Drug Store News articles from December 2004

Drug Store News archives from December 2004

PORTLAND, Maine--the state of Maine has approved the planned sale of five Community Pharmacies stores to Rite Aid, but limited to five years the scope of a non-compete clause in the sale agreement.(NEWSBITES)
December 15, 2004... PORTLAND, Maine -- The state of Maine has approved the planned sale of five Community Pharmacies stores to Rite Aid, but limited to five years the scope of a non-compete clause in the sale agreement. Rite Aid will be acquiring Community...

Longueuil, Quebec--the Jean Coutu Group last week announced the appointment of Marcel Raymond as vice president of control and treasury for the company..(NEWSBITES)
December 15, 2004... LONGUEUIL, Quebec -- The Jean Coutu Group last week announced the appointment of Marcel Raymond as vice president of control and treasury for the company. Raymond has extensive experience in business development, financial planning and...

Portland, Ore.--Brooks-Eckerd has entered into a long-term agreement with TRM Corp. to operate TRM Convenience Copy Centers in 1,549 locations, including locations that Jean Coutu acquired after purchasing more than 1,300 Eckerd stores.(NEWSBITES)
December 15, 2004... PORTLAND, Ore. -- Brooks-Eckerd has entered into a long-term agreement with TRM Corp. to operate TRM Convenience Copy Centers in 1,549 locations, including locations that Jean Coutu acquired after purchasing more than 1,300 Eckerd stores. The...

Woonsocket, R.I--CVS is considering acquiring the naming rights to the FleetCenter sports arena in Boston.(Brief article)
December 15, 2004... WOONSOCKET, R.I -- CVS is considering acquiring the naming rights to the FleetCenter sports arena in Boston. A CVS spokesperson confirmed that the company is interested in a deal with arena owner Delaware North Cos., but declined to give...

Bush nominates Michael Leavitt to head HHS.(United States. Department of Health and Human Services's head appointed by George W. Bush)(Brief article)
December 15, 2004... WASHINGTON -- President George W. Bush on Monday chose Environmental Protection Agency chief Michael Leavitt to fill the vacant post of secretary of Health and Human Services. Leavitt will replace outgoing HHS secretary Tommy Thompson,...

Canadian health minister opposes Rx exports to United States.(Brief article)
December 15, 2004... OTTAWA -- Canadian Federal Health Minister Ujjal Dosanjh is urging doctors and pharmacists in Canada to stop selling prescription drugs to Americans, calling the practice "unethical." Currently, five U.S. state governments encourage...

Safety of drug importation report misses mandated deadline.(Fluarix drug approval)(Brief article)
December 15, 2004... WASHINGTON -- The Bush administration missed a key deadline last week for submitting a report to Congress on the safety of importing prescription drugs. The missed deadline came just one day after the Food and Drug Administration...

Bristol-Myers Squibb applies for OTC Pravachol 20 mg.(durg approval)(Brief article)
December 15, 2004... PRINCETON, N.J. -- Bristol-Myers Squibb on Friday officially joined the self-care-market statin race with its announcement that it intends to pursue Food and Drug Administration approval for an OTC version of Pravachol (pravastatin sodium) 20...

Winn-Dixie names Peter Lynch president, chief executive.(Winn-Dixie Stores Inc. new chief executive officer)(Brief article)
December 15, 2004... JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Winn-Dixie Stores on Friday announced that it has appointed Peter Lynch president and chief executive officer of the company, effective immediately. Lynch also will become a member of the board of directors. Lynch is...

Mentholatum acquires Oxy from GlaxoSmithKline.
December 15, 2004... ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- The Mentholatum Co., a maker of nonprescription drugs and health care products, has acquired from GlaxoSmithKline the Oxy brand of acne skin care products. Terms of the deal were not disclosed as of press time. ...

Toyota opens own pharmacies in bid to lessen healtcare costs.(Toyota Motor Corp.'s new pharmacy for employees)(Brief article)
December 15, 2004... GEORGETOWN, Ky. -- Two years ago, Toyota Motor Manufacturing opened its own on-site pharmacy for employees here. Starting in 2005, the company is expanding its pharmacy program to its U.S headquarters in Erlanger, Ky., as well as other...

Eckerd integration on schedule, Ryan tells Boston Globe.(words with Tom Ryan )(Interview)
December 15, 2004... BOSTON -- Despite managing the impact of four hurricanes in the wake of the deal, the Eckerd integration is still on schedule, CVS Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Tom Ryan said in an interview that appeared in Sunday's Boston...

