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🔴 NACDS TSE Product Showcase 2024 winners announced
August 19, 5:00pm EST – Products ranging from home healthcare to baby care to cosmetics and pharmacy operations equipment were on display in the “Product Showcase” on the exhibit floor this weekend, providing increased visibility for retail attendees to evaluate and vote for the top products. The winners of this year's Product Showcase are:
Baby Care:
Company: Boiron Inc.
Name of Product: Camilia Tummy
Cosmetics & Fragrances:
Company: Scent Beauty
Name of Product: Sabrina Carpenter Fragrances
General Merchandise:
Company: Ink’d Greetings
Name of Product: Greeting and Gift Card Kiosk
Household Products/Non-Edible Consumables:
Company: Murphy’s Naturals
Name of Product: Lemon Eucalyptus Oil Mosquito & Tick Repellent Mist
Health Care/OTC:
Company: Embr Labs Inc
Name of Product: Embr Wave
Home Healthcare:
Company: Reese Pharmaceutical Company
Name of Product: Reese’s ColoTest®
Personal Care/HBC:
Company: Cleanlogic
Name of Product: Assembled in the USA Products Bath Accessories
Pharmacy Operations Equipment and Services:
Company: SmartSense by Digi
Name of Product: SmartSense LTE-M SmartTag
Pharmacy Products:
Company: ShirPharma Corporation
Name of Product: Lullies Medi-Bell Safety Dosage Timer
TSE show floor showcases the best in wellness innovation
August 19, 3:00pm EST, by Scot Meyer, MMR Editor – Retailers are always looking for innovation, and they’re finding plenty of it on the show floor at this year’s NACDS Total Store Expo. Here are four examples of the kinds of companies that are getting attention for their new ideas and new products.
Youtheory, the Irvine-based lifestyle wellness brand known for its premium supplements, is making a splash with a suite of new and innovative products. Founded in 2010 by Darren and Patty Rude, Youtheory has established itself as a leader in the health and wellness industry with popular offerings including collagen, turmeric, and ashwagandha.
At the expo, Youtheory national sales director Chava Coleman Perry highlighted the company’s commitment to efficacy and quality. “We use clinically studied ingredients and rigorous testing to ensure our products are among the best in the market,” Perry explained. This dedication to high standards sets Youtheory apart from many competitors.
Among the new introductions are a line of GLP-1 support products, designed to assist individuals using medications like Mounjaro, Wegovy, and Ozempic. These drugs can sometimes lead to nutritional deficiencies and muscle loss due to reduced food intake. Youtheory’s new multivitamin and protein powder, developed in collaboration with renowned obesity researcher Dr. Louis Aronne, aim to address these issues.
In addition, Youtheory is expanding its product range with a focus on women's health. Their new line includes an adrenal and thyroid support supplement for stress relief and emotional balance, as well as a PMS comfort formula to aid in mood support and restful sleep.
Another groundbreaking product is the company’s ocean-friendly omega-3 product, which features plant-based algae oil and sustainable aluminum packaging. This product recently won a NEXTY Award for sustainability at Expo West, underscoring Youtheory’s commitment to eco-friendly practices.
Good Clean Love is showcasing its latest innovations and rebranding efforts at this year’s TSE as the company celebrates 20 years of pioneering natural sexual wellness products. Founded by Wendy Strgar in 2004, Good Clean Love emerged from Strgar’s quest to find safer, non-irritating alternatives to conventional products, beginning with their flagship personal lubricant, Almost Naked.
Mary Jo Rizvi, vice president of sales at Good Clean Love, said the company is undergoing a significant rebranding initiative, and is also introducing a new line of treatments designed to address the evolving needs of women throughout different life stages. The "Changing Phases" line will feature products targeting postpartum recovery, menopause, and other significant transitions. This includes topical treatments, internal suppositories for bacterial vaginosis, and a moisturizing vaginal gel.
Other new product launches include the Almost Naked Hint of Mint personal lubricant, which incorporates natural mint flavor, and a pioneering lidocaine pain relief gel. This gel is the first of its kind for vulva care, offering 4% lidocaine to address pain and irritation, a notable advancement in women’s wellness.
Rizvi highlighted the positive reception from retailers and other TSE attendees, noting a growing commitment to women’s wellness and natural product solutions. “Retailers are recognizing the need for better options and are eager to support innovations in this space,” she said.
