CDR – Chain Drug Review - Reporter for the Chain Drug Industry

Walgreens supporting relief efforts across Iowa and Nebraska

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens is supporting relief efforts in Iowa and Nebraska as communities across the region continue to recover from record flooding. Walgreens is donating $25,000 to the American Red Cross relief efforts, and many of its stores have provided donations of over-the-counter medications

Kroger Division QFC to eliminate single-use plastic bags

BELLEVUE, Wash. — Beginning April 1, QFC, a division of Kroger Co., will no longer offer single-use plastic bags. Throughout the month of April, QFC will donate $1 for each reusable bag sold in its stores to The Nature Conservancy, a global nonprofit committed to protecting the

Novartis plans for Alcon spin-off on April 9, 2019

BASEL — Novartis Friday confirmed that certain important conditions precedent for the 100% spin-off of the Alcon eye care business have been met, including receipt of certain necessary authorizations and rulings. Completion of the transaction, by way of a distribution of a dividend in kind to Novartis shareholders

Aliera offers members MinuteClinic access

ATLANTA — Aliera Healthcare, a provider of traditional and non-traditional health plans, Thursday announced a new affiliation with MinuteClinic, the retail medical clinic of CVS Health. The agreement provides Aliera members across all individual and group health plans with access to MinuteClinic services at no

Aetna assists members affected by flooding in the Midwest

HARTFORD, Conn. — Aetna, a CVS Health business, is offering resources to members who have been affected by floods in Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin. Aetna members can refill their prescriptions early, if needed. Members who use Aetna’s mail-order pharmacy can either get

RETAIL NEWS

Walmart chief technology officer to depart

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Walmart chief technology officer Jeremy King is leaving the company later this month, according to an internal company memo. While the company seeks a successor, Walmart Labs senior vice president of customer technology Fiona Tan will take on an elevated role, serving

Rite Aid stockholders approve reverse stock split

CAMP HILL, PA – Rite Aid Corp. announced that its stockholders approved a reverse stock split of the company’s common stock at Thursday’s special meeting of stockholders. According to preliminary tabulations, with approximately 987 million eligible votes cast, stockholders voted 78% in favor of the

eCommerce channels being utilized more for drug and medical device sales

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — As tech-savvy millennials have come to expect a high level of user experience (UX), the health care industry has begun to digitize products, services, and commerce models. The industry is setting up personalized UX/user interface (UI)-enabled eCommerce platforms and websites, which are

Washington, Michigan and Wisconsin see more flu activity

DEERFIELD, Ill.— Washington, Michigan and Wisconsin were the lead states in Walgreens Flu Index for week ending March 16, 2019. The Walgreens Flu Index is a weekly report developed to provide state- and market-specific information regarding flu activity, and ranks those states and markets experiencing the

Kroger, Ocado name location of second high-tech fulfillment center

GROVELAND, Fla. — Kroger Co. and Ocado Tuesday announced Groveland, Lake County, Florida, as the second location for one of their Customer Fulfillment Centers (CFC). “Kroger is incredibly excited to construct one of our industry-leading Customer Fulfillment Centers in Groveland, Fla.—a city west of Orlando—through our relationship

SUPPLIER NEWS

Big chewy Nerds goes sour, available nationwide in April

CHICAGO — Nerds, the popular candy brand known for its tiny, tangy, crunchy candy packed with flavor from the Ferrara Candy Company, is expanding its award-winning product, Big Chewy Nerds, with the launch of Sour Big Chewy Nerds. Featuring a sour chewy center covered in a

The PepsiCo Foundation expands access to safe water for more Than 22 million people worldwide

PURCHASE, N.Y. — PepsiCo announced Friday that it has helped more than 22 million people in underserved communities around the world gain access to safe water since 2006. In the last year alone, PepsiCo and its partners expanded access for more than 6 million people, indicating

Irwin Naturals appoints Tim Toll CEO

LOS ANGELES— Earlier this year, Klee Irwin, owner and founder of Irwin Naturals, named Timothy Toll chief executive officer. This move comes at a time of rapid growth for Irwin Naturals, a leading health and wellness company with a long history of providing its customers with quality and

Nestlé Waters NA commits additional $2 million to IMESF

STANWOOD, Mich. — Nestlé Waters North America (NWNA) has committed to investing an additional $2 million into its Ice Mountain Environmental Stewardship Fund (IMESF). The IMESF supports the long-term sustainability of the Muskegon River Watershed and its ecosystems by funding environmental conservation projects and programs throughout

higi names Darren Singer as new group vice president

CHICAGO – higi, a consumer health engagement company with over 10,000 smart health stations located in pharmacy, grocery and mass merchant retailers nationwide, Wednesday announced Darren Singer as its new group vice president of Network Alliances. In this newly created role, Singer will call on his extensive retail