WASHINGTON — Two recent Supreme Court decisions offered good news to retailers regarding their ongoing fight over the fees they pay on credit and debit card transactions. Late last month the Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal that sought to reinstate a $7.25 billion antitrust settlement of price-fixing charges against MasterCard Inc. and Visa
MONTE CARLO, Monaco — The Alphega Pharmacy network, part of the Alliance Healthcare arm of Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. (WBA), recently held its eighth European convention here, attracting more than 1,200 attendees from nine different countries. Based on the theme “Close to You,” the gathering featured presentations on health care innovation, global market developments and
If you do business in the drug channel, the question of what happened to drug store traffic over the last few months is one I’m sure you’ve been seriously puzzling over. That and several others: Was it an aberration? When will traffic return? Will it return? Why did it happen? And, oh yes, how should
New formats are popping up throughout the chain drug industry, as retailers seek to overcome the sales malaise that has ensnared the industry this year. To recapture lost momentum, chain drug retailers are testing new store sizes, new merchandise assortments, new product locations within stores and new store concepts, sometimes all at once. It’s far
NEW YORK — These are uncertain times for chain drug stores. The turbulent political atmosphere surrounding the Affordable Care Act, combined with the undetermined outcome of Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc.’s (WBA’s) acquisition of Rite Aid Corp., is making 2017 one of the more unsettled years for the industry in recent memory. The ACA “is in
CVS Health earlier this month named Tom Moriarty to the new position of chief policy and external affairs officer. As explained by president and chief executive officer Larry Merlo, the rationale behind the creation of the role is to “deliver an integrated approach to policy development and external engagement so the company can contribute to
WASHINGTON — Republicans remained divided on a replacement for Obamacare late last month, as a House vote on the replacement American Health Care Act was aborted due to lack of support for the bill. House leaders pulled back the legislation despite a vow from President Trump to leave Obama’s signature law in place if Congress
DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens has named Joseph Hartsig chief merchandising officer and Adam Holyk chief marketing officer. Hartsig and Holyk report to Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. (WBA) co-chief operating officer Alex Gourlay, and are part of the Walgreens Enterprise Operating Committee. Hartsig also reports to Annie Murphy, WBA’s chief customer officer, while Holyk also reports
POINT PLEASANT, W.Va. — Not long after Jack Fruth, the founder of Fruth Pharmacy, died in 2005, his daughter Lynne Fruth had to make a decision: continue her successful career in education or take the reins of her father’s business. In 2009, Fruth was elected chair of Fruth Corp., a position that would pose more
WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS Health last month announced the launch of Reduced Rx, a prescription savings program offering discounts on certain medications directly to patients through the company’s pharmacy benefits manager, CVS Caremark. The announcement came a day after the company reported that prescription growth for CVS Caremark clients slowed in 2016 to its lowest
DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. (WBA) is reportedly prepared to sell additional stores and other assets to Fred’s Inc. in an effort to win Federal Trade Commission approval for its merger with Rite Aid Corp. WBA, which had initially agreed to sell 865 Rite Aid stores to Fred’s, is planning to raise that
SEATTLE — Bartell Drugs, America’s oldest family-owned pharmacy, has launched a new specialty pharmacy service that personalizes health care for those experiencing conditions requiring specialized medications. “Being diagnosed and entering treatment can be overwhelming,” states Bartells clinical programs manager Christina Ree. “Our specialty pharmacy program helps take the fear out of the process and replaces
BURNABY, British Columbia — Peoples Drug Mart has ceased operations as a pharmacy group. The network’s independently owned 45 drug stores will operate under new banners, said Mark Dickson, who was Peoples’ interim chief executive officer. Dickson blamed the group’s demise after 41 years on the continued squeeze on pharmacy margins across Canada. Coping with
MEMPHIS — Fred’s Inc. recently announced three new members — industry veterans Christopher Bodine, Peter Bocian and Mike Bloom — to its board of directors. At the same time, the company announced the retirement of Michael Hayes, John Eisenman and Jerry Shore from the board. During his 24-year tenure at CVS Caremark Corp., Bodine held
