Drug Store News articles from March 2005

Drug Store News archives from March 2005

Plans scrapped for NYC Wal-Mart.(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... NEW YORK -- A real estate developer has pulled the plug on plans to build a Wal-Mart in Queens--a store that would have been the city's first Wal-Mart. According to published reports, residents were concerned about traffic congestion,...

Study sees support for Rx price controls.(News)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... MENLO PARK, Calif. -- In findings that must have sent shudders through the already embattled pharmaceutical industry, a new poll from the Kaiser Family Foundation found widespread public support for price controls on drug makers. The research,...

Rite Aid tests Hispanic store concept.(News)
March 7, 2005... PHILADELPHIA -- Rite Aid has been testing a Spanish language store concept in two North Philadelphia stores that does more than pay lip service to the Hispanic consumer. It literally speaks that customer's language through product selection,...

Hammering out a Medicare plan, industry reps achieve breakthrough.
March 7, 2005... ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- A marathon effort by dozens of leaders from every side of retail pharmacy, working closely with representatives of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, may yield big time-saving benefits at the pharmacy counter...

Pressured FDA pledges drug safety overhaul.
March 7, 2005... ROCKVILLE, Md. -- Awash in criticism over its drug-safety record and oversight policies, the Food and Drug Administration is pledging to overhaul its drug-review and public communication efforts in a bid to reassure Congress and the public that...

Cross-border drug trade looks overseas as Canada considers ban.( )
March 7, 2005... OTTAWA -- The Canadian government is looking into shutting down what is for them the gray market of exporting pharmaceuticals to individual Americans from online Canadian pharmacies. With an official government loan appearing imminent, the...

Should Canadian Internet pharmacy fold, pharmacist shortage ensures jobs remain.
March 7, 2005... WINNIPEG, Canada -- How did Manitoba, one of Canada's smaller provinces, become a hotbed for Internet pharmacy? Currently, about half of the estimated 6,000 pharmacy jobs across all of Canada are located within its boundaries. Long before...

National Institutes of Health joins growing list of Caregiver Expo exhibitors.( )
March 7, 2005... WASHINGTON -- As the industry and Washington DC-area consumers gear up for May's caregiver consumer health exposition, the number of exhibitors and participating chains continues to grow. As previously reported, Drug Store News, in...

Publix to unveil Hispanic format.(supermarket aisle)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... LAKELAND, Fla. -- Supermarket chain Publix will unveil this month a new Hispanic-inventory format in at least one existing unit. No spokesperson for Publix was available for comment at press time. The new format, part of a new...

Whole Foods opens landmark store.(Supermarket Aisle)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... AUSTIN, Texas -- Whole Foods Market, a natural and organic foods supermarket, celebrated earlier this month the grand opening of its Austin landmark store and world headquarters. Coming in at 80,000 square feet, the store is the company's...

Marsh Supermarkets CFO to retire.(Supermarket Aisle)(Retirement)(Chief Financial Officer)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... INDIANAPOLIS -- Marsh Supermarkets, which operates stores under such banners as Marsh, LoBill Foods, O'Malia and Village Pantry, stated in a regulatory filing that Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer Douglas Dougherty...

Wild Oats posts 4Q results.(Supermarket Aisle)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... BOULDER, Colo. -- Wild Oats Markets, a natural and organic foods retailer, posted a loss in the fourth quarter partly as a result of higher store expenses and a greater-than-expected level of coupon redemptions trader its holiday rewards...

Wild Oats markets sow new concept rollouts.
March 7, 2005... SUPERIOR, Colo. -- Wild Oats Markets has created a store-within-a-store concept with the comfort of a Barnes & Noble, the functionality of a public library and a body care line worthy of an upscale spa. It's steps away from the grocery...

Battered Winn-Dixie files for Chapter 11.
March 7, 2005... JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Winn-Dixie, one of the largest food retailers in the nation, last month filed Chapter 11 as intense pressure from rivals, namely Wal-Mart, eroded sales and profits. The filing came about week after the 80-year-old...

Newlyweds DrugMax, Familymeds settling in.(mergers)
March 7, 2005... FARMINGTON, Conn. -- Wholesale distributor DrugMax, which merged with specialty pharmacy operator Familymeds in November, stated last month that its 120-day integration plan is on track. The transaction, valued at $55 million to $60...

