Chain Drug Review articles from May 2006

Chain Drug Review archives from May 2006

P&G's Clark named CEO at Cardinal.(News)(R. Kerry Clark, Cardinal Health Inc.)
May 1, 2006... DUBLIN, Ohio -- Cardinal Health Inc. has appointed R. Kerry Clark president and chief executive officer. Clark, who also becomes a director at the pharmaceutical distributor and parent company of Medicine Shoppe International, says he...

Hannan is the man of the hour at NACDS.(National Association of Chain Drug Stores, Bob Hannan )
May 1, 2006... ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- Bob Hannan arrived here on the first Monday in April to assume his duties as interim president and chief executive officer of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores, the ailing trade association at which he had once...

Duane Reade stores get back to the basics.
May 1, 2006... NEW YORK -- Change is in the air at Duane Reade Inc.--and in the aisles, on the end-caps, on the walls and even in the windows. The chain's "model store" format, now on view at 17 locations, features an uncluttered look, higher shelf...

Rein to become CEO of Walgreens in July.(Jeff Rein appointed)
May 1, 2006... DEERFIELD, Ill. -- Amid a number of significant executive changes last month, Walgreen Co. named president and chief operating officer Jeff Rein its next chief executive officer. Rein will take over the top executive spot on July 12 from...

NACDS taps technology from ECRM.(National Association of Chain Drug Stores, ECRM Imaging Systems)
May 1, 2006... ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- A new technology partnership between the National Association of Chain Drug Stores and ECRM promises immediate benefits at the NACDS Marketplace Conference and, beyond that, the potential to strengthen the industry through...

Alliance sets its sights on patient compliance.(News)
May 1, 2006... ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- The synergies of drug manufacturing and drug dispensing are underscored by a new comprehensive training initiative from the Pharmacy Value Alliance (PVA). The effort highlights the role of pharmacists and pharmacy...

Kinney names Hart president as part of exec realignment.(News)(Bridget-ann Hart, Craig Painter, Kinney Drugs Inc.)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... GOUVERNEUR N.Y. -- Craig Painter, chief executive officer of Kinney Drugs, has announced a restructuring of the chain's executive team. Bridget-ann Hart has been promoted to president and chief operating officer. Hart started her career at...

Longs buys 24 Network pharmacies.(Network Pharmaceuticals Inc., Longs Drug Stores Corp.)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... WALNUT CREEK, Calif. -- Longs Drug Stores is buying 24 pharmacies from Network Pharmaceuticals Inc. for $10 million. The deal should be completed in the second quarter and is subject to customary closing conditions. The chain will...

WilsonRx study to feature broader geographic scope.(Wilson Health Information LLC WilsonRx survey)
May 1, 2006... NEW YORK -- Feedback on the service and care levels at community pharmacies is instrumental to the chain drug industry's drive for continual improvement. That explains why so many chains anticipate the annual Wilson Health Information LLC...

New Orleans: saluting a job very well done.(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... The editors of Chain Drug Review hosted a reception in New Orleans last month at the home of Scott Cowen, the president of Tulane University. The event was held to recognize the considerable accomplishments and selfless behavior of the...

Labor dispute at Duane Reade finally comes to an end.(News)
May 1, 2006... NEW YORK -- After a long-running dispute that went to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), Duane Reade Inc. and its unions have reached new three-year collective bargaining agreements. With the ratification of the pacts the chain has...

PrairieStone reimagines pharmacy packaging.(News)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... MINNEAPOLIS -- PrairieStone Pharmacy has launched DailyMed, an innovative retail packaging solution that presorts multiple prescriptions, over-the-counter medications and vitamins into easy-to-use, single-dose packs. As the proportion of...

AG connects with customers, improves retail experience.(American Greetings Corp.)
May 1, 2006... CLEVELAND -- American Greetings is undertaking a bold initiative intended to totally revamp the greeting card shopping experience. "This will be the largest new product and merchandising initiative in the greeting card industry in decades,"...

Obrecht succeeds Murphy at Revlon.(Paul Murphy, Karl Obrecht)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... NEW YORK -- Paul Murphy, Revlon Inc.'s executive vice president of North American sales, is leaving the company. He will be succeeded by Karl Obrecht, who currently serves as the cosmetics and beauty care supplier's senior vice president for...

