Where the Gains Are
C-store sales, 52 weeks ending Dec. 28, 2014
C-stores saw dollar sales of over-the-counter (OTC) medications rise in 2014 at the same time unit sales largely declined. Pain-reliever sales grew 2.4% to $348.4 million last year despite losing a percentage point in unit sales, according to IRI. Cold, allergy and sinus-tablet dollars increased nearly 3% in 2014, but the segment experienced almost the same drops in unit sales.
Pain Relievers
| Remedy type | C-store sales ($ millions) | PCYA* | Unit sales (millions) | PCYA* |
| Internal analgesic tablets | $335.4 | 2.0% | 159.3 | -1.3% |
| Internal analgesic liquids | $7.3 | 25.1% | 1.2 | 31.9% |
| Feminine pain relievers | $5.6 | 2.5% | 1.9 | 5.2% |
| Total internal analgesics (including segments not shown) | $348.4 | 2.4% | 162.4 | -1.0% |
Cold/Allergy/Sinus
| Remedy type | C-store sales ($ millions) | PCYA* | Unit sales (millions) | PCYA* |
| Tablets/packets | $121.5 | 2.8% | 41.6 | -2.6% |
| Liquids | $30.8 | 3.9% | 3.9 | 4.3% |
Cough Remedies
| Remedy type | C-store sales ($ millions) | PCYA* | Unit sales (millions) | PCYA* |
| Cough drops | $100.2 | 1.6% | 67.3 | -0.9% |
| Cough syrup | $5.9 | -5.4% | 1.0 | -1.9% |
Gastrointestinal
| Remedy type | C-store sales ($ millions) | PCYA* | Unit sales (millions) | PCYA* |
| Antacid tablets | $79.6 | 2.6% | 51.0 | -1.3% |
| Gastrointestinal liquids | $20.9 | 1.8% | 4.7 | -0.1% |
| Stomach remedy tablets | $14.5 | 7.6% | 5.9 | 6.7% |
| Antacid/analgesic combo | $9.7 | 0.9% | 4.8 | -3.7% |
| Diarrhea tablets | $5.1 | -22.4% | 2.3 | -28.1% |
Energy shots continued to flag, declining for the third straight year in dollars and units. The weight control/nutritional liquids segment continued to make gains in 2014, although growth slowed from the previous year. Led by the Muscle Milk brand, the category was up 4.3% in dollars and 1.7% in units.
Energy and Sleep Aids
| C-store sales ($ millions) | PCYA* | Unit sales (millions) | PCYA* | |
| Energy shots | $773.6 | -4.8% | 245.8 | -4.6% |
| Sleeping remedies | $14.9 | 9.5% | 5.0 | 10.8% |
Weight Control/Nutrition
| C-store sales ($ millions) | PCYA* | Unit sales (millions) | PCYA* | |
| Liquids/powders | $293.0 | 4.3% | 88.9 | 1.7% |
| Candy/tablets | $39.8 | 0.3% | 19.9 | -2.7% |
Vitamins and Nutrition
| C-store sales ($ millions) | PCYA* | Unit sales (millions) | PCYA* | |
| Vitamins | $81.4 | -7.4% | 30.8 | -8.3% |
| Baby formula/electrolytes | $10.0 | -6.2% | 0.8 | -1.7% |
Source: IRI
* Percent change from a year ago
CONTINUED: Internal-Analgesic Trends
Internal-Analgesic Trends
Internal-Analgesic Brands
C-store sales, 52 weeks ending Dec. 28, 2014
Goody’s and BC led the internal-analgesics segment in 2014. Private label struggled last year, with unit sales down nearly 30%.
| Brand | C-store sales ($ millions) | PCYA* | Unit sales (millions) | PCYA* |
| Goody's | $41.1 | 1.9% | 26.5 | 0.4% |
| BC | $39.9 | 0.4% | 26.8 | -0.9% |
| Advil | $30.6 | 2.6% | 5.6 | -0.8% |
| Private label | $22.2 | -27.0% | 8.5 | -29.7% |
| Aleve | $17.9 | 5.5% | 3.0 | 0.6% |
| Total (including brands not shown) | $348.4 | 2.4% | 162.4 | -1.0% |
Quarterly Look: Internal-Analgesic UPCs
C-store sales, 13 weeks ending Dec. 28, 2014
In the final quarter of 2014, Extra-Strength BC Aspirin Powder with water UPCs led in c-store dollar and unit sales.
