BOCA RATON, Fla. — Lee Colarco has been named vice president of general merchandise and consumables at the Chain Drug Consortium.

A chain drug retailing veteran with over 25 years of experience in the general merchandise category, Colarco will be responsible for general merchandise, seasonal importing and all consumables and snack/edible programs, the Chain Drug Consortium said Monday.

Previously, Colarco was vice president of merchandising and category management at Duane Reade, responsible for $350 million in front-end retail sales, according to the consortium. She was named to the merchandising VP post at the New York City drug chain, now part of Walgreen Co., in July 2009.

Her retail drug store experience includes five years at Duane Reade, seven years at Eckerd and Brooks/Eckerd as senior group operational merchant and marketing director, and 15 years at Genovese Drug Stores as senior merchandise manager and director of imports.

At the consortium, she will report to Edward Frisch, president and chief executive officer.

"We welcome Lee to the consortium, where Lee’s leadership in general merchandise, imports and consumables initiatives and re-merchandising skills will deliver new opportunities to our membership," Frisch said in a statement.

A group purchasing and marketing organization, the Chain Drug Consortium provides members — which include family-owned and privately held pharmacy chains — with programs, services and buying power to help them compete with large national chains and mail-order pharmacies.