Pharmacy

According to the “Beverage Trends: Culinary Trend Mapping Report” from the San Francisco-based Center for Culinary Development and Rockville, Md.-based Packaged Facts, the sweet spot in the U.S. beverage market, long dominated by a handful of major brand lines, is shifting to niche products that target a diverse set of consumer needs driven by healthy attributes.

It would be hard to think of a new dimension the nutrition navigation system idea, various versions of which are currently being employed by retailers, CPG companies, private label product vendors and others, but a new initiative has done just that: The Affordable Nutrition Index (ANI), a food-rating program that analyzes both nutrition and cost value of food, made its official debut yesterday at the American Dietetic Association’s Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo in Denver.

As health and wellness evolves into a major lifestyle shift rather than just a trend, retailers and their grocery supplier partners are working together to address consumer needs in relation to this important — some would say urgent — issue.

With consumers looking to stretch their money as far as possible, it’s no surprise that they might be attracted by promotions and sales at their local grocery store.

The home front has become the battlefront in the consumer’s war against shrinking incomes and budgets. Home-cooked meals have replaced restaurant dining.

A coalition of over 40 retailers, nongovernmental organizations and food and beverage manufacturers yesterday launched the Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation (HWCF), a national, multi-year initiative aimed at helping to lower the rate of obesity -- particularly in children -- by 2015.

Duane Reade this week is launching its own food and beverage brand, dubbed DR Delish. The New York-based drug store chain’s 25 original products include trail mixes, vitamin-enhanced teas, 100 percent juices, potato crisps, brownies, cookies and multigrain snacks.

In this fifth of a six-part series, Dave Nazaruk, senior vice president, retail business development for StayWell/MediMedia USA, a leading provider of patient education and consumer health information, continues his exploration of the role of retail in revolutionizing health care and the economy.