Pharmacies are helping patients cope with ACA
The kickoff of the Affordable Care Act’s open enrollment period has kept community pharmacy chains busy. Large retailers such as Walmart, CVS Caremark Corp., Walgreen Co. and Rite Aid Corp.
CDR
Washington gridlock casts shadow
The economy faced a greater threat from hitting the debt ceiling than from a government shutdown, experts said this month. Unless the federal borrowing limit was raised by October 17, the country faced a default on its loans and an ensuing global crisis.
Industry groups back Rx legislation
Community pharmacy advocates have thrown their support behind a congressional plan to reform the nation’s pharmaceutical supply chain and impose tighter regulations on pharmacy compounding.
Walgreens posts solid quarter across business
Fourth quarter net income surged more than 85% at Walgreen Co. as the company rebounded strongly from a year-ago quarter that was severely impacted by weak sales, costs related to its purchase of a stake in Alliance Boots GmbH and a big LIFO charge.
Rite Aid on track with ‘wellness’ remodels
Rite Aid Corp. aims to have about a quarter of its store base converted to its “wellness store” format by the close of its current fiscal year next March. The drug chain reached a milestone during its fiscal 2014 second quarter by opening its 1,000th wellness store remodel, company executives said
Loblaws taps exec to oversee SDM integration
Mark Butler has been named Loblaw Cos.’ executive vice president of integration with responsibility for planning the supermarketer’s assimilation of Shoppers Drug Mart (SDM). A 37-year Loblaws veteran, Butler was most recently executive vice president of the conventional division.
DeParle joins the board at CVS
CVS Caremark Corp. has named Nancy-Ann DeParle, a former top aide to President Barack Obama on the health care overhaul, to its board of directors. DeParle, 56, will be an independent director serving on the board’s audit committee.
Bartell adds new twist to latest drug store
Bartell Drugs is opening one of its largest stores ever in the Puget Sound area. The store, a 16,085-square-foot unit in the city’s Greenwood section, opened for business on October 13 and offers a broader merchandise mix than most other Bartell Drug outlets.
Industry won’t be same without Civello
The announcement last month that Walgreens had agreed to acquire Kerr Drug, the 76-store, Raleigh, N.C.-based drug chain, disrupted chain drug retailing as few previous acquisitions had done. It wasn’t the size of the deal that caused such a stir.
Studies dissect pharmacy customer satisfaction
New research that examines customer satisfaction with pharmacy operators contains some revealing insights. The studies, conducted separately by J.D. Power and Market Force Information, identify favorites among consumers and point to broader industrywide trends.
Hershey set to roll out first new brand in 30 years
The Hershey Co. is launching Lancaster caramel soft creme candy, its first brand-new confectionery brand in the United States in three decades. Lancaster Soft Cremes made their debut in China earlier this year. Hershey said Thursday that Lancaster is slated to roll out nationwide in January.
Teva plans 5,000 layoffs as part of downsizing
Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. is slated to reduce its global workforce by about 10% under a restructuring plan aimed at slashing costs and optimizing its organization and processes.
Reviver dry ‘swipe’ deodorizes clothes, hair
Kusin & Kusin Ltd. has introduced Reviver, which it calls the world’s first dry deodorant for clothes and hair. The product made its retail debut this week at Walgreens stores nationwide in the laundry aisle, the consumer packaged goods company said.
CPPA to create specialty pharmacy accreditation
The Center for Pharmacy Practice Accreditation (CPPA) plans to develop an accreditation program for specialty pharmacy practices. CPPA said Thursday that the program reflects the growing need and market for specialty medications and related services.
Gourlay fine-tunes Walgreens daily living team
Alex Gourlay, president of Walgreen Co.’s daily living business, this week announced adjustments to marketing and merchandising duties to simplify and coordinate the retailer’s strategic direction going forward.