Wendy future of retail top

Stefano Pessina

Kroger, Walgreens working on pilot program

Kroger, Walgreens working on pilot program

DEERFIELD, Ill. – Kroger Co. and Walgreens are teaming up to work on an exploratory pilot program with a new format and concept that combines Kroger’s role as America’s grocer and food authority with Walgreens global expertise in pharmacy, health and beauty. The two retail leaders have selected 13 Walgreens stores in Northern Kentucky, near

WBA finalizes investment in pharmacy chain GuoDa

WBA finalizes investment in pharmacy chain GuoDa

DEERFIELD, Ill. – Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA) today announced that, following receipt of regulatory approvals, it has completed the previously announced agreement to acquire a 40% minority stake in Sinopharm Holding GuoDa Drugstores Co., Ltd. (GuoDa), a leading retail pharmacy chain in China. WBA acquired the minority stake in GuoDa through a capital increase worth

Walgreens Boots Alliance tops Q3 earnings forecast

Walgreens Boots Alliance tops Q3 earnings forecast

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA), which entered the Dow this week, topped analysts’s forecasts in its third quarter earnings, boosted its dividend and announced a $10 billion share buyback. “I am pleased that, in what has been a challenging environment, we have again delivered solid earnings per share growth combined with healthy cash flow,” said

Walgreens and Humana team to offer senior services

Walgreens and Humana team to offer senior services

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Humana Inc. and Walgreens have partnered to provide easier access to primary care and other services for seniors as part of the two companies’ ongoing and shared commitment to the health and well-being of people in the Kansas City area. The companies said the collaboration will establish a senior-focused neighborhood approach to

Pessina on road ahead for WBA

Pessina on road ahead for WBA

NEW YORK — Walgreens Boots Alliance executive vice chairman and chief executive officer Stefano Pessina urged analysts not to think they can see the future of Walgreens simply by visiting the company’s new pilot stores in Gainesville, Fla. “Let’s be clear,” Pessina said during a sell-side analyst event in New York last month. “Gainesville today

Walgreens Boots Alliance posts 2Q gains

Walgreens Boots Alliance posts 2Q gains

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA) reported better-than-expected earnings and revenue on Wednesday when it announced results for the second quarter of fiscal 2018, which ended February 28. Overall, WBA earned $1.73 a share, up 27% versus a year ago. Revenue grew 12.1% to $33.02 billion. Same-store sales rose 2.4%, with comparable-pharmacy sales up

Realignment in U.S. health care sector accelerates

Realignment in U.S. health care sector accelerates

NEW YORK — The U.S. health care industry has been in flux for a number of years, but the pace of transformation now appears to be accelerating rapidly. Several of the biggest players in the U.S. health care sector are making moves to confront an uncertain future — one that may bring unwelcome competition and

Reports: WBA in talks to buy AmerisourceBergen

Reports: WBA in talks to buy AmerisourceBergen

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA) is in negotiations to acquire drug distributor AmerisourceBergen Corp., according to published reports. Representatives of WBA executive vice chairman and chief executive officer Stefano Pessina made “a high-level outreach” to representatives of AmerisourceBergen chairman and CEO Steven Collis several weeks ago, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar

Pessina: Walgreens’ transformation well under way

Pessina: Walgreens’ transformation well under way

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Walgreens is halfway through a transformation that includes a rethinking of its supply chain and services, Walgreens Boots Alliance executive vice chairman and CEO Stefano Pessina said at the company’s annual shareholders meeting. Walgreens is also recasting its approach to interacting with customers and patients, Pessina added, noting that 2018 will see

Sales surge in 1Q at Walgreens Boots Alliance

Sales surge in 1Q at Walgreens Boots Alliance

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Strong sales gains by the U.S. retail pharmacy division propelled Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA) in its fiscal 2018 first quarter, which also saw the company exceed Wall Street’s earnings forecast. WBA said Thursday that, for the quarter ended Nov. 30, sales totaled  $30.74 billion, up 7.9% from $28.5 billion a year earlier.

First batch of Rite Aid stores go to WBA

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Walgreens Boots Alliance has taken over the first 97 of its acquired Rite Aid Corp. stores. WBA purchased 1,932 stores under a revised deal with Rite Aid after the government thwarted its acquisition of the entire chain. WBA also picked up three distribution centers and related inventory from Rite Aid as

WBA to buy stake in China’s GuoDa drug chain

WBA to buy stake in China’s GuoDa drug chain

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA) plans to pay about $416 million to acquire a 40% stake in Sinopharm Holding GuoDa Drug Store Co. WBA confirmed the deal on Monday. GuoDa is the largest retail pharmacy operator in China, with nearly 3,700 stores. With stores in 70 major cities across the country, GuoDa is

WBA to shut 600 stores in Rite Aid integration

WBA to shut 600 stores in Rite Aid integration

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. (WBA) is developing the picture of its future store base after turning the page on a nearly two-year process triggered by its proposed merger with Rite Aid Corp. Beginning next spring, WBA plans to shut 600 stores under an 18-month program to rationalize its U.S. drug store network

Trump declares opioid abuse a public health emergency

Trump declares opioid abuse a public health emergency

WASHINGTON — Following through on pledge made this summer, President Donald Trump has formally declared the nation’s growing opioid abuse epidemic as a public health emergency. In a press conference at the White House on Thursday, the president and First Lady Melania Trump announced the action, which has drawn plaudits from public officials and pharmacy

PP_1170x120_10-25-21