Chain Drug Review articles from April 2009

Chain Drug Review archives from April 2009

Navarro brings back key execs.(Navarro Discount Pharmacies)(Brief article)
April 6, 2009... MIAMI -- Navarro Discount Pharmacies has gotten Gabe Navarro and Marcio Cabrera to return to run the company. Lee Armbuster, hired last summer as chief executive officer, is out, with Cabrera reassuming that position. Meanwhile, board...

Drug fair to sell bulk of its stores.(News)
April 6, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] SOMERSET, N.J. -- Drug Fair Group Inc. has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and plans to sell most of its stores to Walgreen Co. Under the terms of a reorganization plan filed last month in U.S....

A new Walgreens takes shape.(My Turn)
April 6, 2009... Over the next months, a new Walgreen Co. will emerge. Newly hired staffers will sharply alter the direction of the retailer. A new merchandising concept will replace the old. New pharmacy initiatives will be unveiled. And the retailer will,...

Ex-NYC health chief named to head FDA.(News)(New York City)(Food and Drug Administration appoints Margaret Hamburg)
April 6, 2009... WASHINGTON -- Margaret Hamburg, a former commissioner of health for New York City, has been tapped by President Obama to become the next head of the Food and Drug Administration. Hamburg is an internationally recognized leader in public...

Recovery prospects get boost.(News)(Survey)
April 6, 2009... WASHINGTON -- The government's plan to buy up to $2 trillion worth of banks' toxic assets could stabilize the economy sooner than expected, according to investors. Laurence Fink, chairman and chief executive officer of the investment firm...

Wal-Mart reduces eye care pricing.(News)(Wal-Mart Stores Inc.)
April 6, 2009... BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- In its latest move to cut consumers' health care costs and win their business, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has cut paces on contact lenses and children's eyewear. Wal-Mart is partnering with 1-800 Contacts, the world's...

Walgreens to reinvent shopping experience.(News)
April 6, 2009... LAS VEGAS -- While the current economic downturn has created tremendous challenges for most of retail, Walgreen Co. sees it as an opportunity to implement major changes in its merchandising and marketing, according to vice president and chief...

NACDS blasts AWP settlement.(News)(National Association of Chain Drug Stores)(average wholesale prices)
April 6, 2009... ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- A federal court's approval of final settlements involving First DataBank and Medi-Span is being opposed by the National Association of Chain Drug Stores. The ruling by U.S. District Judge Patti Saris effectively reduces...

SDM is rolling out loyalty credit card.(News)(Shoppers Drug Mart)(Brief article)
April 6, 2009... TORONTO -- Shoppers Drug Mart (SDM) is offering Canadians a quicker way of accumulating Shoppers Optimum Points with the launch of the Shoppers Optimum MasterCard credit card from MBNA Canada Bank. "Shoppers Optimum is one of Canada's most...

Rx groups hail TRICARE regs.(News)(Brief article)
April 6, 2009... ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- The Department of Defense's final regulation on the pricing of TRICARE prescriptions dispensed by retail pharmacies is a good one, community pharmacy advocates say. "Our nation's brave men and women in the armed forces...

CVS fine-tunes clinic strategy.(News)(CVS Caremark Corp. )
April 6, 2009... NEW YORK -- CVS Caremark Corp. has closed about 90 of its 560 MinuteClinics, and plans to reopen them during the flu season and other periods of heavy demand. Most of the clinics that will now run on a seasonal schedule are within five...

NACDS event gives supply chain its due.(News)(National Association of Chain Drug Stores)(Conference news)
April 6, 2009... ORLANDO, Fla. -- Distribution and logistics have come to the fore, says Andy Giancamilli, chairman of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores. "There is greater appreciation of how success in what you do contributes directly to the...

CACDS: no lack of challenges on horizon.(News)(Canadian Association of Chain Drug Stores)(Conference news)(Brief article)
April 6, 2009... TORONTO -- 360 delegates from Canada's chain drug industry, its suppliers and academia who attended the Canadian Association of Chain Drug Stores (CACDS) annual conference here discussed a short-term future much brighter than that faced by...

Drug makers consolidate.(Supplier News)
April 6, 2009... NEW YORK -- The pharmaceutical industry is experiencing a new round of consolidation, as exemplified by Merck & Co.'s recent $41.1 billion deal to acquire Schering-Plough Corp. and Roche Holding AG's announcement that it is buying the 44% of...

