Drug Store News articles from August 2005

Drug Store News archives from August 2005

A crowded market emerges to fill growth prescription.(News)
August 22, 2005... In part 1 of a series covering retail health clinics, Drug Store News analyzes health care providers teaming up with retailers to generate non-traditional added value, grow pharmacy and increase customer counts. NEW YORK -- Dozen eggs....

Autocart: inside the technology powering 1st drive-through supercenter.(and teaming with FKI Logistex)
August 22, 2005... CINCINNATI -- Looking to stick with its goal of opening a drive-through supercenter in 2006--and a smaller version by year's end--AutoCart LLC recently held a meeting with several potential retail tenants to better acquaint them with the...

Care Pharmacies buying group finds cohesion in franchising.(Care Pharmaceutical Services Inc.)
August 22, 2005... WASHINGTON -- What do you get when you cross a drug store franchise operation with a buying group? You might get something that looks like Care Pharmacies, a 52-store pharmacy chain that operates in and around Washington. With its close-knit...

Freddie Mac, CVS team up at home.(Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp., CVS H.C. Inc.)(Brief Article)
August 22, 2005... WASHINGTON -- Purchasing a home is now easier for CVS associates here, thanks to a new employee homeownership program launched in partnership with Freddie Mac. The initiative is the first Freddie Mac Workforce Home Benefit effort to be launched...

PrairieStone expands reach outside Twin Cities.(acquires 16 pharmacies of D and W Food Centers Inc.)
August 22, 2005... MINNEAPOLIS -- PrairieStone Pharmacy is expanding outside the Twin Cities for the first time through a partnership with Grand Rapids, Mich.-based D&W Food Centers under which it will acquire and operate the 16 existing pharmacies within D&W...

Drug Store News plans series of caregiver expos in New York area.(Family Caregiver Expo Event)
August 22, 2005... NEW YORK -- Drug Store News has announced an exclusive series of health care expositions for the family caregiver that will be held in spring 2006 throughout the metropolitan New York area. The Family Caregiver Expo Event Series will take place...

Adding units, Best Buy remains committed to eq life concept.(Best Buy Drugs Inc.)(Brief Article)
August 22, 2005... MINNEAPOLIS -- Best Buy continues to build out its test of the health-meets-technology concept, eq life. The consumer electronics retailer announced plans for a third location in the Twin Cities, in Oak Park Heights/Stillwater, Minn., at Oak...

New product watch: innovation index.(evaluation of new drugs)(Brief Article)
August 22, 2005... Watch for these three items to pop off store shelves. Each month, through an exclusive partnership with Hamacher Resource Group, Drug Store News presents an evaluation of top new product launches, based on an evaluation of innovation, profit...

NACDS proposes Part D savings proposal, de Bruin takes commission post.(National Association of Chain Drug Stores's Mark de Bruin)
August 22, 2005... WASHINGTON -- The Medicaid Advisory Commission met for the first time late last month and again last week to identify $10 billion in reductions in spending growth to be realized over the next five years for the Medicaid program. The commission,...

After record 2Q, CVS 3Q guidance drops.(CVS H.C. Inc.'s earnings)(Brief Article)
August 22, 2005... WOONSOCKET, R.I. -- CVS recently posted record sales and earnings for the second quarter as a below-consensus earnings guidance for the third quarter distracted investors. However, several analysts urged Wall Street not to worry and to stay...

Brooks-Eckerd integrates, trends up profits.(Jean Coutu Group Inc.)(Brief Article)
August 22, 2005... LONGUEUIL, Quebec -- The Jean Coutu Group, parent company of Brooks Pharmacy, completed during the fourth quarter its systems integration of Brooks-Eckerd and is poised to capture the cost savings during the first quarter of 2006, stated...

BMW drives home Rx convenience.(BMW Manufacturing Corp.'s onsite pharmacy )
August 22, 2005... CHADDS FORD, Pa. -- BMW Manufacturing Co. has become one of the latest employers to open an onsite pharmacy for its associates. "The on-site pharmacy will allow BMW to continue to offer competitive pharmacy benefits for our associates and...

Metro to buy A&P Canada.(Brief Article)
August 22, 2005... MONTREAL -- Canadian food retailer Metro has entered an agreement to buy A&P's Canadian subsidiary, A&P Canada, for C$1.7 billion (US$1.39 billion). A&P currently operates 236 locations, of which 75 feature full-serve in-store pharmacies. ...

