Chain Drug Review articles from July 2003

Chain Drug Review archives from July 2003

Finding consensus on Medicare Rx plan tough job.
July 21, 2003... NEW YORK -- Finalization of a Medicare prescription drug benefit could take months as partisan House and Senate conferees negotiate a compromise, government watchers say. Reconciling the bills passed by the two bodies was complicated by...

Latowsky orchestrates Katz Group integration.
July 21, 2003... MARKHAM, Ontario -- Larry Latowsky has been president of Drug Trading Ltd. since October 1998. Since January 2003 he has combined that function with his appointment as president and chief executive officer of Katz Group Canada Ltd. The...

Rite Aid to resume expanding.
July 21, 2003... NEW YORK -- With its financial picture brightening, Rite Aid Corp. is planning to get back on the expansion track, chief executive officer Mary Sammons said at the company's annual meeting here last month. After years of restraint in the...

Drug chains need to offer solutions. (IRI/CDR Study).(Industry Overview)
July 21, 2003... NEW YORK -- Drug chains wishing to revitalize their front ends must identify their most compelling positioning with consumers -- namely as solutions providers. That is one key finding of "Understanding the Drug Store Consumer: Driving Front-end...

More former Rite Aid execs plead guilty.
July 21, 2003... HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Former Rite Aid Corp. executive Eric Sorkin has plead guilty to a count of conspiracy to obstruct justice, becoming the third former corporate official to admit to wrongdoing in federal court here. Fired as Rite Aid's...

CVS promotes Bloom to senior VP.(Brief Article)
July 21, 2003... WOONSOCKET, R.I. -- CVS Corp. has made a number of changes in its merchandising management ranks. Mike Bloom, who was vice president and merchandise manager of several categories, has been promoted to senior vice president of...

Duane Reade names Sr. VP merchandising.(Brief Article)
July 21, 2003... NEW YORK -- Duane Reade has appointed Timothy LaBeau senior vice president of merchandising and named him to the company's executive committee. "We are very pleased to have Tim join Duane Reade as a valuable addition to our already strong...

ShopKo will enter drug store arena.(Brief Article)
July 21, 2003... GREEN BAY, Wis. -- ShopKo Stores Inc. has announced that it will open two freestanding drug stores next year to test the viability of the concept. The company, which currently operates discount stores under the ShopKo and Pamida banners,...

Mass. governor puts end to Rx tax.
July 21, 2003... BOSTON -- Massachusetts legislators agreed earlier this month to abandon their efforts to override Gov. Mitt Romney's veto of the state's controversial prescription tax. The veto effort, pushed by Democratic members of the House, was...

Longs shakes up store operations.(Longs Drug Stores offers all store managers a voluntary severance package while hoping that they stay)(Brief Article)
July 21, 2003... WALNUT CREEK, Calif. -- Saying it needs to cut costs, Longs Drug Stores has offered all of its store managers a voluntary severance package. Under the program the company's 463 store managers had until today to decide whether to accept the...

Best at Marketplace honored.(list of National Association of Chain Drug Store "best in category" winners)(Brief Article)
July 21, 2003... ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- The National Association of Chain Drug Stores has named the "best in category" winners in the product showcase at last month's NACDS Marketplace Conference in San Diego. The items honored are: * Baby Care: Petkin...

May's Heller wins award for entrepreneurial skills.(Brief Article)
July 21, 2003... TULSA, Okla. -- Jerry Heller, president and chief executive officer of May's Drug Stores, has received the retail/consumer entrepreneur of the year award for the Southwest region from Ernst & Young LLP. The presentation was made last month in...

Council to help SureScripts further E-prescribing.
July 21, 2003... ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- Sure-Script Systems Inc. has formed an advisory council comprised of executives from some of the nation's most respected pharmacy chains to provide strategic and technical input in the effort to promote widespread adoption of...

NACDS lauds development of RxPATROL.(Brief Article)
July 21, 2003... ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- Purdue Pharma LP is being praised by drug store industry leaders for its establishment of RxPATROL (Pattern Analysis Tracking Robberies and Other Losses). An information clearing house designed to collect and share...