Arnold's exit from P&G alters race for next CEO.(Supplier News)(Procter & Gamble Co.)(Susan Arnold)(Brief article)
April 6, 2009... CINCINNATI -- The departure of Susan Arnold from Procter & Gamble Co. (P&G) last month has made chief operating officer Robert McDonald the front-runner to succeed chief executive officer A.G. Lafley, who is expected to retire within a few...

ECRM award goes to AccuDial.(AccuDial Pharmaceutical Inc.)(Efficient Collaborative Retail Marketing)(weight-based dosing system)(Brief article)
April 6, 2009... JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The AccuDial family of pediatric over-the-counter medications with weight-based dosing was voted "best new product" at the Efficient Collaborative Retail Marketing (ECRM) Cough & Cold and Allergy show here. The...

Duane Reade pleased with results, growth in key metrics.(Business)(Financial report)(Statistical data)
April 6, 2009... NEW YORK -- Higher non-cash asset impairment charges and a litigation item increased the fourth quarter net loss at Duane Reade Inc., but the New York City-based drug chain reduced both its operating and net losses and grew adjusted FIFO EBITDA...

Chain trims costs as New York area feels bite of recession.(Business)(Financial report)(Brief article)
April 6, 2009... NEW YORK -- With the economic downturn intensifying in the fourth quarter of 2008, Duane Reade's management expects ongoing dampening of consumer demand throughout this year as a result of escalating unemployment and a declined level of tourism...

Kroger hikes store brand volume, market share.(Business)(revenue report)(Financial report)
April 6, 2009... CINCINNATI -- Thanks to record volume in private label goods, Kroger Co. recorded solid growth in fourth quarter net profit despite flat sales. And with sales and earnings showing healthy growth for the year, investors drove up the...

Execs offer guarded outlook for fiscal '09.(Business)(Financial report)(Brief article)
April 6, 2009... CINCINNATI -- After a solid performance in fiscal 2008, Kroger gave a cautious outlook for 2009 due to the weak economy. Executives estimate that full-year identical-supermarket sales without fuel will grow 3% to 4%. The estimate assumes...

Letters to the editor.(My Turn)(Letter to the editor)
April 6, 2009... To the Editor: I wanted you to know that I think the article on the Fantles and the Panascis was terrific. Such fond memories of these friends and former customers. I sure was blessed to work in the industry when Bud [Fantle] and...

Coalition prevails on card check.(My Turn)
April 6, 2009... Overshadowed by efforts to address the economic crisis and reform the health care system, an issue that under normal circumstances would have been top of mind for retail pharmacy operators appears to have come to a resolution favorable to the...

Demographics alter retail equation.(ETHNIC BEAUTY CARE: By 2050, ethnic consumers will comprise the majority of the nation's population.)
April 6, 2009... NEW YORK -- Ethnic beauty shoppers have gone from being an afterthought to a vital component of the success or failure of chain drug stores. A decade ago, not only were the items targeted to ethnic shoppers few and far between, but only a...

Value appeal key to color cosmetics.(MERCHANDISING)
April 6, 2009... Consumers are making educated choices when it comes to their purchasing decisions by trading down. Everywhere you turn, the economy is the focal point of conversation, from the housing market to soft goods to the nation's financial...

These shoppers mean business.(MERCHANDISING)(Brief article)
April 6, 2009... NEW YORK -- Two indisputable facts make Hispanic beauty consumers prime targets of both chain drug retailers and suppliers: Hispanics are the fastest-growing demographic in the United States, and they buy more beauty items than the general...

P&G, BET to create TV series.(MERCHANDISING)(Procter & Gamble Co.)(BET Networks)(Brief article)
April 6, 2009... CINCINNATI -- Procter & Gamble Co. (P&G) has partnered with BET Networks to create a television series in support of P&G's "My Black Is Beautiful" campaign. Created by a group of African-American women at P&G, the campaign celebrates the...

Hair care line for children.(What's New)
April 6, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Alberto Culver Co.'s Soft & Beautiful has introduced Just for Me Hair Milk for children. The line includes Hair Milk Shampoo with added nutrients, a conditioner, a Straightening Mist to improve hair's manageability,...

Runway Eyes collection at CVS Caremark.(What's New)
April 6, 2009... Milani Cosmetics has unveiled the Runway Eyes Vintage Collection of six intense eye color bars in one luxury compact with a double-ended sponge applicator. The line is available at CVS stores nationwide. Milani Cosmetics, 2111 East 49th St.,...