Winn-Dixie confirms sale of 102 units.(Winn-Dixie Stores Inc.)(Brief Article)
August 22, 2005... JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Winn-Dixie Stores, which filed for bankruptcy protection in February, announced last month that it has reached an agreement to sell 102 stores to 30 purchasers. The stores are part of the 326 locations that the company...

HEB, LifePics ink digital photo deal.(HEB Grocery Co.)(Brief Article)
August 22, 2005... BOULDER, Colo. -- Grocer HEB has selected LifePics to be the provider for its digital imaging services. The retailer will use the LifePics online solution to allow its customers to upload digital photos for next-day printing at any of its...

Farm Fresh testing Pay By Touch.(use of finger scan technology for payment)(Brief Article)
August 22, 2005... CHESAPEAKE, Va. -- Farm Fresh has become one of the latest grocers to dabble in finger scan technology by teaming up with provider Pay By Touch. Farm Fresh announced last month that it now is testing the payment technology in four Virginia...

Kroger, CMS team up on Part D effort.(Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services)(Brief Article)
August 22, 2005... CINCINNATI -- The Kroger Co., which operates 1,900-plus pharmacies, is partnering with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to help enroll some of the more than 8 million lower-income people who are eligible for the new Medicare...

New Wal-Mart supercenter has eco-nomic growth potential.
August 22, 2005... MCKINNEY, Texas -- If the 120-foot wind turbine in the parking lot of Wal-Mart's newest supercenter here isn't enough of a clue, a sign above the entrance that reads, "The McKinney Experiment," lets visitors know this is no ordinary...

Shelf key amid changing cough-cold landscape.
August 22, 2005... MADISON, N.J. -- With Walgreens pulling every last drop and tablet containing the popular decongestant pseudo-ephedrine behind its pharmacy counters and various states seeking to ban the OTC status of the ingredient altogether, at least one...

Oregon bill may require scripts for cough-cold.(prescriptions for drugs)
August 22, 2005... WASHINGTON -- At press time, a bill was still waiting for the signature of Gov. Ted Kulongoski, D-Ore. And though some may have some Oregon law makers of practicing medicine, the legislation does not run contrary to the regulatory...

On to plan C as govs veto emergency contraception OTC.(George Pataki, Mitt Romney)
August 22, 2005... NEW YORK -- In the past month, two governors vetoed legislation that would have made the emergency contraceptive Plan B available without-a doctor's prescription. This, even as two senators declared victory in their fight to increase access to...

Walgreens road trip.(the free treatment)(Brief Article)
August 22, 2005... DETROIT -- Taking its health care message on the road, Walgreen Co. brought its Walgreens Wellness Tour to the Detroit Public Library's "Be Well Informed @ Your Library" health fair July 12. The chain has embarked on a 12-month, 45-city...

Fruth founder dies at 77.(Jack E. Fruth, founder of Fruth Pharmacy)(Obituary)
August 22, 2005... HUNTINGTON, W.Va. -- Jack E. Fruth, founder of Fruth Pharmacy, an avid fisherman and loving family man, died July 19 at St. Mary's Medical Center here after a short illness. He was 77. After receiving a degree in pharmacy from The Ohio...

Rite Aid.(Mary Sammons ranked No. 27 on Forbes magazine)(Brief Article)
August 22, 2005... NEW YORK -- In the Aug. 15 issue of Forbes, Mary Sammons, president and chief executive officer of Rite Aid, ranked No. 27 on Forbes" list of "The 100 Most Powerful Women." The magazine stated that rankings are based on a composite of...

Wal-Mart Stores.(Doug McMillon to replace B. Kevin Turner)(Brief Article)
August 22, 2005... BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores revealed earlier this month that it has promoted 14-year veteran Doug McMillon to replace B. Kevin Turner as president and chief executive officer of Sam's Club, effective immediately. McMillon will report...

Colgate-Palmolive Co.(William Shanahan will retire, Ian Cook to take charge)(Brief Article)
August 22, 2005... NEW YORK -- Colgate-Palmolive Co. announced last month that longtime president William Shanahan will retire Sept. 30. Ian Cook, current chief operating officer, will become president and chief operating officer upon Shanahan's retirement.