Cetaphil proves to be 'little brand that could'.(Galderma Laboratories Inc. celebrated its 60th anniversary of brand marketing)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... FORT WORTH -- The 60th anniversary of Cetaphil gentle skin cleanser, which has led its category for years despite nominal consumer advertising, will be celebrated next year by Galderma Laboratories LP. A new public relations campaign for...

Alberto-Culver merger with Regis is scuttled.(Supplier News)
May 1, 2006... MELROSE PARK, Ill. -- Regis Corp. abruptly called off its $2.6 billion merger with Alberto-Culver Co. early last month after Alberto-Culver's board of directors issued a statement saying they did not have faith in Regis' financial health. ...

Ivy-Dry line is extended with soap.(Ivy Corp.)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... FAIRFIELD, N.J. -- Ivy Corp. has introduced what it says is one of the most effective treatments for poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac ever created. Ivy-Dry soap, executives note, is the first treatment to completely remove urushiol,...

Advanced Vision Research slates intro.(Advanced Vision Research Inc.)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... WOBURN, Mass. -- Advanced Vision Research Inc. has announced that its newest product, SteriLid eyelid cleanser, will be available this summer. SteriLid is the first antibacterial lid foam designed for lid hygiene. It is billed as a...

F.C. Sturtevant to expand scope.(Supplier News)
May 1, 2006... EAST HARTFORD, Conn. -- As it celebrates its 135th anniversary this year, F.C. Sturtevant Co. plans to epxand its product line by adding two new items. The company is a rarity among manufacturers of over-the-counter medications in that it...

Barrier's Vusion receives FDA O.K.(Barrier Therapeutics Inc.)
May 1, 2006... PRINCETON, N.J. -- Barrier Therapeutics Inc. has gained Food and Drug Administration approval for Vusion, billed as the first and only product specifically developed for the treatment of diaper dermatitis complicated by candidiasis (DDCC). ...

Woodridge is platform for growth of Nextera.(Nextera Enterprises Inc., Woodridge Labs Inc.)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... BOSTON -- Nextera Enterprises Inc. has acquired personal care products manufacturer Woodridge Labs Inc. for $23.5 million in cash and 8.4 million shares of Nextera stock. Under the terms of the deal, which includes debt assumption, Nextera...

Ansell introduces sustain for men.(Ansell Healthcare Inc.)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... RED BANK, N.J. -- Ansell Healthcare LLC has rolled out Sustain for Men by Lifestyles, a male performance enhancer. Based on a patented formula that uses the active ingredient l-arginine, the company is offering two versions of the...

Intros coincide with Kellogg's centennial.(Kellogg Co. introduced two products Granola Munch'ems and Special K Snack Bites)
May 1, 2006... BATTLE CREEK, Mich. -- Kellogg Co., which is celebrating its 100th anniversary, has introduced two products designed to provide wholesome snacking for on-the-go consumers: Kellogg's Granola Munch'ems and Special K Snack Bites. Both...

High-level execs appointed by IRI.(Information Resources Inc., Stewart Jones)
May 1, 2006... CHICAGO -- Information Resources Inc. (IRI) has named Stewart Jones executive vice president of global operations. IRI executives note that the appointment of Jones, who has headed IRI's European operations since 2004, underscores the...

Wrigley will investigate benefits of chewing gum.(Wm. Wrigley Jr. Co.)
May 1, 2006... CHICAGO -- Recent studies, executives at Wm. Wrigley Jr. Co. say, suggest that chewing gum may offer more benefits than just freshening one's breath. Among the health and wellness benefits that may come from chewing gum, they note, are...

FiFi awards go to top fragrances.(Fragrance Foundation 34th annual FiFi awards)(Awards list)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... NEW YORK -- In a star-studded evening, The Fragrance Foundation recently presented its 34th annual FiFi awards, honoring the best in fragrance. Presenters included popular actresses Sarah Jessica Parker, Geena Davis and Vivica Fox. ...

Rite Aid earnings get big lift from tax credit in fiscal '06.(Business)
May 1, 2006... CAMP HILL, Pa. -- Buoyed by a huge tax credit and an additional week, Rite Aid Corp. saw reported earnings skyrocket during the quarter and fiscal year ended March 4. However, despite some encouraging signs in same-store sales, adjusted...

