Chain Drug Review articles from October 2005

Chain Drug Review archives from October 2005

CMS approves Medicare drug plan sponsors.(Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services)
October 10, 2005... WASHINGTON -- The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has approved prescription drag plans (PDPs) from a number of health insurers and pharmacy benefits management companies (PBMs) for providing the new Part D prescription drag...

Coutu proves the skeptics wrong.(Jean Coutu Group Inc purchases Eckerd Corp.)
October 10, 2005... LONGUEUIL, Quebec -- The mood of management at last year's annual meeting of the Jean Coutu Group, held just weeks after the consummation of the purchase of 1,549 Eckerd Corp. drag stores in the United States, was one of quiet optimism, but...

Crawford exits post as head of FDA.(Lester Crawford resigns)(Food and Drug Administration administration commissioner)
October 10, 2005... WASHINGTON -- Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt says there is no timetable for the nomination of a permanent Food and Drug Administration commissioner in the aftermath of last month's sudden resignation of Lester Crawford, who...

After Katrina, Rita packs less wallop.(drug stores closure on hurricane damage)
October 10, 2005... HOUSTON -- As they continued to deal with the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, chain drag retailers in the Gulf States were faced with a second crisis after Hurricane Rita rolled through eastern Texas and western Louisiana late last month. ...

NACDS enters fray on credit card charges.(National Association of Chain Drug Stores price cutting battle)
October 10, 2005... NEW YORK -- The National Association of Chain Drug Stores and three other retail organizations have joined the legal battle to force credit card companies to lower the fees they charge for processing transactions. NACDS, the National...

Rexall Pharma Plus unit showcases Katz' focus.(Katz Group Canada Ltd rebranding)
October 10, 2005... TORONTO -- As Katz Group Canada Ltd. continues to revamp its store base, the company has opened what it says is a new concept store in the country's largest city. The outlet--located at the corner of Yonge Street and Melrose Ave.--is a...

Flu vaccine clinics next for chains.(influenza vaccination)(Brief Article)
October 10, 2005... NEW YORK -- Starting in October CVS Corp., Walgreen Co. and Longs Drugs Stores are offering flu shot clinics. From October 1 through late November, CVS will offer flu vaccinations in more than 3,500 of its stores across the nation. ...

Three new members join Rite Aid board of directors.(elections of board members)(Brief Article)
October 10, 2005... CAMP HILL, Pa. -- The board of directors of Rite Aid Corp. has announced the election of three new members. Their terms will expire in June 2006, at which time it is expected that they will stand for reelection. Elected to the board...

Walgreens to build brand with vitamin, skin care lines.(Brief Article)
October 10, 2005... DEERFIELD, Ill. -- Walgreen Co. is rolling out exclusive vitamin and skin care lines. The drug chain has acquired exclusive rights to Theragran-M vitamins and has launched the Dr. Jan Adams Women of Color Total Skin Care System. ...

Rx-men undergo Medicare training.(pharmacists training )(Brief Article)
October 10, 2005... WASHINGTON -- Regional training sessions for pharmacists readying to enroll seniors in Medicare Part D are continuing through October 12. The programs are a collaboration of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores Foundation and the...

DrugMax is shoring up its financial position.(private placements reports)
October 10, 2005... FARMINGTON, Conn. -- DrugMax Inc. has announced private placements totaling $51.1 million and a new $65 million credit facility. The company agreed last month to sell 41.5 million shares of common stock and warrants to purchase 20.7 million...

Clarke named president of GSK Consumer Healthcare.(John Clarke appointed )(Brief Article)
October 10, 2005... MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. -- John Clarke, who now heads the global marketing team at GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare (GSK), has been chosen to succeed Jack Ziegler as president. Clarke will assume his new responsibilities upon Ziegler's retirement...