Food and Drug Administration.(appoints Scott Gottlieb, Janet Woodcock, Murray Lumpkin and Patrick Ronan)(Brief Article)
August 22, 2005... WASHINGTON -- The Food and Drug Administration has announced that Scott Gottlieb, a former FDA and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services senior official, is returning as FDA's new deputy commissioner for Medical and Scientific Affairs. ...

Food Lion.(Paul LaCroix succeeds Geoff Waldau and Derrick Penick succeeds Cathy Green)(Brief Article)
August 22, 2005... SALISBURY, N.C. -- Food Lion recently announced a string of executive moves, including the promotion of Paul LaCroix to vice president of dry category management. He succeeds Geoff Waldau, who is now Food Lion vice president of merchandising...

Pharmaca Integrative Pharmacy.(Ron Sims and Mary Adams appointed)(Brief Article)
August 22, 2005... BOULDER, Colo. -- Pharmaca Integrative Pharmacy has hired Ron Sims, former president and chief operating officer of Marsh Drugs, as vice president of pharmacy operations and Mary Adams, former vice president and director of marketing for Dean...

Information Resources Inc.(Thomas Blischok appointed)(Brief Article)
August 22, 2005... CHICAGO -- Information Resources Inc. has named Thomas Blischok president of retail solutions, strategic consulting and integrated solutions. Previously, Blischok served as chairman and chief executive officer of consulting group MindMeld....

DrugMax.(William LaGamba resigned, James Beaumariage to take charge)(Brief Article)
August 22, 2005... FARMINGTON, Conn. -- DrugMax, which merged with Familymeds in November, recently announced the resignation of William LaGamba, president and chief operating officer. James Beaumariage, Familymeds senior vice president of operations, will...

Teens gotta have it ... now!(Gillette Co.'s Venus Vibrance, Coca-Cola Co.'s Coke Zero, Wrigley Company Ltd.'s Extra Cool Green Apple gum)
August 22, 2005... Through an exclusive partnership with Teen People magazine, once per month Drug Store News features a special department, Teen People's Trendspotter Hot Picks, which is designed to give retailers a better sense of what moves today's teen...

McKesson show a looking glass into pharmacy's biggest challenges.(focus of annual customer gathering)
August 22, 2005... WASHINGTON -- More than 3,000 independent pharmacy owners, suppliers and other pharmacy advocates brought a laundry list of concerns about the future of community pharmacy to McKesson Corp.'s annual customer gathering last month. And chief...

McKesson hails bus tour at annual event.(campaign focus on expanding role of community pharmacy and health care services )(Brief Article)
August 22, 2005... WASHINGTON -- McKesson Corp. wound up its two-month, 23-city Health Across America bus tour with a flourish this month, arriving at the giant wholesaler's annual pharmacy conference and trade show flush with signed petitions in support of...

Cardinal Health primes indies for business end of Part D rollout.
August 22, 2005... CHICAGO -- Solidifying its role as a dedicated business partner, Cardinal Health used last month's Retail Business Conference to prepare its independent pharmacy customers to operate successfully under the new Medicare Part D benefit beginning...

Pharmacists stage record turnout to mull issues at ABC convention.(AmerisourceBergen's 2005 National Healthcare Conference & Exposition)
August 22, 2005... GAS VEGAS -- More than 7,000 pharmacists and other health care professionals joined forces here, last month at AmerisourceBergen's 2005 National Healthcare Conference & Exposition. And through days of speeches, health policy forums and...

Aura of optimism surrounds retail pharmacy.
August 22, 2005... As retailers gear up for the rollout of the new Medicare Drug Benefit on Oct. 1, other key industry trends also are impacting retail pharmacy. Yet these numerous challenges have not affected growth of the Top 30 Retail Pharmacy Chains (see page...

Pharmacy, pols need plan C to avoid alienating women.
August 22, 2005... This is another one of those magical times when the worlds of retail pharmacy and national politics collide violently with serious consequences for both sides. Because when it comes to questions like whether pharmacists should have the...

Beset by challenges, pharmacy faces better times.
August 22, 2005... With the federal government set to pay for prescription drug benefits and Medication Therapy Management services, the aging population promising a boon in pharmaceutical demand, the growth of consumer-directed health care and technology lifting...