| DOLLARS | ||||
| UPC | C-store sales ($ millions) | PCYA* | Unit sales (millions) | PCYA% |
| BC Aspirin Powder Extra Strength (with water, 6-count) | $5.6 | 9.9% | 2.7 | 8.7% |
| Goody’s Powder Extra Strength (with water, 6-count) | $5.2 | 10.8% | 2.5 | 9.6% |
| Lil’ Drug Store Tylenol Caplet Extra Strength (4-count) | $4.8 | 33.4% | 2.4 | 31.6% |
| Lil’ Drug Store Advil Tablet (4-count) | $4.7 | 43.3% | 2.4 | 41.0% |
| Lil’ Drug Store Aleve (2-count) | $3.5 | 30.9% | 1.8 | 25.3% |
| Total (including UPCs not shown) | $88.4 | 5.4% | 40.9 | 1.9% |
Source: IRI
* Percent change from a year ago
| UNITS | ||||
| UPC | Unit sales (millions) | PCYA* | C-store sales ($ millions) | PCYA* |
| BC Aspirin Powder Extra Strength (with water, 2-count) | 3.4 | 4.1% | $3.1 | 7.3% |
| Goody’s Powder Extra Strength (with water, 2-count) | 3.1 | 2.3% | $2.9 | 4.6% |
| BC Aspirin Powder Extra Strength (with water, 6-count) | 2.7 | 8.7% | $5.6 | 9.9% |
| Goody’s Powder Extra Strength (with water, 6-count) | 2.5 | 9.6% | $5.2 | 10.8% |
| Lil’ Drug Store Advil Tablet (4-count) | 2.4 | 41.0% | $4.7 | 43.3% |
| Total (including UPCs not shown) | 40.9 | 1.9% | $88.4 | 5.4% |
Source: IRI
* Percent change from a year ago
Distributor Data: OTC Shipments
Calendar year 2014
Shipments of analgesics from McLane to c-stores in 2014 rose 10%, driven by single-dose and multidose items.
| Segment | APSW** (in dollars) | APSW dollar growth | PCYA* |
| Analgesics | $14.47 | -$0.27 | -1.8% |
| Analgesics single/multidose | $16.99 | $3.13 | 22.6% |
| Total analgesics | $31.46 | $2.87 | 10.0% |
| Cough/cold/allergy | $15.06 | -$0.08 | -0.5% |
| Cough/cold/allergy single/multidose | $5.28 | $0.87 | 19.7% |
| Lozenges | $8.79 | $0.56 | 6.8% |
| Total cough/cold/allergy | $29.13 | $1.35 | 4.9% |
| Stomach remedies | $4.77 | $0.24 | 5.3% |
| Stomach remedies single/multidose | $4.18 | $1.19 | 39.8% |
| Stomach rolls | $4.22 | -$0.08 | -1.8% |
| Total stomach remedies | $13.17 | $1.35 | 11.4% |
| Vitamin/energy/supplement shooters | $54.72 | -$6.51 | -10.6% |
| Vitamins/supplements | $5.75 | -$1.56 | -21.3% |
| Vitamins/supplements single/multidose | $1.72 | $1.55 | 892.2% |
| Total vitamins/supplements | $62.19 | -$6.52 | -9.5% |
| Baby food/formula | $0.76 | -$0.56 | -42.2% |
| Baby care | $0.90 | -$0.16 | -14.9% |
| Total baby | $1.66 | -$0.71 | -30.0% |
Source: McLane Co.
* Percent change from a year ago
** Average shipments per store per week
CONTINUED: Cold, Cough and Allergy & Digestive Medications
Cold, Cough and Allergy Trends
Cold, Allergy and Sinus Tablet Brands
C-store sales, 52 weeks ending Dec. 28, 2014
Lil’ Drug Store’s cold, allergy and sinus tablets were top c-store performers in that segment last year, according to IRI.
| Brand | Unit sales (millions) | PCYA* | C-store sales ($ millions) | PCYA* |
| Lil’ Drug Store | 5.9 | -6.8% | $13.2 | -6.1% |
| Lil’ Drug Store Vicks DayQuil | 4.2 | 28.0% | $10.4 | 28.3% |
| Lil’ Drug Store Vicks NyQuil | 2.8 | 27.2% | $6.7 | 26.6% |
| Lil’ Drug Store Claritin | 2.7 | 22.6% | $6.9 | 20.0% |
| Private label | 2.5 | -36.0% | $7.1 | -30.2% |
| Total (including brands not shown) | 41.6 | -2.6% | $121.5 | 2.8% |
Source: IRI
* Percent change from a year ago
Quarterly Look: Cold/Allergy/Sinus UPCs
C-store sales, 13 weeks ending Dec. 28, 2014
Lil’ Drug Store’s two-count Vicks DayQuil caplet led in c-store sales of cold, allergy and sinus tablets in the final quarter of 2014.