Novartis' purchase of Hexal, Eon creates new No. 1 in generics.( )
March 7, 2005... BASEL, Switzerland -- Swiss drug maker Novartis has claimed the top position in the generics marketplace after announcing it would acquire Hexal AG and Eon Labs for its Sandoz division, creating a world leader with one of the largest pipelines...

Del Labs looks to build Sally Hansen brand following merger.( )
March 7, 2005... UNIONDALE, N.Y. -- Del Laboratories, a cosmetics and over-the-counter pharmaceuticals maker, is aiming to grow its business at a more rapid clip and sees its recent merger agreement with DLI Acquisition Corp. as the ideal avenue to achieving...

Acquisition buzz, new products enliven cosmetics conference.
March 7, 2005... SAN FRANCISCO -- This year's ECRM Cosmetics, Fragrance & Bath Conference brimmed with an array of new products as talk of two industry acquisitions brewed. During the conference, held here Feb. 6 to 10 at the Westin St. Francis hotel,...

Celebrex clear winner after FDA cox-2 committee meeting.(Food and Drug Administration)
March 7, 2005... GAITHERSBURG, Md. -- Not much in life is black or white, especially when it comes to the risk versus benefit scenarios for disease treatments. But a Food and Drug Administration advisory panel committee that met last month to discuss cox-2...

Mail, drug safety to keep industry on its toes.(pharmacy news)
March 7, 2005... FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- For all the promise the pharmacy business holds with the graying of America, the actual day-to-day looks to become an increasing challenge if last year's pharmaceutical sales trends stay the course in 2005. "[This year]...

Medicare pilot programs offer reward-based pay.(pharmacy news)
March 7, 2005... NEW YORK -- The agency behind Medicare reform is ready to play ball, and organizations without their heads in the game won't survive in the new arena. "As we bring Medicare's benefits up to date and as we take new steps to improve quality...

PBMs vow to target Maine disclosure ruling.(Pharmacy News)(pharmacy benefit management, Act Against Unfair Prescription Drug Practices)
March 7, 2005... BANGOR, Maine -- The organization representing prescription benefit managers is vowing to challenge a recent decision by a federal magistrate here that could unleash Maine's ability to rein in PBMs by requiring them to disclose secretive...

Case law illustrates liability issues for counterfeit drugs.(Pharmacy News)
March 7, 2005... SOUTH BEDMINSTER, N.J. -- What will happen tomorrow when a person today fills a prescription at the local pharmacy and the drug turns out to be a counterfeit? Pharmacy retailers already have faced the issue and present examples of an emerging...

L'Oreal USA.(People In The News)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... PARIS -- L'Oreal USA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Lindsay Owen-Jones has announced that next year Jean-Paul Agon, who heads the company's U.S. unit, will assume the role of chief executive officer of the French cosmetics maker....

Procter & Gamble.(People In The News)(Retirement )(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... CINCINNATI -- Procter & Gamble announced last month that Paul Polman, group vice president of Western Europe, after 25 years of service will retire for personal reasons, effective June 30. Until that time, Polman will work on special...

Unilever.(People In The News)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... ROTTERDAM -- Unilever last month announced that it has restructured its leadership and abolished the dual chairman/chief executive officer role. Antony Burgmans, current chairman of Unilever N.V., will become nonexecutive chairman of both...

Katz Group Canada.(People In The News)(Appointment)
March 7, 2005... TORONTO -- Katz Group Canada announced that Russell Cohen has been appointed as executive vice president of pharmacy, and Warren Jeffery has been named executive vice president of operations. Cohen most recently was executive vice president...

Kinney Drugs.(People In The News)(Appointment)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... GOUVERNEUR, N.Y. -- Kinney Drugs has promoted Owen Halloran, director of pharmacy marketing, to vice president of pharmacy marketing and professional services. Owen, a 26-year veteran of Kinney, will oversee prescription purchasing and...

Winn-Dixie, like the movie, is hoping for a miracle.(Opinion)(Winn-Dixie Stores Inc. filed for Chapter 11)
March 7, 2005... The saga of venerable retailer Winn-Dixie continued its slow, yet predictable course, and not even the popularity and publicity of the Twentieth Century Fox hit movie of the same name could help influence the outcome. While Winn-Dixie the...