Discount drug card enrollment lower than anticipated.(Brief article)
December 15, 2004... NEW YORK -- When the Medicare prescription drug discount card was rolled out just over a year ago, it was estimated that nearly 40 million Americans would be eligible for the program. According to the Associated Press, only about 6 million of...

New York--Standard & Poor's lowered its corporate credit rating on Duane Reade to 'B-' from 'B.'.(FINANCIALS)
December 15, 2004... NEW YORK -- Standard & Poor's lowered its corporate credit rating on Duane Reade to 'B-' from 'B.' According to S&P, Duane Reade's operating margin is expected to decline to about 7.5 percent in 2004 from 11.9 percent in 2000. The margin...

Dublin, Ohio--Cardinal Health announced on Monday that it plans to cut 4,200 jobs and close 25 offices as part of a three-year restructuring plan.(FINANCIALS)
December 15, 2004... DUBLIN, Ohio -- Cardinal Health announced on Monday that it plans to cut 4,200 jobs and close 25 offices as part of a three-year restructuring plan. The layoffs and closings are part of a previously announced restructuring plan designed to...

New York--Bristol-Myers Squibb announced on Tuesday that it has signed a definitive agreement to sell its Oncology Therapeutics Network unit to One Equity Partners.(FINANCIALS)
December 15, 2004... NEW YORK -- Bristol-Myers Squibb announced on Tuesday that it has signed a definitive agreement to sell its Oncology Therapeutics Network unit to One Equity Partners. It is expected that the transaction will be completed during the first...

New York--Carl Icahn has filed suit against Mylan Laboratories and asset manager Richard Perry, accusing Perry of participating in a vote-buying scheme to aid Mylan's takeover of King Pharmaceuticals.(FINANCIALS)
December 15, 2004... NEW YORK -- Carl Icahn has filed suit against Mylan Laboratories and asset manager Richard Perry, accusing Perry of participating in a vote-buying scheme to aid Mylan's takeover of King Pharmaceuticals. The suit alleges that Mylan, Chief...

Bentonville, Ark.--Wal-Mart Stores on Monday announced that Tom Coughlin will retire as vice chairman after 25 years with the company.(Brief article)
December 8, 2004... BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores on Monday announced that Tom Coughlin will retire as vice chairman after 25 years with the company. The company stated that Coughlin will retire effective Jan. 24 but will serve out his term on the...

Alexandria, Va.--the National Association of Chain Drug Stores awarded Gerald "Jerry" Heller, former president and chief executive officer of May's Drug Stores, with the Century Award at its annual December Board Meeting.(Brief article)
December 8, 2004... ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- The National Association of Chain Drug Stores awarded Gerald "Jerry" Heller, former president and chief executive officer of May's Drug Stores, with the Century Award at its annual December Board Meeting. NACDS President...

Washington--Tommy Thompson on Friday announced his resignation as secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services.(Brief article)
December 8, 2004... WASHINGTON -- Tommy Thompson on Friday announced his resignation as secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. "I do not tender my resignation easily. While these years have been challenging, they have been greatly rewarding....

Pleasanton, Calif.--safeway announced the appointment of Raymond G. Viault to the company's board of directors.(NEWSBITES)
December 8, 2004... PLEASANTON, Calif. -- Safeway announced the appointment of Raymond G. Viault to the company's board of directors. Viault, retired vice chairman of General Mills, will replace Hector Ley Lopez, who is retiring from the board on Dec. 15.

Walgreens drops Ohio prescription plan over mandatory mail.
December 8, 2004... DEERFIELD, Ill. - Beginning in January, Walgreen Co. said it would stop accepting prescriptions for members of the state of Ohio employee prescription drug plan after failing to reach agreement on the issue of mandatory mail order service for...

Fuller asks Congress to ease Medicaid burden.(Medicaid program)(Brief article)
December 8, 2004... WASHINGTON -- Hoping to head off cuts in the Medicaid program that could hurt community pharmacy, National Association of Chain Drug Stores President and Chief Executive Officer Craig Fuller told a Congressional panel here that pharmacy...

Rite Aid warns on 2005 guidance, posts 3Q losses.
December 8, 2004... CAMP HILL, Pa. -- Rite Aid on Tuesday stated that if current sales trends continue, guidance for sales, same-stores sales, net income and adjusted EBITDA for fiscal 2005 will fall below the low end of company guidance given on Sept. 23. ...

