Industry News

Silk is looking to deliver the signature texture of traditional Greek yogurt, but with a plant-based twist, to its yogurt line with its new Greek Style Coconutmilk Yogurt Alternative. The Broomfield, Colo.-based company has rolled out the dairy-free yogurt with 10 g of plant-based protein, live and active cultures, and no artificial sweeteners, the company said.

“Seventy percent of plant-based beverage buyers are not yet buying plant-based yogurt alternatives,” said Lia Stierwalt, senior director of marketing at Silk plant-based yogurt alternatives. “We saw an incredible opportunity to appeal to those who are already familiar with a plant-based lifestyle, as well as those who love Greek-style yogurt. Silk is already a plant-based yogurt aisle favorite, and now we are tackling the elusive Greek-style category head-on. As part of our product innovation process, we tested Silk Greek with many consumers. We are confident that we’re delivering a fantastic tasting, high-protein, plant-based yogurt alternative.”

Available in four flavors — vanilla, strawberry, lemon and blueberry — the certified vegan plant-based yogurt alternative is available for the suggested retail price of $1.99.

CandyRific and M&M’s are working together to make movie nights at home a little sweeter. Together, the companies joined forces to create four seasonal Movie Night Snack Kits, which contain M&M’s milk chocolate theater box candy, M&M’s peanut chocolate theater box candy and three bags of gourmet popping corn.

Available in Halloween-, Christmas-, Valentine’s Day- and Easter-themed buckets, each snack kit comes in a six-count case with a tray for the six buckets to sit on, the company said.

Each Movie Night Snack Kit will retail for $10.99 each.

After a decade of being absent, Creme Savers are making their return.

To make this comeback a reality, Mars Wrigley and Iconic Candy worked together to bring back the sought-after confections by reformulating their original flavor profiles and remastering the blends.

As part of its initial reintroduction, Creme Savers will be available in two flavors — strawberries and creme, and orange and creme — both in the original peg bag and roll formats, the company said.

Consumers can expect to find Creme Savers candies at 1,414 Big Lots stores across 47 states in mid-September.

Cystex is going pro — probiotic.

New from the Chattanooga, Tenn.-based company is Cystex Ultra Protection, which contains a probiotic formula that’s meant to manage recurrent urinary tract infections and maintain urinary tract health.

Key ingredients found in the product include probiotics, 36 mg PACs of cranberry extract, vitamin A and bio-shield technology, which protects cranberry PCAs from stomach acid, the company said.

“Cystex Ultra Protection is the first product of its kind. My patients who have long suffered from recurrent UTIs will be happy to be able to proactively prevent them in the future,” said Dr. Yvonne Bohn, an OB/GYN and Cystex’s chief medical correspondent. “For my patients to be able to think less about recurrent UTIs and more about their general health, this product will give them a peace of mind many have been longing for.”

Currently, Cystex Ultra Protection is available for purchase at CVS Pharmacy and independent pharmacies, as well as on Amazon.com.

Baby Dove is rolling out a new range of need-specific skin and hair products.

The brand’s hypoallergenic Melanin-Rich Skin and Curl Nourishment collection is designed specifically for babies and infants with melanin-rich skin, as well as coils, curls and waves.

Made with ingredients that include coconut oil, almond oil, calendula, chamomile and oatmeal, the Baby Dove MelaninRich Skin Nourishment collection features a hypoallergenic wash, cream and soothing baby oil to help skin retain moisture and prevent visible dryness.

The Baby Dove Curl Nourishment collection includes a hydrating shampoo, conditioner and caring detangler cream to help moisturize and care for coils, curls and waves, the company said.

Alongside the collection’s launch, the company is establishing the Black Birth Equity Fund, which aims to provide expecting Black mothers with financial access to doula services.

“We are proud to see the Black Birth Equity Fund become available today to Black expectant moms and birthing individuals across the country,” said Angela D. Aina, co-founding executive director at Black Mamas Matter Alliance and Baby Dove strategic advisor. “For Black and other traditionally marginalized communities, doulas have been proven to help reduce health disparities, as well as bridge language and cultural gaps between families and health providers. With notable support from global brands like Baby Dove, we will be able to raise greater awareness of Black maternal health, promote advocacy and shift culture to support reproductive justice.”