Reimportation calls are a joke with no punchline.(Opinion)(drug regulations)(Column)
March 7, 2005... Maybe it's me. Maybe I've spent too much time in journalism. Maybe it's made me too cynical. Maybe it was too many late nights chasing a standup career through the comedy clubs of Manhattan all those years ago. Maybe I just can't turn...

Food and Drug Administration.(nomination of Lester Crawford to succeed Mark McClellan )(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... President George W. Bush last month nominated Acting Food and Drug Administration Commissioner tester Crawford to succeed Mark McClellan as FDA chief. While Crawford enjoys the support of many in the industry, confirmation hearings are not...

Shire Pharmaceutical.(Supplier News)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... Following Health Canada's decision last month to suspend sales of Shire Pharmaceutical's Adderall XR because of a link to heart problems, the FDA announced it was monitoring the situation. Adderall is a popular treatment for attention...

Novartis last month licensed an investigational treatment for dry eye from Otsuka Pharmaceutical.(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... Novartis last month licensed an investigational treatment for dry eye from Otsuka Pharmaceutical, rebamipide, which currently is being tested in two Phase III studies within the United States. Under the agreement, Novartis will obtain an...

Mylan Technologies.(approval of generic version of Alza's Duragesic Patch)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... The FDA granted approval to Mylan Technologies for the first generic version of Alza's Duragesic Patch (fentanyl transdermal system) for the treatment of severe chronic pain that cannot be managed with alternate analgesics. When applied to the...

Mail strikes another blow as GM drops Walgreens.(Chain Pharmacy)(General Motors Corp.)
March 7, 2005... DETROIT -- In the latest worrisome development on the mail order pharmacy front, General Motors announced last month that as of March 1, its more than 1 million employees and retirees no longer could get their prescriptions for maintenance...

RFID: most bang for buck in mail order versus retail Rx.(Pharmacy Automation)(radio frequency identification technology)
March 7, 2005... NEW YORK -- Implementing radio frequency identification technology into retail pharmacy is not an if, but a when. Now the how--and how much--becomes the focus for retailers piloting the technology that promises transformative powers. It's...

Fingerprints take on password role at drug stores.(Pharmacy Automation)(Rite Aid Corp., London Drugs Ltd.)
March 7, 2005... NEW YORK -- A year ago this month, Rite Aid deployed a new fingerprint-recognition system to its retail locations nationwide, which allowed pharmacists and pharmacy techs to. sign on to its dispensing system with the touch of a finger. The...

New diabetes treatments could improve control, monitoring options.(Chain Pharmacy)(Eli Lilly and Co.'s Exenatide, Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. and Merck and Company Inc.'s Muraglitazar, Takeda Chemical Industries Ltd.'s Actoplus Met)
March 7, 2005... New treatments for people with diabetes potentially could hit pharmacy shelves soon, including two first-in-class pharmaceuticals with blockbuster potential to help treat the disease for type 2 diabetics and a pair of continuous glucose...

New diabetes materials help pharmacists advise patients on total health care.(Chain Pharmacy)(National Diabetes Education Program)
March 7, 2005... ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- Pharmacy executives weighed in on new materials now available for patients with diabetes, as well as for those who treat them, through the National Diabetes Education Program, a collaborative effort among the Centers for...

GelStat.(Supplier News)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... GelStat Migraine was recognized by the nonprofit National Migraine Association last month as an efficacious nonprescription migraine abortive treatment. "What distinguishes GelStat Migraine from other [over-the-counter] products is that it...

GlaxoSmithKline.(approval of Xenical)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... GlaxoSmithKline has accelerated its timetable for the OTC switch application of Xenical (orlistat) 60 mg after receiving positive feedback from the Food and Drug Administration, said J.P. Gamier, chief executive officer of Glaxo, at the...

Green Pharmaceuticals.(Supplier News)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... In the week leading up to last month s Super Bowl, Green Pharmaceuticals scored a marketing Hail Mary after making the winning bid for the forehead of Andrew Fischer, who auctioned himself off as a living billboard for one month. For a little...

