September 8, 2009 by Chain Drug Review
Issue 09-14-2009, News
WASHINGTON — Retail pharmacy continues to lobby to maintain its seat at the table in the continuing debate on how or whether to reform the nation’s health care system. During the recent congressional recess, some legislators held town hall/community meetings at which the local citizenry voiced their opinions on various health care proposals. But other
September 8, 2009 by Chain Drug Review
Issue 09-14-2009, News
ALEXANDRIA, Va. — A federal appeals court has upheld a district court ruling that approves the controversial First DataBank and Medi-Span settlements. The decision means that effective September 26, average wholesale prices (AWPs) of drugs paid to pharmacies will be reduced to 120% of the wholesale acquisition cost (WAC), a move that the National Association
September 8, 2009 by Chain Drug Review
Issue 09-14-2009, News
ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Characterizing it as a victory for patient care, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores and the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) have reached agreement with the Delaware State Department of Health and Social Services that will restore much of the funding to pharmacies that would have been lost due to rate
September 8, 2009 by Chain Drug Review
Issue 09-14-2009, News
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Walgreen Co.’s Customer-Centric Retailing (CCR) transformation is reshaping the shopping experience to inspire consumers with choices and ideas, two of the program’s architects said at a conference here. Walgreens is still giving shoppers what they want, but with “a little bit of extra spirit and a little bit of extra inspiration,”
September 8, 2009 by Chain Drug Review
Issue 09-14-2009, News
HARRISBURG, Pa. — Alex Grass, who opened a small health and beauty aids store in Scranton, Pa., in 1962 and built it into Rite Aid Corp., now the nation’s third-largest drug chain, died late last month. He was 82. Grass, who became a philanthropist in his later years, died from respiratory failure at his home
September 8, 2009 by Chain Drug Review
Issue 09-14-2009, News
NEW YORK — Chain drug retailers are working to stay ahead of the game this flu season amid rising public concern about the need to get immunized, which is being driven by fears about the spread of the H1N1, or swine flu, virus. Facing the unprecedented challenge of meeting demand for both seasonal flu shots
September 8, 2009 by Chain Drug Review
Issue 09-14-2009, News
DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreen Co. recently struck a deal to offer prescription drugs directly to Caterpillar Inc. workers and retirees. The agreement marks the second such program that the heavy equipment manufacturer has made with a community pharmacy chain. A year ago Caterpillar entered into a pilot program with Wal-Mart Stores Inc. to determine if
September 8, 2009 by Chain Drug Review
Issue 09-14-2009, News
NEW YORK — Consumers are changing the way they shop for health and beauty products because of the recession, according to new research from Information Resources Inc. (IRI) and the National Association of Chain Drug Stores. What is perhaps equally important, according to IRI president of consulting and innovation Thom Blischok, is that the new
September 8, 2009 by Chain Drug Review
Issue 09-14-2009, News
In 1776 Thomas Paine wrote: “If there must be trouble, let it be in my day, that my child may have peace.” Those words are echoed in the current economy, reflecting a mother’s desire to shelter her children from economic hardship. To better understand how the economy has affected back-to-school (B-T-S) shopping, and for a
September 8, 2009 by Chain Drug Review
Issue 09-14-2009, News
ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Supervalu Inc. executive vice president of merchandising and marketing Duncan Mac Naughton has been elected to the National Association of Chain Drug Stores board of directors. Mac Naughton’s election to the board late last month fills a vacancy created when Kevin Tripp, executive vice president of Supervalu’s Midwest division, retired earlier this
August 19, 2009 by Chain Drug Review
Issue 08-17-2009, News
BOSTON — Characterizing National Association of Chain Drug Stores members as a “band of reformers,” association president and chief executive officer Steve Anderson called on attendees at the NACDS Pharmacy and Technology Conference here to remain advocates for the role of pharmacy and pharmacists in the brewing national debate on health care reform. In his
August 19, 2009 by Chain Drug Review
Issue 08-17-2009, News
CAMP HILL, Pa. — With responsibility for category management, merchandising, marketing and the supply chain, Ken Martindale is leading several of the most critical of Rite Aid Corp.’s initiatives to improve its operating performance. His arrival at the drug store chain last December fulfilled a long-delayed wish of chairman and chief executive officer Mary Sammons,
August 19, 2009 by Chain Drug Review
Issue 08-17-2009, News
WASHINGTON — With Congress in recess, President Barack Obama has become the most visible proponent of a health care overhaul, bringing his push for reform around the country. Individual legislators also met the public in their home states and districts but in many cases were met with vitriolic protests. In Portsmouth, N.H., Obama told a
August 19, 2009 by Chain Drug Review
Issue 08-17-2009, News
RALEIGH, N.C. — Kerr Drug plans to open a third Naturally Kerr site later this fall, with executives saying the company’s initial two stores are performing better than expected. “In three months, sales of natural, organic and homeopathic products at our two Naturally Kerr stores have exceeded our expectations,” president and chief executive officer Anthony