It’s been a very long time since the remarkably stable top ranks of the chain drug community have witnessed so sudden and dramatic a series of seismic shifts — simultaneously. It’s as if the very earth that has long supported and grounded chain drug retailing has suddenly, and without warning, determined that stability has its
The evolution of CVS Health during Larry Merlo’s tenure as president and chief executive officer has been truly remarkable. Merlo, who earlier this month announced that he will retire on February 1 after a decade in the job, guided the transformation of the company from a drug store operator — albeit one that had, three
Richard Ashworth stepped down as president of Walgreens this year to become president and CEO of Tivity Health Inc., a provider of fitness and social engagement for seniors. In this interview with Jeffrey Woldt, editor-in-chief of Chain Drug Review, Ashworth discusses the motivation for leaving Walgreens after 28 years. He details Tivity’s operations, including its
DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA) projected single-digit profit growth in fiscal 2021 after reporting better-than-expected fourth quarter earnings, helped by higher sales at U.S. stores. U.S. store sales in the quarter ended August 31 advanced 3.6% from the year-ago period to $27 billion, with same-store sales rising by the same amount. WBA said
BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Walmart is suing the Department of Justice and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), asking a federal court to clarify the roles and responsibilities of pharmacists and pharmacies under the Controlled Substances Act. The case is pending before the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. Walmart states that the company
CAMP HILL, Pa. — During HLTH VRTL 2020, the leading, large-scale event for health care innovation held last month, Rite Aid Corp. chief operating officer Jim Peters highlighted the company’s RxEvolution and how it will reshape the chain drug store industry in a keynote address to the conference. HLTH brings together all the major stakeholders
No matter how you analyze it, 2020 was a depressing and deadly year. It’s not that nothing much happened. Rather, it’s the fact that what did happen was counterproductive — and then some. As background, we faced the coronavirus, the deadliest and most destructive pandemic to entrap America and the world in who-knows-how-many decades. Added
McKesson Corp. is going from strength to strength as it realigns the team that provides support to pharmacy operators across the country. In the wake of Chris Dimos’ retirement as president of retail solutions, the drug wholesaler has named Nimesh Jhaveri president of community pharmacy, and Eyad Farah president of Health Mart and Health Mart
ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Groups ranging from the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) to the Food Industry Association (FMI) have applauded the Supreme Court for hearing Rutledge v. Pharmaceutical Care Management Association (PCMA). This historic case seeks to clarify whether states can regulate pharmacy benefit managers, which manage prescription drug benefits for health insurers, Medicare Part
NEW YORK — Controversy over COVID-19 protocols seems to be spreading as fast as the virus itself — as is concern over who is getting infected. Most notably, of course, was news that President Donald Trump was stricken with the virus and was flown to Walter Reed Hospital for monitoring. Many of the president’s inner
The pending purchase of Bartell Drugs by Rite Aid reflects the intensification of two significant long-term trends in retail pharmacy and health care. The $95 million transaction, which still must pass muster with government regulators, will add the 67 stores that Bartell operates in Seattle and surrounding King, Snohomish and Pierce counties to the 69
Wednesday, October 7, 2020, will be remembered or fondly recalled by mass retailing aficionados as the day a microcosm of the mass retailing community assembled, virtually, to discuss the past, debate the present and predict the industry’s future. As background, the event was conceived, assembled and choreographed by Scott Emerson, founder and CEO of the
NEW YORK — Ever since it was signed into the law by President Obama on March 23, 2010, the Affordable Care Act has been under constant attack by Republicans seeking to undermine the former president’s signature legislation. Despite surviving numerous attempts by congressional Republicans to repeal it and its constitutionality being upheld by a majority-conservative
U.S. retailers lost a combined $61.7 billion to the various components of total retail loss (shrink) in 2019, an $11 billion increase from the previous year that reflected 1.62% of all sales. In this article we will focus on internal theft — a large component of the overall 42 categories of total retail loss. The
