NEW YORK — Chain drug pharmacies are not just reacting to change in the health care system. They’re driving it. With the health care overhaul now a certainty, and cash-strapped patients heightening their pursuit of cost-effective preventive care and wellness, drug chains are dramatically stepping up pharmacists’ roles. The Supreme Court’s June ruling upholding the
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is partnering with several retail pharmacy operators to help educate consumers about newly available Medicare benefits. HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius (l.) meets with Helena Foulkes of CVS/pharmacy at the drug chain’s store in Jacksonville, Fla. The program was announced by HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius at
NEW YORK — Duane Reade has proven equal to the challenge of creating a worthy successor to its flagship store at 40 Wall Street in Manhattan, which after its debut in July 2011, quickly became a model of what the 21st-century drug store can be. Duane Reade’s store at 100 Broadway is housed in the
CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid Corp. has expanded the Load2Card capability for its growing wellness+ customer loyalty program. Starting September 2, wellness+ members nationwide will have +UP Rewards loaded automatically to their cards. Until now, +UPs have been printed at the bottom of register receipts, and customers have had to bring them to a
TORONTO — As part of its 50th anniversary celebration in September, Shoppers Drug Mart (SDM) is launching a number of special activities and promotions. Canada’s largest drug store chain has established an online portal so customers can share their memories of it. Through September 23, SDM customers can access the interactive “50 Fabulous Years” digital
CHICAGO — Walgreen Co. is teaming up with the University of Chicago Medicine to launch a “Food Rx” initiative designed to help people with diabetes improve their eating habits by making better food choices more accessible and affordable. As part of the initiative, diabetes patients who visit one of six clinics in Chicago’s South Side
GOUVERNEUR, N.Y. — Kinney Drugs has promoted Jim Spencer to chief operating officer. He had been vice president of retail operations. In his new post Spencer is responsible for overseeing retail and pharmacy store operations and the company’s retail merchandising department. He reports to Kinney Healthcare Services president Bridget-ann Hart. “Jim is a results-driven leader
SEATTLE — Bartell Drugs will move its corporate headquarters to West Seattle in October. The 58-store regional drug chain has occupied its current location in downtown Seattle since 1989. Founded in 1890, Bartell’s store network extends across three counties: King, Snohomish and Pierce. The company’s current headquarters site originally housed both its head office and
NEW YORK — With the end of summer in sight, the onset of flu season is just around the corner. Flu season can begin as early as October and continue through mid-May, but several drug chains have already unveiled flu vaccination programs to help consumers fend off the disease. The three largest chains, Walgreen Co.,
CINCINNATI — Kroger Co. is adding self-service health screening kiosks to all 1,950 of its stores with pharmacies. “Our customers tell us they want to make healthy choices but don’t always know where to start,” says Matthew Feltman, Kroger’s health strategy coordinator. “We’re pleased to expand the availability of Kroger HealthCenters to help our customers
DALLAS — CVS Caremark Corp. is part of a group of more than a dozen big retailers that have joined forces to develop a way for customers to use their smartphones to pay for purchases and receive customized offers. The retailers have jointly formed a new company called Merchant Customer Exchange (MCX). Development of MCX’s
NEW YORK — Retail sales rose in July for the first time in four months, according to the Commerce Department, and a survey of importers and manufacturers found them upbeat about the upcoming fall and winter shopping season. Retail sales in July were up 0.8% over June, and 4.1% over July 2011, according to the
At the NACDS Annual Meeting this past spring, I talked a lot about the “wellness kick” that is sweeping the nation. Consumers are looking for ways to improve their total health — physically and emotionally. Community pharmacy is uniquely positioned to help patients achieve total health, and now we have an even greater opportunity to
This has been a year of unprecedented change for chain drug retailing. Indeed, in less time than it takes to tell, the industry has been altered in ways both subtle and dramatic. So quickly have things happened that many have been accepted as normal or ignored as inevitable. Here, in no particular order, are some
