Wendy future of retail top

Issues

Two from industry’s halcyon days remembered

Two members of the chain drug industry passed away on the same day in January. Each was very different from the other, yet they were tied together by virtue of their intimate participation in the halcyon years of chain drug retailing. Glenn Kraiss died on January 18 at age 79. Kraiss spent 50 years in

Canada unveils plan to cut generics costs

TORONTO — A government plan to cut prices on commonly used generic drugs has pharmacy operators across Canada worried about the potential impact on their businesses. The Council of Federation, a congress of the premiers of Canada’s 13 provinces and territories, unveiled an initiative in mid-January to set prices for six popular generics — atorvastatin,

Rexall debuts Be.better brand

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario — Rexall has launched Be.better, a new flagship private brand with products focused on well-being and “green” living. The line has more than 100 items, including healthier snack options, environmentally friendly cleaning products, gluten-free vitamins, vegetarian probiotics, and salon-quality hair care products with natural oils such as oblipicha, argan oil and macadamia nut.

Deadline for insurance exchanges extended

WASHINGTON — States have been granted additional time to establish markets through which millions of Americans are expected to buy subsidized private health insurance. Under the law, the federal government was supposed to determine “on or before January 1, 2013,” whether states were prepared to operate the online markets, known as insurance exchanges. But Health

Walgreens extends reach beyond the drug store

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Continuing to stretch the bounds of retail pharmacy, Walgreen Co. has opened one of the country’s most comprehensive work-site health centers. The facility, at the BMW Manufacturing campus in Spartanburg, S.C., provides the automaker’s employees, dependents and eligible retirees a wide range of health services, including primary and occupational care. The 25,000-square-foot

CVS, Walgreens set new standard in Rx

Much has been made of the competition between CVS and Walgreens for supremacy in chain drug retailing and leadership in the health care community. And indeed there is little doubt that these two health care retailers are in a class by themselves when it comes to providing patient care. The real story here, however, is

Albertson’s to acquire 877 stores from Supervalu

BOISE, Idaho, and MINNEAPOLIS — The parent company of Albertson’s LLC has agreed to acquire five supermarket chains from Supervalu Inc. for $3.3 billion, making Albertsons one of the top 10 U.S. pharmacy chains as measured by number of prescription counters. The buyer, AB Acquisition LLC, is an affiliate of a Cerberus Capital Management LP-led

Walgreens looks back at productive year

CHICAGO — Walgreen Co.’s 2012 annual shareholders meeting will be remembered as among the most impressive in the long series, both for the accomplishments that framed the event and for the message Greg Wasson, Walgreens’ president and chief executive officer, delivered in explaining what have arguably been the most productive, if sometimes confusing, 12 months

Interaction with patients a sine qua non for pharmacists

NEW YORK — As retail pharmacy recreates itself as a first-line health care provider rather than simply a dispenser of medications, pharmacist engagement is assuming increasing importance. Indeed, pharmacist-patient interaction is nothing less than the focal point of the industry’s effort to change its business model to one that stresses counseling services and medication therapy

In-store clinics gaining traction

NEW YORK — Walk-in medical clinics located in retail pharmacies, workplaces and other venues are growing in popularity, according to a new Harris Interactive/HealthDay poll. Twenty-seven percent of all adults surveyed said they have used either walk-in retail clinics (19%) or work-based clinics (11%) to obtain medical care in the past two years, up from

Safeway’s Burd set to retire

PLEASANTON, Calif. — Steve Burd, longtime chairman and chief executive officer at Safeway Inc., will retire in May as he seeks additional personal time and pursues his work in health care. Burd joined Safeway as president 20 years ago and was named CEO shortly after. He is credited with establishing “a culture of thrift and

Fiscal cliff averted, but new budget battles loom

WASHINGTON — The down-to-the-wire fight over the fiscal cliff was only a prelude to upcoming budget battles. Most imminently, the need to raise the debt ceiling could foment a crisis as soon as late February. President Barack Obama says he will not let Republicans threaten to maintain the ceiling — thereby closing down the government

Rite Aid highlights 50th anniversary savings, services

CAMP HILL, Pa. — As Rite Aid Corp. wraps up its 50th anniversary celebration, the company is offering customers new opportunities to save money and highlighting the role its pharmacists can play in helping people adhere to their New Year’s resolutions. Dubbed RA50, the company’s golden anniversary kicked off in September. Since then, Rite Aid

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