Chain Drug Review articles from August 2004

Chain Drug Review archives from August 2004

First go-round for Medicare drug benefit regs.
August 16, 2004... WASHINGTON -- The Bush administration has unveiled the initial version of the rules for the government-funded Medicare prescription drug benefit, which takes effect in 2006. In a nearly 2,000-page document released late last month, the...

Eckerd deal signed, sealed, delivered.
August 16, 2004... NEW YORK -- The $4.5 billion sale of Eckerd Corp. and the splitting of its assets between CVS Corp. and the Jean Coutu Group were finalized late last month. The acquisition of 1,260 Eckerd stores from J.C. Penney Co. makes CVS the...

Katz Group scores with Rexall Centre.
August 16, 2004... TORONTO -- An estimated 165,000 spectators present during the nine days of the recent Tennis Masters Canada tournament--and millions more through television, radio and pant coverage--were force-fully exposed to the Rexall brand name. When...

Bartell has two masons to celebrate.
August 16, 2004... SEATTLE -- Bartell Drug celebrated the 100th anniversary of its incorporation in Washington state with the debut of a "next generation" store in the heart of this city's financial district. The distinctive outlet at Fourth and Madison, in...

Albertsons takes a page from dollar store format.(Brief Article)
August 16, 2004... BOISE Idaho -- Albertsons Inc. has adapted the dollar store concept to all of its drug stores, supermarkets and food/drug combination stores across the country. The company's 10 for 10 Mix and Match sections have been added to the more...

Wal-Mart will try 24-hour pharmacies.(Brief Article)
August 16, 2004... BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores Inc. started exploring the feasibility of round-the-clock pharmacies earlier this month when it kicked off a test of the concept in five stores in Texas and Arkansas. The test sites--four in the...

Bad news in California no surprise for chains.
August 16, 2004... SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- The way pharmacies are reimbursed for filling prescriptions covered by state programs here was altered by a budget agreement between California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and state lawmakers late last month. While the...

CVS Corp. chief executive officer Tom Ryan presents a $2 million check to Dr. Robert Brown, president of the ALS Therapy Alliance, to benefit research into treatments for the condition commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease.
August 16, 2004... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: CVS Corp. chief executive officer Tom Ryan (far left) presents a $2 million check to Dr. Robert Brown (fourth from right), president of the ALS Therapy Alliance, to benefit research into treatments for the...

CDMA virtual trade show set for Sept.(Chain Drug Marketing Association )(Brief Article)
August 16, 2004... NOVI, Mich. -- The Chain Drug Marketing Association (CDMA) is preparing for its third annual Virtual Trade Show, which will take place from September 21 through September 27 at www.chain-drug.com. The event enables retail buyers to meet...

Ivey Rx director at CACDS.(Brief Article)
August 16, 2004... TORONTO -- The Canadian Association of Chain Drug Stores (CACDS) has appointed Elizabeth Ivey director of pharmacy. According to CACDS president and chief executive officer Christina Bisanz, Ivey brings a rich pharmacy background to the...

Losh follows Miller as CFO at Cardinal.(Brief Article)
August 16, 2004... DUBLIN, Ohio -- Cardinal Health Inc. has named Michael Losh interim chief financial officer, succeeding Richard Miller, who resigned after serving in the position since 1998. "Certain financial reporting practices and judgments that...

Correction.(Correction Notice)
August 16, 2004... In a chart on weight control candy sales that appeared in the May 24 issue of Chain Drug Review the name of the manufacturer of PatentLean was abbreviated. The company is PatentHealth.

Pepsi touts 'Smart Spot'.(Supplier News)(Brief Article)
August 16, 2004... PURCHASE, N.Y. -- In response to the growing attention paid to the obesity problem in the United States, PepsiCo Inc. will begin placing "Smart Spot" symbols on those of its products that meet nutritional criteria established by the snack and...

Philip Morris undergoes sea change.(Supplier News)(Brief Article)
August 16, 2004... NEW YORK -- Executives at Altria Group's Philip Morris USA say they support pending legislation to give the Food and Drug Administration regulatory authority over tobacco products. The bill, which has passed the Senate and awaits action in...

