OTC

In conjunction with our first annual Growth & Innovation Forum this month, our September issue also is focused on innovation.

Consumer goods industry thought leaders define what innovation means to them and talk about priorities, external collaboration and new products

Mid-market companies poised to ascend to higher altitudes

A court-ordered stay prevents private-label manufacturer Perrigo from rolling out a store brand version of Prilosec OTC, allowing Procter & Gamble two more years to exclusively market its antacid beyond the period initially set by the Food and Drug Administration, reported Advertising Age earlier this week.

Kimberly-Clark (K-C) Corporation reports that it has shipped approximately 100,000 Gen 2 RFID-tagged cases of Huggies brand diapers and other infant and child care products to Wal-Mart since March 2006.

As part of its strategy to focus on its higher-margin oral and personal care businesses, Colgate-Palmolive Company agrees to purchase Tom's of Maine.

Pfizer Inc. reported last month that it will be exploring strategic alternatives for Pfizer Consumer Healthcare (PCH), including retaining, spinning off or selling the business. PCH's well-balanced product portfolio, anchored by key brands Listerine, Benadryl and Visine, contributes to more than $100 million in annual sales.

As of late, it seems as though a rising number of manufacturers are dumping very profitable business units in order to focus on a core group of products and get business back on track.