Wendy future of retail top

Issue 01-02-2017

Rise in U.S. health care spending outpaces economic growth

WASHINGTON — Health care spending in the United States grew 5.8% to $3.2 trillion during 2015, according to a new study by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid ­Services (CMS). On a per capita basis, U.S. health care spending grew 5% to $9,990 per person. The overall increase exceeded the 5.5% rise projected by CMS

Retail innovations continue to emerge at Amazon

Retail innovations continue to emerge at Amazon

SEATTLE — Amazon.com Inc. continues to push the retail innovation envelope, recently unveiling a store without checkouts and field testing delivery by drones in the United Kingdom. The 1,800-square-foot Amazon Go store perhaps most closely resembles a high-end, high-tech convenience store. Customers do not need to scan their purchases or go through a checkout line.

Walgreens teams up with university health system

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens and the University of Miami Health System have announced a collaboration focused on delivering coordinated clinical care and pharmacy excellence to patients across South Florida. As part of the agreement, UHealth — the University of Miami Health System, will manage and provide all clinical services at 17 Walgreens Healthcare Clinics insides

NACDS fills two government affairs posts

ARLINGTON, Va. — The National Association of Chain Drug Stores has appointed William Tighe as vice president of federal government affairs and Amber Manko as director of federal government affairs. Tighe reports to Tom O’Donnell, NACDS’ senior vice president of government affairs and public policy. He began his new position with NACDS on December 12.

Rick Keyes becomes chief executive at Meijer

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Meijer Inc. president Rick Keyes has added the title of chief executive officer. Keyes took the CEO reins effective January 1. He succeeded Hank Meijer, who has become executive chairman of Meijer, which operates 230 supercenters and grocery stores, with pharmacies, in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky and Wisconsin. “We have

HHS rule gives pharmacies flexibility with rewards

WASHINGTON — The National Association of Chain Drug Stores welcomed a final rule issued by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that allows pharmacies greater flexibility to extend their reward and loyalty programs to beneficiaries in government programs, including Medicare and Medicaid. NACDS said Wednesday that the final rule, issued by HHS’ Office

A momentous development for three Rx chains

A momentous development for three Rx chains

The agreement struck last month for the sale of 865 Rite Aid Corp. drug stores to Fred’s Inc. is a momentous development for those companies, as well as Walgreens Boots Alliance, which after 14 months is still working to finalize the acquisition of Rite Aid. The $950 million all-cash deal will bring Fred’s stores and

New year to answer key questions in chain drug retailing

New year to answer key questions in chain drug retailing

The new year is finally here. On balance, 2016 was a year best forgotten. Very few events of a positive nature will be remembered. On the other hand, many unsettling moments would best be reviewed at another time — if at all. As 2017 dawns, several important questions remain to be resolved, a few of

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