Sales of Care ViraSoothe, a gel that helps ease the itching caused by chickenpox, increased by 23 per cent after the brand received the backing of celebrity medic Chris Steele. Dr Steele,...

Internis Pharmaceuticals has launched swallowable calcium/ vitamin D3 tablet Accrete-D3. The manufacturer will be promoting the pharmacy-only tablets, which each contain a twice-daily dose of...

Category focus Durex dominates, but pharmacists can capitalise on their sexual health advisory role to ensure they also get the most out of the £43 million condoms market, finds Jennifer Richardson

For those patients reluctant to visit their dentist, significant product innovations and specialist care allow pharmacists to maximise their share of the £799m oralcare market, finds Kathy Oxtoby

Toothpaste is the largest and most frequently purchased subcategory within the total oralcare market – and is the only one showing year-on-year growth, according to data from Kantar Wordpanel (see Market Insight: oralcare).

More than 90 per cent of the British population buy some form of oralcare in the year, spending on average £18 each. Seventy per cent of sales come from the core subcategories of toothpastes and toothbrushes, while floss and dentures remain more specialist sectors with lower numbers of buyers.

Bonjela teething gel’s local anaesthetic action relieves pain and soothes sore gums, while its antiseptic action can help prevent minor mouth infections. The gel comes in a sugar-free and banana-flavour formulation. Contraindications: Not suitable for infants under two months.

Pharmacist Rakesh Bagga says a few basic measures to improve his children and babycare section have made a big impact in terms of customer loyalty. “Really simple things can make a big difference – for example, making sure the store is accessible to prams,” he says.

Nappies, milk, food, accessories, toiletries and wipes make up the total babycare market, the value of which increased by 4 per cent to just under £1.4 billion this year. The pharmacy market value shrunk by 0.3 per cent, in contrast to a healthy 4.6 per cent growth in the large grocers.

Just one daily dose supplies the recommended amounts of seven essential vitamins for normal health and growth in early childhood. Suitable for vegetarians; colour-, additive- and peanut oil-free

The £1.4bn babycare market is the ideal opportunity for pharmacies to secure customers for life with advice and support, finds Emma Wilkinson