Drug Store News articles from July 2006

Drug Store News archives from July 2006

Chains, indies etch 'historic' alliance to battle common ills more effectively.(Brief article)
July 26, 2006... ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- The steadily increasing alignment of chain and independent pharmacy in the face of common threats took another leap forward last week with the formation of the Coalition for Community Pharmacy Action. The group, comprised...

Bentonville, Ark.--Wal-Mart Stores on Monday named Leslie Dach EVP of corporate affairs and government relations, effective late August.(NEWSBITES)
July 26, 2006... BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores on Monday named Leslie Dach EVP of corporate affairs and government relations, effective late August. Prior to joining Wal-Mart, Dach was vice chairman of Edelman, one of the world's largest global PR and...

City of Industry, Calif.--Markwins North America president Jim Koeppl has decided to assume a less-active role within the company in order to pursue opportunities within his family business, the company announced last week.(NEWSBITES)
July 26, 2006... CITY OF INDUSTRY, Calif. -- Markwins North America president Jim Koeppl has decided to assume a less-active role within the company in order to pursue opportunities within his family business, the company announced last week. However, Koeppl...

Cincinnati--Kroger and Disney on Tuesday announced an exclusive line of Disney Magic Selections-branded food, health and beauty items.(NEWSBITES)
July 26, 2006... CINCINNATI -- Kroger and Disney on Tuesday announced an exclusive line of Disney Magic Selections-branded food, health and beauty items. The food line, which emphasizes healthy options, will launch first.

Walgreens accelerates in-store health clinic expansion.(Brief article)
July 26, 2006... DEERFIELD, Ill. -- Walgreen Co. revealed Monday it would aggressively expand its move into in-store health clinics by opening dozens of in-store Health Corner Clinics in four major markets later this year. The expansion comes on the heels of...

Wal-Mart begins repositioning pharmacy department.
July 26, 2006... NEW YORK -- Wal-Mart last week began rolling out what is being billed as its largest national pharmacy marketing effort. The campaign is designed to reposition the chain's pharmacy department as "The Pharmacy At Wal-Mart." Advertising...

Judge rejects Md. health bill.(Brief article)
July 26, 2006... NEW YORK -- A federal judge in Baltimore last week overturned Maryland's mandated health benefits law, a piece of legislation that forces large companies such as Wal-Mart to spend 8 percent of their payroll on state medical benefits packages...

Cardinal unveils retail program.(Brief article)
July 26, 2006... LAS VEGAS -- In an effort to bolster front-end and back-end performance at its independent drug stores, Cardinal Health unveiled on Tuesday a program dubbed the Leader Total Pharmacy Manager at its annual retail business conference here. ...

Familymeds trims HQ jobs.(Brief article)
July 26, 2006... FARMINGTON, Conn. -- Familymeds Group on Monday unveiled a cost-cutting initiative that involves eliminating more than 20 employees at its headquarters. Total operating expense reductions are expected to be about $5.5 million annually or...

Report: E-scripts reduce errors.(Brief article)
July 26, 2006... WASHINGTON -- Medication errors hurt 1.5 million people every year in the United States and cost at least $3.5 billion, according to a report released Thursday by the Institute of Medicine, an independent, nonprofit organization that advises...

Price chopper to add clinics.(ProHealth Physicians's contract with Price Chopper )(Brief article)
July 26, 2006... NEW YORK -- ProHealth Physicians, Connecticut's largest primary care practice, on Thursday confirmed it has entered into an agreement with Price Chopper to open several in-store clinics with the supermarket chain. ProHealth's first...

Kinney buys N.Y. drug stores.(Wayne Drugs merges with Kinney Drugs Inc)(Brief article)
July 26, 2006... GOUVERNEUR, N.Y. -- Oswego-County-based Wayne Drugs has agreed to sell four of its five locations to Kinney Drugs in upstate New York, the companies confirmed Tuesday. Financial terms were not disclosed. Two of the four stores will be...

PBMs get certified.(pharmacy benefit management)(HR policy association certify)(Brief article)
July 26, 2006... NEW YORK -- Walgreens Health Initiatives and Caremark Rx were among 10 PBMs that were certified or recertified this week by the HR Policy Association's pharmaceutical purchasing coalition. The association represents human resource...

Chicago--information Resources Inc. on Tuesday announced it has acquired Secant Inc., a beverage alcohol consultancy and information provider.(FINANCIALS)
July 26, 2006... CHICAGO -- Information Resources Inc. on Tuesday announced it has acquired Secant Inc., a beverage alcohol consultancy and information provider. Financial terms were not disclosed.

St. Louis--makers of private label personal care products Vi-Jon Laboratories and Cumberland Swan Holdings have agreed to be purchased by Boston-based private equity firm Berkshire Partners for an undisclosed amount.(FINANCIALS)
July 26, 2006... ST. LOUIS -- Makers of private label personal care products Vi-Jon Laboratories and Cumberland Swan Holdings have agreed to be purchased by Boston-based private equity firm Berkshire Partners for an undisclosed amount. The two companies will...