Zestra Labs is new name for QualiLife.(Zestra Laboratories Inc.)(Brief Article)
October 10, 2005... CHARLESTON, S.C. -- Zestra Laboratories Inc. has been selected as the new name of QualiLife Pharmaceuticals Inc. The company, which makes Zestra feminine arousal fluid, has also announced the appointment of Alan Fink as president. The...

Sell goes to BLI as president, CEO.(Carl Sell appointed as Chief Executive Officer at Botanical Laboratories Inc.)(Brief Article)
October 10, 2005... FERNDALE, Wash. -- Carl Sell has joined Botanical Laboratories Inc. (BLI) as president and chief executive officer. "I am delighted to welcome Carl as Botanical Laboratories' new chief executive officer," remarks founder Jim Coyne. "Carl...

Despite posting loss, Rite Aid sees some positive trends.(Rite Aid Corp financial statements)
October 10, 2005... CAMP HILL, Pa. -- Still unable to gain any meaningful sales traction, Rite Aid Corp. fell into the red during fiscal 2006's second quarter amid a downturn in adjusted EBITDA and a loss on debt modification. Nonetheless, management said that...

Impressive half turned in by Kroger.(financial statements)
October 10, 2005... CINCINNATI -- The continued sales rebound at its southern California chains, coupled with comparisons against a weak prior-year period, produced a double-digit increase at the bottom line for Kroger Co. in the second quarter of fiscal 2005....

'Strong momentum continues at McKesson'.(McKesson Corp financial management)
October 10, 2005... SAN FRANCISCO -- McKesson Corp. began fiscal 2006 with a single-digit rise in net income and a 26% surge in adjusted earnings--beating Wall Street forecasts by a wide margin. Including a $52 million net pretax charge ($35 million, after...

For Besthoff, it's time to go back and rebuild.(social life at New Orleans)
October 10, 2005... Sydney Besthoff has been found, alive and well, in New York City. He arrived, with his wife, Walda, two days after Hurricane Katrina slammed into the Gulf Coast on Monday, August 29. "Ordinarily, I wouldn't have left New Orleans," Besthoff...

In retailing, differentiation is the critical element.(drugstores brand building to shoot sales)
October 10, 2005... Talk to chain drug retailers about their business and in candid moments they might reveal a troubling fact: In more than a few instances customers, particularly front-end shoppers, are not sure whose store they are in. In recent years much...

Rx distributors adjust as business model changes.(Wholesalers distribution management)
October 10, 2005... RESTON, Va. -- Despite slowed growth in the drug distribution market last year the industry is poised to flourish over the near term. The aging population, Medicare drug benefit and increased incidence of chronic diseases all point to a...

HDMA teams up with NACDS to examine RFID.(Healthcare Distribution Management Association)(National Association of Chain Drug Stores)(Radio Frequency Identification )
October 10, 2005... ARLINGTON, Va. -- The Healthcare Distribution Management Association (HDMA) is cosponsoring the RFID Health Care Industry Adoption Summit, which will be held from November 13 through November 16 at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City here. The...

McKesson lends hand with Medicare Part D.(Wholesalers)
October 10, 2005... SAN FRANCISCO -- Since its founding as a drug import and wholesale shop in New York in 1833 McKesson Corp. has grown to become the industry's largest pharmaceutical distributor. Consequently, the company plays a key role in keeping...

Acquisition of D&K was 'natural fit'.(D&K Healthcare Resources Inc acquires McKesson Corp)(Brief Article)
October 10, 2005... SAN FRANCISCO -- McKesson, already the industry's largest pharmaceutical wholesaler, got a little bigger earlier this year when it acquired St. Louis-based D&K Healthcare Resources Inc. "D&K Healthcare represents a natural fit for McKesson...

Auto-Rx-Net takes hassle out of pricing.(McKesson Corp management with online pharmacy )(Brief Article)
October 10, 2005... SAN FRANCISCO -- McKesson has always relied on sophisticated technology to offer its customers the utmost in service. One of its latest technological solutions takes that concept a step further by helping pharmacies set prices. ...