NACDS Foundation dinner raises more than $1.8 million.(National Association of Chain Drug Stores)(Brief article)
December 8, 2004... NEW YORK -- In a strong statement of support, more than 500 members attended Tuesday night's National Association of Chain Drug Stores Foundation's annual dinner, raising more than $1.8 million. NACDS president and chief executive officer...

Walgreens announces company promotions.(appointments in Walgreen Co)(Brief article)
December 8, 2004... DEERFIELD, Ill. -- The Walgreen Co. recently announced a series of internal company promotions. Steven Lubin has been promoted to general manager of marketing for Puerto Rico. Lubin joined the company in 1970 as a service clerk and most...

Albertsons moves HBC office, reports gains in third quarter.
December 8, 2004... BOISE, Idaho -- Albertsons announced recently that it will move its corporate general merchandise, health and beauty care businesses from Scottsdale, Ariz., to Boise, Idaho. This will not affect the company's Drugstore Division or Corporate...

Canadian parliament considers suspending Rx sales to U.S.(restriction for elimination of cross-border drug sales)(Brief article)
December 8, 2004... VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- A bill introduced last week before Canada's Parliament, passed, could mean the end of prescription drug sales across the border to American consumers. Canadian Bill C-282 proposes the restriction and/or...

Study shows increased usage, costs of prescription drugs.(Brief article)
December 8, 2004... WASHINGTON -- A study released by the National Center for Health Statistics shows that between 1988 to 1994 and 1999 to 2000, the percent of Americans of all ages who reported using at least one prescription drug during the past month...

Deerfield, Ill.--the Walgreen Co. announced that the company had November sales of $3.4 billion, an increase of 15.2 percent from $2.9 billion for the same month in 2003.(FINANCIALS)
December 8, 2004... DEERFIELD, Ill. -- The Walgreen Co. announced that the company had November sales of $3.4 billion, an increase of 15.2 percent from $2.9 billion for the same month in 2003. Comp-store sales rose 11.4 percent. November pharmacy sales increased...

Walnut Creek, Calif.--Longs Drug Stores reported November total sales of $348.7 million, a 1.4 percent decrease from sales of $353.8 million in the comparable period a year ago.(FINANCIALS)
December 8, 2004... WALNUT CREEK, Calif. -- Longs Drug Stores reported November total sales of $348.7 million, a 1.4 percent decrease from sales of 353.8 million in the comparable period a year ago. Pharmacy sales were 48.1 percent of total drug store sales,...

Woonsocket, R.I.--CVS announced that total sales for November increased 27 percent to $2.6 billion, compared to $2.07 billion in the year-ago period.(FINANCIALS)
December 8, 2004... WOONSOCKET, R.I. -- CVS announced that total sales for November increased 27 percent to $2.6 billion, compared to $2.07 billion in the year-ago period. Comparable-store sales increased 3.1 percent over the prior year period for the four weeks...

Battle Creek, Mich.--The Kellogg Co. announced that its chairman of the board and chief executive officer, Carlos Gutierrez, will step down from his position with the company.(NEWSBITES)
December 1, 2004... BATTLE CREEK, Mich. -- The Kellogg Co. announced that its chairman of the board and chief executive officer, Carlos Gutierrez, will step down from his position with the company after accepting an invitation from President Bush to serve as the...

Dallas--Blockbuster announced 16 new retailers, including Rite Aid, will sell its gift cards in a combined 16,000 retail stores by year's end.(NEWSBITES)
December 1, 2004... DALLAS -- Blockbuster announced 16 new retailers, including Rite Aid, will sell its gift cards in a combined 16,000 retail stores by year's end. Other retailers, such as Ahold USA and CVS, have expanded their Blockbuster gift card programs,...

Boulder, Colo.--Pharmaca Integrative Pharmacy today opened a new store in the former Bay Pharmacy location on West Sunset Blvd. in Pacific Palisades, Calif.(NEWSBITES)
December 1, 2004... BOULDER, Colo. -- Pharmaca Integrative Pharmacy today opened a new store in the former Bay Pharmacy location on West Sunset Blvd. in Pacific Palisades, Calif. The new store marks the 10th unit in the United States for the chain.

Dallas--Kimberly-Clark Corp., the maker of Huggies and Pull-Ups, announced that it is launching a complete line of Huggies bath and body products.(NEWSBITES)
December 1, 2004... DALLAS -- Kimberly-Clark Corp., the maker of Huggies and Pull-Ups, announced that it is launching a complete line of Huggies bath and body products. The collection features more than 20 new toiletry items, including Huggies Shampoo and...

