With the National Association of Chain Drug Stores gearing up for its annual NACDS Regional Chain Conference, which will run from February 4 through February 6 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., it is a good moment to appraise that segment of the community pharmacy industry. Greatly reduced in number by the consolidation wave that has repeatedly
SAN ANTONIO — Even the best-run, most effective organizations can benefit from occasionally reconsidering their work in a new light. The National Association of Chain Drug Stores is a case in point. Long viewed as the country’s preeminent retail trade group, NACDS has in recent months broadened and deepened its already formidable commitment to the
WOONSOCKET, R.I. — Kevin Hourican is a relative newcomer to community pharmacy, but that hasn’t prevented him from helping CVS Health live up to its positioning as a pharmacy innovation company. Since being named executive vice president of retail pharmacy and supply chain 18 months ago, Hourican, who was trained in economics and supply chain
DEERFIELD, Ill. — To the casual observer, the dominant story line at Walgreens might appear to be the phased acquisition of 1,932 drug stores and related assets from Rite Aid Corp., and plans for their subsequent assimilation. But, important as the deal is, it shouldn’t be allowed to obscure other compelling developments at Walgreens Boots
A case could be made that for pharmacy operators passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act late last month was the biggest story of 2017. Championed by the Republican leadership in Congress and President Trump, the $1.5 trillion measure will provide substantial, permanent tax relief for businesses — the corporate tax rate was cut
In an era when brand image all too often oversells what it is supposed to represent, Walgreens finds itself in the enviable position of updating its identity to better reflect its very real merits and the combination of continuity and change that characterizes the drug chain. The first public step in the process occurred early
With the death of Murray Koffler at the age of 93 earlier this month, one of the master builders of retail pharmacy passed from the scene. Beginning with two independent drug stores in Toronto that he inherited from his father, Koffler created Shoppers Drug Mart, long the dominant pharmacy chain in Canada — now with
More often than not, independent drug stores are overshadowed by the big retail chains. While it’s understandable why individual pharmacists who own one or two locations do not receive the same level of attention as the top pharmacy operators, the largest of which each have thousands of stores across the United States, in the aggregate
Speculation about the possible entry of Amazon into the prescription drug business has been abundant in recent weeks. Financial analysts and journalists have generated a steady stream of reports about what is planned by the e-commerce powerhouse which, beginning with books 23 years ago, has succeeded in disrupting established business patterns in one merchandise category
September was an eventful month for Rite Aid Corp. In the wake of belated action by the Federal Trade Commission, the company moved quickly to dispel doubts about its future direction and begin the challenging task of operating more profitably from a smaller store base. Rite Aid had been under a cloud of uncertainty for
Since its founding in Boulder, Colo., 17 years ago, Pharmaca Integrative Pharmacy has honed its singular vision of drug store retailing in five western states, viewed as particularly conducive to the pairing of traditional pharmacy services with natural and complementary health and beauty solutions. The company is now intent on demonstrating that its holistic approach
DUBLIN, Ohio — Cardinal Health is prepared to play a significant role in meeting the challenge of expanding access, improving patient outcomes and lowering costs in health care, said chairman and chief executive officer George Barrett. With its integrated offerings, Cardinal Health is an essential partner for pharmacies, physicians’ offices, hospitals and other providers in
The dynamism of the retail industry’s most active, innovative and forward-thinking members is raising the stakes for everyone in the field. Major developments with potentially far-reaching implications for the way consumers shop are occurring at an unprecedented rate. In just the past few weeks, Walmart and Amazon.com Inc. have ratcheted up the pressure on their
DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens has always viewed itself as a customer-led organization. The guardian of that positioning in its modern manifestation is Adam Holyk. As senior vice president and chief marketing officer, he is responsible for the company’s approach to staying in touch with the people who shop the drug chain, both in its stores
