DEERFIELD, Ill. — Winding down a nearly two-year process, Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. (WBA) has gained Federal Trade Commission approval to buy 1,932 stores, three distribution centers and inventory from Rite Aid Corp. for $4.375 billion in cash. The transaction also includes the WBA’s assumption of related real estate leases and an option for Rite
CAMP HILL, Pa. — Ken Martindale, who was an integral part of the turnaround team at Rite Aid Corp., has left the company to head GNC Holdings Inc. Martindale, who was president of Rite Aid and chief executive officer of stores, has become CEO of GNC, which has almost 2,400 stores within a store at
NEW YORK — Hurricane Irma, one of the most powerful storms ever to hit the United States, sent retail spending in the Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach area of Florida spiraling downward, with sales plunging more than 72% over a three-day period, according to payment technology company First Data Corp. The company, which
NEW YORK — The secret weapon in the battle for the $62 billion that U.S. customers spend on beauty care and cosmetics just might be something mass retailers had all along — steep values. While drug, discount and supermarket chains have burnished their image in beauty with illumination, upgraded products and elevated service, it turns
SAINT-LAURENT, Quebec — Alain Arel has been named president of Uniprix and Proxim, both of which are owned by McKesson Canada. The acquisition of 330-store Uniprix by McKesson Canada was completed this month. Proxim, with over 2,000 pharmacies, including more than 275 in Quebec, represents the largest network of independent pharmacist-owners in Canada. Arel will
WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS Pharmacy is introducing vending machines stocked with 70 or so items curated for their particular locations — airports, hotels, office parks, college campuses — giving shoppers an opportunity to grab something quickly from a machine and keep going. “We are always looking for new ways to combine convenience and innovation to
BOULDER, Colo. — Pharmaca Integrative Pharmacy is expanding beyond its western U.S. market area via an independent pharmacy acquisition that will bring it to the Windy City. Pharmaca has entered an agreement to buy Aaron’s Apothecary in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago, the chain’s first location in the city. In addition, Pharmaca has boosted
BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Walmart is rolling out a new consolidation plan, putting in place a structure that improves communication and execution, streamlines decision making and accelerates the pace of change at the nation’s largest retailer. The new hierarchy will consolidate Walmart’s U.S. business to four divisions from six, each managed by a senior vice president
WASHINGTON — The effort to replace Obamacare has taken divergent paths, neither of which seems likely to produce a lasting alternative. Republicans, led by Sens. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, proposed taking funds budgeted for the Affordable Care Act and sending it to states as block grants along with the
COSTA MESA, Calif. — Resentment over rising drug prices has dimmed customers’ view of the U.S. pharmacy industry, according to J.D. Power. Decreased satisfaction with both brick-and-mortar and mail order pharmacies was found by the J.D. Power 2017 U.S. Pharmacy Study. Satisfaction with brick-and-mortar pharmacy costs fell 27 index points to 789 on a 1,000-point
WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS Pharmacy has announced the schedule for Project Health, its annual campaign to provide free health screenings to customers. Through December 17, more than 450 CVS Project Health wellness events will deliver more than $5 million worth of free health services in selected CVS Pharmacy locations across 10 multicultural communities with a
WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS Pharmacy is acquiring six ProMedica outpatient pharmacies in Ohio, five of which will close. CVS Pharmacy said it will take over operations of the ProMedica Pharmacy Counter in Oregon, Ohio, and convert it to a CVS Pharmacy outlet in November. The other five pharmacies, all in Toledo, Ohio, will be closed
DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens and the United Nations Foundation have kicked off the fifth year of the Get a Shot. Give a Shot. campaign. To date, Get a Shot. Give a Shot. has provided 20 million polio and measles vaccines to people in developing countries, according to the retailer. For every vaccination administered through August 2018
TORONTO — Shoppers Drug Mart (SDM) has kicked off its 16th annual fundraising campaign in support of women’s health charities across Canada. The Growing Women’s Health campaign aims to raise $3.6 million over a four-week period, according to the company. SDM, Canada’s largest drug store chain, has more than 1,300 Shoppers Drug Mart and Pharmaprix