The Baby Dove Melanin-Rich Skin and Curl Nourishment collection is available at Walmart and on Walmart.com.

Pacific Shaving is adding a little color to its traditional shaving cream for a good cause.

The San Francisco-based company is rolling out its new Shave With Purpose collection, which consists of six moisturizing shaving creams for men and women. The company will donate 10% of proceeds from its sales to nonprofits that support health and social causes.

Each colored shaving cream correlates to a specific cause close to the founder’s heart, according to the company, which includes: • Green to support mental health awareness; • Yellow to support suicide prevention; • Blue to support prostate cancer research; • Pink to support breast cancer research; • Purple to support LGBTQ+ equality and inclusion; and • Red to support ALS research.

The brand will be working with specific organizations, including Mental Health America, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Prostate Cancer Foundation, Lynn Sage Breast Cancer Foundation, It Gets Better Project and Project ALS.

“Our mission has always been to develop innovative and effective grooming products with purpose. With #ShaveWithPurpose, we really love the idea of turning an everyday routine like shaving into a charitable action, and an easy way to build awareness for these important causes,” said Stan Ades, CEO and co-founder of Pacific Shaving. “If you don’t have the time to volunteer or the means to give monetarily, you can still demonstrate support and continue to keep awareness for these causes forefront in your mind each day — all before you even leave your bathroom.”

Like other Pacific Shaving products, the Shave With Purpose shaving creams are formulated with safe and quality ingredients. They are free of synthetic fragrances and are packaged in recyclable aluminum cans, the company said.

Consumers can find the Shave with Purpose collection online at Amazon.com and PacificShaving.com for the suggested retail price of $7.99 per can.

Ohnut won the Drug Store News/ECRM Buyers’ Choice Award for its Buffer sexual wellness wearable during ECRM’s Personal Care, Grooming, Oral & Travel/Trial Program held in July. Zimba was a finalist for its Coconut Teeth Whitening Strips.

The products were selected from dozens of entries submitted by participating suppliers. Buyers were able to evaluate each entry and cast their votes based on product packaging and innovation via the Drug Store News-branded Buyers' Choice Awards section of the ECRM Connect platform.

“Sexual wellness and oral care are trending categories within personal care,” said Craig Chmielowicz, ECRM senior vice president of health and beauty care. “Our Buyers’ Choice Award winners are great examples of the continued innovation within those segments. Congrats to both winners.”

Ohnut aims to uplift the conversation about sexual health as a matter of overall wellness, offering wearables focused on patient care and human connection.

Buffer, the company's flagship product, was created in collaboration with pelvic specialists to help customize penetration depth during sexual activity. For those experiencing pain when penetration goes too deep, Buffer gives couples the ability to stack one to four soft rings around a penetrating partner or device, which compress down during penetration. The rings stay outside the body and can be added or removed at any time during any position so that users can control penetration depth.

Zimba is on a mission to inspire confidence and brighten smiles with safe, effective and innovative whitening products that use clean ingredients, are cruelty-free and vegan, and do not have an expensive price tag. According to the company, its products cost 40% to 60% less than its competitors.

The company’s enamel-safe Coconut Teeth Whitening Strips are made with coconut oil to nourish teeth and gums, making them ideal for sensitive teeth. They are also nonslip, so users can apply them and go about their day. Each box contains 28 strips (14 treatments) and comes in a variety of flavors.

Promescent is bringing its sexual wellness products for individuals and couples to GNC stores nationwide.

Among the products from the Las Vegas-based company are Delay Spray, VitaFlux supplements for men and women, Warming Female Arousal Gel and Before and After cleansing wet wipes.

Founded in 2008 by Ronald Gilbert, Promescent offers an array of products designed to help reduce concerns during intimacy, as well as improve the confidence and pleasure of its users, the company said.

Previously, the brand launched its Delay Spray at Target in 2016 and at 1,100 Walmart stores as of July. GNC will be the first retailer to carry its full line of products.

