding (which some link to GLP-1 use)—consumers want products to offset hair loss. Hair texturizing powders, an untapped segment of hair care, is gaining traction with searches soaring 348.3% year-over-year across
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platforms and are forecast to grow another 36.6% in the coming year. Base Bodyworks is among the most searched brands, according to Spate.
A slew of ingredients is tied to strengthening strands with scientific research behind them.
“Science-backed ingredients are critical,” said Phoebe Song, founder of Snow Fox Skincare. “I see a lot of peptides and clinically backed actives that focus on the science in hair care. It’s a lot less glamour-focused now.”
Juan Morillo, office manager for Okay Pure Naturals, agreed that consumers are more concerned with efficacy and ingredients. “They read everything and are more informed,” he explained. Okay is getting a healthy sales bounce in its Jamaican Black Castor Oil collection, which also features ingredients associated with hair health, such as rosemary and biotin. And, the brand just launched a Batana Oil Hair Care collection for damage-repair and fortifying range.
Keranique and Bosley have curated ingredients for hair health. Keranique features Keratin Amino Complex that helps strengthen and fortify thinning hair, helps thicken the appearance of each hair shaft, penetrates the shaft to help nourish the outer protective layer and mend split
ends. It also restores strength, shine and the essential hydration that maintains healthy and volumized hair, the company said. Key ingredients include bisabolol, allantoin, curcumin and celery seed extract.
Bosley’s, which has its roots in the professional segment, continues to bring its DHT-blocking ingredients to the mass market. Bosley’s Revive Densifying Foam uses AI to identify molecules that strengthen hair, while Keranique leans on clinically validated actives, the company claimed.
What Are the Emerging Ingredients?
Revuze, a marketing intelligence platform, analyzed more than 1.1 million consumer data points across Amazon, Walmart, Ulta, Target, Sephora and others to pinpoint the hair care ingredients that are making a measurable impact on shoppers. The ingredients included Kalahari melon seed oil, batana oil, matcha, pumpkin seed oil, peptides, onion extract and rosemary oil. Several mass brands such as Mielle, Not Your Mother’s, Kristin Ess and OGX already use these buzzy ingredients.
The category analysis compiled by Revuze suggests a pivot away from what are considered harsh treatments.
Conversations about heat protection (–11%), bleaching (–19%), and environmental claims (–16%) declined, while interest in natural/organic products (+23%), natural-looking results (+18%) and hair growth (+10%) surged. K-beauty brands, which are known for next-gen ingredients, are also crossing over from skin care to hair and are seen as the next big opportunity for K-beauty. Brands looking for expansion from Korea include Dr. Groot, TonyMoly and CosRx.
An overarching theme in hair includes the move to sustainable packaging and new forms. “Solid shampoo bars are trending for sustainable, nourishing cleansing, while shower filters are rising as a must for haircare by removing harsh minerals that cause dryness and breakage,” said Vera Oh, co-founder of Voesh.
Dovetailing with the growth of scents, retailers are adding fragranced hair care. Target is expanding its hair perfumes with brands like Kitsch, Blake Lively’s Blake Brown and Tresemmé.
Tools for the Tech-Savvy Consumer Tech-forward styling tools are also reshaping the category. Shark Beauty has established itself as a serious player and competitor to the pricier Dyson with versatile, heat-conscious products. Its lineup includes the FlexStyle for all-in-one performance, SmoothStyle for wet-to-dry styling and Glam for ceramic-plus-air sophistication. Walmart, Target and Ulta Beauty have added Shark.
Legacy brands Hot Tools has a stylish new campaign featuring its honors as “#1 Trusted Brand by Stylists.” New packaging will begin rolling out onto shelves starting in November 2025.
And Conair is undergoing a rebranding of its communications and packaging. The company recently introduced the Conair Infinitipro DigitalAire Hair Dryer with advanced motor technology. To combat a common hair challenge, the company’s Frizz Free Flex line features ionic technology and titanium ceramic coating.
Botanical Hair Growth System Keranique
Rapunzel Strengthening Hair Mask
Lola from Rio
The state of pharmacy tech and automation
AI-powered solutions are helping retail pharmacies run more profitably and deliver better patient outcomes
By Julie Gallagher
Today’s retail pharmacists are tasked with maintaining the highest standards of patient care amidst mounting pressure. Faced with rising labor costs, complex reimbursement structures and mounting administrative burdens, pharmacists are having to do more with less. The pressures are real: profitability is harder to sustain, staffing shortages are increasing and regulatory demands continue to evolve at a rapid pace.
In response, technology providers have introduced innovative solutions designed to ease operational strain, streamline workflows and return pharmacists’ focus to patients. From robotics and automation that streamline manual tasks to AIpowered insights that optimize inventory and predict patient needs, technology is helping grow efficiency and redefine how pharmacies operate.
DSN asked several providers to weigh in on the current state of pharmacy tech and automation.
DSN: What is the biggest challenge facing your customers and what are the solutions that you offer to help them meet this challenge?
Tony Steiner, VP, programs and solutions, Cardinal Health: As pharmacists work to transform their businesses and demon-
strate their resilience amidst rapid change in the industry, they often seek guidance on how to balance the need to drive operational efficiency and alleviate financial pressures, all while maintaining personalized patient care.
