Twenty months ago, Walgreens Boots Alliance announced a $17.2 billion deal to acquire Rite Aid Corp. On Thursday, in the wake of a protracted antitrust review by the Federal Trade Commission, the two companies opted to call of the Walgreens-Rite Aid merger and struck a new agreement. Under the new deal, WBA is slated to
This month, Walgreens wrapped up its annual Red Nose Day campaign aimed at helping to end child poverty. During the six-week campaign, Walgreens associates took part in a range of Red Nose Day events and companies held Red Nose Day challenges to help raise funds. The drug chain also urged customers to participate by buying
A new video from Rite Aid emphasizes the importance of staying up to date on recommended vaccinations, including the pneumonia vaccine. In the clip, a Rite Aid certified immunizing pharmacist notes that seniors are at a higher risk of catching pneumonia, which afflicts about 900,000 Americans annually, and the chain provides the shot at its
WASHINGTON — With summer just around the corner, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores is helping members be well-prepared for the 2017 NACDS Total Store Expo. NACDS on Wednesday spotlighted its menu of resources and tools to help Total Store Expo attendees identify and contact business partners, schedule and plan out meetings, boost visibility
NEW YORK — CVS Pharmacy has reimagined its store design, highlighting an expanded offering of health and beauty products and “better for you” food products. The new layout’s “discovery zones” in key health categories take a holistic approach to care and product selections. Together with new health services and innovative digital programs, the changes represent
A new NACDS chairman was inaugurated on the final day of the 2017 NACDS Annual Meeting. Alex Gourlay, co-chief operating officer of Walgreens Boots Alliance, took the gavel from outgoing chairman Martin Otto, chief merchant and chief financial officer at H-E-B, at the conference’s Tuesday morning Business Program. “I think my role, really, is to
Monday at the 2017 NACDS Annual Meeting brought the NACDS Chain Members & PAC Breakfast with keynote speaker Karl Rove, the D.C. political analyst and strategist. “We need to move from a centralized, ‘Washington decides everything’ health care system to one in which we empower consumers, patients, their physicians and their health care providers to
Day two of the NACDS Annual Meeting featured the conference’s first Business Program, led by outgoing chairman Martin Otto of H-E-B and NACDS president and CEO Steve Anderson. Otto and Anderson discussed the think-tank approach to strategy that NACDS is embracing with its Future Value Targeting effort. “The Future Value Targeting initiative that Martin touched
The 2017 NACDS Annual Meeting got going on Saturday at The Phoenician in Scottsdale, Ariz. Headlining the day’s events were Meet the Retailer sessions with CVS Health, Walgreens, Fred’s Pharmacy, Sam’s Club, Cardinal Health and The Vitamin Shoppe. NACDS also held its board of directors meeting. “We’re very customer-first; we’re creating the very best customer
Like everyone else waiting for the wrap-up of the Walgreens-Rite Aid merger, investment pundit Jim Cramer of TheStreet.com and CNBC’s “Mad Money” is getting impatient over the plodding antitrust review negotiations. Now approaching its 18th month, Walgreens Boots Alliance’s planned acquisition of Rite Aid has a deal end date of July 31, as per an
A half-dozen congressmen pointed a finger at pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) on the floor of the House of Representatives last week in an hour of comments on the high cost of prescriptions drugs, the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) said in its Executive Update e-newsletter. In the session, Reps. Doug Collins (R., Ga.), Brian Babin
WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS Health’s removal of tobacco products from its drug stores over two years ago continues to impact retail cigarette sales. A new study from the CVS Health Research Institute, published online Thursday in the American Journal of Public Health, found that dropping tobacco from all CVS Pharmacy stores reduced the number of
WASHINGTON — Promoting his economic platform with business leaders, President Donald Trump today met with top retail executives at the White House. Focusing on Trump’s plank of job creation, simplification of the tax code and reduced regulatory red tape, the Wednesday morning meeting was a scheduled event with the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA). The
With high prescription drug costs a pillar of the national debate on health care, the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association (PCMA) is trying to shed some light on drug pricing. The Washington, D.C.-based PBM trade group on Wednesday released a video titled, “What is drug price transparency?”. PCMA said the goal is to show how transparency
