As the new year dawns, it’s not premature to recognize some of the chain drug store people who helped make 2011 memorable — or, at the least, not easily forgotten. Here, in no particular order, are 10 chain drug industry executives who made a big impact during 2011: • Greg Wasson, Walgreens’ president and CEO.
NEW YORK — The editors of Chain Drug Review have named the employees of Walgreen Co. — and more particularly, five of the company’s top executives — as the publication’s 2011 Chain Drug Retailers of the Year. 2011 Retailer Of The Year: Walgreens In a larger sense, the five executives — chief executive officer Greg
NEW YORK — Though uncertainty still surrounds the economy and the U.S. health care reform law, North American drug chains have carved out a role as wellness providers. The accessibility and trustworthiness of pharmacies and pharmacists — combined with the convenience of front-end offerings, including healthful food — have made drug stores indispensable for people
NEW YORK — Absent the last-minute shopping surge that rescued holiday sales a year ago, Christmas 2011 was in the main a dismal event for the nation’s drug chains. The holiday shopping season that began on Friday, November 25, and ended 30 days later on Christmas Eve — giving the retail community one more shopping
NEW YORK — CVS Caremark Corp. is capitalizing on its “integration sweet spots” to drive growth. The intersection of pharmacy retailing, pharmacy benefits management and walk-in health clinics has positioned the company for short- and long-term success, president and chief executive officer Larry Merlo said at its 2011 analyst day here. The retail business delivered
WASHINGTON — The National Association of Chain Drug Stores wants to ensure that Congress has the facts straight regarding the planned merger of Express Scripts Inc. and Medco Health Solutions Inc. In a letter to Sen. Herb Kohl (D., Wis.) last month, NACDS said Express Scripts chief executive officer George Paz and Medco CEO David
CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid Corp. has expanded its wellness+ customer loyalty program. Executives say the revamped program, which went into effect this month, will deliver more value to customers. Cardholders will find it easier to shop and save at Rite Aid, they say, with exclusive access to the drug store industry’s first coupon
NEW YORK — Extending the horizons of its innovative 40 Wall St. store, Duane Reade has opened a midtown Manhattan drug store with still more novel food and beauty care offerings. The 20,000-square-foot store at 52nd Street and Broadway formerly was a 3,100-square-foot Duane Reade Express outlet. New features in the “up market” food-to-go area
ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Community pharmacy advocates say concerns by 40 members of Congress that proposed Medicaid reimbursement rates are inadequate could eventually lead to changes in the plan. The National Association of Chain Drug Stores and National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) say that a letter sent by Rep. Bruce Braley (D., Iowa) and Mike Rogers
NEW YORK — Walgreen Co. corporate vice president and chief innovation officer Colin Watts has left the chain to join Weight Watchers International Inc. as senior vice president of wellness and global innovation. In his new role Watts will oversee the Weight Watchers’ North American B2B/health care business and will head the company’s global innovation
ST. LOUIS — About 60 Medicine Shoppe International (MSI) and Medicap pharmacy owners have filed an arbitration claim against their franchisors alleging lack of support. The franchisees announced their breach-of-contract claim last month. Cardinal Health Inc., parent company of MSI and Medicap, denied the allegations. “The overwhelming majority of our franchisees are pleased with the
WEST DES MOINES, Iowa — Hy-Vee chairman and chief executive officer Ric Jurgens says he will retire in June. At Hy-Vee’s annual meeting last month, the 62-year-old Jurgens said he feels that the chain, which operates more than 200 food and pharmacy stores and about 25 stand-alone drug stores, has reached the point where he
MISSISSAUGA, Ontario — Community pharmacy in Canada is grappling with a new reality as payers strive to limit drug expenditures and other health care costs while opportunities open up for pharmacists to deliver new, remunerated services. The Pharmacy Forum that the Canadian Foundation for Pharmacy organized November 23 and November 24 here aimed to provide
WOONSOCKET, R.I. — With a recent study from IBM showing the percentage of consumers using mobile devices to shop has nearly tripled over the past year, CVS/pharmacy has made its entire cvs.com catalog available through its mobile site. “Our new mobile shopping site offers digitally minded shoppers a superior on-the-go retail shopping experience,” senior vice