Markwins Beauty Products update.(Brief Article)
July 21, 2003... Nailed! Enriched and Empowered Nail Colors Wet n' Wild Crystallic Calcium Enriched Nail Enamel with calcium for stronger healthier nails in contemporary colors, metallics and glitter finishes. New For Eyes In 2004! Announcing 3...

DeRoyal goes retail. (Supplier News).(Brief Article)
July 21, 2003... KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- DeRoyal has debuted a retail packaging design for its pharmacy-brand orthopedic items that reflects the line's expansion. The 35-SKU line includes 10 new products and eight items that previously were available only in...

Symphony Technology set to acquire IRI. (Supplier News).
July 21, 2003... CHICAGO -- Information Resources Inc. (IRI) has agreed to be acquired for $98.4 million by a newly formed corporation owned by Symphony Technology II-A L.P., a leading investor in enterprise software and related services businesses, and private...

Lola Products unveils 'vacuum without a cord'. (Supplier News).(Brief Article)
July 21, 2003... HACKENSACK, N.J. -- Lola Products has launched the Lola Rola Sticky Mop, designed to pick up pet and human hair and other debris from carpets, linoleum, hardwood floors and other surfaces. According to a spokesman for the company, which has...

Visionace makes eyes healthier. (Supplier News).(Brief Article)
July 21, 2003... RAMSEY, N.J. -- Already the No. 1 supplement for eyes in Great Britain, Visionace tablets from Vitabiotics USA are now available in the United States. Visionace entails a formula specifically developed to help maintain healthy eyes and...

An affordable method to test homes for mold. (Supplier News).(Brief Article)
July 21, 2003... PHOENIX -- Addressing the growing concerns of homeowners that household mold could be leading to chronic health problems, a company based here has developed what a spokesman says is an inexpensive test kit to check for the problem. Health...

Altitude Plus launches new oral care concept. (Supplier News).(Brief Article)
July 21, 2003... CHICAGO -- Altitude Plus LLC has introduced a novel oral care system, combining what a company spokesman says is the best in toothbrushes and oral irrigation in a single portable item. Called the AquaSonic Water-Jet, the product resembles a...

Apothecary agrees to purchase Flents. (Supplier News).(Brief Article)
July 21, 2003... BURNSVILLE, Minn.--Apothecary Products Inc. has acquired Flents Products Co. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Apothecary, which markets over-the-counter health care products ranging from first aid items to baby needs, adds such...

Rite Aid posts profit before onetime items in qtr. (Business).
July 21, 2003... CAMP HILL, Pa. -- Although Rite Aid Corp. managed a small profit before onetime items, charges for early debt retirement and the cost of defending its former executives produced a net loss for the first quarter of fiscal 2004. The nation's...

Earnings gains outpace sales growth at Kroger. (Business).
July 21, 2003... CINCINNATI -- Despite continued meager sales growth, adjusted net income grew almost 10% for Kroger Co. during the first quarter of fiscal 2003 against a prior-year period that included a number of charges. However, unrelenting competitive...

Operating results miss target at Walgreens. (Business).
July 21, 2003... DEERFIELD, Ill. -- Although bottom-line earnings at Walgreen Co. continued to advance at a record pace during fiscal 2003's third quarter, operating results came up short of the company's plan, as sales growth was unable to fully offset rising...

Chain drug stocks climb 0.7% in June. (Business).(Industry Overview)
July 21, 2003... NEW YORK -- Chain drug stocks continued their 2003 resurgence during June along with the rest of the market. Investors have been pushing shares higher in anticipation of a stronger economy and an invigorated consumer sector for the remainder of...

Drug imports from Canada raise myriad questions. (My Turn).
July 21, 2003... An acquaintance of ours, attending the recent ECRM international conference in Miami was diverted by a store front across Route A1A from the meeting hotel. Atop the store was this sign: Discount Drugs of Canada. Intrigued, our friend...

CVS, Kodak team up to meet digital challenge. (My Turn).
July 21, 2003... The tectonic plates that underlie consumer photography are shifting as digital imaging continues to become a mainstream phenomenon, leaving chain drug retailers anxiously waiting to find out what that will mean for one of the pillars of their...