We are helping to address these challenges by integrating smarter technology into our solutions. These tools streamline workflows, reduce manual errors and optimize inventory management, allowing pharmacists to focus more on patient care and clinical guidance. Our teams are using artificial intelligence to uncover opportunities for operational improvement to help customers deliver better health outcomes and strengthen patient relationships.
Darin Gleason, sales director, U.S. chain and retail, ScriptPro: The biggest challenge facing retail pharmacies today is profitability. Profitability is impacted by many different factors such as lower reimbursements from insurance companies, pressure from Pharmacy Benefit Managers taking a larger share, rising labor costs at unsustainable rates and the overall cost of medications incurred by the pharmacy to dispense prescriptions.
ScriptPro’s portfolio of operational, financial and clinical solutions is designed to help maximize margins and efficiencies. For example, ScriptPro’s automation helps pharmacies produce more prescription volume without adding to labor costs. It also allows staff to be reallocated to more profit-driven services such
Jim Matthews
Doug Hart
Darin Gleason
Scott Pearson
Matt Wigdahl
Tony Steiner
as vaccinations, point-of-care testing and medication synchronization projects. For less than the hourly cost of one technician, ScriptPro can fill 40% to 60% of the pharmacy’s daily prescription volume, delivering measurable efficiencies and greater flexibility. We can’t add hours to the day, but ScriptPro’s automation helps pharmacies make the most of the time they have to deliver the best patient care possible.
Scott Pearson, VP and general manager, strategy and innovation, McKesson: Across all pharmacy types, from independent pharmacies to large chains to health systems, our customers’ ability to focus on patient care is being impacted by the time it takes to manage financial, staffing and regulatory pressures. At McKesson, we help customers refocus on patient care by delivering smart solutions that simplify workflows and cut down on administrative tasks. In pharmacy, every second matters—those seconds add up across thousands of prescriptions. Whether it’s forecasting demand with supply chain intelligence or automating patient and prescription intake, our technologies are built to save time and redirect it to where it matters most: the patient.
Jim Matthews, COO, Advanced Pharmacy Solutions: Behind every high-performing healthcare setting is a pharmacist ensuring the accuracy, safety and compliance of every medication a patient receives. Despite serving as the epicenter of medication management, pharmacists continue to face the mounting pressures of rising demands, staffing shortages, complex treatment plans and the constant risk of burnout. This reality too often prevents pharmacists from practicing at the top of their licenses and delivering the full depth of care they are trained to provide. Our purpose is clear: to create advanced pharmacy solutions to break these barriers and allow pharmacists to maximize their potential and ultimately, elevate patient care to its safest, highest standard. To deliver on this mission, APS created an ecosystem of three intelligent, auto-
mated dispensing systems—the APS 250, APS Vault and APS mini—that streamline pharmacy operations. With a 99.999% accuracy rate in storing, organizing, dispensing and labeling medications, APS eliminates time-consuming tasks, reduces medication errors and ensures compliance. This support empowers pharmacists to apply their knowledge where it makes the greatest impact and focus on providing patients with the level of care they need and deserve.
Brian Sullivan, principal, pharmacy solutions, North America, Knapp: Today’s pharmacy landscape is marked by increasing financial pressure and operational complexity. One of the most pressing challenges our customers face is inadequate reimbursement for prescription fulfillment, which makes it difficult to sustain efficient operations.
Knapp addresses this by removing manual touches and associated costs from the fulfillment process. Our centralized pharmacy automation solutions offer more checks and verifications than any other automated system on the market, significantly reducing staffing needs and lowering the cost per script.
Additionally, while pharmacists are licensed to perform a wide range of clinical services, many of these services are not yet reimbursed. As our customers advocate for expanded scope of practice, Knapp supports them by streamlining low-value tasks, freeing up time and space for pharmacists to focus on higher-value clinical activities in both stores and clinics.
What does AI mean for your business and customers?
Steiner: AI empowers our teams to quickly analyze evolving patient needs and anticipate industry trends, which helps us deliver solutions that support pharmacies in adapting real-time and providing more impactful care.
We’re investing in AI capabilities to build smarter, data-driven solutions that predict medication needs, proactively identify potential patient risks and improve op-
erational workflows. These AI-driven services are already helping pharmacies make more informed decisions. For example, our Inventory Optimization Solution uses AI to provide real-time inventory tracking, data-driven insights, purchasing recommendations and compliance support to help pharmacies reduce waste, prevent shortages and improve cash flow.
Matt Wigdahl, VP, software technology, ScriptPro: ScriptPro is committed to the thoughtful use of cutting-edge AI technologies to improve our internal processes and deliver more advanced software features that help pharmacists care for their patients.
We are integrating AI into the pharmacy workflow to help improve patient safety. Our new AI-enabled dose-range check feature–a component of our comprehensive drug utilization review process–assists pharmacists in determining the correct dosage for prescriptions received through interfaces that don’t support explicit dosing details. At the same time, the pharmacist remains fully in control, consistent with ScriptPro’s principle that AI in our software should assist and augment the user, not replace a pharmacist’s expert human clinical judgment.
