January 4, 2010 by Chain Drug Review
Issue 01-04-2010, News

LONDON — Alliance Boots, the multifunctional global retailer and wholesaler, one that dominates the United Kingdom’s retail drug store segment, towers over Europe’s wholesale drug business and brings to the international retail community one of the planet’s dominant and most respected consumer goods brands, has been named the 2009 Global Chain Drug Retailer of the
January 4, 2010 by Chain Drug Review
Issue 01-04-2010, News

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario — To hear Andy Giancamilli tell it, one of the surest avenues to success in business, as in life, is to be in the right place at the right time. Throughout the course of his 34-year career in community pharmacy and mass market retailing, the chief executive officer of Katz Group North America
January 4, 2010 by Chain Drug Review
Issue 01-04-2010, News

NEW YORK — In just over a year as chief merchandising officer of Duane Reade Inc., Joe Magnacca has put his stamp on the chain in a way equaled by few other retailers. The newest and most recently remodeled Duane Reade stores are all but unrecognizable for New York City shoppers accustomed to older units
January 4, 2010 by Chain Drug Review
Issue 01-04-2010, News

DEERFIELD, Ill. — In recognition of his leadership in a rapidly changing industry, the editors of Chain Drug Review have named Walgreen Co. senior vice president of pharmacy Kermit Crawford the Chain Drug Pharmacy Executive of the Year. Crawford is helping transform Walgreens’ approach to the retail pharmacy business, moving from a focus on dispensing
January 4, 2010 by Chain Drug Review
Issue 01-04-2010, News

DEERFIELD, Ill. — The editors of Chain Drug Review have named Greg Wasson, president and chief executive officer of Walgreen Co., the publication’s 2009 Chain Drug Retailer of the Year. Wasson has earned the distinction for no less an accomplishment than reinventing America’s most revered drug chain, one that until recently had earned its reverential
December 15, 2009 by Chain Drug Review
Issue 12-07-2009, News

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Chong Bang, Walgreen Co.’s general merchandise manager for photo and front-end services and the latest executive to oversee implementation of the company’s Customer-Centric Retailing (CCR) initiative, plans to leave the company later this month. He is joining Canadian chain Shoppers Drug Mart as senior vice president of merchandising. Bang, whose last day
December 15, 2009 by Chain Drug Review
Issue 12-07-2009, News
WASHINGTON — Senators have dug in for a prolonged floor fight on health care reform, even after voting on their first two amendments. While lawmakers approved co-payment–free mammograms and other preventive services for women and rejected a Republican move to eliminate Medicare spending cuts, senators still faced weeks of debate, putting hopes for the passage
December 15, 2009 by Chain Drug Review
Issue 12-07-2009, News
WASHINGTON — Pharmacy operators and drug wholesalers say they fear that a new Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) policy could prevent certain medications for chronic conditions from being covered by Medicare Part D. To minimize disruption on senior citizens and pharmacies, five pharmacy associations — including the National Association of Chain Drug Stores,
December 15, 2009 by Chain Drug Review
Issue 12-07-2009, News
DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreen Co. continues to shuffle its upper management ranks, bringing in new executives and moving others to new roles. Most recently, divisional vice president of health law Laura Merten was named divisional vice president of compliance, loss prevention and profit sharing, replacing Chester Young, who will retire in January after 41 years
December 15, 2009 by Chain Drug Review
Issue 12-07-2009, News
NEW YORK — Chain drug retailers posted strong sales gains in November. Overall sales for the trade class advanced 8.3% from results in the prior-year period, while same-store sales increased by 4%. Walgreen Co. was among the drug chains recording solid results for the month. It reported November sales of nearly $5.4 billion, up 8.7%.
December 15, 2009 by Chain Drug Review
Issue 12-07-2009, News
BELLEVUE, Wash. — Online retailer drugstore.com inc. reported a strong start to its holiday selling season. On Cyber Monday, traditionally the kickoff of the online holiday shopping season, the company reported its highest number of orders ever. “While one day does not make the season, we are delighted that customers responded in record numbers to
December 15, 2009 by Chain Drug Review
Issue 12-07-2009, News
NEW YORK — The level of flu activity across the nation dropped in November, federal health officials said earlier this month, indicating that the second wave of the swine flu pandemic in the United States has peaked. While officials warned that the number of people getting infected with the H1N1 virus remains high and cases
December 15, 2009 by Chain Drug Review
Issue 12-07-2009, News

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Three longtime members of Walgreen Co.’s board of directors will step down next month, including Charles R. (Cork) Walgreen III, the grandson of the company’s founder. Plans call for Walgreen, Cordell Reed and Marilou von Ferstel to retire at the drug store chain’s annual shareholders meeting on January 13. Walgreen served on
December 15, 2009 by Chain Drug Review
Issue 12-07-2009, News
ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The National Association of Chain Drug Stores has submitted a letter to the Food and Drug Administration expressing its concern that rogue Internet pharmacies are engaging in a pattern of illegal activity. “These illegal, rogue Internet sites take advantage of consumers by luring them into illegal schemes to obtain prescription drugs, often