Company steps up in Katrina's wake.(McKesson Corp. disaster relief services)(Brief Article)
October 10, 2005... SAN FRANCISCO -- The level of McKesson's commitment to its customers was driven home recently when it aided in the Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. With about 500 employees from six business units and dozens of hospital, pharmacy and...

Cardinal integrates supply chain.(Cardinal Health Inc new unit for supply chain management)
October 10, 2005... DUBLIN, Ohio -- A new business unit created by Cardinal Health Inc. offers the most comprehensive portfolio of supply chain services in the health care industry and is one of its largest providers, with more than $70 billion in annual sales,...

'Pharm Fest' targets opportunities.(Independent pharmacies conference )
October 10, 2005... CHICAGO -- Independent pharmacies from across the country, along with Medicine Shoppe International Inc., were well represented at Cardinal Health's retail business conference here in July. The yearly gathering provides pharmacists with...

AmerisourceBergen ready to play integral part in pharmacy's future.(services)
October 10, 2005... VALLEY FORGE, Pa. -- AmerisourceBergen Corp. is one of the leading pharmaceutical services companies in the United States, and it is intent on enhancing that role. With more than $48 billion in operating revenue, the company employs more than...

Medicare Rx benefit "Made Simple".(prescription drug coverage under medicare program)(Brief Article)
October 10, 2005... VALLEY FORGE, Pa. -- Beginning in 2006 Medicare will offer prescription drug coverage to help cut the cost of patients' medication bills, and AmerisourceBergen is offering a "Medicare Rx Made Simple" wheel designed to estimate one's...

Innovations in patient care win recognition.(Longenecker Pharmacy achievements)
October 10, 2005... VALLEY FORGE, Pa. -- Longenecker Pharmacy of Parkesburg, Pa., received the Diabetes Shoppe Achievement Award at the AmerisourceBergen National Healthcare Conference and Exposition, held in July in Las Vegas. The pharmacy is the first...

Chronic care moves into the spotlight.(AmerisourceBergen and iMetrikus Inc agreement )(Brief Article)
October 10, 2005... VALLEY FORGE, Pa. -- AmerisourceBergen and iMetrikus Inc. have announced an agreement that will enable pharmacists to play a more central role in the management of chronic health conditions. Through the agreement AmerisourceBergen will make...

Critical issues in community pharmacy.(National Association of Chain Drug Stores meetings)
October 10, 2005... SAN DIEGO -- Speaking at the recent National Association of Chain Drug Stores Pharmacy & Technology Conference here, Mark de Bruin, senior vice president of pharmacy services at Rite Aid Corp. and chairman of the event, said the issues of...

BD aids Katrina relief efforts.(Becton Dickinson and Company Ltd)(Brief Article)
October 10, 2005... BD last month said it would donate up to $1 million in equipment to help meet the needs of diabetes patients affected by Hurricane Katrina. The company has sent blood glucose monitors, lancets, test strips, insulin syringes, needles and...

SDM joins venture to sell minivans.(Shoppers Drug Mart)(Liberty Motor Co)(Brief Article)
October 10, 2005... The Shoppers Home Health Care division of the drug chain Shoppers Drug Mart (SDM) has become Canada's exclusive seller and distributor of Liberty Motor Co.'s wheelchair-accessible minivans. "The addition of Liberty's wheelchair-accessible...

Group questions CMS final rule.(Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services)(Brief Article)
October 10, 2005... The Restore Access to Mobility Partnership (RAMP) has raised concerns about the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' (CMS') recently issued interim final rule to govern the prescribing, documentation, supplying and reimbursement of such...

Medicare costs to increase in 2006.(Home Health Care News)(Brief Article)
October 10, 2005... Medicare premiums for visits to doctors and outpatient care, including durable medical equipment and other services, will jump next year to $88.50 a month from $78.20 a month, federal officials say. Medicare officials say the 13.2% increase...

