WBA to shut 600 stores in retail network overhaul
Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA) plans to close 600 stores starting next year as it rationalizes its U.S. drug store base following the $4.375 billion purchase of 1,932 Rite Aid stores.
Retail News
WBA’s Q4 earnings top analysts’ forecast
Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA) beat Wall Street’s adjusted earnings per share forecast for its 2017 fourth quarter and fiscal year, with pharmacy results helping boost sales for both periods. However, WBA said Wednesday that costs related to the unsuccessful deal to acquire Rite Aid Corp.
CVS Caremark unveils performance-based Rx network
For its CVS Caremark pharmacy benefit manager, CVS Health next year plans to roll out a new 30,000-store pharmacy network anchored by CVS Pharmacy and Walgreens. CVS said late Tuesday that the performance-based network also will include up to 10,000 independent community pharmacies nationwide.
Kroger promotes Mike Donnelly to COO
Kroger Co. has named Mike Donnelly as executive vice president and chief operating officer. The supermarket giant said Tuesday that Donnelly, currently executive vice president of merchandising, will start in the new post on Nov. 1.
NACDS tackles opioid crisis in letter to Trump
The National Association of Chain Drug Stores has made four policy proposals to help fight opioid abuse in a letter to President Donald Trump.
Walgreens stocks all pharmacies with Narcan Nasal Spray
Walgreens is now carrying Adapt Pharma’s Narcan, a nasal spray form of opioid overdose antidote naloxone, in all of its more than 8,000 pharmacies nationwide.
Rite Aid gives Medicare Part D guidance to seniors
Rite Aid Corp. has begun offering assistance to seniors during the Medicare Part D open enrollment period. Through Dec.
Albertsons Cos. enables Apple Pay across all chains
Albertsons Cos. has begun accepting Apple Pay mobile payment in all of its food and drug retail banners, spanning more than 2,300 stores nationwide. Albertsons Cos.
Big V Drug Stores co-founder Tony Crncich dies
Tony Crncich, co-founder of Ontario pharmacy chain Big V Drug Stores, passed away last week at age 87. Crncich, who launched Big V in Windsor, Ontario, 55 years ago with partner Mahlon Dyer, died on Oct. 18, the Windsor Star reported.
Trump executive order takes aim at ACA
After numerous failed attempts to repeal the Affordable Care Act, President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to relax standards on small businesses that band together to buy health insurance and may take steps to allow the sale of other health plans that skirt the health law’s requirements
Canada’s national e-prescribing service gains momentum
Canada is making strides in the deployment of its national e-prescribing service, PrescribeIT.
Rep. Tom Suozzi visits N.Y. specialty pharmacy
Rep. Tom Suozzi (D., N.Y.) gauged cost dynamics of the specialty pharmacy market in a tour of oncology pharmacy Onco360 here with members of the National Association of Specialty Pharmacy (NASP).
Publix proceeds with innovative care partnership
Publix Pharmacy has in place the first piece of a three-pronged partnership with BayCare Health System, which serves the Tampa Bay and central Florida region. Publix Super Markets Inc. said Thursday that Publix retail pharmacies are now open at St. Anthony’s Hospital’s Suncoast Medical Clinic in St.
Rite Aid.com begins accepting Apple Pay
Rite Aid Corp. said it has become the first pharmacy retailer to accept Apple Pay as a form of payment online. Rite Aid said Thursday that customers using Apple devices can now shop the approximately 12,000 items available at RiteAid.com and use Apple Pay to make their purchase. To use the
Rite Aid promotes senior VP of operations
Derek Griffith has been appointed executive vice president of store operations at Rite Aid Corp. With the promotion, Griffith takes over the position vacated by Bryan Everett, who in early September was named chief operating officer of Rite Aid stores.
CVS Health to support new Anthem PBM
CVS Health has signed a five-year agreement to provide services to support IngenioRx, a new pharmacy benefit manager formed by Blue Cross Blue Shield health insurer Anthem Inc.