The company’s efforts also include a focus on libido enhancement through natural essential oils, reflecting a broader trend towards integrating wellness into every aspect of sexual health. With a balanced presence in both e-commerce and brick-and-mortar retail, Good Clean Love continues to lead the charge in creating healthier, more effective products for women’s intimate care.
Jocko Fuel, the rapidly expanding nutrition brand founded by former Navy SEAL and bestselling author Jocko Willink, is another brand making waves at this year's NACDS show. With a reputation for doubling its growth annually over the past four years, Jocko Fuel is now celebrated as one of the hottest brands in the nutrition market.
What sets Jocko Fuel apart from its competitors is its commitment to transparency and quality, according to company president Joe Masciantonio. “Jocko Fuel offers the cleanest, most transparent labels in the industry,” he said. The brand prides itself on delivering premium products with exceptional efficacy and taste, distinguishing itself in a market often criticized for misleading claims.
The latest innovation from Jocko Fuel is their new hydration drink, launched four months ago. Masciantonio said that traditional hydration drinks often fall short, failing to address the full spectrum of electrolytes lost during physical activity. “Our hydration drink is designed to replace not just sodium and potassium, but also magnesium and chloride, without the unnecessary sugars and artificial sweeteners found in other products,” he said.
Goli Nutrition describes itself as an inventive, people-focused nutrition company committed to providing innovative products that make taking daily supplements simple and delicious. Renowned for its gummy vitamins, including a pioneering apple cider vinegar gummy, Goli is adding a new zero-sugar line, which is set to launch beginning on September 9th.
“We’re thrilled to launch our zero-sugar apple cider vinegar gummies,” Goli marketing coordinator Vanessa Taggart says. “Despite the absence of sugar, they maintain the same great taste and effectiveness that our customers love.”
The zero-sugar gummies have been designed to provide the benefits of apple cider vinegar without compromising on flavor, an achievement confirmed by taste tests. Taggart mentioned that in blind tests, consumers could not distinguish between the sugar and sugar-free versions, highlighting the product’s successful flavor formulation.
Goli Nutrition plans to follow the introduction of its sugar-free apple cider vinegar gummies with a rollout of additional sugar-free products. The new zero-sugar options are expected to appeal to health-conscious consumers looking for effective and enjoyable ways to support their wellness routines.
Emerging brands seek to fill gaps in health and wellness market at Booth 2431
August 19, 2pm EST, by Geoff Walden, CDR Editor – A highlight of NACDS Total Store Expo has been booth 2431, which is showcasing four emerging brands answering unmet health and wellness needs.
The independently owned brands united to get a prominent site on the show floor, and attendees have been duly impressed by their innovation in external analgesics, menopausal hot flash relief, O-T-C hearing aids, and diagnostics.
Nufabrx offers “wearable” pain relief with capsaicin infused braces, the Embr Wave is a cooling device worn on the wrist, Audien Hearing is the No. 1 volume sales O-T-C hearing aid brand worldwide, and Kihealth delivers “the future of prevention.”
Nufabrx has 10 SKUs for different body parts, and is already in 15,000 doors. “Just by simply wearing a knee brace or a wrist brace you get the compression benefit plus you get the pain relief,” says Glenn Normoyle, founder of Nufabrx owner Tallayne.
The products employ the same medication delivery method as Salonpas, but are designed to provide all-day targeted relief as opposed to the immediate relief for which the latter is designed.
The products can be reused after washing, and the line will be extended next year with socks.
The Embr Wave, available on Amazon, retail websites and through McKesson, is based on the principle that small changes in wrist temperature can have a huge impact on how one feels overall. The product’s targeted thermal sensations work to calm the body’s fight or flight response, says Elizabeth Gazda, CEO of manufacturer Embr Labs.
In clinical studies, users reported a two fold improvement in control over hot flashes. Using the Embr Wave for only three minutes helped them feel an average of 5 degrees cooler or warmer.
The product was developed by MIT scientists based on the notion that one could control one’s sense of temperature not with a thermostat “but by hacking our own body.”
The resultant technology can “stop a menopausal hot flash in its tracks,” says Gazda. “This is using your body’s own pharmacy to solve the problem.”
The mission of Audien Hearing is to make hearing affordable and accessible for everyone. “We’ve invented the lowest cost, highest quality hearing devices in this space,” says CEO and cofounder Ishan Patel.
Its line starts at $98 — the first pair of hearing aids under $100. Launched nationally at Walmart last year, it “made a little bit of history,” Patel says.
The Atom Pro 2, at $289, is the top seller on Amazon and in other major channels. The company just launched on QVC, and products will be available on walgreens.com.
