FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — Waukesha, Wisconsin, March 2, 2026 — HRG has completed its semiannual update of its Fine Line Classification System for health, beauty, and wellness (HBW), home health care (HHC), and general merchandise (GM) products with notable adjustments to reflect industry changes. The March 2026 updates include changes to address items which may support GLP-1 side effects or supplement the therapy in multiple categories and modifications in the baby care category to make room for Fine Lines for postpartum products.
Enhancements to guidance have been made to the 4-digit Fine Lines “Mixed/Miscellaneous” in digestive health, weight management, and specialty supplements in the vitamins & dietary supplements categories —the descriptions have been updated to include GLP-1 support products merchandised within those departments. Georgia Gums, product & strategic pricing analyst at HRG, said, “Because semaglutide and tirzepatide prescription medications are evolving and more uses continue to be discovered, I’m going to watch the products released with GLP-1 support as a use, as well as shopper behaviors, and manufacturer and industry activity to determine if specific Fine Lines should be created for these product types. Until there’s more evidence that they warrant individual Fine Lines, we’re including them in the ‘Mixed/Miscellaneous’ classification.”
Two subcategories in baby care — baby formula, nutritionals & food and baby feeding accessories — were consolidated into the new subcategory: baby feeding and nursing. The combination brings together items that are often bought together into one section for a better shopping experience. It also allowed room for the creation of a new subcategory: postpartum care. While the items that fall into the new postpartum care subcategory have dual use and placement, the assembly of them within baby care is of great convenience for new moms. Gums commented, “There are several product types that were added under this subcategory to address the many needs of a postpartum mom. Bringing these items together in the baby care department will be a great aid to busy, exhausted new moms who can find all they need in one spot in the store.”
HRG’s team of analysts continually reviews the Fine Line Classification System to determine whether modifications are necessary based on consumer market changes, emerging categories and subcategories, or to reflect merchandising trends. The Fine Line system classifies HBW, HHC, and GM products into categories, subcategories, and product segments and is used across the retail supply chain. Categories are organized by 2-, 3-, and 4-digit Fine Lines by HRG’s analyst teams to offer more refined reporting capabilities, facilitate analysis of product performance, and to segment the placement of products.
HRG releases updates to Fine Lines twice a year, in March and September. Updates to the HRG Fine Line system may consist of description changes, re-categorization of items, and additions or deletions of categories and/or subcategories. Download Fine Lines, or to learn more about HRG’s industry-standard Fine Line Classification System, contact HRG client services at 414.355.1330 or info@hamacher.com.
About HRG
HRG is a trusted retail solutions provider, exploring and executing actionable strategies for brands, retailers, distributors, technology partners, and other industry organizations. For over 45 years, HRG has been in the details of retail, leveraging their deep knowledge of shopper and shopping behavior to offer data & analysis, shopper experience, brand development, fixture coordination, and retail communications solutions. Their unique position in the industry and broad set of skills has allowed them the ability to customize a wide range of deliverables to a diverse array of companies. HRG is a WBENC-Certified Women’s Business Enterprise headquartered in Greater Milwaukee. Visit hamacher.com for more information.
