November 21, 2016 by Geoff Walden and Chain Drug Review
Affordable Care Act, Donald Trump, health insurance, Mitch McConnell, Obamacare, Paul Ryan, Restoring Americans’ Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act of 2015
2016, Issue 11-21-2016, Issues, Leading Headlines, News, Pharmacy, Retail News

WASHINGTON — If Obamacare is repealed, what will replace it? That is the question in the aftermath of the election of Donald Trump as president. Trump has vowed to “repeal and replace” the Affordable Care Act as his first act in office. If the effort succeeds, some 22 million fewer Americans would have health insurance,
November 21, 2016 by Scot Meyer and Chain Drug Review
CVS Health, CVS layoffs, Larry Merlo, Tricare, Walgreens Boots Alliance
2016, Issue 11-21-2016, Issues, News

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS Health said it will eliminate about 600 corporate jobs over the next couple of months. The job cuts will be made primarily at CVS corporate offices in Rhode Island, Illinois and Arizona, the company said. In a statement, CVS Health indicated that the job reductions reflect fluctuations in the health care
November 21, 2016 by Scot Meyer and Chain Drug Review
Carmen Bauza, Home Shopping Network, HSN, Mindy Grossman, Walmart
2016, Issue 11-21-2016, Issues, News
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Walmart health and wellness executive Carmen Bauza is leaving the company to join the television and online retailer HSN Inc. Bauza is slated to join HSN/Home Shopping Network as executive vice president and chief merchandising officer, effective November 28, the interactive multichannel retail company announced. In her new role, Bauza will
November 21, 2016 by Mark Baumgartner and Chain Drug Review
Elizabeth Holmes, Theranos, Theranos Wellness Centers, Walgreens
2016, Issue 11-21-2016, Issues, News
DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens filed a breach-of-contract lawsuit against Theranos Inc., its former lab-testing partner, seeking damages of $140 million. The damages figure represents the amount that the drug store chain said it invested in the Palo Alto, Calif.-based health technology company. The civil suit was filed in U.S. District Court in Delaware on November
November 21, 2016 by Mark Baumgartner and Chain Drug Review
2016 PoweRanking, Daniel Raynak, Kantar PoweRanking, Kantar Retail, Kroger, Walmart
2016, Issue 11-21-2016, Issues, News
NORWALK, Conn. — Walmart and Kroger Co. finished in a virtual tie as the top retailer in the 2016 PoweRanking determined by consulting firm Kantar Retail LLC. PepsiCo and Coca-Cola Co. were at the top of the rankings of manufacturers in this year’s survey. Walmart has been atop the retailer rankings for more than a
November 21, 2016 by Geoff Walden and Chain Drug Review
Dave Svenson, Discount Drug Mart, Hastings Professional Medical Equipment, home health care, Mike Kreutzberg, Tom McConnell
2016, Issue 11-21-2016, Issues, Leading Headlines, News, Retail News

MEDINA, Ohio — Discount Drug Mart has taken home health care at drug chains to a new level. Building on its 2014 acquisition of Hastings Professional Medical Equipment, the retailer says it’s providing products and services unavailable at rival pharmacy operators. Our reputation in the category is so good that the competition will refer customers
November 21, 2016 by Geoff Walden and Chain Drug Review
BI-LO, John Fegan, Southeastern Grocers, Winn-Dixie
2016, Issue 11-21-2016, Issues, News
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — John Fegan has retired as vice president of pharmacy at Southeastern Grocers LLC, parent company of BI-LO, Harveys and Winn-Dixie. The company operates more than 500 pharmacies. Fegan joined Winn-Dixie as vice president of pharmacy in June 2008. He formerly headed U.S. pharmacy operations at Ahold, a Netherlands-based global food retailer. He
November 21, 2016 by Mark Baumgartner and Chain Drug Review
Ballard, Bartell Drugs, Brian Unmacht, Northwest on Tap
2016, Issue 11-21-2016, Issues, News
SEATTLE — Bartell Drugs held a grand opening November 19 for its newest store, its 65th overall, in the city’s burgeoning Ballard neighborhood. The 14,200-square-foot store extends the retailer’s recent focus on urban locales. It features a full-service pharmacy that offers a spacious waiting area and a range of health care options focused on convenience,
November 21, 2016 by Mark Baumgartner and Chain Drug Review
900 Day Strategic Plan, Justin Bates, Neighbourhood Pharmacies, Neighbourhood Pharmacy Association of Canada, Vivek Sood
2016, Issue 11-21-2016, Issues, News
TORONTO — The Neighbourhood Pharmacy Association of Canada (Neighbourhood Pharmacies) has released its new 900 Day Strategic Plan, a mission statement for how the organization can advance the interests of its retail pharmacy members. The new plan represents not simply a change in focus but a renewal and enhancement of the organization’s strategic orientation, Neighbourhood
November 21, 2016 by David Pinto and Chain Drug Review
Carmen Bauza, chain drug retailing, CVS, David Pinto, mass retailing, Rite Aid, Walgreens, Walmart
2016, Issue 11-21-2016, Issues, Opinion

As the year nears its end, surprises continue to make news in chain drug retailing. Mostly, negative surprises. Earlier this month, CVS downsized its headquarters staff by some 600 employees, stopping for a moment the retailer’s uninterrupted string of good news. Following that announcement, the Woonsocket, R.I.-based drug chain issued a warning that results might
November 21, 2016 by Jeffrey Woldt and Chain Drug Review
FMI, FMI Connect, Food Marketing Institute, Leslie Sarasin
2016, Issue 11-21-2016, Issues, Opinion

The Food Marketing Institute’s recent cancellation of FMI Connect, the trade show that had been scheduled for McCormick Place in Chicago next June, raises some interesting questions about the value and long-term viability of such events. FMI Connect and its predecessors were for many years a staple on the supermarket industry calendar, so, as Leslie
November 21, 2016 by Geoff Walden and Chain Drug Review
2016 Chain Drug Review Category Management Roundtable, Bob Candelora, Chain Drug Review, Dave Van Howe, Jeffrey Woldt, Marc Greenberger, Market Performance Group
2016, Featured Articles, Issue 11-21-2016, Issues, Leading Headlines, News, Retail News

NEW YORK — The increasing complexity of today’s consumer is making it ever more difficult to tailor stores to shoppers, retailers and suppliers said at the 2016 Chain Drug Review Category Management Roundtable in Manhattan. Conducted in tandem with Market Performance Group (MPG), the roundtable featured 20 executives representing the retailer and supplier viewpoints. Panelists