Rite Aid launches Miracle Balloon campaign
Rite Aid Corp. has kicked off its 22nd annual Miracle Balloon campaign for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, a nonprofit group that raises funds for children’s hospitals.
Retail News
London Drugs, SDM weigh sale of medical marijuana
London Drugs vice president of pharmacy John Tse said the chain is exploring the idea of selling legal marijuana through its 79 pharmacies in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.
CVS Health ups the ante in smoking prevention
Building on the removal of tobacco products from all of its drug stores, CVS Health has launched a major effort to stop people from smoking before they start.
Walmart names health and wellness VP
Marcus Osborne has been appointed as vice president of health and wellness transformation at Walmart. Walmart confirmed Osborne’s promotion on Wednesday. He previously served as vice president of health and wellness payer relations.
Prescription drugs fuel rise in health spending
U.S. spending on prescription drugs is projected to continue climbing faster than overall health care expenditures, according to a new report from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). In 2015, U.S. prescription drug spending totaled $457 billion, up 7.
Report: WBA mulls pharmacies in Australia
Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA) reportedly is looking to open pharmacies in Australia, a market that the company has eyed for years.
Walgreens teams up with CDC to fight Zika virus
Walgreens is working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to help prevent the spread of the Zika virus in Puerto Rico.
CVS to expand naloxone access to more states
CVS Health is expanding access to the opioid overdose-reversal medication naloxone to another eight states.
PharmaChoice drug store banner reaches milestone
Canadian drug store cooperative PharmaChoice has surpassed 600 locations, making it the country’s second-largest independent pharmacy banner. PharmaChoice said Monday that it has nearly doubled its store count in the past five years.
Ritzman ‘pharmacy of the future’ makes debut
Ritzman Pharmacy is holding the grand opening of its “pharmacy of the future” location in the Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED) Education and Wellness Center.
Diplomat expands pharmacy tech training program
Diplomat Pharmacy Inc. has launched an expanded pharmacy technician certification program for employees, with a focus on specialty pharmacy.
Rite Aid comp-store sales decline in February
Comparable-store sales continued to edge down at Rite Aid Corp. in February, but the drug chain reported sales gains for its 2016 fiscal year. Rite Aid said Thursday that for the five weeks ended Feb. 27, same-store sales in its retail pharmacy segment dipped 0.8% year over year.
APhA launches online opioid resource center
The American Pharmacists Association (APhA) has gone live with an online resource center to serve as a one-stop shop for pharmacists who want to learn more about opioid use, abuse and misuse.
Meijer plans more supercenters, store upgrades
Meijer Inc.’s expansion plans for the year include an investment of more than $400 million in projects that will include the construction of nine new Meijer supercenters and the remodeling of 32 other outlets.
McKesson to acquire Rexall for $2.2 billion
McKesson Corp. plans to acquire Canadian drug store operator Rexall Health from Katz Group for $2.2 billion ($3 billion Canadian).
Wegmans stores to get higi health stations
Higi health stations are slated to be deployed at all Wegmans Food Markets Inc. supermarket and corporate locations.