Bayer will acquire Roche O-T-C business.(Supplier News)
August 16, 2004... BASEL, Switzerland -- In a major move to shed its nonprescription drug businesses, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. has sold a number of assets to Bayer Corp.'s Consumer Care division and to GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare (GSK). The deals, which...

Colgate-Palmolive names Cook COO.(Supplier News)(Brief Article)
August 16, 2004... NEW YORK -- Colgate-Palmolive Co. has promoted Ian Cook to chief operating officer, prompting speculation that he is being positioned to succeed 65-year-old chairman and chief executive officer Reuben Mark. Mark said in February that he...

New way to fight aging at home from L'Oreal.(Supplier News)(Brief Article)
August 16, 2004... NEW YORK -- L'Oreal USA Consumer Products Group has unveiled the L'Oreal Paris ReFinish microdermabrasion kit. "There is a significant increase in the number of women who are looking for affordable at-home antiaging alternatives to...

Draaijer, Antunes have new posts at Galderma.(Supplier News)(Brief Article)
August 16, 2004... FORT WORTH, Texas -- Galderma Laboratories LP has named Albert Draaijer president. He succeeds Humberto Antunes, who has been appointed executive vice president and chief operating officer of Galderma Worldwide. Draaijer joined Galderma in...

FosterGrant to acquire Magnivision.(Supplier News)(Brief Article)
August 16, 2004... SMITHFIELD, R.I. -- Sunglass maker AAi FosterGrant Inc. is strengthening its position in eyewear with the purchase of Magnivision Inc. from American Greetings Corp. Magnivision is the world's leading manufacturer and distributor of...

Disney slates variety of DVD releases for fall.(Supplier News)(Brief Article)
August 16, 2004... BURBANK, Calif. -- Walt Disney Home Entertainment will launch several titles on video and DVD this fall. On October 12 the company will present a major new product line for preschoolers, Disney Learning Adventures, which combines early...

Business.(Illustration)
August 16, 2004... Current Previous close close Net % 52-week Chain drug stocks 7/28/04 7/6/04 change change high Dow Jones Composite 2989.62 3013.64 -24.02 ...

Diverse factors fuel gains at SDM.(Business)
August 16, 2004... TORONTO -- Shoppers Drug Mart (SDM) rang up gains of over 20% at the bottom line during the quarter and half ended June 19. Results for Canada's largest drug store franchisor continued to be propelled by a combination of formidable retail sales...

Duane Reade net off; company goes private.(Business)
August 16, 2004... NEW YORK -- While front-end sales lagged, charges stemming from a labor dispute and the company's acquisition by an investment group caused a double-digit drop in second quarter net earnings at Duane Reade Inc. The New York City drug...

DrugMax, Familymeds report results.(Business)(Wholesaler DrugMax Inc)
August 16, 2004... CLEARWATER, Fla. -- Wholesaler DrugMax Inc., which is in the process of finalizing its previously announced merger with pharmacy operator Familymeds Inc., recently reported bottom-line losses and sharply lower revenues for the fiscal year and...

Performance of chain tocks lackluster.(Business)
August 16, 2004... NEW YORK -- Chain drug stocks slipped slightly in July. Yet, the group remains one of 2004's best-performing sectors on Wall Street, far outpacing the rest of the stock market, and expectations remain upbeat. From June 30 to July 23 Chain...

Lewis puts South Dakota on chain map.(My Turn)
August 16, 2004... The time has come to make Lewis Drug a mandatory part of any tour of chain drug retailing in America. Granted, Sioux Falls, S.D., is somewhat off the beaten path, much as Bentonville, Ark., once was. But Mark Griffin, the man who heads up...

Health care crisis a wake-up call for pharmacy.(My Turn)
August 16, 2004... Signs of a potentially catastrophic storm in the nation's health care system continue to gather, and retail pharmacy operators had better prepare for it. The latest indicator of the coming upheaval is a report issued last month by the...

CVS brings order to 'sea of red, orange, blue boxes'.(Sports Medicine)
August 16, 2004... NEW YORK -- While young athletes usually go to sporting goods stores to purchase sports medicine products, the rest of the world tends to go to drug stores. Although chain drug retailers are well aware that middle-age and older Americans...