Top 30 retail pharmacy chains.
August 22, 2005... Top 30 retail pharmacy chains 2004 Rx Company Headquarters sales * % change 1 Walgreens Deerfield, Ill. $23,700 17.6% ...

Onslaught of industry issues besieges brands.(pharmaceutical industry)
August 22, 2005... Despite the fact that prescription drug sales continue to grow in the high single digits, the pharmaceutical industry appears to be under siege on at least three fronts: pricing, safety and generic competition. According to IMS Health data...

Part D wave will ripple over diabetes care market.
August 22, 2005... While diabetes is but one disease, its treatment represents multiple business opportunities for the drug store channel. Beginning in January, the new Medicare Part D benefit will open the door for reimbursement for medication therapy...

Statins ride Rx high, as OTC switch flame sputters.(over-the-counter )
August 22, 2005... While statins generate the greatest amount of pharmaceutical revenue industrywide--$15.8 billion for the 12 months ended in March, according to IMS Health--and are the fourth-most prescribed class of prescription drugs--141.9 million...

Sales plummet as cox-2 miasma vexes consumers.(anti-inflammatory agents)
August 22, 2005... According to IMS Health, sales of cox-2 inhibitors have plummeted 65 percent for the first five months of 2005, representing $1.5 billion in lost sales of Bextra, Celebrex and Vioxx. Of those three drugs, only Celebrex remains on the market....

Suicidality is major downer for antidepressant market.
August 22, 2005... The Food and Drug Administration in late July issued a Public Health Advisory warning patients and health care providers that the agency currently is looking into a possible link between suicidality--thoughts of suicide--and the use of...

New insomnia option may put addiction concerns to bed.
August 22, 2005... A new dawn is on the horizon for marketers of insomnia treatments with the Food and Drug Administration's approval of Sepracor's Lunesta--shipments of which began in April--as the 19 million people estimated to suffer from chronic insomnia in...

Availability fluctuates, but flu vaccine makers press on.
August 22, 2005... Feelings are mixed on whether this year's flu vaccination story will turn out to be a parody of the boy who cried wolf. According to some, last year's flu vaccine shortage-turned-surplus, coupled with the relatively late-breaking and weak...

The final countdown: Medicare Part D launch looms.
August 22, 2005... The clock is ticking on Medicare prescription drug benefits. And chain and independent pharmacy groups are scrambling to be ready. The massive Medicare Part D drug benefit program was unleashed by sweeping changes in the Medicare...

Still a runaway threat, mail order may be losing steam.(consumers prefer cheaper way to get drugs)
August 22, 2005... Over the past decade, mail order's dollar share of the U.S. retail prescription market has gone from less than 10 percent to nearly 19 percent, and this year should hit or exceed 20 percent. Mail order pharmaceutical sales last year leaped 17.9...

Slow train coming: e-prescribing roadblocks still stand.(THE ISSUES)
August 22, 2005... The electronic-prescribing train is a local, not an express. And it's going to have to stop at every station along the health care continuum before it arrives at its final destination. The physician community has yet to embrace the concept...

Counterfeiting has states looking down paper trail.(THE ISSUES)
August 22, 2005... Will Florida's tough drug pedigree requirements become the U.S. norm? Pharmacy retailers are hoping not, but they may be fighting a losing battle. Fueled by growing fears over the safety and efficacy of the nation's drug supply and by a...

Medicare--not Canada--will stall import business.(THE ISSUES)
August 22, 2005... Although Canada seems bent on thwarting any U.S. congressional effort to import Canadian pharmaceuticals on a wholesale basis, the country has left its Internet pharmacies intact, suggesting that personal importation of medicines from Canada...

Medicaid funding cuts add to pharmacy's woes.(THE ISSUES)
August 22, 2005... A crisis in funding for state Medicaid programs has washed through the chain and independent drug store industries this year like a tidal surge, further eroding the already weakened financial pillars that keep community pharmacy above water....

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries.(approval for Fexofenadine HC1, Tramadol, Acetaminophen and Mirtazapine)(Brief Article)
August 22, 2005... The Food and Drug Administration granted Teva Pharmaceutical Industries tentative approval for its abbreviated new drug application for fexofenadine HC1 tablets in 30 mg, 60 mg and 180 mg dosages. The AB-rated, bioequivalent version of Aventis'...

