Centrum 7/6  banner

Issue 09-08-2014

CVS Caremark changes its corporate name

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — Pointing to its expanding health care commitment in several sectors and its ability to drive innovations that will be needed in the future, CVS Caremark Corp. has changed its corporate name to CVS Health. The announcement came last week, occurring on the same day that CVS halted tobacco sales in its drug

‘This is your time,’ Total Store Expo attendees told

BOSTON — Health care and consumer packaged goods retailers and suppliers are on the cusp of unprecedented success, National Association of Chain Drug Stores president and chief executive officer Steve Anderson said at the organization’s Total Store Expo. Steve Anderson “If this moment in time cannot be called a renaissance … of health, wellness and

Shoppers Drug Mart moves ahead at the front end

TORONTO — Shoppers Drug Mart (SDM) is introducing meat and produce in selected stores and has opened its fourth enhanced BeautyBoutique. The Canadian drug chain, acquired this year by Loblaw Cos., is piloting sales of food including cuts of meat, fruit and vegetables, as well as such prepared food as sushi and salads. Six Toronto

Duane Reade gets co-branded

NEW YORK — Walgreen Co. has begun co-branding Duane Reade stores with the Walgreens name. Going forward, Duane Reade units will be bannered “Duane Reade by Walgreens.” Cobranding at the outlets, which Walgreens acquired for $1.08 billion in April 2010, had been limited to the pharmacy, with signage bearing the “W” logo and saying “Powered

Regional drug chains tackle tough issues head on

POINT PLEASANT, W.Va. — Fruth Pharmacy recently hosted a gathering of 18 regional drug chains and 28 of their vendor partners for the annual convention of the Southern Drug Stores Association. Fruth Pharmacy’s Mark Madore and Lynne Fruth with Zitomer/Thriftway’s Lon Rubackin and Sharon Sternheim. Held last month at The Greenbriar resort in White Sulphur

Dollar General rebuffed in bid for Family Dollar

NEW YORK — Dollar General Corp. has raised the pressure on Family Dollar Stores Inc. directors and shareholders by sweetening its bid for the discount chain and offering to sell or close up to 1,500 stores to satisfy antitrust ­regulators. However, just days later, Family Dollar announced that it was rejecting the enhanced acquisition bid.

Retailers weigh in on top items in Product Showcase

BOSTON — Retailer attendees voted on some 160 products in 11 categories and the 2014 National Association of Chain Drug Stores Total Store Expo Product Showcase winners are in. Atop the Pharmacy Operations Equipment/Services category in the 2014 Total Store Expo Product Showcase was PharmaTracker GPS Tracking to Recover Stolen Drug Products, from 3SI Security

Rx looms larger in strategic plan at Fred’s

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Fred’s Inc. will accelerate its pharmacy acquisitions as the discount retailer shifts to a “convenience and pharmacy-centric model.” The company said it will close 60 of its stores without pharmacies by year’s end to help pay for the transition. Fred’s announced the closures August 28 following release of second quarter financial results.

Surescripts names Skelton CEO

ARLINGTON, Va. — Tom Skelton has become chief executive officer at Surescripts.  A seasoned CEO with expertise in both the health care technology and health care services sectors, Skelton held leadership roles previously with Foundation Radiology Group, MED3000 and Misys Healthcare Systems. “Tom will play a key role as we continue to perfect e-prescribing and

Sales hurt by lack of store-level excitement

In the aftermath of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores-sponsored Total Store Expo exhibit show and business conference, held in Boston late last month, one long-held view was fortified by both the retailer and supplier communities: Business at retail is in the doldrums. Determining why is no easy task. True, the economy has been

New name reflects direction CVS is headed

The change in name of CVS Caremark to CVS Health marks the culmination of a transition almost a quarter century in the making. Just 25 years ago CVS was one of several regional drug chains with a strong presence in a relatively limited geographic area. Since its founding in 1963 by Stanley Goldstein, Sidney Goldstein

PP_1170x120_10-25-21