Fit, support, sleekness are criteria.(Sports Medicine)
August 16, 2004... NEW YORK -- A host of new sports medicine products are bringing consumers to the aisles of drug chains. "Shoppers are always seeking the latest items--particularly in this category," says a buyer for May's Drug Stores. "While we have...

External analgesics.(Sports Medicine)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
August 16, 2004... EXTERNAL ANALGESICS Market Dollar sales Leading brands ** Manufacturer share (000) Bengay Pfizer 14.9% $23,781 Icy Hot Chattem...

Overzealous exercisers can get hurt.(Sports Medicine)
August 16, 2004... NEW YORK -- While much has been written about the sedentary, overweight American, there has been less written and discussed about the explosion of sports-related injuries among active people. A study by American Sports Data Inc. shows that...

'Pain relief patches are flying off store shelves'.(Sports Medicine)
August 16, 2004... NEW YORK -- Sales of patches have reached double-digit levels, but retailers are not yet certain whether the products are actually growing the overall sports medicine/external analgesics categories or merely cannibalizing sales. Sales of...

A nutritional bar for every need.(Sports Medicine)
August 16, 2004... NEW YORK -- As the sports nutrition business continues to mature the key factor driving the category forward in recent months has been segmentation. The trend has led to a broader array of consumers using nutrition bars and energy drinks...

'There is no acceptable dose for sun's UV radiation'.(Sun Care)
August 16, 2004... NEW YORK -- With physicians, researchers and public health officials continuing to warn about the potential harm of too much exposure to the sun, consumers are flocking to chain drug stores to buy sunscreens and other sun care items, helping...

Ultraviolet light can be addictive.(Sun Care)(Brief Article)
August 16, 2004... NEW YORK -- Despite repeated warnings that too much exposure to sunlight can be harmful and even lead to cancer, many people continue to spend inordinate amounts of time basking in the sun. Dermatologists and medical experts are baffled by...

Sophisticated sunless tanners give better look.(Sun Care)
August 16, 2004... NEW YORK -- The past year has seen a dramatic increase in the number of new sunless tanning products appearing on the market. Aimed at consumers who want to avoid the sun but still have a tanned appearance, the newest sunless tanners have...

London pharmacists get into act.(Sun Care)
August 16, 2004... RICHMOND, British Columbia -- Pharmacists at London Drugs are playing a key role in helping the drug chain's customers learn about the adverse effect too much exposure to the sun can have on their skin. For the second straight year the...

Getting the consumer to buy one more thing.(Checkout Merchandising)
August 16, 2004... Volumes have been written about the challenges facing the chain drug industry and other retailers at the start of the 21st century. Extensive research has been conducted, more is ongoing and the results in many cases have been enlightening....

Unique opportunity for drug chains.(Checkout Merchandising)(Brief Article)
August 16, 2004... Drug chains can capitalize on a unique opportunity through strategic checkstand merchandising, suggests John Gorman, director of convenience and out-of-home care at Pfizer Inc. "Chain drug retailers can use the checkstand, especially at...

What shoppers find at the checkstand.(Checkout Merchandising)
August 16, 2004... As checkstand merchandising in chain drug stores comes in for greater scrutiny, researchers expect to find many similarities between the drug channel and the food channel when it comes to successfully handling this critical part of the store....

Uncovering the hidden winners.(Checkout Merchandising)
August 16, 2004... The argument has been made that the most important real estate in a chain drug store is the last 3 feet before the cash register, and an abundance of research exists to support that claim. "Checkout merchandising is the last opportunity to...

Putting it all together.(Checkout Merchandising)
August 16, 2004... Chain drug retailers face a number of challenges common to all classes of trade and a few unique to the drug channel when it comes to making decisions about checkstand merchandising. The display space in the area of the front-end checkout can...

At photo checkout expectations are different.(Checkout Merchandising)
August 16, 2004... Some drug chains have dedicated checkout lanes at their photo service desks. For others, the front-end checkout also serves as the photo checkout. In the latter situation the front-end station becomes a de facto photo checkstand for customers...