We recognize that AI poses serious and justified concerns about personal information being submitted to AI services. Neither our internal nor product uses of AI tools make use of protected health information or personally identifiable information from prescriptions or patients, ensuring complete patient privacy.
Pearson: AI is not just another tool in the pharmacy toolkit—it’s a transformative force that reimagines how work gets done. AI is reshaping the healthcare landscape, moving beyond simple efficiency tools to become a foundational technology that empowers entire systems. For McKesson and its customers, AI means rethinking every process—from helping speed up solution delivery to anticipating customer needs and fully automating routine tasks. The goal is to allow our customers to concentrate on truly value-added services.
mission: zero touch
Reinvent Pharmacy
Less Complexity. More Time. Transform pharmacy by automating virtually every aspect of prescription filling and pickup.
Matthews: The value of artificial intelligence—for both our team and our customers—lies in its analytical power. For example, the APS 250 leverages sophisticated AI-driven software to track inventory, dispense medications and guarantee every patient receives the correct dosage— accurately packaged in a personalized envelope. AI also enables smarter inventory management, allowing us to predict medication usage trends so facilities can maintain the right stock without over-ordering or running out of medications.
The APS 250 captures this data on medication usage, adherence and trends. With AI, this information is generated into actionable insights for care teams, enabling them to make informed decisions, which improves patient outcomes while streamlining workflows.
AI also reduces the time spent on repetitive tasks and makes space for personalized care. For patients, it ensures safety, consistency and peace of mind, knowing their medications are handled with accuracy every time.
Sullivan: AI is rapidly transforming our business and the pharmacy industry at large. Knapp has long been a pioneer in AI integration, with innovations like the Pick-It-Easy Robot leading the way. Today, we’re collaborating closely with our customers to expand AI-driven automation across more pharmacy tasks— many of which previously required human intervention. This evolution is happening fast, and the roadmap for AI in pharmacy grows weekly.
In just a few years, both retail and central fill pharmacies will look and operate very differently. The transformation will
be remarkable, with AI playing a central role in enhancing efficiency, accuracy and patient care.
DSN: What new investments has your company made to help retailers be more efficient?
Steiner: As a trusted partner to our pharmacy customers, we’ve made significant investments in our technologies and solutions to enhance service levels and improve the overall customer experience.
A recent key investment is our new Vantus HQ ordering platform, a central hub tailored to each pharmacy’s needs. It improves workflow by allowing staff to reorder across devices more efficiently. The platform also includes substitution logic to simplify product selection, saving pharmacy staff valuable time that can be dedicated to patient care.
Doug Hart, VP, marketing, ScriptPro: We continue to make investments in robotics hardware and software to strengthen retail pharmacy operations. Each update is designed to increase efficiency, reduce labor strain and create measurable financial improvements, so pharmacies can devote more time to patient-centered services.
shows this is a top priority for streamlining workflows, and we’re moving fast to help pharmacy teams spend more time with patients—reflecting our commitment to listening, innovating and delivering smarter solutions that let customers focus on what matters most.
Matthews: Since its inception, Advanced Pharmacy Solutions has woven efficiency into the fabric of its foundation—and it started with our technology and user interface. Over time, we have made specific improvements to refine and elevate our equipment, software and connectivity.
One example is our addition of patient data bar codes to medication envelopes. We’ve also implemented the use of RFID to ensure accurate refilling of all APS systems, as well as upgraded our custom software interfaces to be compatible with all pharmacy operating systems.
Our goal is to increase patient safety and reduce burn out, which starts with ensuring we create not just easy access to medication, but easy access to the technology that makes this possible.
Technology providers have introduced innovative solutions designed to ease operational strain, streamline workflows and return pharmacists’ focus to patients.”
Pearson: At McKesson, we’ve made substantial, targeted investments to support retailers in their quest for efficiency. These investments include establishing a dedicated internal Center of Excellence team that works closely with customers to understand their challenges, track industry trends and develop potential solutions. To that end, we’ve also launched an organization called MomentimRx, which serves as the innovation incubator, bringing those ideas to fruition with the speed and agility of a start-up. But this doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Instead, it happens in partnership with our customers, who provide regular feedback and guidance as solutions evolve.
Sullivan: Knapp invests 6% to 7% of annual revenue, over $120 million annually, into research and development, ensuring we remain at the forefront of pharmacy technology.
Recent innovations include:
• Automated Tablet Dispensers – Now in its 5th generation, offering easier maintenance and calibration.
• Knapp Medication Dispensers – 3rd generation with enhanced modularity and flexible design.
• Pharmacy Execution System – Latest version provides deeper inventory insights and improved maintenance visualization.
These and many other systems are driving greater accuracy, throughput and ease of use across our pharmacy installations. “
Another key area we’re advancing is the integration of our pharmacy and inventory management platforms. Research
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What’s the state of generics?
Amid a barrage of challenges, the generics industry has continued to innovate
By Sandra Levy
Generic and biosimilar medicines created $467 billion in savings for patients and the overall healthcare system in 2024, according to The Association for Accessible Medicines’ 2024 U.S. Generic & Biosimilar Medicines Saving Report.
The report also noted that generics and biosimilars have saved more than $3.4 trillion in the last decade.
