>I am a hospital lactation consultant. I was just informed by my manager
>that our hospital has been notified by Ross that we will no longer be
>given free formula (ie we will be billed for all formula). We do about
>1800 deliveries per year, have a 75% breastfeeding rate and we have not
>given out any freebies for 3 or 4 years nor are formula reps allowed to
>set foot in our birth center.

Free samples = brand retention and health profession endorsement; 93% of
mothers continue to buy the brand given in hospital.  Without health
professionals promoting the product, perhaps brand loyalty just wasn't there?

Jean Geary
Fundraiser
INFACT Canada [log in to unmask]  http://www.io.org/~infacto