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Issue 02-14-2011

CVS Caremark leadership team evolves

CVS Caremark Corp. has moved up Larry Merlo’s succession to chief executive officer to March 1. Merlo, who has been president and chief operating officer of CVS Caremark since last May, was due to succeed Tom Ryan as chief executive at the company’s annual meeting this May.

NACDS ready for RxImpact Day

The centrality of pharmacists and pharmacies to the health and wellness of Americans — regardless of what happens with health care reform — will be highlighted in March at the third annual NACDS RxImpact Day on Capitol Hill.

Idea of ‘well’ guides Walgreens’ business

As it moves deeper into its second century in business, Walgreen Co. will become less of a retail drug store and more of a health and daily living store, chief executive officer Greg Wasson said at the company’s annual shareholders meeting here.

Top merchant appointed at Walmart

Duncan Mac Naughton has been promoted to chief merchandising officer for Walmart’s U.S. stores. With the move, Mac Naughton will now oversee all product categories across the discount store giant’s more than 3,700 stores.

Health care reform still being contested

Congress and the courts, like the American public, remain divided on the health care reform law. Although the Republican-controlled House voted to overturn the measure, Democrats have ruled out the possibility of a repeal vote in the Senate.

Three-year store opening plan unveiled by Navarro

Navarro Discount Pharmacy plans to add as many as 20 stores over the next three years as the drug chain expands beyond Florida’s Miami-Dade County. The strategy includes five new drug stores this year, seven new outlets in 2011 and eight new units in 2013. This year, the first new store will be

Winter Rewards offered by Rite Aid

Members of Rite Aid Corp.’s wellness+ program can earn a “$20 +UP Reward” and be automatically entered into a sweepstakes featuring over $100,000 in prizes as part of the retailer’s Winter Rewards program.

NACDS introduces a ‘guide on the go’

The National Association of Chain Drug Stores has launched NACDS Mobile, a mobile web site that serves as a “guide on the go” to the organization’s meetings, advocacy and public relations. The site, http://m.NACDS.org, is designed for ease of use on any smartphone with a web browser.

Walgreens strengthens its leadership team

Walgreen Co. has promoted several executives and created a new position in its upper management ranks. Among those promoted was senior vice president of e-commerce Sona Chawla, who has been elevated to president of e-commerce.

Walmart pushes healthy food

With a growing number of the industry’s largest drug chains putting more emphasis on food, last month’s announcement by Walmart that it will reduce salt and sugar in its processed products in the next five years and lower the price of its fruit and vegetables is likely to be a game changer.

Pharmaca goes green at new unit

Pharmaca Integrative Pharmacy has become this city’s only pharmacy using solar power. The drug store chain installed 20 panels on the awning of its downtown store at 1647 Pearl St. in Boulder, Colo.

Small chains stand out at CDMA Expo

Overlooked amid the cacophony of meetings planned, meetings scheduled, meetings held and meetings evaluated was a relatively quiet event late last month in Orlando, Fla. The meeting in question was the annual trade expo hosted by the Chain Drug Marketing Association.