Access Point enters HME biz.(Access Point Medical home care business)(Brief Article)
October 10, 2005... Just three months after going into business Access Point Medical has entered the home health care arena. Executives say the St. Louis-based company will manufacture high-quality, low-cost home medical equipment, including ambulatory, bath...

Invacare aids hurricane effort.(Home Health Care News)(Brief Article)
October 10, 2005... Home health care equipment manufacturer Invacare Corp. helped the Hurricane Katrina relief efforts in Louisiana last month by shipping a truckload of wheelchairs, nebulizers and oxygen equipment to the American Red Cross in Lafayette, La. ...

It's trending toward Sun City, USA.(home health care products demand and marketing)
October 10, 2005... NEW YORK -- The list of chain drug retailers offering home health care products continues to grow. And for those that have been in the category for a while, the aging of the population and people's desire to take greater control of their...

Missouri DME payments halted.(durable medical equipment medicaid)(Brief Article)
October 10, 2005... JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- In what some say could become a trend that spreads across the country, Missouri's Medicaid program has stopped paying for durable medical equipment. State officials say the decision to stop covering the cost of such...

New aspects emerge in home health care.(Home Health Care products)
October 10, 2005... NEW YORK -- Home health care has come to mean more to retailers than just canes, walkers and bath products. For an increasing number of drug chains the category has been expanded to include a variety of muscle and body supports as well. ...

Chains are destination for boomers.(Home Health Care for Baby boom generation)(Brief Article)
October 10, 2005... ATLANTA -- While the federal government has not updated its data on home and hospice care since 2000, those findings still show the broad scope of the category and point to the potential for retailers participating in it. According to the...

Feds call for durable medical equipment quality standards.(Home Health Care)(Brief Article)
October 10, 2005... WASHINGTON -- As part of the Medicare Modernization Act of 2003, the federal government agreed to develop new rules to ensure that suppliers of durable medical equipment (DME) to Medicare recipients meet certain quality standards. The...

Finding right equation a challenge.(Home Health Care products )(Brief Article)
October 10, 2005... NEW YORK -- Such factors as carrying products recommended by physicians, offering a wide selection of items and paying attention to merchandising all play key roles in making home health care successful for retailers, according to those in the...

'Chains need to pick products that work to grow sales'.(foot care market share analysis)
October 10, 2005... NEW YORK -- While foot care products continue to produce steady sales for chain drug retailers, many believe that the category is underachieving. According to Information Resources Inc. (IRI), sales of foot care products rose 1.8% across...

Relief from fungal infections there for the asking.(Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp foot care products)
October 10, 2005... NEW YORK -- Fungal foot infections cause pain and embarrassment to millions of sufferers, and providing relief for such infections also provides an opportunity for strengthened sales in the category. Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp. has...

Foot care is a category worthy of promotion.(foot care industry market analysis)
October 10, 2005... NEW YORK -- Chain drug retailers are doing their part to boost sales in the foot care category with in-store promotions, an increase in lower-cost store brands on their shelves and increased mention of the category in weekly flyers. CVS...

It's time to make fashion more comfortable.(Foot Care products)
October 10, 2005... NEW YORK -- Vanity, thy name is foot pain. A survey by the American Podiatric Medical Association shows that 60% of female travelers under age 35 admit that they regularly sacrifice comfort for fashion when it comes to selecting footwear....

Diabetes is cause of myriad foot problems.(Diabetic foot prevention health campaign)
October 10, 2005... NEW YORK -- Every 30 seconds a person loses part of a foot or leg through diabetic foot disease, and chain drug retailers are striving to alleviate this distressing reality. According to the International Diabetes Federation, up to 85% of...

Safe ways to treat tough conditions.(Foot Care products market analysis)
October 10, 2005... PRINCETON, N.J. -- A distinctive foot care product that has found success through exclusive availability at Longs Drug Stores is poised for broad distribution. Callex callus ointment from Xenna Corp. is formulated to solve the problem of...

