Drug Store News articles from March 2006

Drug Store News archives from March 2006

Likely suitors line up for crack at Pfizer's OTC biz.(over-the-counter business up for sale)
March 6, 2006... NEW YORK -- Pfizer's announcement last month that it would consider either selling or spinning off its consumer health care division not only sent shockwaves throughout the over-the-counter industry, but it also heralded a trend of large...

Billion-dollar Bush budget cuts betray retail pharmacy's trust.(News)
March 6, 2006... ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- "Outrageous and uninformed." That was the unusually strong reaction of Craig Fuller, president and chief executive officer of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores, to recent remarks from President George W. Bush...

Medicare, Medicaid worries headline NACDS Regional conference agenda.(News)
March 6, 2006... PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Medicare Part D and the legislative cuts to Medicaid represent the greatest threats to the pharmacy business that the industry has faced in some time, with the potential to drive down already anemic pharmacy margins even...

Kroger Co.( John Burgon retires)(Brief Article)
March 6, 2006... CINCINNATI -- After 33 years in the grocery business, the Kroger Co.'s senior vice president John Burgon has retired. His successor has yet to be announced. Burgon had served in that role since September 2004. Prior to that, he was...

Albertsons.(Judy Spires appointed)(Brief Article)
March 6, 2006... MALVERN, Pa. -- Appointed president of Albertsons' 134-store Acme Markets eastern division is Judy Spires, who began her 35-year supermarket career with Acme. She most recently served as president of the Dallas-Fort Worth Albertsons...

Shoppers Food & Pharmacy.(SUPERVALU Inc. appoints Dick Bergan, Bill White retires)(Brief Article)
March 6, 2006... LANHAM, Md. -- Shoppers Food & Pharmacy, a Supervalu company, has announced that its president, Bill White, will retire at the end of the fiscal year. Succeeding him will be Dick Bergman, current president of Scott's Food & Pharmacy. Scott's...

Medicine Shoppe International.(appoints Brian Lewis )(Brief Article)
March 6, 2006... ST. LOUIS -- Medicine Shoppe International, a Cardinal Health company, has named Brian Lewis vice president of finance, overseeing the financial functions for both Medicine Shoppe Pharmacies and Medicap Pharmacy stores. Previously, Lewis...

Newell Rubbermaid.(appoints Mark D. Ketchum)(Brief Article)
March 6, 2006... The Newell Rubbermaid board of directors has appointed Mark D. Ketchum president and chief executive officer. Ketchum is a 33-year veteran of Procter & Gamble, including operational, brand management and general management, experience. His...

American Greetings.(Brief Article)
March 6, 2006... Betts FitzGerald has joined American Greetings as vice president of outbound licensing AGP, and Lindsay Martinez has been hired as a brand manager. FitzGerald will be responsible for signing on new licensing, partners for AGP properties...

GPhA meeting, rallies members to 'lead America to healthy future'.(Generic Pharmaceutical Association)
March 6, 2006... BOCA RATON -- Gov. Joe Manchin III, D-W.Va., among the list of political heavy hitters that headlined the business sessions last week here at the Generic Pharmaceutical Association's Annual Meeting, challenged industry leaders to step up their...

Feds vow to fix Medicare logjam.
March 6, 2006... Medicare is still messy. Despite gradual improvements, the two-month-old Medicare Part D drug benefit program continues to jam the nation's retail pharmacies with a rising flood of unanswered prescription claims, eligibility questions and...

Games and iPod gadgets hot at Toy Fair.(International Toy Fair)(Brief Article)
March 6, 2006... NEW YORK -- I-Dog copycats and plug and play games generated good word of mouth at the International Toy Fair in New York Feb. 12 to 15, where the industry's top manufacturers showcased the best hopes for a toy industry rebound in 2006. ...

EPPS format gains traction.(Efficient Collaborative Retail Marketing: In the spotlight)
March 6, 2006... NEW YORK -- Picture the floors of a hotel swarming with retail buyers, each toting identical laptops packed with the tools to expedite their jobs, moving from room to room to join scores of vendors in a series of rapid-fire, 20-minute meetings....

Rx event spawns new health care shows.(Pharmacy Efficient Program Planning Session)(Brief Article)
March 6, 2006... LOS ANGELES -- Vendors representing at least 105 pharmaceutical and health product companies descended on the Westin hotel here for the expanded, 2006 edition of ECRM's Efficient Program Planning Session. They came armed with plenty of product...

New bath & body vendors make splash.(Cosmetics, fragrance & bath)
March 6, 2006... BOSTON -- Judging by the crop of new products manufacturers displayed at this year's ECRM Cosmetics, Fragrance & Bath conference held here Feb. 5 to 9, consumers are likely to see a lot of activity in the bath and body aisle as smaller players...