Mineral formula shadow, liner.(What's New)
April 6, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Markwins International's Black Radiance brand has launched Mineral Shimmers Shadow & Liner. The 100%-mineral formula colors and lines eyes with a unique sponge tip applicator for a soft daytime look or a dramatic...

Ethnic hair care needs attention from chains.(MERCHANDISING/ETHNIC BEAUTY CARE)(Statistical data)
April 6, 2009... NEW YORK -- Despite only representing a fraction of all hair care sales, the ethnic segment is taking on added importance for many retailers trying to attract a wider range of shoppers. Part of this renewed emphasis on ethnic items is being...

AHBAI show to draw top beauty suppliers.(MERCHANDISING/ETHNIC BEAUTY CARE)(American Health and Beauty Aids Institute)(Brief article)
April 6, 2009... CHICAGO -- The American Health and Beauty Aids Institute (AHBAI) is poised to present its 20th Anniversary 2009 Proud Lady Beauty Show on April 25 through April 27 at the Tinley Park Convention Center here. The show will feature two days of...

Asian market 'uncharted territory'.(MERCHANDISING/ETHNIC BEAUTY CARE)(Brief article)
April 6, 2009... NEW YORK -- Perhaps no group in the United States is more overlooked by marketers than Asian-Americans. Not only is this community one of the fastest-growing ethnic groups in America in population, but Asian-Americans enjoy the highest...

'Drug chains remain a key strategic channel'.(BABY CARE)
April 6, 2009... NEW YORK -- The squeeze on consumer pocketbooks in late 2008 and so far this year could discourage some couples from having children, in turn offsetting record births in the United States in 2007 and posing ramifications in late 2009 and beyond...

More attention paid to pregnancy health.(MERCHANDISING)(Statistical data)
April 6, 2009... SAN MATEO, Calif. -- A healthy baby is determined in part by whether the mother is healthy, and one company addressing the needs and appetites of women in this area is NutraBella, a provider of nutritional food and drink products for...

Nursing moms ring up more sales.(MERCHANDISING)(Brief article)
April 6, 2009... ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- Although the natural feeding segment of the baby care category in drug stores has lagged in the past, 2009 has brought new thinking among retailers who recognize that breast-feeding women can bring dollars beyond such...

Nutritional information in spotlight.(MERCHANDISING)(Survey)(Brief article)
April 6, 2009... LATHAM, N.Y. -- Many women with toddlers and infants admit they are uncertain if their children are getting sufficient levels of vitamins and minerals. And a Beech-Nut Nutrition Corp. survey found that 60% of more than 400 women polled...

Natural in labeling only?(MERCHANDISING/BABY CARE)(Statistical data)
April 6, 2009... NEW YORK -- Chain drug customers are increasingly drawn to natural and organic baby care products, but the benefits touted on the labeling of some items may not be quite the same as what they actually get, two suppliers say. "We see mostly...

Probiotic eases Rx side effects.(MERCHANDISING/BABY CARE)(Bicodex Inc.)(Brief article)
April 6, 2009... SAN BRUNO, Calif. -- Parents seeking a safe and effective product to help prevent and manage antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD) in children are turning to Bicodex Inc.'s Florastor Kids. According to marketing manager Mary Berry, the...

Chains seek diagnostic tools with a difference.(MERCHANDISING/BABY CARE)(RG Medical Diagnostics)
April 6, 2009... NEW YORK -- Home diagnostic products represent a growing segment of the baby care category, according to Ron LeTourneau, president of RG Medical Diagnostics, which markets the Geratherm brand of mercury-free glass thermometers. "Buyers...

Retailers, manufacturers address BPA concerns.(MERCHANDISING/BABY CARE)(Bisphenol A)(Brief article)
April 6, 2009... WASHINGTON -- Bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical commonly used in baby bottles, should be banned because it may affect neural development in infants, asserts Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D., Calif.). With support from Sens. Edward Markey and Chuck...

Kashi extends crackers line.(What's New)
April 6, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Kashi Co. has expanded the TLC cracker line with an Asiago flavor. The new crackers also have Kashi's blend of seven whole grains and sesame. Kashi Co., P.O. Box 8557, La Jolla, Calif. 92038; (877) 747-2467.

Wrigley takes 5 in online music Talent search.(What's New)(Wm. Wrigley Jr. Co.)(Brief article)
April 6, 2009... Wm. Wrigley Jr. Co., maker of 5 gum, is conducting 'Vive tu Musica with 5," an online talent search for amateur rock and pop hopefuls. Five band finalists will perform with Latin rocker Camila on April 30, with the winner receiving an exclusive...