Walgreens profits rise 6.6% in second quarter.(Business)
May 1, 2006... DEERFIELD, Ill. -- A mild flu season and unusual gains a year ago held Walgreen Co. to a mid-single-digit rise in second quarter net income that just missed Wall Street's expectations. Investors were apparently not dismayed, however, and...

Pathmark manages to reduce losses significantly.(Pathmark Stores Inc., Yucaipa Cos.)
May 1, 2006... CARTERET, N.J. -- Thanks to a big charge in the fourth quarter and year, Pathmark Stores Inc. closed the books on fiscal 2005 with sharply lower bottom-line losses. However, operating results remained on the downswing amid stagnant sales and...

Chain drug stocks off slightly in March.
May 1, 2006... NEW YORK -- Although chain drug stocks declined moderately in March, analysts remain convinced that investors in drug store shares will come out ahead over the long term, since the increasing numbers of elderly people in the United States will...

It's time for U.S. drug chains to think globally.(market analysis)(Market overview)
May 1, 2006... Chain drug retailing is slowly becoming a global business. And U.S. drug chains thus far appear less than interested in participating. Consider the most recent developments: * Super-Pharm, Israel's leading drug chain, a retailer that has...

Retail pharmacy needs to be more engaged.(health care reform and medicaid )
May 1, 2006... Pharmacy operators concerned about the course of the debate on health care reform should pay close attention to developments in Massachusetts, where last month the legislature passed a bill mandating that all citizens obtain insurance. The...

Chain drug stores diminished in 'never normal world'.(My Turn)(Survey)(Market overview)
May 1, 2006... It's hard to imagine a time in American retailing when the drug store has not been the cornerstone--or one of the cornerstones--of every community. Along with the local supermarket and, in more recent years, the local discount store, the chain...

Chain drug industry has a momentous year.(National Association of Chain Drug Stores president Craig Fuller resigns)(Industry overview)(Statistical data)
May 1, 2006... CDR Special Report--These days, the big story swirling around chain drug retailing in America is the one triggered by the departure, last month, of Craig Fuller as president and chief executive officer of the National Association of Chain Drug...

Economy is expected to keep generating steady gains.(State of the Industry)(Industry overview)
May 1, 2006... NEW YORK -- Chain drug retailers can count on the current business expansion to continue at a moderate rate for the balance of 2006 and into 2007. Analysts in both the public and private sectors unanimously forecast that sales at the...

Global trends create opportunities.(retail stores sales to pick up )(Industry overview)
May 1, 2006... NEW YORK -- A host of factors are creating an economic climate that is favorable for retailers around the globe, researchers and consultants say. According to "Top 20 Trends," a recently released report from the Washington, D.C.-based...

The top performers set standard for industry.(drug stores rankings according to their earnings)(Industry ranking)
May 1, 2006... NEW YORK -- Walgreen Co. solidified its position as the chain drug industry's perennial earnings leader by racking up more than $1.5 billion in net income during its last full fiscal year. As the trade class' most profitable company,...

Diverse factors coalesce to give drug chains vast growth potential.(State of the Industry)(Industry overview)
May 1, 2006... NEW YORK -- The chain drug industry should continue its winning ways in 2006. Apart from lingering concerns about implementation of the Medicare prescription drug benefit and looming cuts in Medicaid reimbursements, there are few clouds on...

More generics use will help margins.(generic pharmaceuticals sales margin)
May 1, 2006... NEW YORK -- After struggling in the 1990s with the gross margin erosion that accompanied the rise of pharmacy benefits management companies, the chain drug industry may be poised to recapture some of that lost ground with the help of generic...

M&A activity climaxes in Albertsons breakup.(mergers and acquisition in drug stores)
May 1, 2006... NEW YORK -- After a year that saw one of the largest acquisitions in the history of chain drug retailing--the takeover of Eckerd Corp. by CVS Corp. and the Jean Coutu Group--2005 seemed to some as if it was going to be a year of little or no...

Shifts to have impact on Rx market.(mergers and acquisitions in drug stores)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... NEW YORK -- A handful of deals in other mass market retailing sectors could help reshape the face of community pharmacy in some markets. By far the largest agreement of the past year was the sale of Albertsons Inc. in January. The sale of...