Despite the impressive savings, AAM president and CEO John Murphy III cautioned that generics and biosimilars are the only sector that consistently results in decreased spending across the U.S. healthcare ecosystem, but little is being done to infuse sustainability into the generic and biosimilar marketplace.
“The significant price deflation of the last 30 years can lead to unsustainable market conditions for generic drug manufacturers, dangerously impacting patient care and increasing the likelihood of shortages or even drugs leaving the market,” Murphy said. “Policymakers must streamline FDA processes, curb patent abuse and stop PBMs and Medicare policies from denying patient access and rollback harmful federal policies—including IRA price controls.”
Indeed, the generics industry faces myriad challenges, including the need to ensure a consistent supply of critical products,
pressure on margins, deflation and the effect of potential tariffs. To open a window on what the generics industry is facing and how it is committed to sprinting ahead, DSN called upon executives from generics firms to share their views on the state of the industry. Their answers reveal the perseverance and dedication of the industry and its ability to leave no stone unturned to serve their customers and patients.
One of the greatest challenges facing our industry today is ensuring consistent access to high-quality, affordable medicines amid rising costs, complex supply chains and evolving regulatory requirements. At Amneal, we’re addressing this head-on by expanding U.S. manufacturing, advancing our complex generics, injectables and biosimilars portfolios, and working closely with our customers to provide value and reliability. In 2025–26, our focus remains on helping patients by making essential therapies more affordable and accessible.
Paul McMahon Aurobindo Pharma
Stephen Beckman Yaral Pharma
John Dillaway Ascend Laboratories
Kristy Ronco Hikma Pharmaceuticals
Andy Boyer Amneal Pharmaceuticals
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Ascend Laboratories
John Dillaway, executive vice president
Ascend’s biggest concern is one that umbrellas into several, and that is the continuing disparity between the number of manufacturers in any given molecule and the number of available customers in which to place these.
This one issue morphs into concerns over both the shrinking number of pharmacies in our industry’s landscape and the consolidation of the remaining ones into larger groups, limiting the overall availability of buying slots for manufacturers. As this rolls out it also is a direct cause of deflation as companies battle for fewer numbers of slots; and it has caused companies late to market or those that missed out on an initial slot to further the deflationary impact. The irony here is rarely does this action gain a position as those who have them just meet any offered price making the only impact further deflation. It’s an unhealthy situation that I don’t see ending anytime soon.
Without any cure all, Ascend is doing its best to behave responsibly on both sides of this issue. As margins get squeezed some molecules may become casualties which may ultimately lead to industry shortages.
Ascend is making every effort to stay in important long term maintenance medications even as these move toward negative margins as we believe we have a social responsibility to ensure the market does not run short on these.
Aurobindo Pharma
Paul McMahon president, oral solids division, APUSA
One of the many challenges facing the generic industry includes fierce market saturation, which leaves little room for market entry. Products are often so commoditized it makes differentiation challenging. Additionally, our organization will be engaging in further consolidation, introducing operational and cultural
The significant price deflation of the last 30 years can lead to unsustainable market conditions for generic drug manufacturers, dangerously impacting patient care and increasing the likelihood of shortages or even drugs leaving the market.”
— AAM president and CEO John Murphy III
integration challenges, as we work toward the acquisition of Lannett.
Aurobindo has been able to leverage a strong vertically integrated supply chain where there is less reliance from CMOs and external suppliers to continue manufacturing and supplying our products. Aurobindo is uniquely positioned to manage supply chain risk by controlling all major aspects of the pharmaceutical supply chain. A common noticeable theme would be for the American public to have a greater appreciation for the generic industry at large. The critical work we do in collectively producing nearly 90% of the nation’s drug supply, saving, sustaining and improving the lives of tens of millions of Americans, and more often than not, for just pennies per pill. The generic industry should be heralded for what it accomplishes and looked to as a clear and critical part of the solution for our nation’s healthcare system.
Aurobindo remains focused on strengthening our existing businesses and developing a differentiated and specialty-driven product portfolio. In fiscal year 2025, Aurobindo received final approvals for 31 Abbreviated New Drug Applications. In addition, the company successfully launched and relaunched 36 products. Some products recently launched include albuterol inhalation solution as well as oncology products such as pazopanib tablets, sunitinib malate capsules and dasatinib tablets, which has helped expand our portfolio of specialty products. Aurobindo Pharma looks forward to launching many more products in the coming months, as the company continues to expand its portfolio with over 130 pending approvals. This brings us to over 830 Food and Drug Administrationapproved ANDAs to date.
In order to keep pace with demand and continue to set itself apart, it is critical for
“Aurobindo Pharma looks forward to launching many more products in the coming months, as the company continues to expand its portfolio with over 130 pending approvals. This brings us to over 830 Food and Drug Administrationapproved ANDAs to date.”
— Paul McMahon president, oral solids division, APUSA, Aurobindo Pharma
and quality. In order to manage the sustained growth, Aurobindo is building a 170,000 square foot warehouse. This project represents Aurobindo’s third facility on their East Windsor campus. The facility is built to support long-term innovation and growth, from energy-efficient systems to future-ready infrastructure.
