Chain Drug Review articles from July 2007

Chain Drug Review archives from July 2007

AMP makes things tougher for Rx.(News)(lowest average manufacturer pace)(new reimbursement formula to cut Medicaid generic drug paymets to retail pharmacies)
July 23, 2007... WASHINGTON -- A new reimbursement formula announced this month by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will cut Medicaid generic drug payments to retail pharmacies, an action that critics charge will reduce health care access to...

Walgreens acquisition a stunner.(News)(Walgreen Co. acquires Option Care Inc.)
July 23, 2007... DEERFIELD, Ill. -- Walgreen Co. has made the largest acquisition in its history, paying $850 million for specialty pharmacy operator Option Care Inc. Based in Buffalo Grove, Ill., near Walgreens' corporate headquarters here, Option Care...

NACDS marketplace has all bases covered.(News)(National Association of Chain Drug Stores Marketplace Conference)
July 23, 2007... BOSTON -- With more than 3,700 total attendees, including 908 executives from 275 retailers, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores Marketplace Conference held here last month enabled members to conduct business as well as address major...

Coster, Fiala move to Rite Aid.(News)(John Coster and Brian Fiala joins Rite Aid Corp.)
July 23, 2007... CAMP HILL, Pa. -- Rite Aid Corp. has made two high-level executive appointments and named a new member of the board of directors. John Coster, formerly vice president of policy and programs for NACDS, has been named vice president of...

Kmart broadens generics program.(Kmart Holdings Corp.)(Brief article)
July 23, 2007... HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. -- The Kmart division of Sears Holdings Corp. has expanded its 90-day generic drug program to include more medications. The program has added nearly 70 new generic medications to its roster, including 17 different...

Paish named CEO at Pharmasave.(Sue Paish, Pharmasave Drugs Ltd.)(Brief article)
July 23, 2007... LANGLEY, British Columbia -- Pharmasave Drugs has chosen board member Sue Paish as its new chief executive officer. She succeeds Terry Blocher, who retired earlier this year. Paish, who says Pharmasave is "uniquely positioned to be...

In wake of buyout, Boots CEO Baker exits.(News)(AllianceBoots Group PLC buyout by a private equity group leads to Richard Baker's exit)
July 23, 2007... LONDON -- Richard Baker has stepped down as chief executive officer of AllianceBoots PLC as part of a management shakeup following the company's buyout by a private equity group. Scott Wheway, managing director of the Boots the Chemists drug...

TRICARE reauthorization in works.(News)(Senate Armed Services Committee's new bill to save Defense Department more than $250 million a year)(Brief article)
July 23, 2007... WASHINGTON -- The Senate earlier this month began considering the fate of the National Defense Authorization Act, which includes a section that advocates of community pharmacy say will benefit both veterans and retailers. "We are one step...

June same-store sales.(News)
July 23, 2007... JUNE SAME-STORE SALES Overall Pharmacy Front end CVS/CAREMARK + 5.4% + 4.7% + 6.8% LONGS + 1.3% + 1.5% + 1.1% RITE AID + 0.7% + 0.6% + 1.1% WALGREENS + 5.1% +...

High Court decision hits retail.(News)(consumers may face higher prices for cosmetics)
July 23, 2007... WASHINGTON -- Consumers may face higher prices for prestige cosmetics and beauty aids, following a recent decision by the Supreme Court. Health and beauty aids and high-end apparel are likely to be the categories most affected by the...

NACDS taps VP, media relations.(News)(National Association of Chain Drug Stores appoints Christine Short )(Brief article)
July 23, 2007... ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- The National Association of Chain Drug Stores has named Christine Short vice president of media relations. She began her tenure with the association earlier this month. The Capitol Hill and trade association veteran heads...

Huonker, Garza move up the ladder at Walgreens.(News)(Donald Huonker and Debra Garza)(Brief article)
July 23, 2007... DEERFIELD, Ill. -- Walgreen Co. has announced two executive promotions. Donald Huonker has been named senior vice president of pharmacy services. Huonker joined Walgreens in 1995 as a management trainee after 16 years with United Parcel...