Weight loss, heart health and sexual wellness shape discussions.(Vitamin, diet and sports nutrition)
March 6, 2006... LOS ANGELES -- Three new product trends emerged out of the ECRM Vitamin, Diet and Sports Nutrition planning sessions held here at the Westin Los Angeles, January 29 to Feb. 1--products catering to weight loss, heart health and sexual wellness....

NACDS Regional Conference.(National Association of Chain Drug Stores)(Brief Article)
March 6, 2006... At the NACDS Regional Conference cocktail reception are Bill Fogarty of Adams Respiratory Therapeutics, Mark Griffin of Lewis Drug, Paul Nunnari of Johnson & Johnson with Nancy Fogarty of Adams Respiratory Therapeutics. [ILLUSTRATION...

Wal-Mart 'Healthy Heart'.(Wal-Mart Stores Inc.)(Brief Article)
March 6, 2006... Wal-Mart gave customers at each of its 3,800-plus Wal-Mart and Sam's Clubs locations with pharmacies the chance to have their cholesterol and blood pressure checked at its third annual Healthy Heart Community Event Feb. 18. Some 150,000 people...

CVS and 'Bus Stops for Services'.(distributes personal care items)(Brief Article)
March 6, 2006... During a Martin Luther King Jr. day of service event called "Bus Stops for Services" in Washington, CVS and AmeriCorps*NCCC (National Civilian Community Corp.) partnered to assemble bags full of personal care items for 170 homeless families in...

MSI's Part D community outreach.(Medicine Shoppe International Inc.'s Terry Burnside details Medicare Part D)(Brief Article)
March 6, 2006... Medicine Shoppe International president Terry Burnside answered seniors' questions about Medicare Part D at various Medicine Shoppe locations earlier this year. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Executives must sell urgency of health care reform.(Wal-Mart Stores Inc.)(Editorial)
March 6, 2006... When corporate executives speak out, the nation's consumers, politicians and the media listen. And some observers may categorize these speeches to be self-serving corporate rhetoric, the result is often powerful and positive, as well as...

Medicare, Medicaid leave door open for Dems in '06.
March 6, 2006... Which do you think is easier: For a camel to pass through the eye of a needle or for the Democrats to walk through a door that's been left wide open for them? In the weeks following the 2004 presidential elections, Drug Store News sat down...

From red carpet to retail, agents broker ever-bigger deals.(Agents of Innovation: Overview)
March 6, 2006... When you think about it, the chain drug store industry is a lot like Hollywood. You have your rising stars, largely unknown and struggling for the big break that will catapult them to the roster of A-List celebrities; but here, substitute the...

NAGMR eyes boost with MANA pact.(Manufacturers' Agents National Association, National Association General Merchandise Representatives)(Brief Article)
March 6, 2006... In an effort to reinvigorate NAGMR Consumer Products Brokers, the association has signed an alliance agreement with Manufacturers' Agents National Association. NAGMR, founded in 1948, is an association of consumer product brokers...

Brokers' role at retail is ever-expanding task.(Agents of Innovation: The Retail Connection)
March 6, 2006... Three years ago, Ron Otto, president of National Sales Solutions, signed on a client who had no pharmacy chain distribution and made most of its sales selling product online. After assisting with the product packaging, displays, retailer...

Smaller manufacturers find niche with brokers.(Many companies turn to brokers for help with marketing)
March 6, 2006... For many small manufacturers, the road to national--or even regional distribution can be daunting. Will the product find its niche? Will retailers be interested? Many companies turn to brokers for help with marketing and sales. A broker's...

Walgreens chief urges Congress to ease pharmacy's Medicare woes.(David Bernauer, Medicare Part D)
March 6, 2006... WASHINGTON -- Message to Congress and Medicare's custodians: Keep it simple. Stepping up as point person for all of retail pharmacy, Walgreen Co. chairman and chief executive officer David Bernauer called on Congress to retool parts of the...

Pfizer extends community health education efforts.(Community Healthcare Center to provide diabetes education program )(Brief Article)
March 6, 2006... SAVANNAH, Ga. -- Pfizer Health Solutions has joined with a local volunteer health organization, Community Healthcare Center, to launch a diabetes education program for minorities in and around this historic port city on Georgia's coast. ...

E-Rx data-sharing effort launches.(Chain Pharmacy)(SureScripts in collaboration with White House efforts to promote electronic health records.)(Brief Article)
March 6, 2006... ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- A top provider of electronic prescribing services joined with chain and independent pharmacy leaders Feb. 13 to launch a service to gather and share patient medication records with physicians, pharmacists and patients...

PDX-Rx.com.(enables central patient record technology )(Brief Article)
March 6, 2006... PDXRx.com last month enabled its Central Patient Record technology in more than 700 retail locations across six states. The technology allows chains within a network to access patient medication profiles--including drug regimens and...