Glammy Awards go to hot products and chains. (Glammy Awards 2003).(Brief Article)(Industry Overview)
July 21, 2003... The 12th annual Glammy Awards, honoring the best in beauty and health care, were presented at the recent NACDS Marketplace Conference in San Diego. Sponsored by Glamour magazine, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores and Chain Drug...

Nivea lotion gives skin a healthy glow. (Body Lotion).(Brief Article)
July 21, 2003... Beiersdorf Inc.'s Nivea Silky Shimmer Lotion is an allover body moisturizer that uses available light to enhance the look of skin. The lightweight, neutral-tone product can be used year-round to give skin super moisture and impart a healthy...

Olay's firming cream works at night. (Facial Moisturizers).(Brief Article)
July 21, 2003... Procter & Gamble Co.'s Clay Total Effects Night Firming Cream is designed to deliver stronger firmer younger-looking skin. The latest addition to the Total Effects line from Clay the product combines Clay's highest concentration of its...

Neutrogena's dual-use cleanser/mask. (Facial Cleansers).(Brief Article)
July 21, 2003... Neutrogena Corp.'s Clear Pore Cleanser/Mask is billed as a breakthrough acne-fighting formula that can be used in two ways -- as a mask or as a cleanser. A spokesman for the company says that as a mask The' product can be used two to three...

Cover Girl foundation goes on smooth. (Cosmetics).(Brief Article)
July 21, 2003... Procter & Gamble Co.'s Cover Girl CG Smoothers AquaSmooth Foundation offers women a new form of makeup that transforms from solid to liquid when applied and then dries to a powder-light finish. The unique formulation is designed to glide on...

L'Oreal mascara enhances three ways. (Eye Makeup).(Brief Article)
July 21, 2003... L'Oreal's Lash Architect 3-D Dramatic Mascara does three things for lashes at the same time -- it makes them thicker, longer and curvier. The product's newly patented spiral brush builds up volume and length while maximizing curl,...

Maybelline offers lip color with shine. (Lip Makeup).(Brief Article)
July 21, 2003... The ingredients in Maybelline/Garnier's Maybelline Wet Shine Diamonds Liquid Lip Gloss combine to moisturize lips while making them shine, according to a spokeswoman. The product, the latest version of the popular lip color line, has made the...

Sally Hansen gives nails protection. (Nail Care).(Brief Article)
July 21, 2003... Del Laboratories Inc.'s Sally Hansen brand has brought the strength and lasting qualities of diamonds to nail treatment with Diamond Strength Instant Nail Hardener. The product, which the company describes as the first of its kind,...

Clairol expands its organic experience. (Shampoos).(Brief Article)
July 21, 2003... Procter & Gamble Co. 's Clairol division has expanded the organic experience it offers through its Herbal Essences shampoo brand with a line of products made with organic fruit extracts. Called Herbal Essences Fruit Fusions, the shampoos...

Pantene Pro-V takes aim at dry hair. (Conditioners).(Brief Article)
July 21, 2003... Procter & Gamble Co.'s Pantene Pro-V Daily Moisture Renewal Conditioner is designed to be used in conjunction with the companys Daily Moisture Renewal Shampoo to protect against dry damaged hair and split ends. The conditioner's creamy...

P&G's Pantene Pro-V fights frizzies. (Hairstyling).(Brief Article)
July 21, 2003... Procter & Gamble Co. 's Pantene brand aims to give women the curls they crave without the frizzy hair they hate. Pantene Pro-V Moisturizinq Curls Shaper Anti-Frizz Creme is a styling product designed to moisturize and condition hair as it...

Curel helps reduce need for shaving. (Hair Removal).(Brief Article)
July 21, 2003... Andrew Jergens Co.'s Curel Smooth Legs Shave Minimizing Moisturizer provides all-day hydration. It is dermatologist tested and can be used all over the body. A spokesman says that with four weeks of daily use the product makes hair softer...

Coty taps power of aromatherapy. (Fragrances).(Brief Article)
July 21, 2003... Coty US LLC, a division of Benckiser Consumer Products Inc., has tapped the sensual power of aromatherapy for its Healing Garden Waters Sheer Passion fragrance. Inspired by hydroponic florals and other natural botanicals, the body spray is...