AMA raises questions about clinics.(News)(American Medical Association )(Brief article)
July 23, 2007... CHICAGO -- The American Medical Association (AMA) has called for an investigation of the in-store health clinics popping up in drug stores and many other mass retail outlets. The doctors group says that the clinics have conflicts of...

Community pharmacy now facing 'the perfect storm'.(News)
July 23, 2007... CAMP HILL, Pa. -- Pharmacy, says John Coster, is under siege. The switch to the average manufacturer price (AMP) as the benchmark for Medicaid prescription reimbursements and the increasing pressure on pharmacy margins in Medicare Part D...

CVS previews Boots antiaging cream.(News)
July 23, 2007... NEW YORK -- A Boots brand antiaging cream that has sold out in the United Kingdom was recently available for one day only at a CVS/Caremark Corp. store here. CVS vice president of beauty care Cheryle Mahoney says the product, Boots No7...

Pharmacy industry mobilizes to overturn CMS ruling.(News)
July 23, 2007... WASHINGTON -- Reaction to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' (CMS') recently released final rule on reimbursements to pharmacies participating in the Medicaid program was swift--and unrestrained. The controversial new plan will...

CACDS assesses impact of technology on Rx practice.(News)(Canadian Association of Chain Drug Stores)
July 23, 2007... TORONTO -- Canadian pharmacists, like their colleagues everywhere, complain that it is difficult to carve out all the time they need to thoroughly interact with patients. It was this situation that prompted the Canadian Association of Chain...

Kerr offers caregivers some financial relief.(News)(Brief article)
July 23, 2007... RALEIGH, N.C. -- Kerr Drug has joined a program that offers consumers cash refunds on selected brand-name health care products. The new rebate program comes via an exclusive partnership with The Caregivers Marketplace, which offers...

Bartell marks the opening of 55th unit.(News)(Brief article)
July 23, 2007... SEATTLE -- Bartell Drugs opened its 55th store earlier this month, a 17,147-square-foot unit at 2345 Rainier Avenue South in the North End of Rainier Valley. The outlet offers the full range of Bartell services, including a drive-through...

A feeling of true community pervades NACDS meeting.(Reporter' Notebook)(National Association of Chain Drug Stores)
July 23, 2007... BOSTON--Despite the inevitable naysayers, one could not help notice that most of those passing on the show floor at last month's National Association of Chain Drug Stores Marketplace Conference had smiles on their faces as they stopped to chat...

Awards honor best in H&BAs.(Marketplace)(2007 Best in Beauty and Health Awards)
July 23, 2007... BOSTON -- The Woman's Day 2007 Best in Beauty and Health Awards were presented at the National Association of Chain Drug Stores Marketplace Conference here last month. The awards, sponsored by Woman's Day, NACDS and Chain Drug Review,...

Jane & Co.(BUZZ at the show)(Brief article)
July 23, 2007... Mineral cosmetics were on prominent display at Marketplace, and Jane & Co. made a splash at the show with its growing, value-priced Be Pure Mineral line. Among the new items in the line showcased at Marketplace were Be Pure Mineral Lip...

After heralding its acquisition of the Finesse and Aqua Net hair care brands at last year's Marketplace, Lornamead Inc. this year not only emphasized how innovation has since helped grow these lines.(BUZZ at the show)(Brief article)
July 23, 2007... After heralding its acquisition of the Finesse and Aqua Net hair care brands at last year's Marketplace, Lornamead Inc. this year not only emphasized how innovation has since helped grow these lines but also noted that it has led to the rolling...

The first Indonesian dermatologic skin care line to penetrate the United States market was featured at the Joesoef Skin Care booth.(BUZZ at the show)(Brief article)
July 23, 2007... The first Indonesian dermatologic skin care line to penetrate the United States market was featured at the Joesoef Skin Care booth. Joesoef Skin Care Anti-Acne Treatment includes a four-step kit that features natural volcanic sulfur as the...