Adams Respiratory Therapeutics last month transferred its AlleRx prescription respiratory medications to Cornerstone BioPharma.(Supplier News)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... Adams Respiratory Therapeutics last month transferred its AlleRx prescription respiratory medications to Cornerstone BioPharma, which, in turn, has transferred its line of OTC guaifenesin products Humibid e and Humibid CS. "The Humibid...

McNeil Consumer.(Supplier News)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... McNeil Consumer last month launched two new Tylenol-branded allergy remedies: Tylenol Allergy Complete Multisymptom and Tylenol Allergy Complete Nighttime. The new products combine symptomatic relief for allergies with an analgesic. Many...

Season that began with flu scare proves mild, yielding weaker sales.(OTC/Natural Health)
March 7, 2005... This year, the cough-cold story is all about supply and demand. The well-heralded flu vaccine shortage created an awful lot of demand--people were tripping over themselves to get that guarded shot--but because people didn't get sick with a...

Talking up natural remedies.(What's Hot)(Victoria Knight-McDowell contracts with Oprah Winfrey)(Matrixx contracst with Rush Limbaugh)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... Attention from talk-show celebrities has driven sales of two natural cough-cold remedies through the roof this year, even with many mainstream cough-cold remedies on the shelf. Oprah Winfrey hosted Victoria Knight-McDowell last fall on a...

Vioxx dust-up makes for OTC opening.(OTC/Natural Health)(over-the-counter, COX-2 inhibitors trends)
March 7, 2005... There currently is scant evidence that the withdrawal of the cox-2 inhibitor Vioxx and subsequent cox-2 controversy has pushed arthritis sufferers over-the-counter in search of safer medicines, but that doesn't mean the opportunity isn't there....

Procter & Gamble.(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... In a move considered to be Crest's biggest introduction of the year, the Procter & Gamble brand has unveiled new Crest Pro-Health Rinse. The alcohol-free mouthwash will be available nationwide next month. The formula, which is the first...

Coty Beauty.(Supplier News)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... Coty Beauty, Coty's mass and masstige division, is set to roll out Celine Dion's newest fragrance, Belong. With the tag line "Belong to the moment," the fragrance is designed to capture Dion's philosophy of being true to the moment and...

Marc Anthony.(Supplier News)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... Next month, professional hairstylist Marc Anthony will expand his hair care line at drug stores with the launch of several new products, including Moisture Gloss Color Extender, which infuses hair with moisture while creating a fade-resistant...

Del-Ray Dermatologicals.(Blue Lizard Sensitive Australian Suncream)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... Del-Ray Dermatologicals, the maker of Blue Lizard Australian Suncream, is rolling out its Blue Lizard Sensitive Australian Suncream SPF 30+. To remind users to apply the sun protection when outdoors, the bottle changes from white to blue...

Banana Boat.(Supplier News)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... Banana Boat is gearing up for summer with the launch of several new products, including its Summer Color Sunless Tinted Lotion and Summer Color Instant Bronzer & Sunless Tanning Foam. Both are available in light/medium and deep dark shades and...

Garnier Fructis.(to sponsor Chevrolet as part of its promotion)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... Garnier Fructis has inked a multiyear deal with Hendrick Motor-sports to be a major associate, sponsor of the No. 25 Chevrolet driven by Brian Vickers in the Nascar Nextel Cup Series. As a spokesman for Gamier Fructis hair care and styling...

Just-for-him merchandising strategies gain momentum in men's grooming.(beauty care)
March 7, 2005... Seeing an opportunity to tap into the growing Men's grooming segment, Graham Bingham opened in October a specialty retailer just for men called Momentum. While Vancouver, B.C.-based Momentum is by no means a chain drug retailer, its unique...

Putting it all together.(toiletries industry)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... In an effort to stay competitive, manufacturers are developing multifunctional products that have the added benefits of saving retailers shelf space and giving consumers more for their money. One segment that is seeing a great deal of...

Razor war rages on in women's shave.(beauty care)
March 7, 2005... The women's shave category is about to get more interesting as two consumer products powerhouses--Procter & Gamble and Gillette--ink a $57 billion acquisition deal that is sure to better position P&G in the women's shave category and as new...