“At the end of the day, the goal is to get this product in the hands of the people that need it,” Patel says. “Eighty percent of people with hearing loss do not wear a hearing aid. It’s one of the largest untreated medical conditions in the entire world.”
Kihealth is transforming detection, prevention and treatment of disease by connecting novel diagnostics, earlier biomarkers and at-home care with tests for sale at pharmacies.
Products target diabetes risk, gut health, sleep and stress, inflammation and longevity, and optimal health. All the tests are under $200 and HAS/FSA eligible.
Two months into commercial launch, the products are available through Cencora, and Walmart.com, and will be on Amazon in about two weeks.
“We believe that the key to optimum health lies not just in treating diseases, but in anticipating and mitigating disease before it takes root,” sayd Kihealth president and CEO Jenna Anderson. “Our advanced diagnostic tests delve deep, offering insights into your metabolic health, equipping you with the knowledge to proactively shape your wellness journey. We don’t just decode symptoms; we decode futures.”
NACDS Foundation welcomes new members to its board of directors
August 19, 11am EST — The National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) Foundation announced the addition of three new members to the 2024 NACDS Foundation Board of Directors at the 2024 NACDS Total Store Expo:
- Michael Aigner, Viatris
- Angie Nelson, Hy-Vee, Inc.
- Shelli Wineland, The Procter & Gamble Company
Each new NACDS Foundation Board of Directors member will serve a one-year term.
Angie Nelson, Shelli Wineland and Michael Aigner
“The NACDS Foundation Board of Directors is charting the next chapter of the NACDS Foundation and its community-centric programs that advance solutions to some of the most pressing public health issues facing the nation today, and that empower future generations of healthcare leaders,” said NACDS Foundation president Sara E. Roszak.
“The NACDS Foundation welcomes the addition of Michael Aigner, Angie Nelson and Shelli Wineland as new members of the NACDS Foundation Board of Directors. We look forward to their leadership.”
Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian given “Cultivating Innovation in Care Award” at Annual NACDS Foundation Dinner
August 18, 10pm EST – The National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) Foundation has recognized Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian, a distinguished cardiologist, public health scientist and director of the Food is Medicine Institute at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University, with the NACDS Foundation’s inaugural Cultivating Innovation in Care Award.
The NACDS Foundation presented the award at the 26th Annual NACDS Foundation Dinner, held at the Omni Boston Hotel at the Seaport during the 2024 NACDS Total Store Expo.
“I am delighted to recognize Dr. Mozaffarian with this inaugural award,” said
NACDS Foundation President Sara Roszak. “His role as an outstanding partner in Foundation research made him an obvious choice to receive this recognition. He has given voice and momentum to Food is Medicine – truly embodying the goal of innovating care for the benefit of the public’s health.”
“I am honored to be the first recipient of the ‘Cultivating Innovation in Care Award’ from the NACDS Foundation,” said Dariush Mozaffarian, director of the Food is Medicine Institute, Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University. “As a physician studying Food is Medicine initiatives across healthcare, I have been impressed by the Foundation’s interest in incorporating pharmacies as a community hub for food and nutrition security screening, healthy food access, and promoting health equity.”
NACDS leadership give remarks at Business Program
August 18, 9:00am EST – National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) chair Kevin Host, senior vice president of pharmacy, Walmart, and NACDS president and CEO Steven Anderson delivered a clear message at today’s Business Program: the NACDS TSE is a unique place for suppliers and retailers alike to come together through NACDS to confront the most pressing issues facing the industry today — and to explore new innovations for the future — so that NACDS members can better meet Americans’ total health and wellness needs.
“There is one thing that shines through in every conversation I have had – your passion for the customer," Host said. "Meeting the customer’s needs is what drives us all to do what we do. A vibrant retail market benefits suppliers across the board and I believe that the Total Store Expo is the best venue for connecting all of us. Together, we are developing and delivering the products and experiences that our customers need and want. Thank you all for being here today and thank you for taking advantage of the NACDS Total Store Expo.”
Anderson echoed Host’s thoughts and recognized the strong engagement of NACDS members.
He said, “I cannot overstate it: this meeting is one of the top strategic imperatives of this trade association. NACDS meetings are about more than buying and selling today. They are about testing, improving, and advancing ideas that will create your future. This is a laboratory for innovation in products and services – and in how to bring them to market.”