Doctors shouldn't overlook feet.(Foot Care campaings)(Brief Article)
October 10, 2005... NEW YORK -- According to a survey by the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA), 73% of respondents say their primary care physician never inspects their feet. Because feet often show the first signs and symptoms of diabetes,...

Prilosec has enough going for it to jump-start antacids.(antiacids marketing trends)
October 10, 2005... NEW YORK -- The antacids segment continues to bring the only significant growth in the digestives market, driven by the success of Prilosec OTC. Sales of the heavily marketed Procter & Gamble Co. (P&G) product rose 4.7% in drug stores in...

Chains in vanguard in promoting healthy living.(dietary fiber marketing)
October 10, 2005... NEW YORK -- With most Americans eating far less fiber than they need for healthy digestion, community pharmacy operators are doing their part to help the population bulk up on this necessary ingredient. Rite Aid Corp., for example, is...

Antacid tablets.(Illustration)
October 10, 2005... ANTACID TABLETS Dollar Sales Total * $914.3 mil. (+3.1%) Drug stores $454.6 mil. (+4.9%) Unit Sales Total * 141.7 mil. (+0.3%) Drug stores 60.2 mil. (+2.4%) ...

Rx-men could do more to treat common problem.
October 10, 2005... EAST HANOVER, N.J. -- Open discussions about chronic constipation and about irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C) with pharmacists and other health care providers can help patients learn about treatment options, suggests a new...

Fiber finds more favor as laxative ingredient.(dietary fibre market share )
October 10, 2005... NEW YORK -- While sales of liquid, powder and oil stimulant laxatives have been disappointing, innovative products have raised hopes for a resurgence of the category. Sales of the products slid 6.9% in drug stores during the 12 months...

Brand names can still wield a lot of clout.(laxatives market share)
October 10, 2005... NEW YORK -- Sales of laxative tablets in drug stores were flat in the past year, but performances by brand varied sharply. Volume of No. 1 brand Dulcolax from Boehringer Ingelheim Consumer Healthcare rose 2.1% to $29.3 million, giving it a...

Company maintains its competitive edge in Canadian market.(Jean Coutu Group keeps growing)
October 10, 2005... LONGUEUIL, Quebec -- Jean Coutu Group president and chief executive officer Francois Coutu, speaking at the company's recent annual meeting about its smaller but highly profitable Canadian operations, had a consistently upbeat message. In...

Key execs switch jobs at Wal-Mart.(Wal-Mart Stores Inc. promotes Mike Duke, John Menzer, and Eduardo Castro-Wright )
October 24, 2005... BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- In a major realignment of its senior executive ranks, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has promoted both Mike Duke and John Menzer to the position of vice chairman while having them exchange their responsibilities. The move is a...

Rite Aid names Mastrian COO.(Jim Mastrian promoted to chief operating officer, and also Mark Panzer and Mark de Bruin promoted)
October 24, 2005... CAMP HILL, Pa. -- In a series of moves designed to enhance the performance of its drug stores, Rite Aid Corp. has elevated Jim Mastrian to the position of chief operating officer and promoted two other senior executives, both of whom will...

Chains 'help seniors understand'.(CVS Corp. and Walgreen Co. educating benefits of Medicare drugs)
October 24, 2005... NEW YORK -- CVS Corp. and Walgreen Co. have initiated comprehensive counseling programs for seniors seeking to take advantage of the Medicare drug benefit. Both chains are educating beneficiaries about their options with in-store...

SDM sees more growth opportunities in Canada.(Shoppers Drug Mart Ltd.)
October 24, 2005... TORONTO -- Shoppers Drug Mart (SDM) is in no danger any time soon of running out of expansion opportunities in Canada because of real estate restraints. That was the principal message delivered by Glenn Murphy, the company's chairman and chief...