Barr Laboratories.(approval for the generic versions of Allegra and DDAVP)(Brief Article)
August 22, 2005... Barr Laboratories received final FDA approval for its fexofenadine HC1 capsules in 60 mg strength, the generic version of Aventis Pharmaceuticals' Allegra, indicated for the relief of symptoms associated with seasonal allergic rhinitis and for...

Generic substitution spells big money for retail pharmacy.(GENERIC RX)
August 22, 2005... If there is any question among lawmakers, policy advisors or payers of the impact generic substitution can have on drug costs, they should draw their attention to recent financials from the retail drug sector. As much as a shortage of big...

Deal-changing, fee-for-service revolution on track.(WHOLESALER)
August 22, 2005... The revolution in drug wholesaling marches on. The power players in drug wholesaling--McKesson Corp., Cardinal Health and AmerisourceBergen--appear to have passed the midpoint of a sweeping, fundamental shift in the way they do business. The...

In leap of faith, chains add patient care services.(drugstores providing health care services to survive the competition)
August 22, 2005... Facing little choice but to adapt or fall behind, a growing number of premier pharmacy chains and independents are racing in pursuit of an uncertain future as patient care and health education centers. With no guarantee of payment from...

Industry still not gung-ho about adopting RFID.(survey on radio frequency identification equipment use in drugstores)
August 22, 2005... Using radio frequency identification to track products from the cradle to the grave still could be years away from reaching mainstream status in the drug store channel. The view from 10,000 feet shows that the next 18 months or so will be about...

Rx technology: a search for integration.
August 22, 2005... For pharmacy chains, the pursuit of time-saving technology is all about integration. Chains want more of it. Drug chains--and even many independent pharmacies--have been on an expensive quest for the most advanced robotic dispensing and...

Indies weather PBMs and mail, but face new storms.(pharmacy benefit managers)
August 22, 2005... Independently owned pharmacies have weathered a lot in the past decade, and those that have survived are among the most resilient and customer-focused innovators in all of retailing. But the same forces that are roiling chain pharmacy are...

Biotech prominence has drug reinventing its playbook.
August 22, 2005... Biotech drugs present a whole new ball game for the drug store channel, forcing retailers vying for a piece of the action to compete in the complex specialty pharmacy arena with its unique set of challenges surrounding distribution, storage and...

Natrol.(Brief Article)
August 22, 2005... Natrol introduced its latest line of supplements earlier this month called brainSpeed. Retailing for a suggested price of $39.99 for a one-month supply, brainSpeed is available in three SKUs: Attention, Memory and Perform. Although Natrol...

Atkins Nutritionals.(Brief Article)
August 22, 2005... Low-carb diet pioneer Atkins Nutritionals filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection earlier this month. In the past year, we have adjusted our organization to accommodate a smaller business," stated president and chief executive officer Mark...

Kobayashi Healthcare.(Brief Article)
August 22, 2005... Kobayashi Healthcare recently extended its BeKoool cooling gel pads to address the needs of menopausal women experiencing hot flashes. Each BeKoool Hot Flash pad lasts for up to five hours. BeKoool Hot Flash retails for a suggested retail...

Adams Respiratory.(Brief Article)
August 22, 2005... Adams Respiratory made its initial public offering last month, opening at a price of $17 per share. The IPO is expected to generate approximately $87.7 million, which will be used to continue to build the Mucinex brand, to fund product...

Sens. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, and Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, last month introduced legislation.(Brief Article)
August 22, 2005... Sens. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, and Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, last month introduced legislation that would enable consumers on a food stamp program to use those subsidies in the purchase of dietary supplements.

OTC Medicine Tax Fairness Act.(over the counter )(Brief Article)
August 22, 2005... The OTC Medicine Tax Fairness Act was introduced last month to include OTC medicines as deductible, itemized medical expenses. "It is high time that these beneficial medicines are recognized in the tax code as deductible expenses again in the...

Food and Drug Administration.(Brief Article)
August 22, 2005... The Food and Drug Administration appealed a Utah court ruling against the agency's ban of ephedra in June.