Antiaging was a buzz-word at the show, and Maybelline New York-Garnier displayed a host of items in its Instant Age Rewind franchise.(BUZZ at the show)(Brief article)
July 23, 2007... Antiaging was a buzz-word at the show, and Maybelline New York-Garnier displayed a host of items in its Instant Age Rewind franchise. Instant Age Rewind Liquid Foundation firms skin and lifts away the look of aging, while Instant Age Rewind...

Celebrities wield clout in shaping beauty trends.(Marketplace)
July 23, 2007... BOSTON -- As demographic trends and a sea change in attitudes transform the beauty industry, "The State of Beauty" was examined at an educational seminar at the NACDS Marketplace Conference here in late June. In Style magazine beauty...

More health-related items were on display this year than ever before, and Empowering Health LLC's ProBio-Wellness line of natural digestive health products caught the attention of retailers.(BUZZ at the show)(ProBio-Wellness)(Brief article)
July 23, 2007... More health-related items were on display this year than ever before, and Empowering Health LLC's ProBio-Wellness line of natural digestive health products caught the attention of retailers at the show. "Each ProBio-Wellness item contains...

Health, wellness and weight loss were all in play at the Skinny Nutritional Corp. booth.(BUZZ at the show)(Skinny Nutritional Corp.)(Brief article)
July 23, 2007... Health, wellness and weight loss were all in play at the Skinny Nutritional Corp. booth at Marketplace. The company showcased Skinny Water, a new flavored water and appetite suppressant that contains the active ingredients Super CitriMax...

Garcoa Labs presented a host of new products at the show.(BUZZ at the show)(Celadrin)(Brief article)
July 23, 2007... Garcoa Labs presented a host of new products at the show. Their Celadrin-based Arthrid-it-Max Arthritis Relief lotions were well received, and pens that dispense hand-sanitizing sprays were particularly popular with retailers. In addition,...

Those at the show who experienced toothaches or mouth pain found quick relief at the Del Pharmaceuticals Inc. booth, where the company's Severe Pain Formula could be found.(BUZZ at the show)(Brief article)
July 23, 2007... Those at the show who experienced toothaches or mouth pain found quick relief at the Del Pharmaceuticals Inc. booth, where the company's Severe Pain Formula could be found. The product works immediately to deliver pain medication that lasts for...

Not only was the health and wellness of men and women addressed at the show, but that of their pets as well.(BUZZ at the show)(Cosequin)(OV-Watch fertility predictor )(Brief article)
July 23, 2007... Not only was the health and wellness of men and women addressed at the show, but that of their pets as well. Besides launching Cosamin MSM joint health supplement in a once-a-day orange-flavor power pack, NutraMax Laboratories Inc. revealed...

Be Products.(BUZZ at the show)(Brief article)
July 23, 2007... Fresh pineapple, almonds, chocolate and ginger cookies attracted show goers to the Be Products booth and, once inside, they were exposed to innovative skin care ideas. "We believe you shouldn't put something on your skin that you wouldn't...

Getting a jump on the 2007/2008 cough/cold season, Adams Respiratory Therapeutics Inc. displayed nine new products at the event.(BUZZ at the show)(Adams Respiratory Therapeutics Inc)(Mucinex )(Brief article)
July 23, 2007... Getting a jump on the 2007/2008 cough/cold season, Adams Respiratory Therapeutics Inc. displayed nine new products at the event. The company's popular Mucinex line is being extended to include Maximum Strength Mucinex, while the Mucinex...

What new items need to succeed.(Marketplace)(PricewaterhouseCoopers L.L.P. )(National Association of Chain Drug Stores )
July 23, 2007... BOSTON -- When more than 30,000 products are launched each year and only 20% achieve significant sales, it is time to review the process. A session at the NACDS Marketplace Conference titled "The Product Launch Process--An Opportunity to...

Tips for small, midsize suppliers.(Marketplace)
July 23, 2007... BOSTON -- Innovative products are the lifeblood of the packaged goods industry and are vital to growing the top-line. Yet of the 30,000 items that make their debuts each year most do not meet with success--often because of a lack of...

Differentiation a must.(Marketplace)(consumers attitudes and behavior)
July 23, 2007... BOSTON -- Today more than ever retailers face challenges in differentiating themselves from competition, a situation created in part by the progressive blurring of lines between retail trade classes. To be successful in this complex and...