Frozen pizza for drug stores.(What's New)
April 6, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] MaMa Rosa's has introduced its first branded frozen pizza to target drug and convenience trade classes. Mini MaMa's frozen pizzas, which are authorized for sale in all Walgreen Co. outlets, feature new packaging that...

More healthy food choices now on menu.(CONSUMABLES: Demand is rising for convenience food and beverages, especially the natural variety.)(Statistical data)
April 6, 2009... NEW YORK -- Drug chains are well positioned on two fronts to capitalize on the latest trends in the consumables market. To attract newly budget-conscious consumers who are shunning restaurants, chain drug retailers offer convenient,...

All eyes on Great Value redux.(MERCHANDISING)(Survey)(Brief article)
April 6, 2009... NEW YORK -- Chain drug retailers are closely watching Wal-Mart Stores Inc.'s expansion and makeover of its Great Value grocery brand, which is already the country's largest food line, as measured by both dollar and unit sales. The overhaul...

Michelob adds wheat seasonal sampler pack.(MERCHANDISING)(Michelob Brewing Co.)(Brief article)
April 6, 2009... ST. LOUIS -- Michelob Brewing Co. has launched Michelob Honey Wheat hand-crafted filtered wheat ale, brewed with orange blossom honey. The ale completes an all-wheat Michelob sampler pack created for spring and summer. Available through...

Sugar-savvy smoothie.(What's New)
April 6, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Sunny Delight Beverages Co. last month launched Fruit Simple, an all-natural fruit smoothie that contains no added sugar, in markets in upstate New York. Sunny Delight Beverages Co., 6000 Creek Road, Cincinnati, Ohio...

A hole in one for Clemmy's Ice Cream.(What's New)
April 6, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Clemmy's Ice Cream, which is billed as the only all-natural, sugar-free super-premium ice cream, was the official ice cream sponsor for the LPGA's Kraft Nabisco Championship this spring at Mission Hills Country Club...

Corona set for beach volleyball.(What's New)(Corona beer )(Brief article)
April 6, 2009... Corona Wide Open, a new grassroots beach volleyball series sponsored by Corona beer distributor Crown Imports LLC, will span eight cities this year, starting April 25 and 26 in Fort Landerdale, Fla.

Recession doesn't stem demand for wine.(MERCHANDISING/CONSUMABLES)(Statistical table)
April 6, 2009... NEW YORK -- One affordable indulgence during hard times is wine, and consumers show no inclination to give it up, note chain drug retailers. "People may not be able to afford eating out," says one chain drug category manager. "But they...

Gift card rewards launched.(MERCHANDISING/CONSUMABLES)(Albertson's Inc. Jewel-Osco Div.)(Survey)(Brief article)
April 6, 2009... ITASKA, Ill. -- To help consumers' food dollars go further during hard times, Jewel-Osco has rolled out "refund rewards," enabling shoppers to boost the value of grocery gift cards by up to 10% during tax season. Under the program...

New proves better in beverages.(MERCHANDISING/CONSUMABLES)
April 6, 2009... NEW YORK -- The beverages market is swirling with activity, and chain drug retailers are welcoming the ferment. New launches can only draw attention to drug chains' easy accessibility for single-serve and larger sizes for a host of drinks,...

Walgreen Co. will expand the robotic system the retailer uses in its Mount Vernon, Ill., distribution center this year.(TECH talk)(Kiva Systems Inc.)(Brief article)
April 6, 2009... Walgreen Co. will expand the robotic system the retailer uses in its Mount Vernon, Ill., distribution center this year. The upgrade to Kiva Systems Inc.'s Mobile Fulfillment System will mark the third time Walgreens has expanded the system...

Innovation has reached an agreement with the drug wholesaler H.D. Smith to offer preferred pricing on its PharmASSIST pharmacy automation products and services to more than 2,000 H.D. Smith customers.(TECH talk)(H.D. Smith Wholesale Drug Co.)(Brief article)
April 6, 2009... Innovation has reached an agreement with the drug wholesaler H.D. Smith to offer preferred pricing on its PharmASSIST pharmacy automation products and services to more than 2,000 H.D. Smith customers. The agreement provides the wholesaler's...

McKesson Corp.'s McKesson Specialty Care Solutions division has introduced a fully integrated e-prescribing solution that lets oncology and specialty physicians participate in the Medicare E-Prescribing (e-Rx) Incentive Program.(TECH talk)(Brief article)
April 6, 2009... McKesson Corp.'s McKesson Specialty Care Solutions division has introduced a fully integrated e-prescribing solution that lets oncology and specialty physicians participate in the Medicare E-Prescribing (e-Rx) Incentive Program. Leveraging...

