It looks like one divestment possibility for Walgreens Boots Alliance isn’t panning out as it works with the Federal Trade Commission to gain antitrust clearance for its acquisition of Rite Aid. The New York Post reported this week that WBA hasn’t been able to sway private equity firms to buy a chunk of Walgreens and/or
NEW YORK — CVS Pharmacy and Walmart are two of the nation’s most-trusted brands, according to a Reader’s Digest poll. The publisher’s second annual Trusted Brands Survey, in which Ipsos Connect conducted online interviews with more than 5,000 U.S. adults, named CVS as the most trusted national pharmacy/drug store and Walmart as the most trusted
BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Walmart has finalized its $3.3 billion acquisition of e-tailer Jet.com. The discount store giant said late Monday that with the closing of the deal, which was announced in early August, Jet.com founder and chief executive officer Marc Lore becomes executive vice president at Walmart and president and CEO of Walmart e-commerce in
Walmart has always been a customer-driven organization, and today that orientation is much in evidence as the discounter looks to make its already formidable pharmacy, health and wellness business a more prominent part of the U.S. health care system. With the Affordable Care Act extending coverage to millions of additional Americans, Walmart has a chance
KATY, Texas — Michelle Gloeckler has stepped down as Walmart U.S. executive vice president of consumables, health and wellness to become executive vice president and chief merchandising officer at Academy Sports + Outdoors. She was also named president of Academy International Ltd., the $4.6 billion sports, outdoor and lifestyle retailer’s global sourcing entity. At Walmart,
BENTONVILLE, Ark. — A simplified shopping experience with improved navigation and adjacencies is at the heart of Walmart’s over-the-counter drug presentation, says Carmen Bauza, the company’s senior vice president of OTC health care. The goal is to give customers opportunities to build their shopping basket, explains Bauza, who also oversees optical, baby care, paper goods
George Riedl wasn’t at Walmart very long before he helped the retail and pharmacy giant adapt to the changing marketplace for generic drug purchasing. Upon arriving at Walmart late last year as senior vice president and president of the health and wellness business, Riedl — who spent most of his career at Walgreens — quickly
BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Walmart’s health and wellness division is poised to play a prominent part in the discounter’s ambitious drive to reinvent retail for an era when brick-and-mortar stores coexist with e-commerce. Pharmacy, over-the-counter medications and vision care currently account for about 10% of Walmart’s U.S. sales. By deepening the penetration of these products and
BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Walmart plans to eliminate about 7,000 back-office jobs at its U.S. stores over the coming months, The Wall Street Journal reported. The move is part of an effort to boost efficiency and free store employees to spend time on the sales floor interacting with customers, according to the Journal article published Thursday. But
BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Walmart earned $1.07 per share in the fiscal second quarter, slightly lower than its $1.08-per-share profit a year ago but above Wall Street’s consensus forecast of $1.02. The retail giant said Thursday that revenue grew 0.5% to $120.8 billion as the company notched its biggest same-store sales increase in four years. Walmart
The days of retailers calling the shots are gone; technology has put the customer in charge, said longtime retail analyst/consultant Walter Loeb. In a column for Forbes on Tuesday, Loeb said retailers are undergoing a transition in which they now must meet the needs of specific customers rather than interacting with consumers on a market
BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Following recent reports that a deal was in the works, Walmart announced that it’s buying online retailer Jet.com Inc. in a transaction valued at $3.3 billion. Walmart said Wednesday that under the agreement, it will buy Jet for about $3 billion in cash and $300 million in Walmart shares. Some of the
BENTONVILLE, Ark. — In a major follow-up to the sustainable chemistry policy it unveiled in 2013, Walmart has published a list of eight controversial chemicals that it is asking suppliers to eliminate from their products. The targeted substances were limited in number to make quick progress easier. The list of what Walmart has designated high-priority
BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Former Walmart executive Don Soderquist passed away last month due to complications from heart surgery. He was 82. Soderquist was recruited by Walmart founder Sam Walton from Ben Franklin Stores, where Walton had his retailing start. He joined the retailer in 1980 as executive vice president of administration and logistics and eventually
