Pharmacists across Ontario are hailing the provincial government’s decision to provide seniors and Ontario Drug Benefit recipients with additional access to pharmacist consultations in an attempt to ensure that medications are being used safely and effectively.
Tom Ryan and Mary Sammons have received the National Association of Chain Drug Stores’ Sheldon W. Fantle Lifetime Achievement Award. Ryan, who just retired as chairman of CVS Caremark Corp., served as president and chief executive officer of the company from 1994 until this year.
A federal appellate court here has begun reviewing the decisions of two lower courts on the constitutionality of last year’s health care reform law. The three appeals court judges, who were randomly selected from the 14 members of the U.S.
With the economic recovery well under way, chain drug retailers can expect a year of growth in 2011, industry analysts say.
Larry Merlo, president and chief executive officer of CVS Caremark Corp. and current chairman of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores, made a dramatic announcement at this year’s NACDS Annual Meeting regarding the association’s meetings and conferences agenda.
Tony Montini has been promoted to executive vice president of merchandising at Rite Aid Corp. He had been senior vice president of category management.
The store co-branding concept that began late last year between Rite Aid Corp. and Save-A-Lot Food Stores has met and in some cases exceeded expectations at the 10 outlets that are involved. The co-branded food and pharmacy stores are owned and operated by Rite Aid.
Former Duane Reade and Longs Drug Stores executive Frank Scorpiniti has been named chief operating officer at Katz Group Canada Ltd. Scorpiniti brings more than 20 years of retail pharmacy experience to the post.
Walgreen Co. has launched a national health initiative encouraging Americans to walk more and rewarding participants with in-store discounts. Walk With Walgreens is an online community and digital platform enabling members to log the steps they take and earn weekly coupons.
London Drugs is nearing the completion of a redesign of two stores that could be precursors to the way the pharmacy chain’s stores will look going forward. “We regularly look for new ideas and are constantly reviewing our stores,” president and chief executive officer Wynne Powell says.
Navarro Discount Pharmacy plans to introduce its own private brand of products geared to Hispanic shoppers. The brand, Vida Mia (My Life), covers a wide range of categories, including over-the-counter medications, household items, beauty products, food, and body care and baby care products.
The National Association of Chain Drug Stores has made a pair of new appointments to its government affairs team. Joining NACDS are Julie Philp as director of federal government affairs and Joel Kurzman as a director of state government affairs.
Former Duane Reade executive Lee Colarco has been named vice president of general merchandise and consumables at the Chain Drug Consortium.
U.S. prescription drug spending rose in 2010 but grew at less than half the rate in 2009, according to a new report from the IMS Institute for Healthcare Informatics.
Health Mart and Medicine Shoppe International Inc. (MSI) have tied for second in Consumer Reports’ latest ranking of the best pharmacies. While independent drug stores took the top spot with a score of 93, Health Mart and MSI were each just one point behind.
Walgreen Co.’s $409 million purchase of drugstore.com, which followed the sale of its pharmacy benefits management division, underlines the chain’s rededication to retailing in all its forms. It also contrasts Walgreens with rival CVS Caremark Corp.