Top 50 drug chains by dollar volume.(State of the Industry)(Statistical data)
May 1, 2006... Top 50 drug chains by dollar volume Walgreens (Deerfield, Ill.) $42.20 bil. CVS (Woonsocket, R.I.) 37.01 bil./ 42.51 bil. (1) Rite Aid (Camp...

Top 50 drug chains by store count.(State of the Industry)(Statistical data)
May 1, 2006... Top 50 drug chains by store count CVS (Woonsocket, R.I.) 5,469 Walgreens (Deerfield, Ill.) 5,156 Rite Aid (Camp Hill, Pa.) 3,323 Jean Coutu (Longueuil, Quebec) ...

NACDS seeks new direction as Fuller era comes to end.(National Association of Chain Drug Stores)(Craig Fuller)
May 1, 2006... ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- The Craig Fuller years at the National Association of Chain Drug Stores produced mixed results for the industry. The jury is still out on what drug chains will reap from Medicare Part D, but there is little doubt that...

Hannan again rises to the occasion.(Bob Hannan to serve as president of National Association of Chain Drug Stores)
May 1, 2006... ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- Bob Hannan, who is serving as interim president and chief executive officer of NACDS for the second time, can be expected to be much more than just a caretaker for the group. When he headed NACDS on an interim basis in...

SureScripts a success by all accounts.(electronic prescribing service by SureScripts)
May 1, 2006... ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- SureScripts, the joint venture founded by NACDS and the National Community Pharmacists Association five years ago, has continued to dramatically advance and enhance electronic prescribing. Most notably, SureScripts joined...

NACDS Annual Meeting is the chain drug forum.(National Association of Chain Drug Stores)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... PALM BEACH, Fla. -- This year's NACDS Annual Meeting at The Breakers hotel here is debuting a "Focus on Health" pavilion promoting total health and well-being. Sponsored by Novartis Cos., Omron Healthcare Inc., Pharmavite LLC and Bayer...

Medicare prescription drug benefit: in no way was it easy.
May 1, 2006... WASHINGTON -- After months of debate in Congress and more than a year of preparation, the Medicare prescription benefit went into effect earlier this year. Getting to the point where seniors and others covered by the federal health care...

Myriad options make understanding difficult.(drug benefit plans analysis )
May 1, 2006... WASHINGTON -- When the federal government decided to allow dozens of insurers and pharmacy benefits management companies to offer prescription drug plans under the Medicare Part D program, some feared that seniors across the country could wind...

Chain drug pharmacists facilitators.(State of the Industry)
May 1, 2006... NEW YORK -- As confusing as the run-up to the start of the Medicare prescription benefit was for many people, it is generally conceded that without the help of pharmacists across the country the situation would have likely deteriorated into...

Looming Medicaid cuts spell trouble for pharmacies.(State of the Industry)
May 1, 2006... WASHINGTON -- Small drug chains, independent pharmacies and even regional and national retailers with pharmacies serving areas heavily populated with Medicaid patients are apprehensive about upcoming cuts in reimbursements, particularly as they...

Reduced funding isn't only option.(State of the Industry)
May 1, 2006... NEW YORK -- While measures to cut Medicaid costs have been advanced by the Bush administration and Congress, steps to reduce spending in the federal/state program have also been taken or proposed by governors, legislators and those who aspire...

Low-income seniors falling through cracks.(State of the Industry)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- An independent study of the new Medicare prescription drug benefit concludes that many low-income senior citizens in California are faced with a restricted range of drugs compared with what was available to them when the...

Mail-order Rx providers remain concern for retail pharmacy.(State of the Industry)
May 1, 2006... NEW YORK -- One of the issues casting the biggest shadow over the future of chain drug retailing continues to be the growing use of mail-order pharmacies to fill prescriptions for maintenance drugs. And while there is mounting evidence that...

Combos' promise of convenience still strikes chord with consumers.(State of the Industry)
May 1, 2006... NEW YORK -- At a time when retail cross-channel competition is an everyday fact of life and formats mutate in the blink of an eye, it seems hard to believe that the food/drug combination store--arguably the forerunner of all creative hybrid...

