February 12, 2010 by Chain Drug Review
Issue 02-15-2010, News
BENTONVILLE, Ark. — In an effort to boost efficiencies, cut costs and get closer to the consumer, Walmart has undertaken a major structural reorganization. While some of the most visible changes are in the company’s field operations team, merchandising and procurement have also been targeted. The Walmart U.S. division is resorting its field operations organization
February 12, 2010 by Chain Drug Review
Issue 02-15-2010, News
WASHINGTON — Health care reform will apparently come later rather than sooner. With the shift of one Senate seat, last year’s most pressing issue for President Barack Obama and the Democratic majority in Congress has moved to the back burner. The surprise January election of Massachusetts Republican Scott Brown ended the Democrats’ filibuster-proof Senate majority
February 12, 2010 by Chain Drug Review
Issue 02-15-2010, News
SAN FRANCISCO — Health Mart, McKesson Corp.’s nationwide network of independently owned pharmacies, has set a milestone with the addition of its 2,500th pharmacy. “We joined Health Mart to take advantage of the innovative marketing, operational and patient care programs,” says Tom Fakih, owner of Trudell Health Mart Pharmacy of Dearborn, Mich. “Then we found
February 12, 2010 by Chain Drug Review
Issue 02-15-2010, News
DEERFIELD, Ill. — In support of its efforts to add perishable food offerings to many of its stores, Walgreen Co. has hired veteran convenience store executive Jim Jensen to serve as its new divisional merchandise manager of fresh foods. Jensen comes to Walgreens from Fresh & Easy Markets, the convenience-oriented food chain that is operated
February 12, 2010 by Chain Drug Review
Issue 02-15-2010, News
NEW YORK — Duane Reade Inc. has launched a new customer rewards program. Executives explain that the program — called Duane Reade FlexRewards — is easier to use and leads to faster rewards than Dollar Rewards, which was the chain’s previous loyalty program. “As the name suggests, FlexRewards is a much more flexible, rewarding and
February 12, 2010 by Chain Drug Review
Issue 02-15-2010, News
WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS Caremark Corp. is expanding its reach in terms of the markets it serves and the savings it provides to customers. With more than 7,000 stores, the drug chain made its entry into the St. Louis market last month, opening four stores in the region in a single week. At the same
February 12, 2010 by Chain Drug Review
Issue 02-15-2010, News
MIAMI — Navarro Discount Pharmacies has opened a pediatric prescription window at one of its Miami outlets. The window was created to assist parents, particularly working mothers of children with urgent health needs, who require medication. “Mothers are usually pressed for time, and for children it is important to get their medication as soon as
February 12, 2010 by Chain Drug Review
Issue 02-15-2010, News
CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid Corp. has moved two executives into new positions. Senior vice president of strategic business development Chris Hall has become senior vice president of pharmacy business development. Vice president of financial accounting and treasury Matt Schroeder, meanwhile, has been promoted to the role of group vice president of strategy and
January 29, 2010 by Chain Drug Review
Issue 02-01-2010, News
WOONSOCKET, R.I. — The editors of Chain Drug Review have named Tom Ryan, chairman, president and chief executive officer of CVS Caremark Corp., the publication’s Chain Drug Retailer of the Decade. The choice was not a difficult one to make. Indeed, the decade that began on January 1, 2000, and ended five weeks ago produced
January 29, 2010 by Chain Drug Review
Issue 02-01-2010, News
CHICAGO — Walgreen Co. is poised to emerge from the economic downturn stronger than ever, its executives told investors at the company’s annual meeting last month. The 7,150-store drug chain says that such initiatives as its remodeled stores and localized selection should push shoppers to buy more, and its continuing expansion into broader health care
January 29, 2010 by Chain Drug Review
Issue 02-01-2010, News
DEERFIELD, Ill. — Following a pattern of augmenting its presence in important markets through the acquisition of strong regional drug chains, Walgreen Co. has agreed to purchase the pharmacy business and other assets of 25 Snyders Drug Stores locations in Minnesota. Financial terms of the transaction between the nation’s biggest drug chain and St. Louis
January 29, 2010 by Chain Drug Review
Issue 02-01-2010, News
CAMP HILL, Pa. — Bryan Shirtliff has been named senior vice president of business development at Rite Aid Corp., a new position. Shirtliff, who joined Rite Aid in 1998, had been senior vice president of category management. In the new post, he will be charged with developing merchandising initiatives to support the chain’s store segmentation
January 29, 2010 by Chain Drug Review
Issue 02-01-2010, News
NEW YORK — Chain drug retailers have stepped up their inoculation services in recent weeks, as supplies of the H1N1 flu vaccine have become more readily available. At the same time, some health officials have reported that the public’s interest in getting vaccinated has lagged, and many Americans believe that the danger posed by the
January 29, 2010 by Chain Drug Review
Issue 02-01-2010, News
NEW YORK — The chain drug industry has responded to the Haiti earthquake disaster with cash donations and measures to enable employees and customers to donate individually to relief efforts. Walgreen Co., for example, has donated $100,000 to the American Red Cross and will match employee donations dollar for dollar up to $50,000. The company