Offering more than the obvious.(Checkout Merchandising)(drugstores displays)
August 16, 2004... Product variety at the photo checkstand is limited to photo-related items at most chain drug stores, but studies reflect high levels of consumer receptivity to additional categories, especially those focused on high-impulse,...

Making the most of the pharmacy counter.(Checkout Merchandising)
August 16, 2004... The greatest source of unrealized incremental sales in the chain drug store may turn out to be the pharmacy checkstand. Studies suggest that only about 10% of prescription customers also make a pharmacy checkstand merchandise purchase on...

The right product in the right place.(Checkout Merchandising)(drug resellers)
August 16, 2004... One of the problems chain drug retailers may face in trying to improve checkstand productivity in the pharmacy area is a disconnect between employee perceptions and shopping behavior realities. While intercept interviews with pharmacy...

That favorable last impression.(Checkout Merchandising)
August 16, 2004... Checkout merchandising, the last opportunity to impress the consumer, relies on a balance of dynamics that will maximize the productivity of the most valuable real estate in the store. While one in five consumers will purchase checkout...

Glammies salute best in health, beauty.(Brief Article)
August 16, 2004... Honoring the best in beauty and over-the-counter health care, the 2004 Glammy Awards were presented at the recent National Association of Chain Drug Stores Marketplace Conference in San Diego. Sponsored by Glamour magazine, NACDS and Chain Drug...

Glammies honor outstanding H&BA items.
August 16, 2004... Lip Care WINNER: Revlon Inc. Revlon Lip Glide Rite Aid's Judy Wray, Revlon's Paul Murphy Nail Care WINNER: Del Laboratories Inc. Sally Hansen Nailgrowth Miracle Del's Harvey Alstodt, Rite Aid's Wray Hair Removal ...

Top mass retailers recognized.(Brief Article)
August 16, 2004... Regional Beauty Retailer WINNER: Stop & Shop Cos. Regional Health Retailer WINNER: Duane Reade Inc. Duane Reade's Deborah Ungaro, Grace Robas National Beauty Retailer WINNER: CVS Corp. CVS' Barbara Corey, Claudia Tocco,...

When possible, self-monitoring is the way to go.(Home Diagnostics)
August 16, 2004... NEW YORK -- The rising cost of health care is driving sales of home diagnostic products to unseen heights, say chain drug retailers and suppliers. People want to catch problems before they develop into conditions requiring expensive...

Pregnancy test kits are domain of drug chains.(Home Diagnostics)
August 16, 2004... NEW YORK -- Pregnancy test kits are a key part of the chain drug mix, say retailers and suppliers, and market data bears them out. The tests generated sales of more than $140 million in drug stores in the year ended June 13, according to...

Helping to ward off 'the silent killer'.(Home Diagnostics)
August 16, 2004... NEW YORK -- One of the strongest-selling home diagnostic segments in drug chains of late has been blood pressure monitors. Publicity over the obesity epidemic and its link to hypertension and diabetes has led increasing numbers of Americans...

Next wave is genetic screening.(Home Diagnostics)(Health Technology Center)(Brief Article)
August 16, 2004... SAN FRANCISCO -- Genetic testing will continue to expand in the next few years, predicting such diseases as Huntington's and diagnosing rare disorders, according to the Health Technology Center's latest High Impact Technology Report, "The...

What's inexpensive, indispensable.(Home Diagnostics)
August 16, 2004... NEW YORK -- Unit sales of thermometers are up, but falling prices have limited the category's dollar volume gains. Still, say chain drug retailers and suppliers, the category meats attention because it meshes so well with the trade class'...

Promo becomes yearlong event.(Home Diagnostics)(Brief Article)
August 16, 2004... DEERFIELD, Ill. -- A promotion of high-end thermometers at Walgreen Co. has been so successful that it has been extended through the end of the year, according to Marybeth Pompei, vice president and chief clinical scientist of the devices'...

New guidelines create more worries about cholesterol.(Home Diagnostics)(cholesterol measurement technology)
August 16, 2004... NEW YORK -- With the recent announcement by several medical groups that people at risk of heart attack should lower their cholesterol level even more than previously thought, the need for cholesterol-monitoring devices by such patients has...

Retailers find condoms in secondary locations can work.(Family Planning)(Brief Article)
August 16, 2004... NEW YORK -- A few years ago, when condoms were moved from behind the pharmacy counter to in front of it, sales in the category increased. Now that a few bold retailers are displaying condoms in other sections of the store as well, marketers of...

'Pleasure' not 'risk' is key driver in category.(Family Planning)
August 16, 2004... NEW YORK -- While some have questioned the shift in focus from fear to fun in the condom category in the past few years, it has proven to be a wise strategy with regard to both safety and sales. According to Information Resources Inc.,...

Marketing targeted to the young.(Family Planning)(Brief Article)
August 16, 2004... NEW YORK -- Although adults of all ages use condoms, marketing efforts are generally targeted to younger, more sexually active people. Wherever those between 18 and 29 gather, one is likely to find some type of condom marketing. Schools,...

'It's smart to carry condoms' but ...(Family Planning)(Brief Article)
August 16, 2004... NEW YORK -- When it comes to safer sex most Americans have the best of intentions. However, their words and actions often differ, according to the recent "Are We a Condom Nation?" survey conducted by Church & Dwight Co.'s Trojan brand. The...

Sammons challenges rite aid to be even better.(2004 Rite Aid Management Conference and Supplier Exhibition)(Mary Sammons)
August 30, 2004... BALTIMORE -- "Make a Difference. Make It Personal." was the theme of the 2004 Rite Aid Management Conference and Supplier Exhibition here earlier this month, and president and chief executive officer Mary Sammons challenged associates to do...

Illinois ups the ante on Rx imports.
August 30, 2004... SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich unveiled a plan earlier this month that makes the state the first in the nation to help residents buy cheaper drugs from foreign countries other than Canada. The program, which is open to...

Kerr touts drug store of tomorrow.
August 30, 2004... ZEBULON, N.C. -- Kerr Drug opened its 104th store in this suburban Raleigh community earlier this month, consolidating two area stores and so reducing its store count by one. The actual number does not matter much. What matters is that the...

Electronic prescribing entering mainstream.
August 30, 2004... NEW YORK -- Electronic prescribing, limited a few years ago to just a few dozen physicians and pharmacies in a handful of markets across the country, is on the verge of becoming part of every pharmacy's daily operation, the head of the largest...

At NACDS Rx conference new intiatives.
August 30, 2004... SAN DIEGO -- One of the things likely to command a good deal of attention at the National Association of Chain Drug Stores Pharmacy & Technology Conference here this week is the work of the Sarasota Group, a groundbreaking coalition of retail...

New pharmacy network formed in Quebec.(Brief Article)
August 30, 2004... BOUCHERVILLE, Quebec -- Groupe ESSAIM Inc. and Sante Services Obonsoins Management Inc. have agreed to merge, forming a 309-unit strong pharmacy network in Quebec. The new organization, made up of Sante's 154 pharmacist-owned stores and...

In the wake of Charley mass retailers pitch in.(Hurricane Charley, donations of supermarkets)
August 30, 2004... FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Chain drug stores and other retailers were among those offering help in the wake of Hurricane Charley, one of the worst storms ever to hit Florida. The storm killed at least 20 people and left tens of thousands...

Longs secures financial position.(Brief Article)
August 30, 2004... WALNUT CREEK, Calif. -- Longs Drug Stores has closed on a $280 million secured revolving-credit facility led by the Bank of America Retail Finance Group. The five-year facility, which expires on August 6, 2009, is secured with inventory,...

CVS' ExtraCare gives people help with FSAs.(Brief Article)
August 30, 2004... WOONSOCKET, R.I. -- CVS Corp. has launched a tracking technology through its ExtraCare card program that is designed to help customers with flexible spending accounts (FSAs) maximize their savings on health care purchases. On September 3,...

Bartell is ninth company to join CDC.(Brief Article)
August 30, 2004... BOCA RATON, Fla. -- Bartell Drug has joined the Chain Drug Consortium LLC (CDC), bringing the group's membership to nine chains with 1,000 stores and more than $4 billion in annual sales. "We welcome George Bartell as our newest partner in...

Target, MinuteClinic offer on-the-spot medical treatment.
August 30, 2004... BALTIMORE -- Some Target Corp. discount stores in the area have taken their being health care destinations to the next level. Along with their pharmacy and over-the-counter drug departments, the outlets feature small, walk-in medical clinics...

Bristol-Myers, Schering-Plough settle lawsuits.
August 30, 2004... NEW YORK -- Although Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. and Schering-Plough Corp. have settled separate lawsuits, each faces the possibility of additional legal liabilities linked to underlying allegations in the cases. Bristol-Myers says it will...

Ex-longs exec Fong joins Safeway as VP pharmacy.(Brief Article)
August 30, 2004... PLEASANTON, Calif. -- David Fong, who has been a mainstay in Longs Drug Stores' pharmacy operations for nearly three decades, has left the drug chain to become vice president of corporate pharmacy at Safeway Inc. He succeeds Rich Cancilla...

McClellan is added to list of speakers.
August 30, 2004... SAN DIEGO -- The schedule for the National Association of Chain Drug Stores' annual Pharmacy & Technology Conference here this week has been altered slightly to include a talk from Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) administrator...

Sturtevant upgrades Columbia packaging.(Supplier News)
August 30, 2004... BRONXVILLE, N.Y. -- Not only is the new packaging on F.C. Sturtevant Co.'s 6-ounce Columbia Antiseptic Powder tamper-resistant, but it also gives the company the ability to provide more information to consumers. The packaging will be...

Austin, CCA team up on skin care line.(Supplier News)(Brief Article)
August 30, 2004... EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- CCA Industries Inc. will produce a Denise Austin line of cosmetics and skin care products under a licensing agreement with the fitness star. Austin hosts daily fitness shows on the Lifetime cable network. Her...

Noritsu America recasts top management team.(Supplier News)(Brief Article)
August 30, 2004... BUENA PARK, Calif. -- Shiro Kazuta has been named president of Noritsu America Corp. He will be responsible for all of the company's North American operations, including overseeing strategic planning. Kazuta previously had been general...

L'Oreal will relocate its ethnic unit.(Supplier News)(Brief Article)
August 30, 2004... CHICAGO -- L'Oreal USA's Soft Sheen-Carson ethnic beauty products division is moving its headquarters from Chicago to New York and New Jersey. Executives say the move is intended to give the division better access its parent company's...

Vitaball supplement line is extended by Amerifit.(Supplier News)(Brief Article)
August 30, 2004... BLOOMFIELD, Conn. -- Amerifit Nutrition Inc. has expanded its Vitaball line of gumball vitamins with new flavors and extra vitamin C. "Vitaball Wild 'N Fruity is our newest SKU under the Vitaball brand, and we're confident that it will...

Ostaficiuk joins Boca.(Supplier News)(Brief Article)
August 30, 2004... COCONUT CREEK, Fla. -- Boca Pharmacal Inc. has named Konstantin Ostaficiuk vice president of sales and marketing. Ostaficiuk has more than 17 years of experience in marketing generic drugs. Prior to joining Boca he has been vice president...

Premier brands makes intros.(Supplier News)(Brief Article)
August 30, 2004... MOUNT VERNON, N.Y. -- Premier Brands of America has expanded its line of foot care products. The new items include heel liners, gel heel cushions and Tri-Balance three-quarter-length insoles, to provide three zones of support. The latter...

CVS net up 17.4% on 7.8% sales gain in quarter.(Business)
August 30, 2004... WOONSOCKET, R.I. -- As it began to digest the acquisition that will make it the chain drug store industry's leader by store count, CVS Corp. announced solid double-digit earnings gains for 13- and 26-week periods ended July 3. However, the...

Bigger loss slows momentum at drugstore.com.(Business)
August 30, 2004... BELLEVUE, Wash. -- Snapping an extended string of quarters in which its net loss was reduced from prior-year levels, drugstore.com saw its red ink widen during the three months ended June 27. The bigger deficit came despite a strong increase at...