Crest toothpaste rejuvenates teeth. (Oral Care).(Brief Article)
July 21, 2003... Procter & Gamble Co.'s Crest Rejuvenating Effects toothpaste can help users in three ways, according to a spokesman for the supplier First, it fights tooth decay caused by deminerailzation. The product's proven fluoride formula helps...

P&G's Tampax offers fit, protection. (Personal Care).(Brief Article)
July 21, 2003... Procter & Gamble Co.'s Tampax division has developed the Tampax Pearl line with an eye toward offering tampon users more comfort and better protection. The tampons have a number of unique features that, taken together; improve their appeal...

CVS on cutting edge in style trends, consumer preferences. (Beauty Care: National Chain).(Brief Article)
July 21, 2003... CVS Corp. was this year's recipient of the Glammy Award for the best national retail chain in beauty care. One element of the company's success in the category is its ability to anticipate trends and shifts in styles and consumer...

Beauty products lend excitement to Stop & Shop stores. (Beauty Care: Regional Chain).(Brief Article)
July 21, 2003... The supermarket chain Stop & Shop Cos., one of the jewels in A hold USA'S crown, won this year's Glammy Award for best regional chain in the beauty care category. Some grocery retailers, even when they operate food/drug combination stores,...

Wal-Mart continues to increase commitments to health care. (Health Care: National Chain).(Brief Article)
July 21, 2003... Wal-Mart Stores Inc., chosen as the winner of the Glammy Award for best national health care chain, is becoming an ever more formidable player in the category. Of course, Wal-Mart has long been a big seller of over-the-counter remedies and...

Outstanding customer service helps set Duane Reade apart. (Health Care: Regional Chain).(Brief Article)
July 21, 2003... Ongoing efforts to provide top-level customer service and its wide variety of offerings helped Duane Reade earn this years Glammy Award for best regional health care retailer. The pharmacy staff is at the heart of the drug chain's...

FDA toughens labeling rules. (Consumables News).(trans fatty acids amounts to be listed )(Brief Article)
July 21, 2003... The Food and Drug Administration announced earlier this month that it will require food suppliers to list the amount of trans fatty acids in a product on the item's label. The requirement will go into effect in 2006. Food makers began...

Dannon gets new representative. (Consumables News).(Brief Article)
July 21, 2003... Dannon Co. Inc. has named Plano, Texas-based Crossmark to represent its consumer brands at retail and at select headquarters buying points. Under the agreement Crossmark will provide Dannon with sales services, category management and...

Aquafina unveils water promotion. (Consumables News).(Brief Article)
July 21, 2003... Pepsi-Cola Co. has launched what it says is the largest-ever national bottled water promotion. Centered around its Aquafina brand and called the Aquafina Pure Luck, the promotion will see Pepsi give away more than 40,000 cash prizes of $2 to...

Eckerd to carry Sinful candy. (Consumables News).(Brief Article)
July 21, 2003... Eckerd Corp. is among 50 retailers nationwide that earlier this month began carrying Innovative Candy Concepts' new Sinfully Delicious dessert bites. The candy, offered in such dessert flavors as key lime pie, strawberry cheesecake and...

Beer brands to get new appearance. (Consumables News).(Brief Article)
July 21, 2003... Anheuser-Busch Inc. and LaBatt USA said earlier this month that they will be using new packaging for some of their beer brands. Anheuser-Busch will offer a new look for Natural Ice, one of the industry's best-selling ice beer brands, while...

Masterfoods debuts water in mint form. (Consumables News).(Brief Article)
July 21, 2003... Masterfoods USA plans to launch a unique confectionery item this fall -- AquaDrops, instant hydrating mints that also provide fresh breath.

Nature Valley brand is strengthened. (Consumables News).(Brief Article)
July 21, 2003... General Mills has added a new flavor and a variety pack to its line of Nature Valley granola bars. The new flavor in the line that created the granola bar segment nearly 30 years ago is apple crisp while the variety pack includes three...

Nestle, Dreyer's complete deal. (Consumables News).(Brief Article)
July 21, 2003... Nestle USA abd Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream Holdings Inc. finalized the deal they struck this spring to merge their ice cream and frozen dessert businesses. Under the deal, Dreyer's acquired Nestle's U.SUB. frozen dessert business in exchange...