Woonsocket, R.I.--CVS recently launched a charitable campaign to benefit St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.(NEWSBITES)
December 1, 2004... WOONSOCKET, R.I. -- CVS recently launched a charitable campaign to benefit St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, during during which the company will offer its customers the opportunity to make a donation of $1 while shopping at CVS, which...

Drug Store News hosts sixth annual Industry Issues Summit.(chain drug industry )(Brief article)
December 1, 2004... NEW YORK -- Senior executives from many of the leading suppliers and top drug retailers of the chain drug industry convened at the Warwick Hotel here yesterday for two panel discussions tackling some of the premiere issues facing chain drug...

Rite Aid bows first of new prototype stores in Kentucky.(Brief article)
December 1, 2004... SELLERSBURG, Ind. -- Rite Aid opened the doors to its first prototype Monday on a hilltop overlooking the intersections of routes 311 and 60 in this rural suburb of Louisville, Ky., 12 miles north of Sellersburg. Chain executives held a...

Brooks opts to close Eckerd DC, breaks ground at new HQ.(Jean Coutu Group plans to shutter an Eckerd distribution center)(Brief article)
December 1, 2004... WARWICK, R.I. -- Canada's Jean Coutu Group, which operates the Brooks Pharmacy chain of drug stores in the United States, plans to shutter an Eckerd distribution center in the Pittsburgh area, a move that will result in the layoff of 150...

Black Friday results positive, but lower than expected.
December 1, 2004... NEW YORK -- According to the National Retail Federation, 133 million shoppers ventured out to stores this holiday weekend in search of sale mark-downs and low prices. An NRF survey conducted by BIGresearch found that the average shopper spent...

Public awareness, approval high for federal agencies.
December 1, 2004... WASHINGTON -- When asked about 11 different government agencies, a majority of the public claims to understand what they do. They also give all 11 agencies a positive rating. The Centers for Disease Control tops the list receiving the...

CVS extends merchandising deal with U.K.-based King of Shaves.(CVS Corp contracts with King of Shaves)(Brief article)
December 1, 2004... WOONSOCKET, R.I. -- CVS is strengthening its foothold in the growing men's grooming market by expanding its two-year exclusive deal with U.K.-based King of Shaves, Will King, the founder of King of Shaves, told Drug Store News yesterday. ...

New campaign to highlight importance of caregiver role.(Brief article)
December 1, 2004... WASHINGTON -- The National Family Caregivers Association and the National Alliance for Caregiving announced the launch of a public education campaign in partnership with Eisai Inc. to advise the escalating population of family caregivers of...

Wal-Mart lowers Nov. forecast, reformulates holiday strategy.
December 1, 2004... BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- After a disappointing Black Friday weekend prompted cutting its November comps forecast on Saturday (from 2 percent to 4 percent increase) to a 0.7 percent increase, Wal-Mart has announced that it will make adjustments to...

Ex-Walgreens CEO donates $10 million to Drake University.(Chief Executive Officer)(donations )(Brief article)
December 1, 2004... DES MOINES, Iowa -- Drake University President David Maxwell announced recently that the university has received a $10 million gift from retired Walgreen Co. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Dan Jorndt and his wife, Patricia McDonnell...

Zaandam, Netherlands--Royal Ahold announced third quarter net sales of Euro 12 billion, or $15.9 billion, a decrease of 8.3 percent compared to the same period in 2003.(financial report of Royal Ahold )(Financial report)(Brief article)
December 1, 2004... ZAANDAM, Netherlands -- Royal Ahold announced third quarter net sales of Euro 12 billion, or $15.9 billion, a decrease of 8.3 percent compared to the same period in 2003. The company reported an operating loss of Euro 37 million, or $42.2...

Lincoln, R.I.--PharmaCare, a subsidiary of CVS, has received positive reviews on cost savings from customers who use its my-PharmaCare card.(PharmaiCare)(Brief article)
December 1, 2004... LINCOLN, R.I. -- PharmaiCare, a subsidiary of CVS, has received positive reviews on cost savings from customers who use its my-PharmaCare card, the company's Medicare-approved prescription drug discount card. Within the first six months,...

Chicago--according to published reports, the Central Laborers' Pension, Welfare & Annuity Funds, is calling for Walgreens to separate the posts of chairman and chief executive officer to improve management oversight.(Brief article)
December 1, 2004... CHICAGO -- According to published reports, the Central Laborers' Pension, Welfare & Annuity Funds, is calling for Walgreens to separate the posts of chairman and chief executive officer to improve management oversight. The pension fund, a...