A potent force in community Rx.(food and drug combination stores)
May 1, 2006... NEW YORK -- Food/drug combination stores have had a major impact on retail pharmacy over the years, not surprising in light of the format's roots in chain drug retailing. Companies operating a large number of combination stores accounted...

Discount stores are 'not going to stop selling for less'.(State of the Industry)(Industry overview)
May 1, 2006... NEW YORK -- The nation's discount store chains fared relatively well in 2005, outperforming the supermarket channel but falling short of the solid gains that were posted by chain drug retailers. Full-year sales increased 6.6% to $453.6...

Pharmacy an essential part of mix.(State of the Industry)
May 1, 2006... NEW YORK -- Chain drug retailers have proved themselves capable of finding ways to adapt to changing market conditions and new competition as it has materialized over the years, no matter what form it has taken. As the 20th century...

Dollar stores appeal to 'love of a good deal'.(State of the Industry)
May 1, 2006... NEW YORK -- The torrid pace of growth characterizing the extreme-value segment of retailing for the past several years is finally cooling down, but plenty of upside potential remains. With it comes an ongoing competitive challenge for chain...

Top two chains as ambitious as ever.(State of the industry)(Family Dollar Stores Inc.)(Dollar General Corp.)
May 1, 2006... NEW YORK -- As the meteoric growth of extreme-value retailing has slowed down over the past year, the format's two biggest players have seen that change reflected in various ways. Family Dollar Stores Inc. took a hit to earnings in the...

Canadians consider bigger role for pharmacy.
May 1, 2006... TORONTO -- The sizzling sales of pharmacy products experienced by the Canadian retail sector in 2004 showed signs of slowing throughout 2005. Year-end figures are not available yet, but it appears that the growth rate will be significantly...

CACDS pursues ambitious agenda.(Canadian Association of Chain Drug Stores)
May 1, 2006... TORONTO -- Of the five strategic priorities that the Canadian Association of Chain Drug Stores (CACDS) has established as the core of its work plans for 2006, the issue of regulatory effectiveness is crucial. For example, CACDS will be...

Associations move to capitalize on synergies.(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... TORONTO -- The leadership and staffs of both the Canadian Association of Chain Drug Stores (CACDS) and its counterpart in the United States, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores, have recognized the benefits they have gained from the...

Public health system taps into strengths of retail Rx.
May 1, 2006... MISSISSAUGA, Ontario -- Speaking at the Canadian Association of Chain Drug Stores (CACDS) Conference here earlier this year, Paul Sockett, director of the foodborne, waterborne and zoonotic infections division of the Centre for Infectious...

Competitive mandate intensifies need for technology.(Point of sale systems)
May 1, 2006... NEW YORK -- Technology's importance continues to grow in chain drug stores as in other channels of retailing, with advanced systems playing pivotal roles in everything from supply chain management to customer relations to pharmacy. The...

Pharmacy work flow keeps on improving.(electronic prescription systems)
May 1, 2006... NEW YORK -- Technology's role in chain pharmacy operations has been on the rise for more than a decade, and with the launch of the Medicare prescription benefit program earlier this year the impetus to automate is greater than ever. ...

'New, better ways to serve patients'.(e-prescribing by the community pharmacy)
May 1, 2006... NEW YORK -- Technology has made considerable contributions to the advancement of the practice of pharmacy, but the best may be yet to come. Going forward, pharmacy systems promise to have an even greater impact on the health and well-being of...

Displays set to enter the digital age.(drug stores marketing expenditures with displays increases )
May 1, 2006... NEW YORK -- In-store display and promotion may be the next aspect of chain drug retailing to undergo a technologydriven makeover of the sort that has revolutionized the industry's supply chain, inventory management and pharmacy operations over...

Electronic payments are an idea whose time has come.(State of the Industry)
May 1, 2006... NEW YORK -- Change, which is sometimes fast and sometimes slower than expected, continues to be a defining characteristic of retail technology. Automated systems have thoroughly permeated many aspects of chain drug retailing, including...

Customer demand can drive the entire process.(State of the Industry)(AMR Research Inc.)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... NEW YORK -- With the rapid pace of change in retail technology, there is no shortage of new systems and solutions populating the wish lists of chain drug and other retail executives. However, budgetary realities mean that companies have to pick...