Mix gets broader, deeper. (Consumables).
July 21, 2003... NEW YORK -- The importance of consumables for chain drug stores cannot be overemphasized, those in the industry say. "Consumables are very important to us," Happy Harry's Inc. vice president of marketing Jon Rudden notes. "We see it as a...

Got milk? Shoppers want to know. (Consumables).
July 21, 2003... SAN DIEGO -- Take-home milk can contribute to higher fill-in purchases, a report presented at this year's National Association of Chain Drug Stores Marketplace Conference says. According to "Understanding the Role of Milk in Fill-in...

Milk-based drinks a natural for drug chains. (Consumables).
July 21, 2003... NEW YORK -- New milk-based drinks from Coca-Cola Co. and Dr. Pepper/Seven Up Inc. are being closely watched by chain drug retailers. The drinks, with calcium, vitamins and protein, mesh with drug chains' health care positioning,...

Kraft making changes to help fight obesity. (Consumables).(Brief Article)
July 21, 2003... NORTHFIELD, Ill. -- Responding to the growing public outcry over obesity, Kraft Foods Inc. has announced that it will address those concerns by capping the portion size of its single-serve packages and ceasing its marketing programs in schools....

Kellogg a big name in food--and licensing. (Consumables).
July 21, 2003... BATTLE CREEK, Mich. -- Kellogg Co., a name synonymous with breakfast cereal and snack food, has announced that it hopes to take its name into nonfood categories and devote more energy to its efforts in chain drug stores. Since launching a...

Soda's link with weight gain eyed. (Consumables).(Brief Article)
July 21, 2003... NEW YORK -- There is no link between soda consumption and obesity in children and adolescents, according to a new study of federal nutrition data by researchers at Virginia Tech's Center for Food and Nutrition Policy. On average, young...

Candy potent driver of impulse sales. (Consumables).
July 21, 2003... NEW YORK -- Candy remains one of drug stores' greatest assets, generating a higher degree of impulse sales than perhaps any other product area. The National Confectioners Association (NCA) estimates that while nearly 60% of consumers come...

After slow start, the season is picking up. (Sun Care).
July 21, 2003... NEW YORK -- With the cool, rainy spring fading into memory, chain drug retailers and suppliers are optimistic that summer will erase the early disappointment of 2003 sun care sales. "With the weather we had on both coasts sun care was not...

Sun Safety Alliance moves ahead. (Sun Care).
July 21, 2003... ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- The Sun Safety Alliance's (SSA's) multiyear campaign to reduce the incidence of skin cancer in America is gaining momentum through media coverage and promotions, claims executive director Phil Schneider. Media...

New emphasis benefits drug. (Sun Care).
July 21, 2003... NEW YORK -- The continuing transition of sun care from a beauty care category to a health care segment bodes well for its sales in drug stores, say chain drug retailers. Consumers are increasingly recognizing that protecting skin from the...

More options alter market. (Depilatories).
July 21, 2003... NEW YORK--After a surge in depilatory sales last year, when more women turned to the products to remove unwanted hair and a growing number of men started using depilatories for the first time, the category has taken a step backwards. ...

New products promise to shake up the category. (Depilatories).
July 21, 2003... NEW YORK -- The popularity of hair removal products in recent years has led to a host of new items entering the category, many of which help take the product area to a new level. While it does not fall under the traditional description of a...

Hair removal not just a concern of women. (Depilatories).
July 21, 2003... NEW YORK -- Once used almost exclusively by women, hair-removal products have found greater acceptance among men. Driving this new segment is a fundamental change in the way men -- mostly young men -- look at grooming. Whereas beards and...

Heat turned urn in merchandising, marketing. (Batteries).
July 21, 2003... NEW YORK -- Chain drug retailers and leading battery suppliers are working in tandem to jump-start sluggish sales in the category. Both fully realize the importance of the segment to the trade class as well as the impulse nature of most...

Store brand batteries a force to be reckoned with. (Batteries).(Brief Article)
July 21, 2003... NEW YORK -- Private label batteries continue to grow in popularity, and the latest numbers from Information Resources Inc. (IRI) show that combined sales of all store brand batteries exceeded all but Gillette Co.'s Duracell brand during the...