Additionally, Aurobindo is very pleased to announce the proposed acquisition of Lannett. Aurobindo anticipates closing the acquisition towards the middle of calendar 2026, subject to regulatory approval. Aurobindo currently has limited exposure in the ADHD therapeutics space, and this acquisition offers strategic diversification into a high-value segment. This acquisition is aligned with Aurobindo’s strategy to expand its U.S. manufacturing footprint and enhance its presence in the domestic market. The deal gives Aurobindo access to a complementary product portfolio,
expansion. The company continues to grow and stay on a sustainable path, successfully delivering billions of doses of medicine every month to its customers and patients in the United States and over 150 countries around the globe.
Hikma Pharmaceuticals
Kristy Ronco, chief commercial officer, Hikma Rx
Hikma is one of the nation’s largest manufacturers and suppliers of generic and specialty medicines, with a large and growing portfolio of more than 800 products across dosage forms, strengths and therapeutic areas.
We believe we have what our customers want and need – a broad portfolio of essential medicines, reliable supply, an excellent product quality record, strong U.S.-based manufacturing and distribution
$1 billion by 2030 to further expand Hikma’s U.S. manufacturing and R&D capabilities. Hikma has operated in the United States since 1991 and has spent more than $4 billion over the past 15 years to build, enhance and expand its U.S.based R&D and manufacturing capabilities and now has annual domestic capacity to produce more than 12 billion finished doses of essential medicines.
These facilities include our best-in-class plant in Columbus, Ohio, where we develop and produce generic solid oral, nasal and inhalation medications. Our Cherry Hill, N.J., facility serves as our U.S. injectables manufacturing hub. We also have an injectables R&D center and manufacturing site in Bedford, Ohio, and an injectables compounding facility in Dayton, N.J.
Supply disruptions remain an ongoing challenge in the generics space. However, Hikma remains committed to ensuring
continued patient access to our critical medicines through our strong U.S. presence and dedicated team.
The potential for tariffs on pharmaceutical products raises new risks of product shortages and higher patient costs. Generics manufacturers have limited capacity to absorb the full financial impact of tariffs, but Hikma has an advantage here with our large network of U.S. manufacturing plants. In fact, more than 70% of our U.S. revenue is generated by medicines we produce domestically.
Hikma plays a crucial role in serving the needs of U.S. patients and providers. For example, we are the largest domestic manufacturer of generic Flonase, providing relief to millions suffering from seasonal allergies. We also produce generic Advair, an important treatment for COPD and asthma. And we produce Kloxxado, a lifesaving naloxone spray, which is an important treatment in the opioid overdose epidemic.
We have become even more proactive in obtaining customer feedback to drive our business development, R&D and product selection processes. We want to ensure that our focus aligns with the market’s most critical needs, and we are working strategically with our customers to initiate development in these areas.
Our purpose at Hikma is to put better health within reach every day for millions of patients nationwide, and we will continue to expand our positive impact through our commitment and ongoing investments.
Yaral Pharma
Stephen Beckman, CEO
One of the biggest challenges in the generic pharmaceutical industry is balancing access with the right price, quality and reliability. Too often, generics are viewed as commodities, which can lead to issues like supply shortages, inconsistent
quality and pricing pressures that don’t ultimately serve patients. Our responsibility as an industry is to ensure that while we provide affordable medicines, we never compromise on the standards that patients and healthcare providers rely on given that more than 90% of all prescriptions are filled with a generic.
Yaral Pharma’s focus is on building a portfolio of products that consist of the ‘right marbles, not the most marbles.’ We will continue to invest in complex generics and advanced delivery platforms that are designed to meet the unique needs of underserved patient populations that can be overlooked in the generics space.
For example, through our PEARLtec and other cutting-edge delivery systems, including orally dissolving film technology and topical patches, we are not only enhancing drug delivery technology but also improving the patient outcome and experience.
We’re also expanding how we reach patients—especially through independent pharmacists, who are trusted healthcare resources in their communities. By building a portfolio around innovation, value and real-world needs, we can help ensure that patients have access to reliable, high-quality medicines, while supporting a more sustainable generics market for the future.
If you are searching for a reliable supplier on top of all today’s important issues, look no further than Ascend Laboratories.
Opportunity Knocks
Pharmacies are in a prime position to educate consumers about diabetes and its management
By Kathie Canning
According to the American Diabetes Association, 38.4 million U.S. adults had diabetes—primarily type 2—as of 2021, with 8.7 million of those cases undiagnosed. Moreover, approximately 98 million American adults had prediabetes as of 2024, but more than 8 in 10 of them were unaware, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported.
Education is key not only to helping consumers manage their condition, but also to encouraging undiagnosed consumers to seek testing. And pharmacies are in prime position to be a key part of that education.
Help Them Cope
Initiatives to educate consumers already diagnosed with diabetes need not be complicated.
“Efforts to educate patients can be as simple as stocking and distributing educational materials about diabetes in-store,” suggested Tim Cernohous, senior vice president of community retail and long-term care pharmacy for Cencora, “or engaging in meaningful conversations with patients during medication pickups and providing personal advice and information related to diabetes management.”