Indigene Pharmaceuticals.(BUZZ at the show)(Brief article)
July 23, 2007... Indigene Pharmaceuticals, a growing biopharmaceutical company, showed off its first four products in the consumer health care segment, which have been launched in the U.S. at Marketplace. The items are Relaxane for Everyday Stress,...

Nicogel.(BUZZ at the show)(Brief article)
July 23, 2007... Nicogel, a new cigarette alternative in the form of a hand gel, was also on display at the event. "Cigarette satisfaction is as easy as rubbing a little Nicogel on your hands," promises Nicogel chief executive officer Bill Whalen. "In less...

On-the-go Marketplace attendees found a product to match their lifestyles at the Energizer Holdings Inc. booth.(BUZZ at the show)(Brief article)
July 23, 2007... On-the-go Marketplace attendees found a product to match their lifestyles at the Energizer Holdings Inc. booth--the Energi-To-Go Portable Power Source. "This is for people on the run, to ensure their phones are always working," says Lou...

InkTec Zone America announced several significant upgrades to its Ink-O-Matic ink-jet cartridge-refilling machine.(BUZZ at the show)(Brief article)
July 23, 2007... InkTec Zone America announced several significant upgrades to its Ink-O-Matic ink-jet cartridge-refilling machine at this year's Marketplace. "We have added new features designed to expand cartridge compatibility, improve refill rates...

Pacific Writing Instruments believed Marketplace was the perfect opportunity to launch its Twist 'n Write pencil.(BUZZ at the show)(Twist 'n Write)(Brief article)
July 23, 2007... Pacific Writing Instruments believed Marketplace was the perfect opportunity to launch its Twist 'n Write pencil. This model is specifically designed to fit smaller hands, and the wishbone-shape design forces the school-taught "tripod"...

Innovative products get kudos.(Marketplace)(Brief article)
July 23, 2007... BOSTON -- One of the highlights at the National Association of Chain Drug Stores Marketplace Conference is the NACDS Product Showcase, where companies submit their most innovative products hoping to win the Best of the Best award in their...

Energizer agrees to acquire Playtex for $1.16 billion.(Supplier News)
July 23, 2007... ST. LOUIS -- Energizer Holdings Inc. has agreed to purchase Playtex Products Inc. in an all-cash deal worth $1.16 billion. The transaction is expected to close in the fall. In picking up such Playtex brands as Banana Boat and Hawaiian...

Thera-Med is sold to Carex.(Supplier News)(Carex Healthcare Products Inc.)(Brief article)
July 23, 2007... SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -- Making its second acquisition in the hot/cold therapy market within a year, Carex Health Brands has bought Thera-Med Inc. The deal follows Carex' purchase of the Bed Buddy line in 2006. With its pickup of the Thera-Med...

Stahl shares insights in book.(Supplier News)(Jack Stahl)(Occupation overview)
July 23, 2007... NEW YORK -- Jack Stahl, once the No. 2 executive at Coca-Cola Inc. and more recently Revlon Inc.'s chief executive officer, has written a penetrating and informative book on leadership and management. Grounded in Stahl's 27-year business...

Cook succeeds Mark as Colgate chief exec.(Supplier News)(Ian Cook)(Occupation overview)(Brief article)
July 23, 2007... NEW YORK -- Ian Cook has been named president and chief executive officer of Colgate-Palmolive Co. The 55-year-old Cook had been the company's president and chief operating officer since 2005. Cook, who is British, joined Colgate in the...

Diet Pepsi Max delivers 'extra kick'.(Supplier News)(Pepsi-Cola North America)(Brief article)
July 23, 2007... PURCHASE, N.Y. -- Pepsi-Cola North America has debuted Diet Pepsi Max, a beverage it says will help many Americans to recover from the midday blabs. According to a survey commissioned by the soft drink manufacturer, 84% of Americans admit...

