Pharmacy

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.

Stevia was one of the stars at last week’s Natural Products Expo East. Hundreds of new products making use of the all-natural and calorie-free sweetener are expected to hit the market in the coming months.

Sustainability means different things to different people. Asked to identify what the term means to them, consumers most frequently respond “the ability to last over time” (76 percent) and “the ability to support oneself.” Sustainability is also strongly associated with environmental concerns, whereby consumers are being challenged to develop and express an “eco-consciousness” in their daily habits and purchases. Thus, nearly half of consumers associate sustainability with conserving natural resources and with recycling.

The food industry continues to provide U.S. consumers with valuable information on staying healthy. But the challenge remains in the retailers’ hands to help those consumers — retail customers — determine which message, which lifestyle, which choice is right for them.

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.