Medicine Shoppe International Inc. (MSI) has named Kirby Lester LLC its designated vendor for pharmacy counting technology.(TECH talk)(Brief article)
April 6, 2009... Medicine Shoppe International Inc. (MSI) has named Kirby Lester LLC its designated vendor for pharmacy counting technology. Kirby Lester will offer its complete line of automated counting devices to benefit nearly 800 MSI franchisees. "With...

DemandTec Inc. has acquired Connect3 Systems Inc. in an all-cash transaction that adds Connect3 Systems' advertising.(TECH talk)(Brief article)
April 6, 2009... DemandTec Inc. has acquired Connect3 Systems Inc. in an all-cash transaction that adds Connect3 Systems' advertising, merchandising and promotions software to DemandTec's comprehensive on-demand optimization solution.

No place for obsolescence in today's market.(TECHNOLOGY)
April 6, 2009... NEW YORK -- Chain drug stores that do not upgrade their technology run the risk of being left behind, those in the industry say. With electronic health records and electronic prescribing keys to President Barack Obama's plan for health care...

Wal-Mart enters digital health records arena.(TECHNOLOGY)(Wal-Mart Stores Inc. Sam's Club)
April 6, 2009... BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores Inc. became the latest company to enter the electronic health record (EHR) business last month when it said it would begin offering material and services for physicians to begin using the technology. ...

New bar codes can go mobile.(TECHNOLOGY)(Brief article)
April 6, 2009... NEW YORK -- With marketers looking for new ways to reach customers, a few suppliers are developing ways to send data to shoppers' mobile devices. Known as 2-D bar codes because they are scanned both horizontally and vertically, these new...

Tampa, Fla.(TECH Talk)(Brief article)
April 6, 2009... Tampa, Fla., is moving to become the first city in the country to make health records completely paper-free. Last month "electronic health ambassadors" began visiting doctor's offices to teach physicians' staffs how to keep electronic health...

National Council for Prescription Drug Programs.(TECH Talk)(Brief article)
April 6, 2009... The National Council for Prescription Drug Programs (NCPDP) is collaborating with other health care standards development organizations to create a single set of standards for health care technology. NCPDP says that harmonizing standards across...

Task Retail Technology Ply. Ltd.(TECH Talk)(Brief article)
April 6, 2009... Sydney, Australia-based Task Retail Technology Ply. Ltd. says it wants to expand its operations in the United States and plans to feature a recently developed computer system that handles everything from stock ordering and control to P-O-S...

Marketing systems provider Hamacher Resource Group Inc. and in-store kiosk supplier Ready Touch Inc. have joined forces to offer in-store kiosks.(TECH Talk)(Brief article)
April 6, 2009... Marketing systems provider Hamacher Resource Group Inc. and in-store kiosk supplier Ready Touch Inc. have joined forces to offer in-store kiosks for shoppers seeking information regarding health, beauty and wellness products.

Carnegie Mellon University.(TECH Talk)(Brief article)
April 6, 2009... A new study from Carnegie Mellon University finds that shopping online instead of going to a retail store cuts carbon dioxide emissions. The research, performed by the university's Green Design Institute, found that shopping online through...

Walgreens bolsters display intelligence.(TECHNOLOGY)
April 6, 2009... DEERFIELD, Ill. -- Walgreen Co. is making its in-store promotional displays more effective by using a marketing intelligence system that tracks their execution at the store level. The drug chain installed the Goliath system, from...

Use of e-prescriptions gathering momentum.(TECHNOLOGY)(Brief article)
April 6, 2009... ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- After what those in the industry admit was slow going for the first couple of years, the use of electronic prescribing has doubled in each of the past three. According to Surescripts, the nation's largest provider of...

Study finds many doctors disregard Rx electronic alerts.(TECHNOLOGY)(Brief article)
April 6, 2009... NEW YORK -- Physicians bypassed more than 90% of the drug interaction alerts and 77% of the drug allergy alerts sent by their electronic prescribing systems, a study published in a recent issue of Archives of Internal Medicine shows. In...

Being customer-centric not easy.(TECHNOLOGY)(Survey)(Brief article)
April 6, 2009... SAN CARLOS, Calif. -- While most retailers and suppliers say that using data to help them understand how consumers shop is an important factor for success, many of them admit that they could do more to gather this data. According to a...