CVS grows health care provider reputation with MinuteClinic acquisition.
July 19, 2006... WOONSOCKET, R.I. -- Looking to reinforce its position as a health care provider, CVS last week announced plans to acquire Minneapolis-based Minute-Clinic, a provider of retail-based health clinics, a step one industry observer views as a...

Kroger.(NEWSBITES)
July 19, 2006... CINCINNATI -- Kroger last week named Michael Ellis president of Fred Meyer. Ellis most recently was Kroger's group VP for grocery, drug, general merchandise, pharmacy and advertising. Ellis replaces Darrell Webb, who joins Jo-Ann Stores as...

CVS.(NEWSBITES)
July 19, 2006... WOONSOCKET, R.I. -- CVS on Monday named Paula Price senior VP, controller and chief accounting officer. Previously, Price was senior VP and CFO for the institutional trust services division of JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Walgreen Co.(NEWSBITES)
July 19, 2006... DEERFIELD, Ill. -- Walgreen Co. on Friday promoted Charles Goodall to divisional VP of pharmacy technology services. Previously, Goodall was director of pharmacy technology services. Walgreens also promoted Brian DeMay, currently VP of...

SmartCare signs clinic deals with Kroger, Fred Meyer.(Brief article)
July 19, 2006... GREENWOOD VILLAGE, Colo. -- SmartCare Family Medical Centers, a rapidly growing operator of retail health care centers, has signed two partnership agreements with Kroger divisions in the past week--including Kroger Atlanta in the Southeast...

Franchisees file lawsuit against MSI, Cardinal Health.
July 19, 2006... ST. LOUIS -- More than 70 Medicine Shoppe franchisees, representing 82 stores, have filed legal action against Medicine Shoppe International and its parent company, Cardinal Health. "Numerous significant issues" led to the filing, said...

NACDS opposes Senate's plan for Canadian drug importation.(national association of chain drug stores)(Brief article)
July 19, 2006... ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- A move by the U.S. Senate to open the way for Americans to directly import drugs from Canada met a stony reaction from the National Association of Chain Drug Stores. The Senate on July 11 approved by a 68-32 margin a...

Harry's to benefit Walgreens.
July 19, 2006... NEW YORK -- Citing the company's decisive acquisition of Happy Harry's, one of the industry's most respected regional drug chains, Wall Street research analyst Mark Miller raised slightly his projection for Walgreen Co.'s earnings in fiscal...

Cerberus' ABS closes e-shop.(Supervalu Inc acquired Albertsons Inc)(Brief article)
July 19, 2006... NEW YORK -- Albertsons LLC, the company formed by the Albertson stores purchased by the Cerberus-led investment group, announced last week its decision to discontinue its Albertsons.com online shopping service. The company stated this...

RxUSA sues drug distributors.
July 19, 2006... PORT WASHINGTON, N.Y. -- RxUSA has filed suit against McKesson, Cardinal Health, AmerisourceBergen and 16 major U.S. drug manufacturers citing violations of antitrust laws and Federal Securities' laws and regulations. The $1.8 billion...

Longueuil, Quebec--the Jean Coutu Group on Monday reported comps for its U.S. pharmacy network grew 2 percent for the five weeks ended July 1. U.S. pharmacy same-store sales increased 2.9 percent, while front-end same-store sales decreased 0.7 percent.(FINANCIALS)
July 19, 2006... LONGUEUIL, Quebec -- The Jean Coutu Group on Monday reported comps for its U.S. pharmacy network grew 2 percent for the five weeks ended July 1. U.S. pharmacy same-store sales increased 2.9 percent, while front-end same-store sales decreased...

New York--Merck on Thursday won the fourth of seven Vioxx lawsuits decided so far that relate to the drug maker's culpability for the recalled drug.(FINANCIALS)
July 19, 2006... NEW YORK--Merck on Thursday won the fourth of seven Vioxx lawsuits decided so far that relate to the drug maker's culpability for the recalled drug. The jury found that Merck did not commit consumer fraud in either its marketing of Vioxx to...

Farmington, Conn.--Familymeds Group on Monday estimated that preliminary revenues for the second quarter ended July 2 will be between $60.5 million to $61 million, up 11 percent from the prior-year period.(FINANCIALS)
July 19, 2006... FARMINGTON, Conn. -- Familymeds Group on Monday estimated that preliminary revenues for the second quarter ended July 2 will be between $60.5 million to $61 million, up 11 percent from the prior-year period. The company also expects to report...

