Inside This Issue - News

Wal-Mart reduces eye care pricing

In its latest move to cut consumers’ health care costs and win their business, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has cut prices on contact lenses and children’s eyewear.

SDM rolls out loyalty credit card

Shoppers Drug Mart (SDM) is offering Canadians a quicker way of accumulating Shoppers Optimum Points with the launch of the Shoppers Optimum MasterCard credit card from MBNA Canada Bank.

Navarro brings back key execs

Navarro Discount Pharmacies has gotten Gabe Navarro and Marcio Cabrera to return to run the company.

NACDS blasts AWP settlement

A federal court’s approval of final settlements involving First Data­Bank and Medi-Span is being opposed by the National Association of Chain Drug Stores.

Walgreens to reinvent shopping experience

While the current economic downturn has created tremendous challenges for most of retail, Walgreen Co. sees it as an opportunity to implement major changes in its merchandising and marketing, according to vice president and chief marketing officer Kim Feil.

Ex-NYC health chief named to head FDA

Margaret Hamburg, a former commissioner of health for New York City, has been tapped by President Obama to become the next head of the Food and Drug Administration.

Drug Fair to sell the bulk of its stores

Drug Fair Group Inc. has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and plans to sell most of its stores to Walgreen Co.

CVS fine-tunes clinic strategy

CVS Caremark Corp. has closed about 90 of its 560 MinuteClinics and plans to reopen them during the flu season and other periods of heavy demand.

CACDS: No lack of challenges on horizon

The 360 delegates from Canada’s chain drug industry, its suppliers and academia who attended the Canadian Association of Chain Drug Stores (CACDS) annual conference here discussed a short-term future much brighter than that faced by other sectors of Canadian retailing.