Sante active expands on two fronts.(Supplier News)(launching of Pedi-Relax line for feet care)
July 23, 2007... LAS VEGAS -- Sante active Inc. has launched the Pedi-Relax line to keep feet feeling fresh, energized and healthy, and is rolling out Elgydium, the No. 1 toothpaste in France, in the United States. Pedi-Relax optimizes the benefits of...

Nielsen intends to capitalize on synergies.(Supplier News)(Nielsen Co. introducing NielsenConnect)
July 23, 2007... SCHAUMBURG, Ill. -- NielsenHealth is one of several key components of a recently introduced suite of services from Nielsen Co. The cross-discipline initiative, promoted under the umbrella of NielsenConnect, unites intelligence-gathering,...

P&G marketing muscle is put behind Luvs line.(Supplier News)(Procter & Gamble Co. )(Brief article)
July 23, 2007... CINCINNATI -- Procter & Gamble Co. (P&G) has created the "All You Need is Luvs" marketing campaign to coincide with the introduction of the Luvs brand's Bear Hug Stretch version. Bear Hug Stretch is billed as a premium diaper offering at no...

Leiner set to realign operations.(Supplier News)(Leiner Health Products Inc.)(Brief article)
July 23, 2007... CARSON, Calif. -- Leiner Health Products Inc. will consolidate manufacturing and packaging operations following the suspension of its over-the-counter drug production based in the United States. The consolidation plan is designed to align...

Four major league baseball players sign on to be Bald Guyz spokesmen.(Supplier News)(Kevin Youkilis,Taylor Tankersley,Chris Woodward , Jim Leyritz)(Brief article)
July 23, 2007... MANALAPAN, N.J. -- Three current major league baseball players and a former New York Yankee are endorsing Bald Guyz grooming products for BG Products LLC. Boston Red Sox first base man Kevin Youkilis, Florida Marlins pitcher Taylor...

MemoryPlay DVD makes debut.(Supplier News)(Brief article)
July 23, 2007... SAN FRANCISCO -- Pure Digital Technologies Inc., maker of the Flip Video camcorder and onetime-use camcorders and cameras, has rolled out what is billed as the next-generation one-hour photoprocessing service for retailers. Called...

OXY touted in new TV ads.(Supplier News)(brand of acne-fighting skin care products)(Brief article)
July 23, 2007... ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Mentholatum Co. has launched new television ads aimed at teenage boys' sense of humor. Developed for the OXY brand of acne-fighting skin care products, the ads employ a series of offbeat comedy sketches. Titled...

Kroger profits advance 9.9%.(Business)(Kroger Co.)(Financial report)
July 23, 2007... CINCINNATI -- With special items at play in both years, Kroger Co. registered a 9.9% increase in net income on a 6.7% advance in sales during the first quarter of fiscal 2007. Earnings grew to $336.6 million, or 47 cents per diluted share,...

Rite Aid posts gains as assimilation starts.(Business)(Rite Aid Corp.)(Financial report)
July 23, 2007... CAMP HILL, Pa. -- Improved sales combined with firm cost controls at Rite Aid Corp. to spark a leap in profits for the first quarter of fiscal 2008 that caught Wall Street by surprise. However, as the company absorbs the 1,750-plus Eckerd and...

Chain drug shares retreat 4.2% in June.(Business)
July 23, 2007... NEW YORK -- Chain drug stocks, which had reached an all-time high in May, were hit by profit taking last month. Financial analysts think the pause will be short-lived and should be viewed by investors as a buying opportunity. From May 31...

Despite improved EBITDA, Pathmark sees red ink grow.(Business)(earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization)(Financial report)
July 23, 2007... CARTERET, N.J. -- Burdened by expenses associated with its upcoming sale to A&P and by other charges, Pathmark Stores Inc. saw its bottom-line loss widen during the first quarter of fiscal 2007. On a brighter note, adjusted EBITDA climbed more...

Del Labs has what it takes--and then some.(My Turn)(Del Laboratories Inc.)(Company overview)
July 23, 2007... One of the more remarkable supplier success stories of the current decade has to be the astonishing performance of Del Laboratories, the supplier of specialty health and beauty brands to the mass retailing community. What makes Del's...

