General Merchandise/HBC

Lil’ Drug Store Introduces Nicotine-Replacement Product

Supplier will bring Nicotac to convenience stores beginning May 1

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa -- Supplier Lil’ Drug Store Products will debut its new Nicotac nicotine gum in convenience stores nationwide on May 1. The product comes in two nicotine strengths—2 milligrams and 4 milligrams of nicotine polacrilex—and various flavors, including fruit, mint and cinnamon. Nicotac will be sold in 10-count packages for a suggested retail price of $4.99.

Lil' Drug looks to make nicotine-replacement-therapy (NRT) products ubiquitous by marketing Nicotac to the more than 150,000 U.S. convenience stores, a channel that sells less than 3% of NRT products, the company said.

"When we surveyed the distribution of nicotine-gum sales in the category, it was clear the convenience-store channel had tremendous room for growth," said Doug Marquardt, director of marketing for Lil' Drug. "Since the majority of smokers frequently shop convenience stores, it is a great opportunity for Nicotac brand nicotine gum to help those who want to quit smoking."

Nicotac’s release follows the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's "Every Try Counts" ad campaign launched in January 2018 that encourages smokers to quit.

Cedar Rapids, Iowa-based Lil’ Drug Store Products Inc. is a leading supplier of health and beauty care (HBC), automotive and snack products in the convenience-store channel. The company is the sole marketer of brands such as Rolaids, Ricola, Carmex, Allegra, Rayovac, Opti-Free PureMoist, Systane Ultra, Harvest Snaps, Sensible Foods and Popchips.

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