“Having the opportunity to launch our full line of products in store at a retailer like GNC is an exciting milestone for the brand, and shows that there is consumer demand for quality products designed to enhance sexual performance and improve intimacy for men, women and couples,” said Jeff Abraham, CEO of Absorption Pharmaceuticals, the brand’s parent company. “We believe that sexual wellness is linked to overall health and wellness, so being able to reach a larger demographic of people who are concerned about their health is an exciting growth opportunity.”

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With the Council for Responsible Nutrition’s Now, New, Next conference slated for Oct. 20 to 22, the organization has announced the featured speakers who will address attendees on the challenges facing the supplement industry. Among them are former executives from Pfizer and Google, as well as political analysts and economists.

“It’s time for a reset,” said CRN president and CEO Steve Mister. “After nearly two years apart, the supplement community’s executives are ready to experience big ideas, bolstered by fellowship.”

Speakers include: • Suneel Gupta, an author and Harvard instructor who teaches entrepreneurial thinking, will explore how leaders manage burnout while encouraging innovation and performing at their peak; • Ginny Clarke, a former Google executive in charge of diversity and executive recruiting, who co-founded research firm Spencer Stuart’s diversity practice. Clarke will talk about how to solve the root causes of a lack of

diversity in organizations; • Ronald Brownstein, a CNN senior political analyst, senior editor at The Atlantic and contributing editor at the National Journal, will discuss consensus building in a polarized era; • Marci Rossell, formerly CNBC’s chief economist and co-host of “Squawk Box,” will examine the big shifts impacting business, including the pandemic, cyberterrorism, environmental disasters, regulatory changes and more; and • Dr. Freda Lewis-Hall, a life science leader who was Pfizer’s chief medical officer and chief patient officer, will take a look at health and nutrition disparities in the country and how the supplement industry can help.

The event is set to take place in Dana Point, Calif., at the Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel, with virtual attendance options available.

The Now, New, Next conference immediately follows CRN’s daylong Science in Session Event, which kicks off in the same location on Oct. 19. That event, which also has virtual attendance options, will see Dr. Tierona Low Dog deliver a keynote address about the micronutrient needs of women across age groups.

It will also feature presentations from experts on women’s health topics, including optimizing sleep health and weight management; supporting eye and brain health; reducing disease risk in post-menopausal women; nutrition for active, pregnant and lactating women; and sex differences in clinical trials.

Details for both events can be found at crnusa.com/2021events.

There’s a new Twix flavor in town. The Newark, N.J.based Mars Wrigley brand has unveiled Twix Salted Caramel, which combines salty and sweet flavors.

Featuring the cookie bars’ signature three layers, the product contains a crispy cookie layer, soft caramel and milk chocolate, as well as a pinch of salt for an extra kick, the company said.

“We’re thrilled to bring better moments and more smiles to fans by introducing Twix Salted Caramel, the perfect treat for those who favor cookie and sweet and salty flavor combinations,” said Michelle Deignan, Mars Wrigley senior brand director. “While Twix fans will still need to pick a side when it comes to choosing between right Twix or left Twix, they will no longer have to decide between a sweet or salty treat with Twix Salted Caramel.”

The cookie bar will be available in 1.4-oz. and 2.8-oz. sizes at select retailers in September. The product will expand its nationwide distribution in 2022.

Probiotic maker Florajen is unveiling its first product focused on skin health. The Chattanooga, Tenn.-based company is rolling out Florajen Eczema, a refrigerated medical food designed to help reduce the severity of atopic dermatitis that the company said has been shown to be effective in a clinical trial. The National Eczema Association estimates that the condition affects more than 31.6 million Americans, including 20% of children. Consumers often use topical steroids and immunosuppressants to treat eczema.

Florajen said a clinical trial showed Florajen Eczema, when taken daily, was able to improve the symptoms of redness, itchiness and inflammation. The double-blind trial saw that more than 90% of participants taking Florajen Eczema experienced clear or almost clear skin in 12 weeks, an 83% reduction in eczema severity and a 28% reduction in the number of days they used a topical steroid to treat the condition.