“Studies show that the fear of needles is a leading barrier to adherence for injectable therapies.”
— Jeff Miglicco, CEO, PureWay Compliance.
Pharmacies also could use their apps and web sites to share educational videos, informative articles and even diabetes-specific medication reminders, said Nathan Patton, vice president of marketing, near patient care, for Roche Diagnostics. Moreover, the inclusion of gamification elements such as progress tracking, rewards and/or interactive challenges could enhance consumer engagement.
“For example, users could earn points for logging blood glucose levels, completing educational modules or refilling prescriptions on time,” he noted, “which can then be redeemed for discounts or rewards, creating a sense of achievement while promoting healthy behaviors.”
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When it comes to educational videos and materials, pharmacies might want to emphasize visual appeal and accessibility, however.
“Short how-to videos or simple stepby-step signage at the pharmacy counter can make complex routines feel more manageable,” explained Sarah Hanssen, vice president, sales and marketing for UltiMed Inc. “When education is easy to understand and right at the point of care, it helps customers feel confident and build trust in the pharmacy as their go-to partner.”
In addition, pharmacies could include QR codes on in-store education materials tied to topics such as healthy eating, blood glucose monitoring, medication adherence and more, Patton said.
And pharmacists could provide “tailored terminal messaging” at checkout when diabetes-specific devices and medications are involved.
“It’s a great time to remind consumers about local and national diabetes-related resources and manufacturer-sponsored education programs,” he pointed out.
Manufacturers/suppliers often can help in the education process. Team members with Allison Medical, for example, first send out communications via internal channels to independent-pharmacy or pharmacy-chain customers, said Brandon Faber, director of sales. “We then follow up with a personal sales call at the pharmacy to educate them in person about the manufacturing process, quality and profitability of our products,” he said.
And via its mySugr diabetes-management app, Roche Diagnostics helps “empower pharmacists to provide more effective counseling and support” for patients with
“Short how-to videos or simple step-by-step signage at the pharmacy counter can make complex routines feel more manageable.”
—
Sarah Hanssen, vice president, sales and marketing, UltiMed Inc.
diabetes, Patton noted. It acts as a “digital logbook” for data-rich activities, such as meals, blood glucose readings, insulin doses and more.
“It offers features like automated data synching from connected devices like Accu-Chek meters, clear data visualization through graphics and reports, personalized dashboards and a Diabetes Management Indicator,” he explained. “The app also features a bolus calculator for insulin dosing recommendations and enables users to securely share their data with health care professionals for improved diabetes management.”
Tackle ‘Needle Phobia’
When it comes to diabetes-management education, pharmacies also might want to give extra attention to the insulininjection process—an anxiety-provoker for numerous consumers.
“For many, the challenge with diabetes management isn’t the medication itself,” explained Jeff Miglicco, CEO of PureWay Compliance. “It’s what surrounds it:
confusion, stigma and, for many, a very real needle phobia. In fact, studies show that the fear of needles is a leading barrier to adherence for injectable therapies.”
Pharmacies could help here by embedding uncomplicated educational tools such as step-by-step guides, pharmacist walkthroughs and more into the point of care, he stressed. They also could integrate injection-related education into an app. Filling an injectable prescription, for example, would trigger a push notification tied to a short video that outlines how to administer the medication and return used needles.
Patricia Gaillard, marketing director, diabetes care for HTL-Strefa Inc. (an MTD Group company), agreed with the need for clear, patient-friendly injection-related education. She said her company has seen retailers find success by integrating pharmacy team information with digital resources and in-store signage.
“For example, some regional pharmacy chains have implemented counseling points on injection comfort and safety during
Micron Droplet Pen Needles 3.5 mm
Simpli Micro pen needles 4 mm
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Look What’s New
Education is critical to diabetes management, but product advances certainly help, too. One such advance is the Droplet Micron from HTL-Strefa.
According to Patricia Gaillard, the company’s marketing director, it is the shortest and thinnest pen needle on the market. Designed to make injections “virtually painless,” it was preferred in a recent clinical study (involving more than 100 patients with diabetes) because it hurts less, the company claimed.
Another new product is the Simpli pen needle from UltiMed Inc. Sarah Hanssen, vice president, sales and marketing, explained that it is a “cash-friendly overthe-counter option” for consumers needing insulin injections. It retails in a 90-count box and allows pharmacies to offer an option that’s affordable outside of insurance.
Roche Diagnostics also had affordability in mind with the recent introduction of lowercost OTC test strips and meters. They offer greater accessibility for cash-paying consumers, noted Nathan Patton, vice president of marketing, near patient care.
medication pickup,” she said. “When pharmacists proactively explain how choosing the right needle size can improve adherence, patients feel more supported and confident.”
As part of its work with a national retailer that texts prescription-pickup reminders to patients with diabetes, HTL-Strefa provides an educational video outlining the best injection techniques, Gaillard added. “This simple but effective approach not only reinforces good habits, such as avoiding needle reuse, but also reaches patients at exactly the right moment,” she pointed out.
Hanssen said UltiMed developed easyto-use tools for its products—including an instructional video and step-by-step use and disposal guides for its UltiGuard Safe Pack, an all-in-one pen needle and sharps container—that pharmacists may share with customers. She noted that Publix cobranded the UltiGuard Safe Pack to make sharps disposal readily available in its pharmacies.