Walgreens is building on the Bernauer legacy.(My Turn)(Dave Bernauer)(Report)
July 23, 2007... Elsewhere in this issue of Chain Drug Review there appears a special report on "The New Walgreens" taking shape under chairman and chief executive officer Jeff Rein, president and chief operating officer Greg Wasson, and other key executives,...

Unlearning the drug store business.(SPOTLIGHT: A VISION OF THE FUTURE)
July 23, 2007... This is the first part of an ongoing series on the future of drug stores. Entrepreneur Stuart Skorman is the founder of Elephant Pharmacy. Chris Murray, former editor in chief of Soundview Executive Book Summaries, is currently a book editor,...

Elements in place for a boom.(VITAMINS & NUTRITION)(development of nutritional supplement)
July 23, 2007... NEW YORK -- While the nutritional supplements sector continues to include a wider array of products, sales in recent years have been lackluster. Still, market researchers, suppliers and retailers have not lost sight of the potential of...

FDA tightens regulation of supplements.(VITAMINS & NUTRITION)(Food and Drug Administration)
July 23, 2007... WASHINGTON -- A new rule from the Food and Drug Administration will force manufacturers of vitamins, herbs and other dietary supplements to test all of the ingredients in products before bringing them to market. Critics of the measure,...

Omega-3 adds build heart health.(VITAMINS & NUTRITION)(Omega 3 fatty acids)
July 23, 2007... NEW YORK -- Fish oils containing omega-3 fatty acids have received a lot of positive press in recent months as researchers continue to find more evidence of the products' health benefits. Studies show that fish oils contain important...

NSF is offering help with new FDA regs.(What's New)(NSF International)(Brief article)
July 23, 2007... In anticipation of the Food and Drug Administration's new standards for nutritional supplements makers, NSF International last month began offering One Step Ahead, a good manufacturing practices program. The program includes a Web-based...

Natrol acquires research institute.(What's New)(Medical Research Institute)(Brief article)
July 23, 2007... Supplements maker Natrol Inc. has acquired Medical Research Institute (MRI), a supplier of sports nutrition products. The acquisition adds such products as CE2, NO2, ProNos and Anabolic Switch to Natrol's lineup. "MRI has unique...

Rainbow Light enters the mass market.(What's New)(Rainbow Light Nutritional Systems)(Brief article)
July 23, 2007... Rainbow Light Nutritional Systems has taken its line of natural multivitamins to the mass market. Previously offered only in the natural food channel, the line has already gained distribution in several food and drug chains. CVS/Caremark...

Nutrition 21 forms advisory board.(What's New)(scientific advisory board)(Brief article)
July 23, 2007... Nutrition 21 Inc. has formed a scientific advisory board to provide guidance on research and future product development. The four members of the board--Dr. Robert Golden, Dr. Louis Ignarro, Dr. Francine Kaufman and Dr. Ron Krauss--have...

B&L unveils eye vitamin for diabetics.(What's New)(Bausch & Lomb)(Brief article)
July 23, 2007... Bausch & Lomb has introduced Ocuvite DF, an eye vitamin supplement specifically developed for people with diabetes. Formulated with an antioxidant called genistein and other essential nutrients, the supplement aims to combat the effects of...

Potent antioxidant supplement debuts.(What's New)(Resmedin capsules)(Brief article)
July 23, 2007... Resmed Nutraceuticals, a Sarasota, Fla.-based supplier, has introduced Resmedin, a supplement that it says is formulated with the highest-ever concentration of resveratrol, a powerful antioxidant found in red wine. Resmedin capsules, a...

Supplements debate rages on.(vitamins and nutrition )(Report)
July 23, 2007... NEW YORK -- Over the years research into the health benefits that can be derived from a daily regimen of vitamins, herbs and minerals has varied. While the majority of findings has found multiple benefits from regularly taking supplements,...

Healthy joints a must.(VITAMINS & NUTRITION)
July 23, 2007... NEW YORK -- Some of the greatest gains for nutritional supplements in recent years have come in product areas that address specific conditions, and one of the most active segments is joint health, a condition that is expected to grow in...