“So many of my patients with eczema — both adults and children — often have to rely on multiple forms of treatment to manage their symptoms of itchiness and redness, and not always options they feel good about putting on or in their bodies,” said Dr. Marisa Garshick, a New York dermatologist and a Florajen skin care specialist. “I’m thrilled that those who suffer from eczema now have a new and simplified option to turn to with Florajen Eczema. This daily probiotic has been shown to provide long-term relief while reducing symptoms and improving the overall quality of skin.”

The company noted that Florajen Eczema is meant to be taken under medical supervision. It is sold in packet form and can be mixed into a room-temperature or cold food or non-carbonated drink, and used by anyone 6 months old and older. The product is designed to be refrigerated and is under the company’s Cold Chain Commitment, which ensures it is refrigerated from manufacture to the point of sale to ensure cell counts remain potent and consistent.

Florajen Eczema has debuted at Walgreens and independent pharmacies, as well as on Amazon.com. It has a suggested retail price of $39.99 for a 30-packet box.

Heali Medical won the Drug Store News/ECRM Buyers’ Choice Award for its Heali PRO Kinesiology Tape and Mountainside Medical Equipment was a finalist for its Mountain Ice pain relief gel during ECRM’s Health Care Program in August.

“After a year of being locked in their homes, consumers are getting out and getting active, and along with this activity comes aches, pains and sore muscles,” said Craig Chmielowicz, senior vice president of health and beauty care for ECRM. “Our Buyers’ Choice Award winners each have developed innovative solutions for these increasingly active consumers. Congratulations to both winners.”

Heali Medical was founded by Heather Sloan, a chiropractor, and Enwei Li, a practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine. The company’s Heali PRO Kinesiology Tape is meant to deliver stability and style by embedding natural healing and pain relief ingredients directly into a designer sports tape.

The tape aims to combine stability and pain-relief capabilities with menthol and magnesium to promote healing of soft-tissue injuries. The line features nine designer tapes, with more designs slated for production.

Mountainside Medical Equipment is a veteran-owned, family-run business started in June 2002 with the mission of providing durable products at a reasonable cost.

The company’s Mountain Ice is an American-made, FDA-approved topical gel, containing natural ingredients and anti-inflammatory agents to help treat pain at its source. According to the company, Mountain Ice doesn't just numb pain, but also treats the inflammation causing it. Its nongreasy formula was developed to absorb quickly into the skin to relieve pain, reduce inflammation, improve circulation, and promote better muscle and joint healing, with ingredients that include turmeric root, arnica flower extract, tea tree oil, aloe vera and vitamin E, along with MSM, glucosamine and camphor.

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Americans diagnosed with hypothyroidism and their clinical providers now have access to greater dosage flexibility within levothyroxine therapy. IBSA Pharma is introducing three new dosage strengths of its Tirosint-SOL (levothyroxine sodium) oral solution to treat hypothyroidism.

The new dosing options — 37.5, 44 and 62.5 mcg — are a first in the U.S. market and offer clinicians unprecedented precision and flexibility when treating patients, the company said.

The three new dosages add to Tirosint-SOL’s existing 12 options and create a new industry standard of 15 strengths of levothyroxine therapy, the widest range of any therapy for hypothyroidism that is approved by the Food and Drug Administration, according to the company.

Tirosint-SOL’s extensive dosing options provide clinicians with more choices, enabling them to adapt levothyroxine therapy to individual needs and better treat the full spectrum of hypothyroid patients. Increased dosage flexibility may also eliminate or reduce the need to change patients’ doses.

“The addition of 37.5-, 44- and 62.5-microgram dosages represents a much-needed advance in levothyroxine therapy, which is the standard of care for treating hypothyroidism,” said Charles Carter, interim chair and associate professor of clinical research at Campbell University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences.

“Up to this time, clinicians have often instructed parents, caregivers and patients to split levothyroxine tablets to create these doses, which can result in significant dosing errors and inconvenience,” Carter said. “Levothyroxine is a narrow therapeutic index drug with potentially deleterious clinical outcomes if administered in sub- or supratherapeutic doses. The splitting of tablets by patients can result in inconsistent levels of levothyroxine therapy, which should be a concern to clinicians and the patients they care for.”

Tirosint-SOL is widely available in retail pharmacies.