HDMA urges uniformity in regulations.(Healthcare Distribution Management Association, drug distributors' licensure regulation)
October 24, 2005... ARLINGTON, Va. -- The Healthcare Distribution Management Association (HDMA) has called for federal licensure of the nation's prescription drug distributors. It asserts that uniform standards are needed to further secure the pharmaceutical...

Boots' scope expands with merger.(Boots Group PLC to merge with Alliance UniChem PLC)
October 24, 2005... LONDON -- Boots Group PLC has shed its nonprescription drug business and agreed to merge with Alliance UniChem PLC. If shareholders and regulators approve the deal the new entity--to be named Alliance Boots--will operate some 2,600 stores in...

WHS buys specialty pharmacy.(Walgreens Health Services acquires Schraft's A Specialty Pharmacy LLC)(Brief Article)
October 24, 2005... DEERFIELD, Ill. -- The Walgreens Health Services (WHS) unit of Walgreen Co. has agreed to acquire Schraft's A Specialty Pharmacy LLC, a family-owned pharmacy specializing in infertility treatments. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed, but...

MSI appoints Fiacco VP of field services.(Medicine Shoppe International Inc., John Fiacco, vice president )(Brief Article)
October 24, 2005... ST. LOUIS -- Medicine Shoppe International Inc. (MSI) has named John Fiacco vice president of field services. In his new role Fiacco oversees all regional vice presidents, franchise business consultants and the director of regulatory...

Keltsch adopts name of its parent company.(Keltsch Pharmacy changes name to Scott's Pharmacy)(Brief Article)
October 24, 2005... FORT WAYNE, Ind. -- Keltsch Pharmacy has changed its name to Scott's Pharmacy, effective October 9. The chain's 14 pharmacies are all located within Scott's Food & Pharmacy grocery outlets. The new identity is intended to more closely...

Bodine, Kaplan join MinuteClinic board.(Chris Bodine, Beth Kaplan)(Brief Article)
October 24, 2005... MINNEAPOLIS -- MinuteClinic has named Chris Bodine, executive vice president of merchandising and marketing for CVS Corp., and Axcel Partners cofounder and managing partner Beth Kaplan to its board of directors. MinuteClinic supports 40...

DrugMax is expanding its work site Rx business.(DrugMax Inc. opens store in Scotts Co. LLC's premises)(Brief Article)
October 24, 2005... FARMINGTON, Conn. -- DrugMax Inc. is expanding its work site pharmacy business by signing a contract with Scotts Co. LLC to manage a new onsite pharmacy for Scotts' associates, retirees and their families. The pharmacy will be in Scotts'...

Coutu will sell noncore real estate.(Jean Coutu Group Inc. sells strip malls to Delek Belron International Ltd.)(Brief Article)
October 24, 2005... TORONTO -- The Jean Coutu Group will sell some of its real estate in Canadian strip malls to Delek Belron International Ltd. The sale is expected to generate a pretax gain of about $26 million (Canadian). The transaction, which involves 30...

PL offerings are bolstered by Bartell.(Bartell Drugs launches private label product line Premier Value)(Brief Article)
October 24, 2005... SEATTLE -- Bartell Drugs has launched Premier Value, a new private label product line that includes more than 300 items. The line will offer significantly lower prices than national brands with the same quality standards, and includes...

P&G moves ahead with Gillette integration.(Procter & Gamble Co. expects sales growth after acquiring Gillette Co.)(Brief Article)
October 24, 2005... CINCINNATI -- After paying about $57 billion for Gillette Co., Procter & Gamble Co. (P&G) executives say that the supplier will achieve about 5% more in cost savings from purchasing and logistics than was originally thought when the merger was...