Rechargeables now in spotlight. (Batteries).
July 21, 2003... NEW YORK -- Rechargeable batteries comprise the fastest-growing segment in the battery category because of the popularity of such power-draining items as digital cameras. Leading battery suppliers are launching the latest state-of-the-art...

Innovation keeps flashlights growing. (Batteries).
July 21, 2003... NEW YORK -- The flashlight category made a modest gain in sales in the past year, up 1.4% in dollar sales and 4.6% in unit sales for the period ended May 18, 2003. Energizer continues to lead the way in the category with a 23.1% dollar...

Long-lasting batteries meet digital age needs. (Batteries).
July 21, 2003... NEW YORK -- Users of digital cameras and other digital devices often complain about short battery life, and the leading battery manufacturers are meeting that issue head on. For example, Panasonic Battery Group has introduced PowerEdge...

Tapping into the boom. (Video).
July 21, 2003... NEW YORK - Video rentals and sales soared to record levels in the first half of 2003, and savvy chain drug retailers are studying how to best take advantage of this burgeoning marketplace. "Home video continues to solidify its place as...

Product pipeline full for summer. (Video).
July 21, 2003... NEW YORK - This summer chain drug retailers should make certain to stock family films and blockbuster releases that are of particular interest to their customers. For example, on July 15 Miramax Home Entertainment, which is distributed by...

Video industry gears up for VSDA meeting. (Video).(Brief Article)
July 21, 2003... LAS VEGAS - "A Discussion With Industry Leaders" will highlight the Video Software Dealers Association (VSDA) Home Entertainment 2003 show here July 29 to July 31. "We've assembled a terrific group of industry leaders to provide insights...

DVD eclipses VHS in rental market. (Video).(Brief Article)
July 21, 2003... ENCINO, Calif. - For the first time since the advent of DVDs the format has generated more revenue than VHS rentals for the week. According to the Video Software Dealers Association (VSDA), DVD rentals generated $80 million in revenue for...

CVS makes things easy for customers. (CVS at the Top of its Game).
July 21, 2003... WOONSOCKET R.I. -- CVS Corp. has reason to celebrate as it marks its 40th anniversary. Established as a distributor of health and beauty aids, the company has evolved into a drug chain generating $26 billion-plus a year in sales and, in the...

A corporate culture built on opportunity integrity. (CVS at the top of its Game).
July 21, 2003... WOONSOCKET, RI. -- Like those of many of his colleagues at CVS, the career of Tom Ryan mirrors the progression of the drug chain from a regional operator into a member of the elite class of mass market retailers in America. Now chairman,...

Ryan: 'we can compete with anyone'. (CVS at the Top of its Game).
July 21, 2003... WOONSOCKET, RI. -- After three decades in chain drug retailing CVS chairman, president and chief executive officer Tom Ryan is as enthusiastic as he has ever been about the industry and the company he heads. "I'm bullish on the...

Chain taking Rx service to the next level. (CVS at the Top of its Game).
July 21, 2003... PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- On the surface the strategy seems to be one that would be easy to carry out: Identify and resolve problems early, clearly define roles and responsibilities, enhance communications to customers and schedule the right people...

CVS develops the leaders of tomorrow. (CVS at the Top of its Game).
July 21, 2003... FAIRLAWN, N.J. -- CVS is growing, and for its pharmacists that means opportunities for advancement. Mayra Boitel is a good example. A 20-year CVS veteran, Boitel has spent the past nine years as pharmacist in charge of store No. 251 here....

An independent's strengths evident in a large company. (CVS at the Top of its Game).
July 21, 2003... ACTON, Mass. -- Jude Perron, CVS pharmacist, believes the company can be categorized as a throwback - and that is a good thing. "In an ever-changing world the independent pharmacist seems to be disappearing, while corporate pharmacies...

Teamwork makes things happen. (CVS at the Top of its Game).
July 21, 2003... WASHINGTON -- Treating all customers properly is important to Denise Moore, who says she could tell immediately that the management of CVS felt the same way. Moore, chief phannacist at store No. 2490 here, joined the company about 12 years...