New director elected to Jean Coutu’s board
The board of The Jean Coutu Group has elected Annie Thabet as a director. The Canadian drug store operator said Thursday that Thabet was elected at the company’s shareholder meeting on July 6.
Retail News
Pharmasave allies with Rx PharmaChoice
Canadian pharmacy franchise operators Pharmasave and Rx PharmaChoice have formed a strategic alliance.
CVS: Generic substitution can cut Medicaid costs
A new CVS Caremark Corp. study has found that states scrambling to pay for rising health care costs in their Medicaid programs can save over $100 million over the next several years by changing generic substitution laws to facilitate substitutions of generic drugs for branded medications.
Report: Walgreens readies fresh food test
Walgreen Co. is slated to pilot a fresh food offering in select stores this fall, according to a published report. Plans call for Walgreens to test chilled foods in as many as 12 stores, Dow Jones reported. The report cited a Walgreens spokeswoman saying that the retailer may sell such items as
Jean Coutu’s retail network fuels 1Q gains
Driven by franchise network growth, sales and operating results improved in the fiscal 2011 first quarter at the Jean Coutu Group. The Canadian drug store operator said Tuesday that for the first quarter ended May 29, total revenue rose 3.8% to $642.9 million (Canadian) from $619.
Walgreens gets same-store sales lift in June
Same-store sales for Walgreen Co. rebounded in June after coming in virtually flat the previous month. The drug store chain said Tuesday that sales in comparable stores — which don’t include the acquired Duane Reade stores — increased 2% in June, up from decreases of 0.2% in May and April and back
Study: Pharmacist-led MTM improves outcomes, yields savings
A study supported by the National Association of Chain Drugs Stores and conducted at Kerr Drug found that pharmacist-provided medication therapy management (MTM) services and lower-cost therapy alternatives can improve patient outcomes and produce savings for public health care programs.
Walmart’s top merchandising exec to make exit
Walmart executive vice president and chief merchandising officer John Fleming is leaving the company. Walmart said Friday that the move will be effective on Aug. 1.
NACDS: Pharmacists ‘uniquely qualified’ as diabetes advisers
In comments submitted to Congress, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores spotlighted pharmacy’s role in counseling diabetes patients about their medications and helping to preserve access to diabetes equipment and supplies for Medicare beneficiaries.
Bartell Drugs opens 58th store
Bartell Drugs has opened the doors for its 58th drug store location in the Midlakes area of Bellevue, Wash. The Puget Sound, Wash.-area pharmacy chain said Wednesday that the new 11,782 square-foot store was formerly a Lamps Plus location.
June same-store sales fall at Rite Aid
Rite Aid Corp. saw same-store sales decline for the third straight month in June. The drug store chain said Thursday that the four weeks ended June 26, same-store sales fell 2.5% from the prior-year period. June’s decrease followed declines of 1.7% in May and 1% in April, after the retailer posted
Rite Aid unveils Simplify in private-brand remake
As part of a rebuilt private-label program, Rite Aid Corp. is introducing a new "price fighter" private brand called Simplify in its nearly 4,800 stores nationwide.
NACDS: PECOS date change could curtail pharmacy access
A date change proposed by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for physician and nonphysician practitioner enrollment in the Medicare Provider Enrollment, Chain and Ownership System (PECOS) could impact patient access to pharmacy services, according to the National Association of Chain
CMS proposes Rx exemption from diabetes test supply bids
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued a proposed regulation to exempt community pharmacies from the upcoming bidding process for Medicare Part B diabetes testing supplies.
Retail pharmacy groups back Senate MTM bill
The National Association of Chain Drug Stores and National Community Pharmacists Association are endorsing the Medication Therapy Management Expanded Benefits Act of 2010, saying that it builds on pharmacy-specific provisions in the recently passed health care reform law.
Walmart names new U.S. CEO
Walmart has reshuffled its top executive ranks, naming Bill Simon president and chief executive officer of Walmart U.S. and Eduardo Castro-Wright, who previously ran the discount store giant’s U.S. business, president and CEO of global.com and global sourcing.