While daily coffee consumption is dominated by ground coffee — 35% of consumers drink roasted ground coffee every day — premium-priced single-cup coffee is gaining popularity and has led the growth in the coffee category between 2010 and 2012, according to Mintel.


NCR Corp. is partnering with health kiosk maker SoloHealth to service interactive consumer healthcare kiosks at retailers as SoloHealth rolls them out around the country, the two companies said Tuesday.

Ballantyne Brands, an electronic cigarette provider, on Monday announced the introduction of a new premium brand, NEO. The company also announced that it has acquired the Mistic brand of electronic cigarettes for an undisclosed amount, and has secured an investment partner to support its business for the long term.

Electronic health record firm Allscripts may be looking at an acquisition by another company, Allscripts CEO Glen Tullman said Thursday when the company announced its third-quarter 2012 earnings.

Business for OTC store brands is expected to boom in the coming year, Perrigo chairman and CEO Joseph Papa told analysts discussing the private-label manufacturer's first quarter results during a conference call Wednesday, even as the growth rate across the entire OTC category slows.

Estée Lauder reported a solid financial performance for its first quarter ended Sept. 30, 2012. The company reported net sales of $2.55 billion for the quarter, a 3% increase compared with $2.48 billion reported in the prior-year quarter.

Sales of color cosmetics lost some of its shimmer during the recession as beauty mavens reduced purchase cycles, traded down to value brands and cut back on experimenting with new products. However, consumers are returning to the category, which is likely to spell strong sales for spring and beyond.


Seasonal candy generates 40% to 45% of total category sales, according to data from the National Confectioners Association.

Drug stores saw a modest increase in air freshener sales last year, according to Mintel research — a lift likely due to sales of private-
label products. 


Walgreens on Monday posted October sales of $6 billion, a drop of 2.1% as compared to October 2011.

Drug wholesaler H.D. Smith has finalized its purchase of a wholesale company based in California.

AmerisourceBergen on Thursday reported revenue dropped 0.6% to $79.5 billion for its fiscal 2012 ended Sept. 30.