Soothing Naturals takes J&J in different direction.(Johnson & Johnson Consumer Products Co. launches baby care products)(Brief Article)
October 24, 2005... NEW YORK -- Johnson & Johnson Consumer Products Co. (J&J) is poised to introduce a line of natural baby care products in January. The Johnson's Soothing Naturals line will include five SKUs--Nourishing Lotion, Intense Moisture Cream,...

Revlon gets ready for the New Year.(planning product innovations)
October 24, 2005... NEW YORK -- Revlon Inc. plans to welcome the New Year with a host of product innovations. In January the company will add a number of diverse items to its popular ColorStay line of beauty products in upscale packaging. Revlon ColorStay...

Easy Grip Pillbox melds style, function.(Health Enterprises Inc. launches medicine box for baby boomers)(Brief Article)
October 24, 2005... NORTH ATTLEBORO, Mass. -- Health Enterprises Inc. is introducing the Easy Grip Pillbox, which is touted as the first medication organizer designed specifically for baby boomers. "Research shows that baby boomers want products that combine...

Chain drug stocks off 3.8% in qtr.(stock performance analysis)
October 24, 2005... NEW YORK -- Chain drug store stocks dropped during the third quarter. However, financial analysts believe that the recent weakness will likely prove a good buying opportunity for investors who want to take a long-term position in the leaders in...

Another record year posted by Walgreens.(sales and earnings)
October 24, 2005... DEERFIELD, Ill. -- While Hurricane Katrina may have blown some holes in its fourth quarter results, Walgreen Co. still managed to generate a double-digit increase in net income for all of fiscal 2005, as the company rolled to its 31st straight...

Albertsons' drug stores: a perfect fit for ...(supermarket chain to sell Osco Drug Div. and Sav-on, valuation and market analysis of the drugstores)
October 24, 2005... Albertsons' intended sale of the Osco and Sav-on drug chains offers some intriguing possibilities. As background, Osco/Savon is a significant player in several major U.S. markets, most importantly the largest cities in California, Arizona...

The Wal-Mart factor in pharmacy looms large.(Wal-Mart Stores' pharmacy business analysis)
October 24, 2005... When the subject of the leaders in retail pharmacy arises, Walgreens and CVS are the companies most often cited. The two drug chains are, indeed, in a class by themselves within their trade channel, pushing the boundaries of what a drug store...

'Kerr performs to its focus, strategy, direction'.(Kerr Drug's management)
October 24, 2005... RALEIGH, N.C. -- Eight years after being formed from a group of stores that J.C. Penney Co. was forced to divest after its acquisition of Eckerd Corp., Kerr Drug has emerged as one of the retail pharmacy industry's strongest regional players....

New Healthcare Center a milestone.(Kerr Drug opens first Community Healthcare Center )
October 24, 2005... RALEIGH, N.C. -- Next week Kerr Drug will embark on what executives at the 104-store chum say is the next phase in chain drug retailing's mission to become true health care providers. The feat that will put Kerr on the road to the future,...

Clinical pharmacists add value to the marketplace.(Kerr Drug's pharmacists offering services to the drug chain's patients)
October 24, 2005... ZEBULON, N.C. -- Ron De-Vizia's dedication to his profession is indicative of what Kerr Drug is trying to do with its pharmacies. A clinical pharmacist, De-Vizia is one of the growing number of Kerr pharmacists who has stepped out from...

Drug benefit means 'hectic' times.(Medicare prescription benefit and Kerr Drug's future analysis)
October 24, 2005... RALEIGH, N.C.--The upcoming Medicare prescription benefit could have a big impact on the future of Kerr Drug, the chain's pharmacy executives say. "We've done all kinds of analyses, but we still don't have any certainty of how the Medicare...

Kerr input welcomed by state, federal regulators.(Kerr Drug provides inputs to government in making federal Medicare prescription benefitd)
October 24, 2005... RALEIGH, N.C. -- With so much of community pharmacy subject to governmental rules and regulations, Kerr Drug has formed close working relationships with both state and federal regulators. On the state level, executives say, the 104-store...