NEW YORK — With the economic recovery well under way, chain drug retailers can expect a year of growth in 2011, industry analysts say. A reviving job market and rebound in household wealth have lifted consumer confidence and spending, which should translate to more business in the pharmacy and the front end for drug chains
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Larry Merlo, president and chief executive officer of CVS Caremark Corp. and current chairman of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores, made a dramatic announcement at this year’s NACDS Annual Meeting regarding the association’s meetings and conferences agenda. At the business session on Sunday morning, May 1, Merlo unveiled a stunning
CAMP HILL, Pa. — Tony Montini has been promoted to executive vice president of merchandising at Rite Aid Corp. He had been senior vice president of category management. In his new position Montini will oversee field merchandising and new store format development in addition to maintaining his responsibilities for category management. The company’s new store
GREENVILLE, S.C. — The store co-branding concept that began late last year between Rite Aid Corp. and Save-A-Lot Food Stores has met and in some cases exceeded expectations at the 10 outlets that are involved. The co-branded food and pharmacy stores are owned and operated by Rite Aid. “We’re pleased with what we’ve seen to
TORONTO — Former Duane Reade and Longs Drug Stores executive Frank Scorpiniti has been named chief operating officer at Katz Group Canada Ltd. Scorpiniti brings more than 20 years of retail pharmacy experience to the post. From December 2008 he was senior vice president of pharmacy operations at Duane Reade, where he played a key
DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreen Co. has launched a national health initiative encouraging Americans to walk more and rewarding participants with in-store discounts. Walk With Walgreens is an online community and digital platform enabling members to log the steps they take and earn weekly coupons. Participants can also learn about the health benefits of walking, set
VANCOUVER, British Columbia — London Drugs is nearing the completion of a redesign of two stores that could be precursors to the way the pharmacy chain’s stores will look going forward. “We regularly look for new ideas and are constantly reviewing our stores,” president and chief executive officer Wynne Powell says. Sometimes, he notes, new
MIAMI — Navarro Discount Pharmacy plans to introduce its own private brand of products geared to Hispanic shoppers. The brand, Vida Mia (My Life), covers a wide range of categories, including over-the-counter medications, household items, beauty products, food, and body care and baby care products. The items range from cosmetics and beauty products favored by
ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The National Association of Chain Drug Stores has made a pair of new appointments to its government affairs team. Joining NACDS are Julie Philp as director of federal government affairs and Joel Kurzman as a director of state government affairs. Philp will advance NACDS’ policy advocacy efforts by building and maintaining relationships
BOCA RATON, Fla. — Former Duane Reade executive Lee Colarco has been named vice president of general merchandise and consumables at the Chain Drug Consortium. Colarco, a chain drug retailing veteran with over 25 years of experience in the general merchandise category, will be responsible for general merchandise, seasonal importing and all consumables and snack/edible
PARSIPPANY, N.J. — U.S. prescription drug spending rose in 2010 but grew at less than half the rate in 2009, according to a new report from the IMS Institute for Healthcare Informatics. The IMS Health unit said in its “Use of Medicines in the United States: Review of 2010” report that spending for prescription medications
NEW YORK — Health Mart and Medicine Shoppe International Inc. (MSI) have tied for second in Consumer Reports’ latest ranking of the best pharmacies. While independent drug stores took the top spot with a score of 93, Health Mart and MSI were each just one point behind. The results are in the publication’s May issue.
The Annual Meeting of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores now under way in Scottsdale, Ariz., promises to be exceptional — for a variety of reasons not connected to the program or the current issues facing the association or the chain drug industry. More specifically: • The 2011 NACDS Annual Meeting marks the last
Once again a fellow named Ryan is shaking up the retail pharmacy business. With his proposed federal spending plan for fiscal 2012, Rep. Paul Ryan (R., Wis.) has ignited what promises to be a long, intense, divisive debate about government expenditures, tax policy and the rapidly escalating national debt. Designed to cut some $5.8 trillion