Coca-Cola North America will launch its new Diet Coke Sweetened with Splenda in the second quarter.( )(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... Coca-Cola North America will launch its new Diet Coke Sweetened with Splenda in the second quarter. The company will reveal details surrounding promotional plans closer to the launch date. Sales of Splenda, the No. 1-selling sugar...

Kraft Foods.(Supplier News)(Products)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... Kraft Foods will launch a line of new products marketed under the "South Beach Diet Recommended" banner beginning in spring. The line will include South Beach Diet Toasted Wheats and Whole Grain Crunch cereals, three flavors of meal replacement...

Hershey Food Corp.(Supplier News)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... Hershey Food Corp. President and Chief Executive Officer Richard Lenny said new products will represent up to 10 percent of the company's sales this year. New and revamped products include enhancements to Fast Break and S mores, a white...

PowerBar.(Supplier News)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... PowerBar this spring will introduce a line of four new energy snack bars designed to taste like a candy bar. The trans fat-free PowerBar Triple Threat bars are available in crispy and chocolate-caramel-layered varieties. Each 55-gram bar is...

Inov8 Beverage Co.(Industry News)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... Mike Weinstein, former Snapple Beverage Group chief executive officer and former Cadbury Schweppes president of global innovation, and Brian O'Byrne, former Yoo-Hoo/ Orangina Co. chief executive officer and former senior vice president of...

Kimberly-Clark Corp.(Executive News)(Appointment)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... Kimberly-Clark Corp. appointed Kim Feil to vice president and senior marketing officer, a new position. Feil will oversee the North American and European marketing services groups and the company's design center. She most recently was chief...

CPGs need more than low-carb claim to stay relevant in diet-conscious era.(Consumables)(consumer packaged goods )
March 7, 2005... It's estimated that between 6 million and 7 million people will have begun a low-carb diet during the first three months of this year. That should result in a nice spike in sales of low-carb products compared with a pronounced dropoff during...

Seeking variety in [H.sub.2]O.(What's Hot)(bottled water market growth)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... Consumers' thirst for variety, desire for better nutrition and need for convenience have sprung an enhanced-water geyser. Today, 3-out-of-4 Americans regularly consume bottled water, according to Nestle Waters North America. Dousing it with...

Parody Productions.(Supplier News)(Hero Deck poker cards)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... Parody Productions has developed a new line of poker cards featuring baseball and auto racing heroes. Called Hero Deck, the line features 52 full-color, humorous caricatures of baseball's greatest by team and position, as well as a separate...

Aurora World announced a licensing deal with MGM to produce and distribute a line of plush Pink Panther products, hitting store shelves in advance of "The Pink Panther" movie opening Sept. 23.(Supplier News)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... Aurora World announced a licensing deal with MGM to produce and distribute a line of plush Pink Panther products, hitting store shelves in advance of "The Pink Panther" movie opening Sept. 23. The plush line includes two sizes of poseable plush...

Brainy Baby Co.(Supplier News)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... The Brainy Baby Co. launched multiple new lines of interactive DVDs at last month's Toy Fair, including Brainy Kids, Sporty Baby and Mustard Seeds. It also introduced the new Infant Learning Pack four-pack of DVDs, the new titles "More Right...

Fujifilm.(Supplier News)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... Fujifilm at last month's PMA 2005 introduced several new consumer film products, including Fujicolor True Definition 400 35mm film; QuickSnap True Definition, a one-time-use camera that combines True Definition film with a premium, two-element...

AgfaPhoto.(Supplier News)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... Also at PMA 2005, AgfaPhoto introduced a line of flash memory cards for digital cameras called Digital Film, with memory capacities ranging from 64 MB to 1 GB. The memory cards are compatible with varying digital cameras and other devices, such...

Deloitte & Touche.(Supplier News)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... A post-holiday survey of 4,300 adults and teens conducted by Deloitte & Touche found the number of gift cards received per adult increased to 3.2 in 2004 from 2.5 in 2003, with a total face value of $142.98 billion. Nearly two-thirds of gift...

School, Home and Office Products Association.(Industry News)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... The School, Home and Office Products Association teamed with Messe Frankfurt, a world leader in trade exhibitions, and Propaper, Spain's association for the stationery marketplace, to form Paperworld USA, an international trade event for the...

