The most stunning aspect of the recently held NACDS Regional Chain Conference, convened on the west coast of Florida on February 1, was the absence of many of the industry veterans around whom the conference revolved in years past. Tony Civello, until recently the head of Kerr Drug, was absent, having sold his drug chain
Rite Aid’s acquisition of PBM EnvisionRx was seen by industry observers as a big plus for the drug chain. Fitch Ratings called the deal “a positive move as it will enable the company to expand its distribution channels by getting a foothold in the specialty and mail-order channels.” “The acquisition is supported by Rite Aid’s improved
CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid Corp. has taken another decisive step in its drive to expand its footprint in health care, agreeing to acquire Envision Pharmaceutical Services (EnvisionRx), a full-service pharmacy benefits management company, in a cash-and-stock deal valued at about $2 billion. Rite Aid said Wednesday that it expects the acquisition of EnvisionRx, now
Rite Aid has inaugurated its first in-store RediClinics with the official opening of 24 locations in the Philadelphia and Baltimore/Washington, D.C., markets, and company executives are enthused about the boost that the retail clinics will give to its drug stores. Ken Martindale, president and chief operating officer of Rite Aid, said at yesterday’s grand opening
NEWTOWN SQUARE, PA. — Rite Aid Corp. officially marked the opening of the first RediClinics in its drug stores in a ribbon-cutting ceremony at its Wellness Store in Newtown Square, Pa., just outside Philadelphia. Rite Aid president and chief operating officer Ken Martindale, Rite Aid executive vice president of pharmacy Robert Thompson and RediClinic chief
LAKEWOOD, Ohio — Highlighting the Obama administration’s partnerships with drug chains to boost health plan enrollment, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Sylvia Burwell last month toured a CVS/pharmacy store here. Burwell’s visit also was intended to urge people to sign up for health insurance by the February 15 deadline in the current open enrollment period
The new year is just over a month old and already the chain drug industry has seen its fair share of noteworthy events. Walgreens Boots Alliance had a coming out party, opening trading at NASDAQ and unveiling its new corporate logo; Brian Unmacht became the first person outside the Bartell family to serve as president
CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid Corp. plans to construct a new distribution center in Spartanburg, S.C., which will be the drug chain’s first new facility in 15 years. Rite Aid said Wednesday that that the 900,000-square-foot Spartanburg distribution center, a $90 million project, is slated to open in 2016 and will support the inventory
NEW YORK — A stellar December capped a strong year for chain drug retailers. Industry sales for chain drug stores advanced 5.8% in 2014, with same-store dollar volume climbing 4.6%. Both numbers were up by more than a full point from 2013, when total volume advanced 4.4% and comparable-store sales rose 3.1%. Walgreen Co. shined
CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid Corp. has promoted Jocelyn Zazyczny Konrad to group vice president, pharmacy initiatives and clinical services. Konrad, who was vice president, health care initiatives, succeeds Karen Staniforth. Staniforth was recently promoted to chief operating officer at Health Dialog, a subsidiary of Rite Aid. Konrad is a licensed pharmacist with more
CAMP HILL, Pa. — In a promotion designed to reward its most loyal customers, Rite Aid Corp. began 2015 with a special offer to its wellness+ members. For every $50 spent in Rite Aid stores through January 24, the wellness+ members receive lifestyle and entertainment rewards. Customers who are members of the free wellness+ loyalty program
The cataclysmic changes within the chain drug retailing community, whatever their ultimate implications for America’s largest drug chains and for the industry in general, are putting the country’s regional drug chains more glaringly in the spotlight. Indeed, not only are America’s smaller drug chains more professionally managed and operated than they have yet been, they
In the not-too-distant past community pharmacy was correctly perceived as a conservative business whose members were intent on operating within a well-defined set of parameters and not rocking the boat. A generation ago it wasn’t uncommon to hear members of the profession joke about what they did as “lick, stick and pour.” The industry as
CAMP HILL, Pa. — There’s an underlying principle guiding Tony Montini and the merchandising and category management teams at Rite Aid Corp.: Be quick to act, but only when you have facts and data to support decisions. In the fast-changing arena of health and convenience retailing, Montini, the drug chain’s executive vice president of merchandising,