“By pairing access to a premium product with education about safe disposal, they not only supported their customers’ health and safety but also reinforced their role as a trusted community partner,” she said.
Reach the Undiagnosed Pharmacies could play a critical role in educating consumers with undiagnosed diabetes or prediabetes. But timing is critical here, said Miglicco. “Catching diabetes early can mean the difference between a manageable lifestyle shift and lifelong complications,” he stressed. Many pharmacies already offer basic screenings, but they could do more to spur
“awareness and action,” Miglicco said. For example, they could invest in digital tools such as risk assessments on company websites or mobile apps. And to “start the right conversation,” they could install a sign near the in-store blood pressure monitors or over-the-counter glucose meters asking: “Are you at risk for type 2 diabetes?”
Education also should “go beyond numbers and into practical advice” by outlining the importance of early detection/management, key signs to look for, relevant blood-glucose monitor testing, helpful lifestyle adjustments and more, Gaillard said.
Partnerships with diabetes educators spell opportunity, too.
“Partnering with local public health departments and credible national organizations such as the American Diabetes Association has the potential to increase awareness of diabetes prevalence and provide options for screening, education and support,” Patton noted.
Katherine Wiechnicki, a registered nurse and certified diabetes care and education specialist with Diabetes and Nutrition Partners LLC, gives kudos to H-E-B Pharmacy in central Texas for hosting monthly health screenings that include free blood glucose screenings. But she said those efforts could be enhanced via partnerships with local diabetes educators able to speak with consumers about diabetes management.
“Pairing screening events with education from local partnerships could be a collaborative and cost-effective way to reach people at risk for diabetes,” she said. Health fairs, too, present an opportunity. Cernohous said a growing number of Cencora pharmacy customers are hosting such fairs to provide point-of-care testing and screening services, often including student pharmacists in screenings for prediabetes and other chronic conditions.
“Fall is an opportune time of year to offer these clinics/health fairs, as the pharmacies can also provide vaccine services at the same time,” he added.
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Sweet, Savory and E ve rything in Between
Bold flavors and innovative shapes, sizes and textures are boosting candy sales
By Debby Garbato
The American food and beverage palette has undergone dramatic changes since the dawn of the 21st century. Driven by Asian and Hispanic influences, a worldwide economy and a digital information network spanning the globe, consumers’ taste buds are craving more variety in everything from entrees and snacks to desserts and alcoholic beverages.
Candy is no exception. While old stand-bys are still popular, they have been joined by hot and spicy flavors, super sour ones and formulations involving fruits like mango, lychee and guava.
Shapes and textures are seeing innovation, with bite size pieces and candies shaped like mini fruits and vegetables trending, particularly among millennials and Gen Z.
According to the National Confectioners Association’s “2025 State of Treating” report, confectionary retail sales hit a recordbreaking $54 billion in 2024, with more than 11% of sales driven by innovation. By 2029, sales are expected to reach $70 billion.
“This trend is driven by Gen Z and millennials who report loving exploration of all things sour, flavor mashups, different textures and flavor experiences,” said Carly Schildhaus, director of public affairs and communications, National Confectioners Association. “While consumers are concerned about grocery prices, they leave room in their budgets for candy. More than half see confectionary as an affordable treat.”
Gen Z and millennials report loving the exploration of all things sour, flavor mashups, different textures and flavor experiences
Skittles Pop’d Mars
Gen Z is a valuable customer. Nielsen projects spending power of $12 trillion by 2030, making this the wealthiest generation ever. “Gen Z is shaping consumer preferences, driving rising demand for bold flavors and snacking experiences,” said Mike Gilroy, VP, trade development and sponsorship, Mars Wrigley.
Mars’ Skittles Pop’d leverages the freezedried candy trend, bringing a crunchy twist to the iconic fruity treat, he added. Mars also launched Skittles Gummy Fuego, which combines sweet and spicy flavors (“swicy”), and Twix Snickerdoodle, which tastes like a cinnamon sugar cookie. “Innovating new ways to experience core products is a key piece of our innovation strategy,” said Gilroy.
BEYOND GEN Z
Vivek Mehrotra, Hershey’s senior manager, sweets and refreshment, said the demand for innovation goes beyond young adults. “The profile is evolving, with a surge in demand for bold flavors and dynamic textures across all age groups. Shoppers ages 13 to 18 are particularly influential. However, the appetite for novelty isn’t exclusive to younger audiences.”
Mehrotra predicted the industry will push innovation further. “Expect brands to push boundaries by introducing even more imaginative flavors. Consumer demand is driving experimentation with flavors like mango, lychee, guava and spicy varieties. Bold flavors are set to become prominent.”
Hershey is offering bite-sized versions of Twizzlers, which “tap into consumers’ desire for convenience and novelty,” said Mehrotra. On the pop culture side, it entered a licensing partnership with basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal for Shaq-A-Licious XL Gummies. The oversized candies “truly reflect his largerthan-life personality,” he added.
