NONFOODS
Health, Beauty & Wellness
Million-Dollar Smiles THE OR AL CARE CATEGORY GOES UPSCALE. By Barbara Sax ising awareness of the importance of oral hygiene, the growing incidence of dental diseases among older consumers, and technological advancements in oral care products are driving growth of these items. “Oral health is important to overall health,” affirms Kyle Lentz, HBC category analyst at Waukesha, Wis.-based Hamacher Resource Group. Recent launches that target specific oral care needs have revolutionized the category. “The introduction of these types of products have added a super-premium segment to the
Key Takeaways Retailers are offering more specialized toothpastes, whitening agents and electric toothbrushes, which are contributing to higher profitability for the oral care category. Increasingly integrated into mainstream sets, natural products are driving a majority of the growth in the overall category, thanks in large part to eco-conscious Millennials. Electric toothbrushes and highend whitening kits promise higher margins and rings for retailers, but theft is a major issue in both segments; also, price is still a consideration for many shoppers. PROGRESSIVE GROCER Januar y 2020
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