Two products prove their efficacy.(VITAMINS & NUTRITION)(Report)
July 23, 2007... NEW YORK -- Recent studies have found that two suppliers' supplements can produce dramatic improvements in certain health conditions. In a report published in a recent issue of Diabetes/Metabolism Research and Reviews researchers disclose...

Pace of change accelerates at Walgreens: at Walgreens the torch has been passed to a new generation of leadership, led by chairman and CEO Jeff Rein and president and COO Greg Wasson.(The Company Today)
July 23, 2007... DEERFIELD, Ill. -- A new era has dawned at Walgreen Co., one that promises more passion and vigor, a quicker response to the market and the changing nature of competition, a new sense of urgency and a sharpened effort to determine what comes...

New programs redefine Rx care.(The New Walgreens)(Walgreen Co.)(Company overview)
July 23, 2007... DEERFIELD, Ill. -- Walgreens president and chief operating officer Greg Wasson does not want to stay the course--which on the surface might seem unusual for an executive at a drag chain that is steeped in a tradition that has made it the...

Access, service put Walgreens out front.(The New Walgreens)(Brief article)
July 23, 2007... DEERFIELD, Ill. -- Pharmacy sales continue to escalate at Walgreens, driven to a large degree by the Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit and the growing ranks of Medicaid patients. For example, in the third quarter of fiscal 2007...

'We're creating a new model'.(The New Wallgreens)(Wallgreens Co.)
July 23, 2007... DEERFIELD, Ill. -- In evaluating the competitive landscape, Walgreens president and chief operating officer Greg Wasson notes that many drug chains are considering--and in some cases have implemented--innovative new offerings in health care....

Stores address myriad needs.(The New Walgreens)(Walgreen Co.)(Brief article)
July 23, 2007... Walgreens' drug stores offer a comprehensive assortment of merchandise and services. From pharmacy to the front end the retailer provides the 4. 7 million shoppers that visit its outlets every day with a wide assortment of beauty care items,...

Walgreens will never ignore 'a great opportunity'.(The New Walgreens)(Walgreens Co. to acquire Happy Harry's Inc. and Group Inc.)
July 23, 2007... DEERFIELD, Ill. -- Twice in the past year Walgreens has broken away from its longtime policy of growth only through internal expansion. The breaks with tradition, executives point out, only occurred because each of the smaller chains...

Hawaii to be next frontier for retailer.(The New Walgreens)(Walgreen Co. plans to open 10 stores in first quarter of 2008)(Brief article)
July 23, 2007... HONOLULU -- As Walgreens prepares to open its first store in Hawaii by the end of the year, the company has begun to talk about its long-term plans for the island state. A Walgreens spokesman says the company plans to open another three...

As ever, Walgreens is pharmacy-centered: Walgreens has broadened the concept of retail pharmacy to embrace immediate-care clinics, home health care, specialty pharmacy and more.(Health Care)
July 23, 2007... DEERFIELD, Ill. -- No part of Walgreens' operation is more critical than the pharmacy. Executives stress that a number of demographic and economic trends have converged in recent years that have made the opportunities for community...

Vision system another evidence of leadership in technology.(The New Walgreens)(Walgreen Co.)
July 23, 2007... DEERFIELD, Ill. -- Like any pharmacy operator these days, Walgreens relies on sophisticated technology to ensure that its prescription business operates with the utmost efficiency. "We use technology to make our customers' lives easier and...

'It's all about customer convenience, choice'.(The New Walgreens)(Walgreens Co.)(Brief article)
July 23, 2007... DEERFIELD, Ill. -- The number of Walgreens drive-through pharmacy windows and stores that are open around the clock is unrivaled in the industry. With more than 4,800 drive-through pharmacy windows and 1,600 24-hour stores, the drug chain...

Rx service is top priority.(The New Walgreens)(Walgreens Co.)(Brief article)
July 23, 2007... Walgreens' pharmacies are at the heart of the drug chain's business. Nearly 65% of the company's annual sales come from its prescription counters. With hundreds of 24-hour pharmacies across the country, more than 4,800 stores with drive-through...