Judge blocks Medicaid cuts in Washington state.
April 20, 2009... TACOMA, Wash. -- Pharmacy groups earlier this month hailed a federal judge for temporarily blocking a Medicaid pharmacy reimbursement cut in Washington state. U.S. District Judge Robert Bryan on March 31 issued a temporary restraining...

Wal-Mart, Fehlig go separate ways.(Chuck Fehlig)(Wal-Mart Stores Inc.)(Brief article)
April 20, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Chuck Fehlig and Wal-Mart Stores Inc. have parted ways. No successor has been named to Fehlig's post as vice president and divisional merchandise manager for over-the-counter merchandising. ...

NACDS gets message across at White House.(National Association of Chain Drug Stores )
April 20, 2009... WASHINGTON -- Even though it was not invited to the White House health care summit earlier this year, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores continues to work with the Obama administration to ensure that officials understand the role...

Brunner kept things interesting.(In memoriam)
April 20, 2009... What can be said about Vern Brunner that hasn't already been said? That he fought a courageous, 15-month battle against the lung cancer that finally, at age 68, took his life earlier this month. That he remains today what he has been...

Rite Aid forges plan to improve results.
April 20, 2009... CAMP HILL, Pa. -- Rite Aid Corp. has outlined efforts that management expects to significantly improve the company's operating results. In a conference call with financial analysts after Rite Aid released its fourth quarter and full year...

Surescripts taps Totonis for CEO post.(News)(SureScript Systems Inc. appoints Harry Totonis as chief executive officer )
April 20, 2009... ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- Former MasterCard International executive Harry Totonis took over as president and chief executive officer of Surescripts earlier this month. He bangs to Surescripts a wealth of experience in information services and a track...

Meyer ends career at Walgreens.(News)(Laurie Meyer)(Brief article)
April 20, 2009... DEERFIELD, Ill. -- Laurie Meyer, Walgreen Co.'s divisional vice president of corporate communications, is retiring. Meyer was hired by Walgreens in 1981, with her first contribution as managing editor of the January/February 1982 issue of...

NACDS, FMI weigh in on AWP suit.(News)(National Association of Chain Drug Stores )(Food Marketing Institute )(average wholesale pace)
April 20, 2009... ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- The National Association of Chain Drug Stores and the Food Marketing Institute this month fried a motion seeking to prevent average wholesale pace (AWP) cuts in the First DataBank Inc. and Medi-Span Inc. lawsuit settlements....

Duane Reade picks advertising agency.(News)(Brief article)
April 20, 2009... NEW YORK -- In the midst of a chainwide transformation, Duane Reade Inc. has named DeVito/Verdi as its first new advertising agency in more than four years. Besides handling television, print, outdoor and Internet advertising for the...

Walgreens launches Take Care Recovery Plan.(News)
April 20, 2009... DEERFIELD, Ill -- Walgreen Co.'s Take Care Clinics will provide free health care services throughout the remainder of 2009 to patients who lose their jobs. Clinic patients who became unemployed on or after March 31 and have no health...

Clinics will explain offer to patients.(News)(Brief article)
April 20, 2009... DEERFIELD, Ill. -- The executives overseeing Walgreens' Take Care Health clinics say that they have never lost sight of the important role that the walk-in health centers play in patients' lives. And that, they note, is why they are making...

Wal-Mart adds to its arsenal.(News)
April 20, 2009... BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is promoting itself as a health care solution for businesses in ways that could increase the pressure on chain drug retailers. One move involves expanding a program under which Wal-Mart partners...

CVS Caremark works to increase patient engagement.(News)
April 20, 2009... WOONSOCKET, R.I. -- Most of CVS Caremark Corp.'s employer clients say they are more interested in changing health plan participants' behavior and improving engagement than in programs that save them money by simply shifting costs to members,...

P&G's Align probiotic supplement hits mass market.(Supplier News)(Procter & Gamble Co.)
April 20, 2009... CINCINNATI -- Consistent with Procter & Gamble Co.'s (P&G's) mission of "improving the lives of the world's consumers," the company has launched its daily probiotic supplement, Align, in stores throughout the United States. Align was...

IRI pinpoints hot new items.(Supplier News)(Information Resources Inc.)
April 20, 2009... CHICAGO -- For the first time in several years, nonfood introductions outpaced food and beverage launches in 2008, according to Information Resources Inc.'s "IRI New Product Pacesetters" report. There were roughly 80 more new nonfood items...