Chester, N.J.--Adams Respiratory Therapeutics on Monday secured a five-year $50 million senior secured revolving credit facility from RBC Capital Markets that could potentially fuel additional acquisitions.(FINANCIALS)
July 19, 2006... CHESTER, N.J. -- Adams Respiratory Therapeutics on Monday secured a five-year $50 million senior secured revolving credit facility from RBC Capital Markets that could potentially fuel additional acquisitions. The facility provides for...

Supermarket Rx holding steady, FMI cites whole health efforts, technology.(survey)(Survey)
July 12, 2006... WASHINGTON -- Supermarket pharmacies posted few performance gains last year, with median prescriptions filled per day unchanged from 2004, at 120, and prescription revenues holding steady at 9 percent of total store sales. But the...

CVS posts record quarterly sales, as Easter shift drives strong comps.(Financial report)(Brief article)
July 12, 2006... WOONSOCKET, R.I. -- CVS posted double-digit gains for the second quarter, thanks in part to the shift of Easter, and reported record June sales, which benefited from the recent acquisition of roughly 700 stand-alone Sav-On and Osco drug...

Walgreens builds specialty arsenal, completes Happy Harry's merger.
July 12, 2006... DEERFIELD, Ill. -- Buying its way to market leadership in a state that had yet to see its first Walgreens drug store, Walgreen Co. on Thursday completed its acquisition of Newark, Del.-based Happy Harry's. The purchase includes 76 Happy...

DrugMax changes corporate name, plans new locations.
July 12, 2006... FARMINGTON, Conn. -- Looking to bolster its brand identity and reduce costs associated with maintaining both names, DrugMax has changed its name to Familymeds Group, the name of its core pharmacy business. The company now is trading under...

Vital Radiance mars Revlon 2Q.
July 12, 2006... NEW YORK -- Revlon told investors on Monday that it expects a wider second quarter loss as it wrestles with the weaker-than-expected launch of Vital Radiance, a cosmetics line launched earlier this year for women age 50 and older. Net...

WAG unveils disability effort.(Walgreens recruiting Disabled persons)(Brief article)
July 12, 2006... DEERFIELD, Ill. -- Walgreens on Friday rolled out an initiative to hire people with disabilities at its new distribution center in Anderson, S.C. People with sensory, physical and cognitive disabilities will be able to apply and be hired...

Ahold cuts 46 Tops markets.(Koninklijke Ahold N.V. decision to sell supermarkets in Northeast Ohio)(Brief article)
July 12, 2006... AMSTERDAM, The Netherlands -- Ahold NV announced Thursday its decision to sell 46 Tops supermarkets in Northeast Ohio, as the area is no longer considered a central part of Tops' market. The grocery chain, which is part of Ahold's...

Lacy to leave Sears Holdings.(Alan Lacy will leave the Sears Holdings)(Brief article)
July 12, 2006... HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. -- Alan Lacy, vice chairman of Sears Holdings, will leave the company, effective July 29, the retailer announced Tuesday. Lacy also will resign from the boards of Sears Holdings and Sears Canada. No reason was...

Green Bay, Wis.--ShopKo on Thursday named Douglas McHose senior VP of store operations, responsible for the management and operation of all 135 ShopKo stores.(NEWSBITES)
July 12, 2006... GREEN BAY, Wis. -- ShopKo on Thursday named Douglas McHose senior VP of store operations, responsible for the management and operation of all 135 ShopKo stores. McHose joins ShopKo from Best Buy.

Walnut Creek, Calif.--Longs Drug Stores on Tuesday announced the retirement of Gerald Saito.(NEWSBITES)
July 12, 2006... WALNUT CREEK, Calif. -- Longs Drug Stores on Tuesday announced the retirement of Gerald Saito, senior VP of operations in Hawaii, effective Aug. 3. Bob Ingersoll, district manager of Hawaii, will be promoted to group VP when Saito retires.

Lincoln, R.I.--CVS on Thursday stated its PBM, PharmaCare.(NEWSBITES)
July 12, 2006... LINCOLN, R.I. -- CVS on Thursday stated its PBM, PharmaCare, was selected by not-for-profit health plan Bluegrass Family Health to administer prescription drug benefits to more than 50,000 members in Kentucky. Under the four-year contract,...

Minneapolis--Supervalu on Thursday elected Paul Singer senior VP and CIO for the company's information technology operations.(NEWSBITES)
July 12, 2006... MINNEAPOLIS -- Supervalu on Thursday elected Paul Singer senior VP and CIO for the company's information technology operations. He most recently was CIO at Target Corp.

Atlanta--Target this fall will be the exclusive retailer for Goody's new Park Avenue hair accessory collection that features faux ostrich and crocodile fabrics.(NEWSBITES)
July 12, 2006... ATLANTA -- Target this fall will be the exclusive retailer for Goody's new Park Avenue hair accessory collection that features faux ostrich and crocodile fabrics. The collection will be in Target stores October to February.