Kline & Co.(Brief Article)
August 22, 2005... Over-the-counter store brands continue to grow, thanks to a greater allotment of shelf space, a study published by Kline & Co. found. OTC private label brands accounted for a 20 percent share of the total market in 2003* Private label products...

Clarification.(Correction Notice)
August 22, 2005... From a new-store opening, West Coast-based Pharmaca drives its total store labor into the mid-teens as a percentage of store sales after 18 months, not as a percentage of overhead.

Headache (medicine) acquisition may just be shot in the arm.(Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. acquired by Novartis AG)
August 22, 2005... One company's earnings drag can be another company's boost, and that seems to be the case behind Novartis' acquisition of the Bristol-Myers Squibb over-the-counter portfolio. The jewel in the crown is certainly Excedrin. And although sales...

Fiber with flavor.(fiber supplements make good business for drugstores)(Brief Article)
August 22, 2005... There was a time when shopping the digestives aisle for a fiber supplement was considered a right of passage into old age. And with the majority of baby boomers hitting their 50s and headed straight for their 60s, that's not necessarily a bad...

Disney Consumer Products and boom! LLC have teamed up to create a fragrance for young female fans of Disney's TV series "That's So Raven.".(Walt Disney Co. Consumer Products)(Brief Article)
August 22, 2005... Disney Consumer Products and boom! LLC have teamed up to create a fragrance for young female fans of Disney's TV series "That's So Raven." The fragrance line, geared toward girls ages 6 to 14, will include cologne sprays and a fragrance shimmer...

Revlon.(Brief Article)
August 22, 2005... Revlon recently announced that it narrowed its second quarter loss to $36 million from $39 million as North American sales slipped 4 percent to $198.3 million owing in part to lower licensing revenues. However, the company expects sales to...

Tupperware Corp.(Sara Lee Corp. acquired)(Brief Article)
August 22, 2005... Tupperware Corp., best known for its plastic storage containers, is bolstering its beauty and personal care business by acquiring Sara Lee's direct selling business for $557 million in cash. The deal is expected to close in the fourth quarter....

Kimberly-Clark.(Brief Article)
August 22, 2005... Looking to help moms, Kimberly-Clark has created new Kleenex Moist Cloth, which serves as an alternative to a washcloth or wet paper towel. The alcohol-free washcloths feature Kimberly-Clark's proprietary Hydroknit technology, which creates a...

Unilever.(Univision Network L.P., Giselle Blondet)(Brief Article)
August 22, 2005... Unilever's Dove Body Wash is reaching out to Latinas through a new partnership with Univision Networks and Latina celebrity Giselle Blondet. Under the agreement, Blondet is starring in a series of vignettes that are airing across the local and...

Anti-age technology blurring lines between professional, mass products.
August 22, 2005... The skin care market continues to flourish. Consumers' desire for innovative specialty active ingredients--especially in anti-age--that provide a demonstrable therapeutic benefit to the skin shows little signs of fading. Looking to benefit...

Getting personal with a younger crowd.(personal care products )(Brief Article)
August 22, 2005... Personal care products geared toward younger consumers continue to represent a lucrative opportunity for manufacturers and retailers as evidenced by the influx of recent and upcoming launches. Among the newest to the mass market scene is...

Kao Corp.(Brief Article)
August 22, 2005... Kao Corp., whose brands include Jergens, Biore, Curel and John Frieda, has agreed to buy from Bridgepoint Capital the luxury cosmetics and personal care company Molton Brown for 170 million pounds (U.S. $299 million). U.K.-based Molton Brown is...

HeadBlade Co.(Museum of Modern Art accepts headBlade classic razor)(Brief Article)
August 22, 2005... The HeadBlade Co. has announced that its HeadBlade Classic razor has been accepted into the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. The HeadBlade joins the Architecture and Design collection. In 2004, the HeadBlade also was included in MoMA's...

Procter & Gamble.(Brief Article)
August 22, 2005... Procter & Gamble has announced that Heiner Gurtler, group president of global prestige and professional care and chief executive officer of its Wella business, is stepping down Oct. 1. Gurtler will continue as group president on special...

Boots to boost U.S. presence.(Brief Article)
August 22, 2005... As speculated earlier this year by Drug Store News, the United Kingdom's leading health and beauty retailer Boots the Chemist is expanding its presence in the U.S. market. Boots stated that as of June it has a presence in 108 Target...