| UPC | Unit sales (millions) | PCYA* | C-store sales ($ millions) | PCYA* |
| Lil’ Drug Store Vicks DayQuil Caplet (2-count) | 1.1 | 118.9% | $2.1 | 122.6% |
| Lil’ Drug Store Vicks NyQuil Liquicap 6-hour (2-count) | 0.7 | 19.2% | $1.3 | 20.3% |
| Lil’ Drug Store Tablet 4-hour (6-count) | 0.7 | 9.6% | $1.5 | 8.4% |
| Lil’ Drug Store Claritin Regular 24-hour (1-count) | 0.6 | 50.7% | $1.5 | 41.6% |
| Lil’ Drug Store Tablet 6- to 8-hour (6-count) | 0.5 | -7.1% | $1.2 | 6.5% |
Source: IRI
* Percent change from a year ago
Digestive-Medication Trends
Gastrointestinal-Tablet Brands
C-store sales, 52 weeks ending Dec. 28, 2014
C-store sales of gastrointestinal tablets fell 2.2% in units, but dollar sales rose 1.4%.
| Brand | Unit sales (millions) | PCYA* | C-store sales ($ millions) | PCYA* |
| Tums EX | 13.9 | -11.6% | $15.9 | -10.7% |
| Tums Ultra | 13.3 | -13.8% | $20.2 | -13.2% |
| Tums | 6.8 | -24.7% | $7.6 | -24.4% |
| Rolaids | 5.2 | ** | $6.4 | ** |
| Lil’ Drug Store Zantac 150 | 4.5 | 30.3% | $12.1 | 32.4% |
| Total (including brands not shown) | 64.3 | -2.2% | $109.8 | 1.4% |
Source: IRI
* Percent change from a year ago
** Increase >1000%
Distributor Data: Stomach-Remedy UPCs
Calendar year 2014
The 4-ounce Maximum Strength Pepto-Bismol was the top c-store stomach-remedy UPC shipped by McLane in 2014.
Stomach Remedies
- Pepto Bismol Maximum Strength (4-oz.)
- Zantac 150 tablets (3-count)
- CVP Stomach Relief (8-oz.)
- Medtech Dramamine Original (12-count)
- Lil’ Drug Store Zantac (5-count)
Single/Multidose
- Lil’ Drug Store Zantac 150 (2-count)
- Lil’ Drug Store Pepto-Bismol (4-count)
- Lil’ Drug Store Alka Seltzer (4-count)
- Lil’ Drug Store Anti-Diarrheal (4-count)
- Uni’s Zantac (1-dose)
Rolls
- Tums Ultra Assorted Berries
- Tums Ultra Peppermint
- Tums E-X Assorted Fruit
- Tums E-X Assorted Berry
- Tums E-S Cherry
Source: McLane Co
CONTINUED: Energy Shots & Weight-Control/Nutritional Brands
Energy-Shot Trends
Energy-Shot Brands
C-store sales, 52 weeks ending Dec. 28, 2014
C-store sales of energy shots declined in 2014 for the third straight year, down 4.8% in dollars and 4.6% in units.
| Brand | C-store sales ($ millions) | PCYA* | Unit sales (millions) | PCYA* |
| 5-Hour Energy | $727.0 | -4.5% | 221.0 | -5.1% |
| Stacker 2 6-hour Power | $8.5 | -35.2% | 2.3 | -38.3% |
| Tweaker | $8.0 | 29.8% | 7.4 | 38.6% |
| Private label | $4.2 | 73.9% | 2.0 | 68.6% |
| Street King | $3.7 | 15.8% | 1.5 | 30.9% |
| Total (including brands not shown) | $773.6 | -4.8% | 245.8 | -4.6% |
Source: IRI
Distributor Data: Energy-Shot UPCs
Calendar year 2014
- 5-Hour Energy Extra Strength
- 5-Hour Extra Strength Grape
- 5-Hour Energy Berry
- 5-Hour Energy Pomegranate
- 5-Hour Energy Grape
Source: McLane Co.
Weight-Control/Nutritional Brands
C-store sales, 52 weeks ending Dec. 28, 2014
Muscle Milk brands dominated the weight-control/nutritional liquids and powders segment, with more than two-thirds of c-store dollar sales.
| Brand | C-store sales ($ millions) | PCYA* | Unit sales (millions) | PCYA* |
| Muscle Milk | $143.8 | -15.1% | 39.5 | -16.1% |
| Muscle Milk Pro Series 40 | $44.3 | 550.5% | 10.3 | 527.4% |
| Core Power | $28.4 | 125.2% | 8.9 | 136.4% |
| VPX Redline Xtreme | $26.8 | 12.1% | 8.3 | 10.7% |
| Muscle Milk Light | $8.6 | -41.3% | 2.4 | -41.6% |
| Total (including brands not shown) | $293.0 | 4.3% | 82.9 | 1.7% |
Source: IRI
**Increase >1,000%
* Percent change from a year ago
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