Mondelez International is putting a new twist on an old favorite with Sour Patch Kids Strips. Featuring five fan-favorite flavors—lemon, lime, orange, red berry and blue raspberry—the fruity strips deliver the brand’s familiar taste in a chewy, ribbon-style format suitable for tearing, twisting or sharing. Sour Patch
Kids Strips became available at Target nationwide in September.
“We’re always listening to fans— particularly within Gen Z—and seeking new ways to evolve and amplify their experience,” said Lauren McDonough, senior director of candy, Mondelez. “We delivered a fresh take on the beloved candy format that’s fun to eat.”
This past summer, Mondelez partnered with Prime video series “The Summer I Turned Pretty” with licensed Team Conrad and Team Jeremiah packs and watch party-sized packages of Sour Patch Kids. “Pop culture is a huge influence, now more than ever,” McDonough added. “It’s where our Gen Z fans discover new trends and form connections with brands. The show resonates deeply with our core audience.”
Another launch, Sour Patch Kids Glow Ups, combines popular flavors of strawberry and watermelon with edible confetti that glows under a black light. The glow comes from turmeric extract, which does not impact gummies’ taste.
“We take flavors fans already love and create experiences they’ve never had before,” said McDonough.
SmartLife Chocolate is tapping into two health trends that have made big inroads in food, beverages and supplements. The company claims its Antioxidant Intense Chocolate incorporates inflammationhealing, free-radical fighting antioxidants, and its Probiotic Intense Chocolate contains more than 1 billion gut-healing, immune system charging, good bacteria.
“It’s more of a functional food,” said Barry Gasaway, president and founder.
“In addition to bolder flavors, consumers are looking for healthier options—sugar free, lower sugar or lower in calories. And there’s a big movement towards plantbased foods. Obviously, chocolate is plant-based. Chocolate is the best delivery system for live probiotics.” Products are more suitable for a wellness section than for a candy aisle, he added.
The premium dark chocolate “isn’t bitter,” said Gasaway, and includes a cherry version. Each piece contains 70 calories and 4 g of sugar. Products have been offered by Walgreens and Giant Eagle. They are supported by a 60-second TV commercial and a website.
Shaq-A-Licious XL Gummies Hershey
Twix Snickerdoodle Mars
Gen Alpha’s Growing Impact
It’s important for retailers to get a better handle on this young generation’s unique attributes and evolving behaviors
Haven’t we been through this before?
That’s what I said in my 2018 DSN column focusing on the importance of the emerging generation at that time—Gen Z. I wrote, “The good news is that retailers have finally made progress in figuring out millennials. However, just as retailers are cracking the code, a new generation is emerging that will ensure a steady supply of disruption.”
Now, jump ahead seven years and we’re going through this again. Gen Z has indeed shaken up retail with its buying and shopping behaviors, and they are just getting started. But a new generation, Gen Alpha, is ready to make its own mark. I want to showcase this cohort, primarily the children of millennials, who mostly fall under the radar of retail at this point. It’s time to give this group more attention. This generation is defined as those born between 2010 and 2024, which means the oldest members are about 15 years old . Many of these children have their own money, generated from chores and allowances. This generation so far has eclipsed $100 billion in annual spending power, according to new research from DKC Analytics.
For now, most of Gen Alpha’s sway rests on influencing their parents’ spending, but it will be the next group of major retail spenders in a few years. It’s crucial for grocery and drug store retailers to get a better handle now on these consumers’ unique attributes and evolving behaviors.
Here are some ways this group stands out so far:
• Seamless Buying: This generation’s shopping habits underscore its comfort
By David Orgel
with seamlessly buying across platforms, from in-store to online, and using interactive technologies such as augmented reality and virtual reality, according to Mintel.
• Foodie Tendencies: About a third of these consumers enjoy trying new foods, especially those inspired by global flavors, as outlined in a recent Beano Brain report.
• Social Media Influence: Gen Alpha is a big fan of YouTube and is influenced by branded food content that appears within videos on the platform, according to a Food Institute content piece. Moreover, Numerator found that a large share of Gen Alpha checks out SnapChat at least once a day.
• Beauty Products: Gen Alpha is known for its interest in beauty products such as skincare and cosmetics. This cohort is already making waves in the beauty industry, points out Mintel.
How can retailers and brands build engagement with these young consumers in
David Orgel is an awardwinning business journalist, industry expert and speaker. He is currently the principal of David Orgel Consulting.
ways that also support their millennial parents? They can start by focusing on aspects we know are already important to Gen Alpha.
Retailers can offer seamless experiences across platforms, especially focusing on mobile-first strategies. They can foster food creativity through easy-to-prepare or assemble meals that engage both the kids and their parents. Brands can explore how to best interact with this generation via YouTube, Snapchat and other favored social media platforms. The beauty industry can help responsibly guide this young generation, avoiding appearance-centric messaging to promote healthy skin habits, a point Mintel makes.
We are in the early days of observing Gen Alpha, and there will be lots more to explore. I will close this piece in a similar way as I did the earlier column on Gen Z, because my final point from back then is still relevant. I’ll substitute Gen Alpha for Gen Z:
One thing members of Gen Alpha won’t be doing is reading this column. They are too young to be reading the business media. However, retailers are reading and, hopefully, starting to think about these opportunities.
