Retail News
Analysts size up Amazon’s pharmacy opportunity
Pharmacy stands as a sizable growth opportunity for Amazon, and its avenues for market entry include acquisitions, with Rite Aid Corp. and Diplomat Pharmacy Inc. among potential targets, according to Cowen analysts John Blackledge and Charles Rhyee.
Loblaw to boost grocery, pharmacy retail analytics access
Loblaw Cos. has tapped Alliance Data Systems Corp. subsidiary Precima to help sharpen its grocery and pharmacy analytics.
Walgreens offers Wine.com order pickup
Walgreens drug stores have become pickup locations for online wine orders via Wine.com. Wine.com Inc.
Reports: CVS may be near deal to buy Aetna
A deal for CVS Health to acquire Aetna Inc. could happen by the end of the month, published reports say. Citing anonymous sources, The Wall Street Journal reported Monday that CVS was nearing a $66 billion agreement to buy the health insurer, according to reports.
Hy-Vee teams up with T-wolves, Lynx and Iowa Wolves
MINNEAPOLIS – Hy-Vee announced a new long-term partnership to become the official grocery, pharmacy and floral partner for the Minnesota Timberwolves, Minnesota Lynx and Iowa Wolves.
Gretchen Carlson tabbed as NACDS Foundation Dinner speaker
News anchor and best-selling author Gretchen Carlson will speak at this month’s NACDS Foundation Dinner in New York City.
Walmart sees online sales boost in 3Q
Walmart reported better-than-expected comparable store sales gains in the third quarter. Walmart’s third quarter also include a strong performance by its online business, with net e-commerce sales increasing 50% in the quarter.
Diplomat Pharmacy buys LDI for $595 million
Diplomat Pharmacy Inc. plans to acquire St. Louis-based pharmacy benefit manager LDI Integrated Pharmacy Services for in a $595 million cash and stock deal. The move marks the second PBM acquisition this month by Diplomat, the nation’s largest independent specialty pharmacy. On Nov.
PQA appoints new board members
The Pharmacy Quality Alliance (PQA) has named new members to its board of directors and approved its 2018 executive committee. Mary Ann Kliethermes, vice chair of ambulatory care and professor at the Midwestern University Chicago College of Pharmacy, will serve as PQA’s chairman for 2018.
Sales edge in up 3Q at Shoppers Drug Mart
Led by the pharmacy, Shoppers Drug Mart saw sales climb as parent Loblaw Cos. reported financial results for the 2017 third quarter. Loblaw said Wednesday that for the 16 weeks ended Oct. 7, Shoppers Drug Mart totaled revenue of $3.751 billion (Canadian), up 3.8% from $3.613 billion a year earlier.
Rite Aid names new western division senior VP
Rob Mullins has been promoted to senior vice president of store operations of the western division, succeeding Bill Romine, who is retiring.
Lovell Drugs enlists Maricann to supply medicinal cannabis
Ontario pharmacy chain Lovell Drugs has signed a letter of intent with Maricann Group Inc. to be its exclusive supplier of medicinal cannabis.
Hy-Vee acquires pair of telepharmacies in Iowa
Hy-Vee Inc. has acquired two telepharmacy locations in Iowa and rebannered them as Hy-Vee Pharmacy. Financial terms weren’t disclosed. The food and drug retailer said Tuesday that the telepharmacies, formerly operated by TelePharm LLC, now part of Cardinal Health Inc.
CVS Health to hire 5,000 apprentices by 2022
In its continued commitment to workforce development, CVS Health announced today it has set a goal of hiring 5,000 new apprentices by 2022. This newly established goal, which coincides with the U.S.
Former Lilly exec Alex Azar tabbed to head HHS
Biopharmaceutical industry executive Alex Azar has been nominated as secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to fill the post vacated by Tom Price.