Pharmaceutical makers' fortunes expected to take a turn for better.(State of the Industry)
May 1, 2006... NEW YORK -- After enduring many disappointments last year, the pharmaceutical industry has seen its prospects improve considerably in 2006. Big Pharma still faces big challenges, and it is unlikely to return to the glory days of the recent...

What's happening, at some of the key players.(industry overview)(Industry overview)
May 1, 2006... NEW YORK -- Pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies comprise a dynamic industry, with a strong record of innovation. A brief look at the prospects for some of the major players in the field follows: Abbott Laboratories The company...

January 2005: rules for medicare Part D raise concerns.(The Year in Review '06)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... WASHINGTON -- The Bush administration releases the final rules for the Medicare prescription program that will go into effect next year. Advocates for community pharmacies say the rules could have adverse effects on retailers. "As far as...

January 2005: Burnside takes reins at Medicine Shoppe.(Terry Burnside, Medicine Shoppe International Inc.)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... ST. LOUIS -- Terry Burnside is named president of Medicine Shoppe International Inc. (MSI) and immediately begins planning for the drug chain's future. "The one thing I've come to realize about a franchise system is that the keys to...

February 2005: longs aligns exec team with growth plan.(Longs Drug Stores Corp.)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... WALNUT CREEK, Calif. -- Seeking to maintain the momentum of a strong fourth quarter and fiscal year, Longs Drug Stores has redefined the roles of four top managers. Chairman and chief executive officer Warren Bryant says the changes for...

February 2005: SDM brings new look to Rx department.(Shoppers Drug Mart Ltd., new store design)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... TORONTO -- Shoppers Drug Mart (SDM) is continuing to introduce its new-look pharmacies in stores across Canada. The dramatically overhauled prescription areas were first introduced in July 2004 and have been steadily added to SDM stores...

March 2005: loyalty program revamped by Duane Reade.(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... NEW YORK -- Duane Reade Inc. restages its Dollar Rewards frequent-shopper program to be more compelling for consumers and boost the drug chain's top and bottom lines. In addition to providing special item discounts that Duane Reade has...

March 2005: chains fear CMS may give mail order edge.(Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- The latest clarification of the Medicare drug benefit rules gives mail-order pharmacies an advantage over retailers, according to John Coster, vice president for policy and programs at the National Association of Chain Drug...

April 2005: Rite Aid set to reenter the PBM business.(contract with ProCare Rx)(pharmacy benefits management)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... CAMP HILL, Pa. -- Nearly five years after exiting the pharmacy benefits management business, Rite Aid Corp. has gotten back into the fray. The company contracts with ProCare Rx, a fully integrated pharmacy benefits solutions provider based...

April 2005: Civello begins term as NACDS chairman.(Anthony Civello, National Association of Chain Drug Stores)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Kerr Drug chairman, president and chief executive officer Anthony Civello becomes the 47th chairman of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores. He joins a roster of chain drug industry executives that includes many of...

May 2005: CVS looks ahead following a 'pivotal year'.(contract with MinuteClinic)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... WOONSOCKET, R.I. -- This year's CVS Corp. annual meeting proves a cause for celebration, after the chain posted its best year ever. Tom Ryan, CVS' chairman, president and chief executive officer, tells attendees that the fiscal year ending...

May 2005: Walgreens appoints Huonker to oversee Rx.(Don Huonker)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... DEERFIELD, Ill. -- Walgreen Co. has named Don Huonker vice president of pharmacy services. He succeeds Dennis O'Dell, who is retiring as senior vice president of pharmacy services. Huonker joined Walgreens in 1995 as a management...

June 2005: Rite Aid unveils five-year expansion plan.(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... HARRISBURG, Pa. -- At the company's annual meeting here, Rite Aid Corp. president and chief executive officer Mary Sammons tells attendees that the retailer plans to open 800 to 1,000 new or relocated drug stores over the next five years. ...

June 2005: ambitious expansion of WHS in the works.(Walgreen Co. plans to expand its new division Walgreens Health Services )(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... DEERFIELD, Ill. -- With the steady growth of the importance of pharmacy to the drug store business, Walgreen Co. has chosen to expand its Walgreens Health Services (WHS) division. The company is quadrupling the size of WHS, which is...