California HealthCare Foundation.(to introduce electronic prescribing)(Brief Article)
March 6, 2006... The nation's physicians have been "notoriously slow" to adopt electronic prescribing and other technologies "that do not immediately generate revenue or save time," a new study from the California HealthCare Foundation noted. But health cost...

CVS.(gets license from National Association of Boards of Pharmacy)(Brief Article)
March 6, 2006... CVS last month announced that its Indianapolis distribution center has received verified-accredited wholesale distributors accreditation from the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy, becoming the first retail pharmacy to achieve such...

RFID implementation stuck at crossroads.(radio frequency identification device)(Brief Article)
March 6, 2006... BETHESDA, Md. -- Full-scale implementation of radio frequency identification systems across the pharmaceutical supply chain appears to have come to a crossroads. The Food and Drug Administration officials, as well as several state-level...

Implementation costs vex industry stakeholders.(rfid equipments to be installed )
March 6, 2006... BETHESDA, Md. -- The RFID debate among industry stakeholders has evolved far beyond establishing a firm return-on-investment through improved supply chain efficiencies and the like. No, now the debate is centered wholly on execution, as in how...

Call for pedigree protocols tops list of needs.(Food and Drug Administration)
March 6, 2006... BETHESDA, Md. -- For government officials charged with safeguarding America's medicines, counterfeiting is the driving force behind the cry for establishing pedigree protocols sooner than later. "Counterfeiting in drugs is commonplace,"...

Perrigo.(gets license for nicotine polarcrilex lozenges)(Brief Article)
March 6, 2006... Perrigo last month received final approval to begin marketing over-the-counter nicotine polarcrilex lozenges, 2 mg and 4 mg, which will become the store-brand equivalent to GlaxoSmithKline's Commit lozenges. The private label smoking-cessation...

Adams Respiratory Therapeutics.(pediatric drugs to be launched)(Brief Article)
March 6, 2006... Adams Respiratory Therapeutics last month announced plans to enter the pediatric market later this year with its extended-release guaifenesin Mucinex brandwith an as-yet-to-be-revealed novel delivery form. "This is a $300-million segment and...

The Quigley Corp.(partners with Universal Studios Inc.)(Brief Article)
March 6, 2006... The Quigley Corp. last month partnered with Universal Pictures for a Cold-Eeze promotion tied to Curious George, the new film featuring the voices of Will Ferrell and Drew Barrymore. Promotion activities include a sweepstakes for a chance...

Matrixx.(Nasal Comfort, nasal mist launch and marketing)(Brief Article)
March 6, 2006... Matrixx last month took a page out of the marketing manual of CNS--which boosted its sales significantly after sampling its Breathe Right nasal strips among the National Football League's elite. But Matrixx seems to be seeking a more hip...

Cough-cold sales healthy as PSE move to pharmacy creates new opportunities.(pseudoephedrine)
March 6, 2006... Going into this year's cough-cold season, the big question was what kind of impact the migration of pseudoephedrine from on the self-care shelf to a place behind the pharmacy counter would have on overall cough-cold sales. Almost coming...

Diet aids record heavy sales gains.(Brief Article)
March 6, 2006... For as much as Americans have an issue with their waistlines--well more than 160 million Americans are falling into the category of being overweight--this year's New Year's resolutions are helping to drive more business into chain drug's diet...

Quantum Inc.(treatment for Canker sores introduced)(Brief Article)
March 6, 2006... Quantum Inc. is introducing a canker sore treatment, called the Canker Cover oral patch, that freshens a user's breath in addition to helping a canker sore heal. The cover is a tablet-like patch made from edible ingredients that stays in place...

Salutron.(introduces heart rate monitors)(Brief Article)
March 6, 2006... Salutron last month launched Smarthealth, a contact heart-rate monitor watch retailing for a suggested $49.99, enabling exercise enthusiasts to monitor their heart rates either in their home or outdoors. "From the initial interest we have...

Me4kidz.(introduces first aid kit box for kids)(Brief Article)
March 6, 2006... Phoenix-based Me4kidz is in the process of promoting a for-kids first-aid kit, called the Medibag, that will retail for $29.95. The first-aid kit includes a variety of bandages, including coagulant wraps, an emergency contact form called the...

The Sunglass Association of America.(reading glasses sales up )(Brief Article)
March 6, 2006... The Sunglass Association of America's 2005 market survey, released last month, found that reading glass units are up 8.1 percent across all major retail channels. The online survey tabulated responses from more than 100,000 consumers, the...

The Consumer Healthcare Products Association and MediRegs have developed a new partnership.(to provide regulatory information resources)(Brief Article)
March 6, 2006... The Consumer Healthcare Products Association and MediRegs have developed a new partnership to provide regulatory information resources. MediRegs will be hosting CHPA's member-only service, the Electronic Link Finder, and the content from...