Visit the link below for the full write-up of the remarks:
Exhibit hall opens
August 18 – The show floor opened at 10 am, showcasing products from hundreds of participants.
NACDS Foundation Dinner raises more than $1.35 million
August 17, 10:00pm EST – Held on the first night of the 2024 NACDS Total Store Expo, the 26th annual NACDS Foundation Dinner raised more than $1.35 million, which will help fund evidence-based research, pharmacy education and philanthropic initiatives to improve patient outcomes and advance population health.
CNN’s chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta headlined the event this year. NACDS president Steve Anderson, as well as NACDS Foundation president Sara Roszak and NACDS Chair Kevin Host, delivered remarks.
NACDS Foundation’s 2024 Impact Report released
August 17, 8:00pm EST – The NACDS Foundation aims to improve the health and wellbeing of communities in America by sustainably supporting groundbreaking research, education, and scholarship programs that enhance health outcomes, foster equity, strengthen access, and advance public health. The organization released the NACDS Foundation’s 2024 Impact Report this evening. A copy of the report was given to all who attended the dinner.
"Ageless Ambition" panel explores gender inclusion in leadership
August 17, 6:00pm EST — The meaning of ambition and how rising women are viewed were explored at a panel discussion at the NACDS Total Store Expo Saturday.
Vinima Shekhar, vice president of beauty at Walmart, said the essence of ambition is getting back up when one falls down.
Courtney Schoff, SVP of omnichannel commerce for the Costco, value, beauty and pet specialty channels for Market Performance Group (MPG), said ambition is different for everyone, but agreed that it comes down to never giving up.
Tiffany McLaud, CEO of Ultima Health Products, said women’s ambition is becoming more accepted as men see what women are achieving. She said her own evolving ambition has made her a much better listener.
Led by the WE organization and moderated by Kristine Urea, GM of SmartSights & Retail Insights for MPG, the discussion was entitled, “Ageless Ambition — How Industry Leaders Are Paving the Way for Gender Inclusion.”
Participants delved into their approaches to empowering women of all ages to drive inclusion and gender representation in terms of talent acquisition, succession planning and enabling leadership development opportunities for women.
CDR pharmacy roundtable looks at key issues facing industry
August 17, 3:00pm EST – Chain Drug Review just concluded its annual Roundtable on Critical Issues in Community Pharmacy. Held in conjunction with NACDS Total Store Expo, the meeting brought together leaders from many of the nation’s top pharmacy operators and representatives of the supplier community.
Panelists included Kevin Host, senior vice president of pharmacy at Walmart and current chairman of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores; NACDS president and CEO Steve Anderson; Doug Hoey, CEO of the National Community Pharmacists Association; Crystal Lennartz, president of Health Mart and Health Mart Atlas; Dain Rusk, vice president of pharmacy at Publix; Rina Shah, senior vice president of pharmacy growth at Walgreens; and Karen Staniforth, chief pharmacy officer at Rite Aid.
The suppliers in attendance were Lari Harding, senior vice president of healthcare marketing and sales enablement at Inmar; Patrick Hawthorne, senior vice president of pharmacy network partnerships at MedAdvisor Solutions; Todd Huseby, partner and leader of the consumer healthcare sector at Kearney; David Pope, chief pharmacy officer at XiFin/OmniSys; and Brian Sullivan, principal pharmacy solutions for North America at KNAPP.
Moderated by editor-in-chief Jeffrey Woldt, the wide-ranging discussion examined PBM reform, scope of pharmacy practice, food as medicine, and more. Complete coverage of the roundtable will appear in the October issue of Chain Drug Review.
Walmart execs discuss HBC trends at CDR/MMR breakfast event
August 17, 8:00am EST – What better way to kick off NACDS Total Store Expo than breakfast with Walmart? Early this morning, at a meeting sponsored by Chain Drug Review and MMR, four of the retailer’s key health and beauty care executives – Ralph Clare, senior vice president of merchandising for health and wellness consumables; Vinima Shekhar, vice president of beauty; Brad Bedwell, vice president of health care—OTC; and Kristin Piper, group director of directed spend – shared insights with their counterparts in the CPG industry. Among the topics addressed by the group were the contributions of HBC to Walmart’s recent robust financial performance; synergies between self-care, beauty and pharmacy; and the qualities that the retailer looks for in its supplier partners.
TSE reflects NACDS' commitment to health innovation
August 16 – Stay tuned for additional coverage from the NACDS Total Store Expo.
Read NACDS president Steve Anderson's recent article on the event here:
