Chain Drug Review articles from January 2008

Chain Drug Review archives from January 2008

Four CVS Caremark execs named Retailers of Year.(Retailers of the Year)
January 7, 2008... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] WOONSOCKET, R.I. -- Chain drug retailing in America has seen precious few seismic shifts, few game-changers in its long and rich history. For over 100 years, the industry has developed at pretty much its own pace,...

Bernauer recognized for life's work.(Lifetime Achievement Award)
January 7, 2008... DEERFIELD, Ill. -- During the first years of the 21st century, Walgreen Co. has epitomized the best the chain drug industry has to offer, finding new ways to meet the pharmacy and front-end needs of increasingly time-pressed consumers, while...

Wal-Mart's Fehlig gets top merchant honors.(Vern Brunner Merchant of Year Award)
January 7, 2008... BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- As vice president and divisional merchandise manager for over-the-counter merchandising at Wal-Mart Stores Inc., Chuck Fehlig oversees a department that generates more sales than the combined nonprescription drug business...

Wagner lauded for contributions.(Lifetime Achievement Award)
January 7, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- When Mary Ann Wagner was asked to join the National Association of Chain Drug Stores staff in 1994, she figured it was the change of pace she needed after her previous employer had been gobbled up...

Judge blocks Medicaid cuts.(News)
January 7, 2008... WASHINGTON -- After a judge here last month stopped the federal government from implementing cuts in the reimbursements paid for Medicaid prescriptions, attorneys for the government and the groups representing community pharmacy have hammered...

Kaplan named GNC president.(News)(appoinment of Beth Kaplan in General Nutrition Centers Inc.)(Brief article)
January 7, 2008... PITTSBURGH -- Beth Kaplan, a veteran of Rite Aid Corp. and Procter & Gamble Co., has been named president and chief merchandising and marketing officer of GNC. The 49-year-old Kaplan will report to G NC chief executive officer Joe...

Holidays not happy for chains.(News)
January 7, 2008... NEW YORK -- For America's chain drug retailers, Christmas 2007 can most charitably be described as uneventful, most graphically be portrayed as dull, most accurately be positioned as disappointing. Uncooperative weather in the nation's...

Group offers help with IRS requirements.(News)(Internal Revenue Service)(Brief article)
January 7, 2008... SAN RAMON, Calif. -- An industry standards group has been formed to help retailers and plan administrators meet Internal Revenue Service requirements for inventory information approval system (IIAS) transactions. The Special Interest Group...

SureScripts transition under way.(News)(resignation of Kevin Hutchinson from SureScript Systems Inc.)
January 7, 2008... ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- SureScripts president and chief executive officer Kevin Hutchinson plans to leave the company at the end of January. Chief operating officer Rick Ratliff will serve as acting chief executive officer. Hutchinson joined...

CVS Caremark to tweak ExtraCare.(News)(Brief article)
January 7, 2008... TALLAHASSEE, Fla.--CVS Caremark Corp. has agreed to modify its ExtraCare program after the Florida attorney general's office found that the rewards plan could be misleading and confusing for customers. The company cooperated with the state's...

'A Prescription for Growth'.(News)(chain drug retailers)
January 7, 2008... NEW YORK -- Operating fundamentals will remain strong for chain drug retailers in 2008, according to a Fitch Ratings report, with large players capitalizing on positive industry and demographic trends, despite some pricing pressures and intense...

Chain drug execs look ahead.(Retail Forecast '08)
January 7, 2008... Chain drug retailing in 2008 faces a wide variety of challenges and opportunities. While the increasing numbers of baby boomers reaching their 60s and needing more prescriptions will continue to drive more people than ever into America's...

Similar views on health care's direction produced merger.(News/Retailers of the Year)(CVS Corp. acquired Caremark Rx Inc.)(Brief article)
January 7, 2008... WOONSOCKET, R.I. -- CVS Caremark Corp. was conceived about two years ago, when CVS Corp. chairman, president and chief executive officer Tom Ryan and Caremark Rx Inc. chairman, president and CEO Mac Crawford broached the idea of a merger and...

Customers treated to 'total shopping experience'.(News/Retailers of the Year)
January 7, 2008... WOONSOCKET, R.I. -- With more than 6,200 stores in 40 states and the District of Columbia, CVS Caremark has worked hard to keep its outlets viable to a wide array of consumers. "The challenge is to understand who our customers are and give...

CVS Caremark capitalizes on synergies.(News/Retailers of the Year)
January 7, 2008... WOONSOCKET, R.I. -- Retail customers continue to turn to CVS stores because of the access and convenience of those outlets. And corporate clients are appreciating the company's pharmacy benefits management business because of its ability to...

Expansion necessitates adaptability.(News/Retailers of the Year)(Brief article)
January 7, 2008... WOONSOCKET, R.I. -- As CVS Caremark has acquired smaller chains over the last decade, the company has had to adopt its operation to a variety of different-size stores. For instance, the layout of the Osco and Sav-on units CVS acquired from...

PBM makes most of 'touch points'.(News/Retailers of the Year)(Pharmacy benefit management.)(Brief article)
January 7, 2008... NASHVILLE -- Pharmaceutical care, maintains Howard McLure, "is the safest and most cost-effective line of defense against rising health care costs." And as president of Caremark Pharmacy services, McLure is leading that battle to bring reduced...

Fighting diabetes a top priority.(News/Vern Brunner Merchant of the Year)
January 7, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores Inc. reaffirmed its commitment to health care when it joined the Delta Regional Authority (DRA) last fall to undertake a diabetes-awareness program in stores in eight states...

In-store clinics are part of the plan.(News/Vern Brunner Merchant of the Year)(Wal-Mart Stores Inc. contract with health care industry.)(Survey)
January 7, 2008... BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores Inc. intends to contract with local hospitals and other organizations to have as many as 400 in-store health clinics over the next year or two, and if current market forces continue up to 2,000 clinics could...

O-T-C packaging is streamlined.(News/Vern Brunner Merchant of the Year)(over-the-counter)(Brief article)
January 7, 2008... BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- One of the achievements of Wal-Mart's over-the-counter medicines department that Chuck Fehlig is proudest of is its work with suppliers to reduce packaging waste. The effort, notes Fehlig, fits in with the retailer's...

Making sure pharmacy doesn't lose sight of its future.(News/Ronald L. Ziegler Lifetime Achievement Award)
January 7, 2008... DEERFIELD, Ill. -- Former Walgreen Co. chairman and chief executive officer Dave Bernauer is being honored by the editors of Chain Drug Review for his life's work at the company he retired from five months ago. Bernauer could just as easily...

Medicare challenge.(News/Ziegler Award)
January 7, 2008... ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- When the Medicare prescription benefit was about to go into effect a few years ago, National Association of Chain Drug Stores vice president of pharmacy regulatory affairs Mary Ann Wagner was on the front lines of getting the...

A lot of good things are predicted for NACDS.(News/Ziegler Award)(National Association of Chain Drug Stores)
January 7, 2008... ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- When Mary Ann Wagner leaves the National Association of Chain Drug Stores at the end of the month, she says she will rest assured that the organization is in good hands. "We're going to see a lot of positive things out of...

SDM earnings rise 15.1% on 9.2% advance in sales.(Business)(Shoppers Drug Mart)(Statistical table)
January 7, 2008... TORONTO -- The third quarter of fiscal 2007 saw Shoppers Drug Mart (SDM) record another double-digit increase in net profit on top of ongoing solid sales, with results meeting the average estimate of analysts polled by Bloomberg LP. However,...

Tax benefit bolsters Kroger's bottom line.(Business)
January 7, 2008... CINCINNATI -- A substantial tax benefit drove third quarter net earnings up more than 18% at Kroger Co. However, a sharp decline in gross margin, triggered mainly by volatile fuel prices, combined with a modest rise in fourth quarter earnings...

At the end of the day, the choice was clear.(My Turn)
January 7, 2008... With the first issue of the new calendar year, the editors of Chain Drug Review have named the publication's annual Chain Drug Retailer of the Year for 2007. Despite the unprecedented level of activity in chain drug retailing last year, the...

NACDS Foundation in step with the industry.(My Turn)
January 7, 2008... The National Association of Chain Drug Stores Foundation held its ninth annual dinner at the Hilton Hotel in New York City last month and, by any measure, the event was a resounding success. For one night in December the foundation dinner...

Batteries help drive the proliferation of electronics: manufacturers are responding to the needs of consumers on the go.(HOME ELECTRONICS)
January 7, 2008... NEW YORK -- The ongoing proliferation of high-drain portable electronic devices and American's desire to own the latest gadgets continue to make batteries an important part of drug stores' mix. As the industry's major battery makers battle...

Suppliers find ways to give back.(MERCHANDISING/HOME ELECTRONICS)(Consumers awareness program.(Change their batteries).)(Market share report)(Statistical table)
January 7, 2008... NEW YORK -- Three major battery suppliers have elevated the profile of their products and the category this year with initiatives devoted to the public good. Energizer Holdings Inc. celebrated the 20th anniversary of the "Change Your...

Right power source can make all the difference.(MERCHANDISING/HOME ELECTRONICS)(Report)(Brief article)
January 7, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] NEW YORK -- Batteries that perform well in one kind of device may not do as well in others, a recent study by Consumer Reports magazine found. The study, published in the magazine's November issue, looked at...

Home video equation changes.(MERCHANDISING/HOME ELECTRONICS)(Statistical table)
January 7, 2008... NEW YORK -- The evolving landscape in video technology continues to have an impact on strategies at chain drug stores and other mass retail outlets. In the 1990s videocassettes were by far the most popular way to view movies at home, but...

Walgreens expands use of DVD kiosks.(MERCHANDISING/HOME ELECTRONICS)(Report)(Brief article)
January 7, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] DEERFIELD, Ill. -- Walgreen Co. will add Redbox DVD rental kiosks in stores located in the Columbus, Ohio, and the Phoenix metropolitan areas. The expansion follows a successful test of Redbox kiosks in a small...

Personal care appliances, chain drug stores a good fit.(MERCHANDISING/HOME ELECTRONICS)
January 7, 2008... NEW YORK -- From electric razors to hair dryers, personal care appliances are becoming an increasingly important part of many drug chains' mix. Suppliers and retailers say that with the average consumer getting older and wanting to take...

Drug chains, discounters drive in O-T-C sales.(O-T-C BEST-SELLERS)(over-the-counter)(Statistical table)
January 7, 2008... NEW YORK -- The overall over-the-counter drug category registered gains across the three major mass market trade classes in 2007, with chain drug store and Wal-Mart Stores Inc. turning in particularly strong performances. Last year the...

Consolidation among suppliers a fact of life.(O-T-C BEST-SELLERS)(Adams Respiratory Therapeutics)(Brief article)
January 7, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] NEW YORK -- The trend of larger companies gaining increasing dominance in the over-the-counter drug market was accelerated last month with Reckitt Benckiser Group PLC's acquisition of Adams Respiratory Therapeutics...

Third class of drugs considered.(O-T-C BEST-SELLERS)(behind the counter drugs)(Brief article)
January 7, 2008... NEW YORK -- Consumers may someday have another option when it comes to treating an illness. In mid-November the Food and Drug Administration held a hearing to get comments on the feasibility of creating a third class of drugs, so-called...

Substance abuse gets attention.(O-T-C BEST-SELLERS)(Brief article)
January 7, 2008... WASHINGTON -- The educational efforts of leading over-the-counter cough medicine manufacturers are stemming teenage abuse of their products, but there is still much work to be done, says Consumer Healthcare Products Association president Linda...

Total U.S. H&BA sales by dollars.(O-T-C BEST-SELLERS)(Statistical table)
January 7, 2008... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] Total U.S. H&BA sales by dollars For the 52 weeks ended November 4, 2007 TOTAL FOOD/DRUG/DISCOUNT TOTAL FOOD EXCEPT WAL-MART ...

Total U.S. H&BA sales by units.(O-T-C BEST-SELLERS)(Statistical table)
January 7, 2008... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] Total U.S. H&BA sales by units For the 52 weeks ended November 4, 2007 TOTAL FOOD/DRUG/DISCOUNT EXCEPT WAL-MART TOTAL FOOD ...

IRI H&BA subcategories--pricing and sales by type of merchandising activity *.(O-T-C BEST-SELLERS)(Statistical table)
January 7, 2008... IRI H&BA subcategories--pricing and sales by type of merchandising activity * Avg. % Dollars, price Avg. price any ...

Adult incontinence.(O-T-C BEST-SELLERS)(Statistical table)
January 7, 2008... Adult incontinence % change % change vs. vs. Trade class Dollar sales year ago Unit sales year ago ...

Antacid liquid/powder.(O-T-C BEST-SELLERS)(Statistical table)
January 7, 2008... Antacid liquid/powder % change % change vs. vs. Trade class Dollar sales year ago Unit sales year ago ...

Antacid tablets.(O-T-C BEST-SELLERS)(Statistical table)
January 7, 2008... Antacid tablets % change % change vs. vs. Trade class Dollar sales year ago Unit sales year ago TOTAL MASS ...

Antismoking gum.(O-T-C BEST-SELLERS)(Statistical table)(Brief article)
January 7, 2008... Antismoking gum % change % change vs. vs. Trade class Dollar sales year ago Unit sales year ago TOTAL...

Blood pressure kits.(O-T-C BEST-SELLERS)(Statistical table)
January 7, 2008... Blood pressure kits % change % change vs. vs. Trade class Dollar sales year ago Unit sales year ago TOTAL...

Breath freshener sprays/drops.(O-T-C BEST-SELLERS)(Statistical table)
January 7, 2008... Breath freshener sprays/drops % change % change vs. vs. Trade class Dollar sales year ago Unit sales year ago...

Cold/allergy/sinus liquid/powder.(O-T-C BEST-SELLERS)(Statistical table)
January 7, 2008... Cold/allergy/sinus liquid/powder % change % change vs. vs. Trade class Dollar sales year ago Unit sales ...

Cold/allergy/sinus tablets/packets.(O-T-C BEST-SELLERS)(Statistical table)
January 7, 2008... Cold/allergy/sinus tablets/packets % change % change vs. vs. Trade class Dollar sales year ago Unit sales year ago ...

Ear drops/treatments.(O-T-C BEST-SELLERS)(Statistical table)
January 7, 2008... Ear drops/treatments % change % change vs. vs. Trade class Dollar sales year ago Unit sales year ago ...

External analgesic rubs.(O-T-C BEST-SELLERS)(Statistical table)
January 7, 2008... External analgesic rubs % change % change vs. vs. Trade class Dollar sales year ago Unit sales year ago ...

Eye/lens care solutions.(O-T-C BEST-SELLERS)(Statistical table)
January 7, 2008... Eye/lens care solutions % change % change vs. vs. Trade class Dollar sales year ago Unit sales year ago ...

Eye/lens care tablets/accessories.(O-T-C BEST-SELLERS)(Statistical table)
January 7, 2008... Eye/lens care tablets/accessories % change % change Dollar vs. vs. Trade class sales year ago Unit sales year ago...

First aid--insect bite products.(O-T-C BEST-SELLERS)(Statistical table)
January 7, 2008... First aid--insect bite products % change % change vs. vs. Trade class Dollar sales year ago Unit sales year...

First aid--muscle supports.(O-T-C BEST-SELLERS)(Statistical table)
January 7, 2008... First aid--muscle supports % change % change vs. vs. Trade class Dollar sales year ago Unit sales year...

First aid--tape/bandage/gauze.(O-T-C BEST-SELLERS)(Statistical table)
January 7, 2008... First aid--tape/bandage/gauze % change % change vs. vs. Trade class Dollar sales year ago Unit sales year ago...

Glucose tests.(O-T-C BEST-SELLERS)(Statistical table)
January 7, 2008... Glucose tests % change % change vs. vs. Trade class Dollar sales year ago Unit sales year ago TOTAL MASS...

Hand sanitizers.(O-T-C BEST-SELLERS)(Over the counter drug.)(Market share report)(Statistical table)
January 7, 2008... Hand sanitizers % change % change vs. vs. Trade class Dollar sales year ago Unit sales year ago TOTAL MASS...

Internal analgesic liquids.(O-T-C BEST-SELLERS)(Over the counter drug.)(Market share report)(Statistical table)
January 7, 2008... Internal analgesic liquids % change % change vs. vs. Trade class Dollar sales year ago Unit sales year ago ...

Internal analgesic tablets.(O-T-C BEST-SELLERS)(Market share report)(Statistical table)
January 7, 2008... Internal analgesic tablets % % change change $77 vs. vs. ...

Laxative tablets.(O-T-C BEST-SELLERS)(Brief article)
January 7, 2008... Laxative tablets % % change change vs. vs. ...

Lip balm/cold sore medication.(O-T-C BEST-SELLERS)(Statistical table)
January 7, 2008... Lip balm/cold sore medication % % change change vs. ...

Mouthwash/dental rinse.(O-T-C BEST-SELLERS)(Statistical table)
January 7, 2008... Mouthwash/dental rinse % % change change vs. vs. ...

Oral pain relief.(O-T-C BEST-SELLERS)(Statistical table)
January 7, 2008... Oral pain relief % % change change vs. vs. ...

Pregnancy test kits.(O-T-C BEST-SELLERS)(Statistical table)
January 7, 2008... Pregnancy test kits % % change change vs. vs. ...

Sleeping aid tablets.(O-T-C BEST-SELLERS)(Statistical table)
January 7, 2008... Sleeping aid tablets % % change change vs. vs. ...

Toothbrushes--manual.(O-T-C BEST-SELLERS)(Statistical table)
January 7, 2008... Toothbrushes--manual % % change change vs. vs. ...

Toothpaste.(O-T-C BEST-SELLERS)(Statistical table)
January 7, 2008... Toothpaste % % change change vs. vs. ...

Tooth whitening products.(O-T-C BEST-SELLERS)(Statistical table)
January 7, 2008... Tooth whitening products % change % change vs. vs. year Trade class Dollar sales year ago Unit sales ago...

Vitamins--mineral.(O-T-C BEST-SELLERS)(Statistical table)
January 7, 2008... Vitamins--mineral % change % change vs. year vs. year Trade class Dollar sales ago Unit sales ago TOTAL MASS ...

Vitamins--multivitamins.(O-T-C BEST-SELLERS)(Statistical table)
January 7, 2008... Vitamins--multivitamins % change % change vs year vs year Trade class Dollar sales ago Unit sales ago TOTAL MASS ...

Vitamins--1 & 2 letter.(O-T-C BEST-SELLERS)(Statistical table)
January 7, 2008... Vitamins--1 & 2 letter % % Trade class Dollar sales change Unit sales change vs. year vs. year ...

Weight control--candy/tablets.(O-T-C BEST-SELLERS)(Statistical table)
January 7, 2008... Weight control--candy/tablets % % change change vs. year vs....

Weight control--liquid/powders.(O-T-C BEST-SELLERS)(Statistical table)
January 7, 2008... Weight control--liquid/powders % % change change vs. year vs....

The leaders of 12 organizations provide a look at what lies ahead.(Pharmacy Outlook '08)
January 7, 2008... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] NEW YORK -- The 2008 presidential election will be closely watched by retail pharmacy organizations and groups representing related sectors. A new administration in the White House may attempt to redefine...

The American Pharmacists Association (APhA).(PHARMACY OUTLOOK '08)(Organization overview)(Viewpoint essay)
January 7, 2008... John Gans, Executive Vice President and CEO [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] As we enter a presidential election year, one in which the debate over health care reform will resume for the umpteenth time, I am reminded of the first sentence of...

The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO).(Pharmacy Outlook '08)
January 7, 2008... James Greenwood, President and CEO [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] Two thousand eight will be an important year for health care policy. According to recent polls, Americans rank health care as their top domestic concern. While Americans...

The Canadian Association of Chain Drugstores (CACDS).(Pharmacy Outlook '08)
January 7, 2008... Nadine Saby, President and CEO [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] As is the case in many countries, the Canadian health care system is being stressed by the combined realities of a growing, aging population and shortages of health professionals...

The Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA).(Pharmacy Outlook '08)
January 7, 2008... Linda Suydam, President [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] Last year brought a great deal of activity to the over-the-counter medicine and nutritional supplement arena, and the Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA) was in the middle of...

The Food Marketing Institute (FMI).(Pharmacy Outlook '08)
January 7, 2008... Tim Hammonds, President and CEO [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] Food retailers are integrating pharmacies into strategic health and wellness initiatives for consumers, who increasingly see the link between nutrition and robust lifestyles ...

The Generic Pharmaceutical Association (GPhA).(Pharmacy Outlook '08)
January 7, 2008... Kathleen Jaeger, President and CEO [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] Health care dominated the congressional agenda in 2007, and discussions about generic medicines and their potential cost savings were a key part of that debate. It's not a...

The Healthcare Distribution Management Association (HDMA).(Pharmacy Outlook '08)
January 7, 2008... John Gray, President and CEO [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] The health care supply chain in the United States is one of the most sophisticated in the world, providing a strong system for the safe and efficient delivery of medicines to...

The National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS).(Pharmacy Outlook '08)
January 7, 2008... Steve Anderson, President and CEO [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] In Washington, D.C., writing in December of one year about the outlook for the next year is quite a challenge. As I write this, Congress, state legislatures and the courts...

The National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA).(Pharmacy Outlook '08)
January 7, 2008... Bruce Roberts, Executive Vice President and CEO [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] I've been accused by some of being an eternal optimist, and I'll concede that I'm an optimistic person: I've never seen any benefit from a defeatist attitude....

The National Council for Prescription Drug Programs (NCPDP).(Pharmacy Outlook '08)
January 7, 2008... Lee Ann Stember, President [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] Attempting to prognosticate what will transpire in health care and in pharmacy over the next year or two is like trying to focus on the puck in a hockey game. The year 2008 will be a...