Technology juices up batteries just in time for spring upswing.(General Merchandise)
March 7, 2005... The drug store channel wears many hats in serving the needs of consumers. And in the case of batteries, that means offering value products as an opening price point, balanced with a wide assortment of nationally recognized brands. The...

Getting crafty in the kitchen.(What's Hot)(Crayola Crafty Cooking Kits )(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... Suddenly a brownie is no longer a brownie--it's a blank canvas on which to create and a way for parents to spend quality time in the kitchen with their children. Available nationwide this month, Crayola Crafty Cooking Kits include...

Duane Reade rewards 'points'.(Duane Reade Holding Corp.)(Brief Article)
March 21, 2005... NEW YORK -- Duane Reade is bolstering its Dollar Rewards card program so that it now will offer shoppers points for each dollar spent. The improved Dollar Rewards Program that we are introducing today underlines our commitment to deliver...

Kerr to launch new prototype.(Kerr Drug Stores Inc.)(Brief Article)
March 21, 2005... AVENTURA, Fla. -- Tony Civello, president and chief executive officer of Kerr Drug, revealed at the Consumer Healthcare Products Association meeting here details behind the opening of the chain's latest drug store prototype. The new...

Osco name will replace Shaw's in NE.(Shaw's Supermarkets Inc.)
March 21, 2005... BOISE, Idaho -- For the first time in more than three years, the Osco name is reappearing on pharmacies in New England. Albertsons revealed this month that its Shaw's Supermarkets division, based in West Bridgewater, Mass., would rename the...

Industry awaits pedigree result.(News)(drugstores calls to ammend Prescription Drug Safety Act)
March 21, 2005... TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Pharmacy retailers are anxiously awaiting the outcome of negotiations between Florida state lawmakers and two of the nation's largest drug chains, which have joined with other retailers in a battle over some of the most...

Can pharmacists dispense morality?(pharmacists' right to stand on morals with regard to contraception)
March 21, 2005... NEW YORK -- A judge in Wisconsin last month recommended that a substitute pharmacist at a Kmart pharmacy receive an official reprimand, pay court costs and take at least six ours of ethics training. The crime? Failure to fill a patient's...

Proposed meth bill could put the chill on cold remedies.(News)(combating methamphetamine abuse by restricting pseudoephedrine sales to behind pharmacy counter)
March 21, 2005... NEW YORK -- Federal legislation to combat methamphetamine abuse by restricting pseudoephedrine sales to behind the pharmacy counter may turn out to be a downer, on one hand, for retailers and suppliers in the business of over-the-counter cough...

Kmart's Rx operation 'essential' to new Sears format.(News)(Sears Essentials stores )
March 21, 2005... HOFFMAN ESTATES, ILL. -- Sears, Roebuck & Co.'s first risky leap into pharmacy retailing this spring could lure a much broader swath of customers to its stores. But the grand opening of Sears Essentials, a new, mid-sized format that will...

Rite Aid unveils loyalty card program for seniors.(News)(Brief Article)
March 21, 2005... CAMP HILL, Pa. -- Rite Aid late last month rolled out a new senior loyalty discount program the chain had been test-marketing for a little more than one year in Louisville, Ky., and Pittsburgh. Dubbed "Living More," the card saves...

McKesson, Wegmans expand deal.(Supermarket Aisle)(Wegmans Food Markets Inc.)(Brief Article)
March 21, 2005... SAN FRANCISCO -- McKesson Corp. announced earlier this month that it is expanding its distribution partnership with Wegmans by providing the grocer's New York stores with a prescription fulfillment service through a central-fill facility. ...

Publix to open Hispanic format.(Supermarket Aisle)(Publix Super Markets Inc. to open Publix Sabor)(Brief Article)
March 21, 2005... LAKELAND, Fla. -- Publix Super Markets announced plans to open a Hispanic-themed supermarket in Kissimmee and Hialeah, Fla. The stores, called Publix Sabor, are expected to open by early May. They will feature expanded offerings in the...

Supervalu bolsters retail business.(Supermarket Aisle)(new store openings)(Brief Article)
March 21, 2005... MINNEAPOLIS -- Supervalu announced earlier this month new-store openings in key markets and stated that it was rolling out a remodeling grogram across its corporate-owned retail banners. Expansion activities include: * Club Foods has...