Procter & Gamble.(eye cosmetics to be endorsed by Carmen Electra )(Brief Article)
March 6, 2006... Working with makeup artist and Procter & Gamble global creative design director Pat McGrath, the MAX Factor brand is introducing this month a revamped lineup of products and palettes. The line includes the MAXeye Collection, Lash Perfection...

Watkins.(entering mass market with creams)(Brief Article)
March 6, 2006... Watkins, whose products F have typically been available only through catalog, online and direct selling, is entering the mass market this month with its J.R. Watkins Apothecary line. The retail line includes Botanical Hand and Body Lotions,...

SquidSoap LP.(new product)(Brief Article)
March 6, 2006... SquidSoap LP has developed a liquid soap dispenser designed to teach children aged 3 to 12 how to wash their hands better. The SquidSoap dispenser has a small ink marker on the pump that marks the hand with an ink dot when pressed. When the ink...

Elizabeth Arden.(French Fragrances Inc., supermarkets, contract)(Brief Article)
March 6, 2006... Elizabeth Arden is bringing to the U.S. market So...? Fragrance, a U.K.-based brand. The launch, which is targeted to girls age 12 to 18, features three scents: So...? Kiss me; So...? Wild and So...? Desirable. The fragrances,...

Revlon.(Financial News)(job cuts)(Brief Article)
March 6, 2006... Revlon last month reaffirmed its 2005 and 2006 outlook and reported it will cut jobs as part of an organizational realignment, resulting in a $10 million charge. Revlon said the restructuring largely involves the consolidation of certain...

Men's grooming products serve look of youth to aging boomers.(skin care and baby boom generation market forecast)
March 6, 2006... What do Sylvester Stallone and Donald Trump have in common? They are among the oldest of the baby boomers who in 2006 will turn 60 years old. The baby boomer generation is not only perhaps the most celebrated of generations, but represents a...

NASCAR is cologne's driving force.(Elizabeth Arden Co. launches Daytona 500 fragrance for men)(Brief Article)
March 6, 2006... NASCAR once again is driving right to retail as Elizabeth Arden launches the Daytona 500 fragrance for men--the first sporting event branded fragrance. The Daytona 500 is considered NASCAR's biggest event and could be referred to as the...

Marvel Entertainment.(license agreement with MGA Entertainment)(Brief Article)
March 6, 2006... Marvel Entertainment recently announced a license agreement with MGA Entertainment in which MGA will develop a range of Marvel Super Hero products including personality and movie-based die-cast cars and remote control vehicles. The agreement...

Publications International Limited.(portable electronic storybooks)(Brief Article)
March 6, 2006... Publications International Limited has introduced two additions to its Story Reader line of portable electronic storybooks. Story Reader Video Plus offers kids aged 3 to 8 all the features of the classic Story Reader combined with the...

SOHO Corp.(plastic storage cases launched)(Brief Article)
March 6, 2006... SOHO Corp., The Storage Specialists, has introduced Hop Into Spring portable plastic storage cases. The brightly colored cases feature a lift-out tray, a sturdy handle that holds items flat, an easy-open locking latch, spacious room at the...

Walt Disney Home Video.(The Lady and The Tramp 50th Anniversary Edition )(Brief Article)
March 6, 2006... The Lady and The Tramp 50th Anniversary Edition now is available from Walt Disney Home Video. The two-disc set has been digitally restored with enhanced picture and sound. Included are never-before-seen deleted scenes, a newly discovered...

Pilot Pen.(Pilot Pen Company Ltd. launches G2 Pro pens)(Brief Article)
March 6, 2006... Pilot Pen has introduced the G2 Pro pen, an upgrade of its G2. The new G2 Pro, featuring a sleek new body design with stylish metal accents, is available in four earth-tone barrel colors with black ink/and a fine point. The new design also...

Wai Lana.(Little Yogis Fun Songs with Lyrics Book launched)(Brief Article)
March 6, 2006... The new Little Yogis Fun Songs CD and Lyrics Book from Wai Lana features 12 catchy songs from the award-winning Little Yogis DVDs. The songs, which come with an 84-page lyrics book, are perfect for dancing, playing, while driving with small...

Electronics put double-digit charge into rechargeable, lithium battery sales.(General Merchandise)
March 6, 2006... Consumers' insatiable appetite for consumer electronics has been good business for battery sales. As consumers snap up digital cameras and other high-drain consumer electronics, sales of rechargeable and lithium batteries have seen double-digit...

Headset poised to be talk of tech.(Jasco Products Company Inc. launches 4-in-1 audio headset )(Brief Article)
March 6, 2006... The digital music market is booming--as are computer voice applications that require a microphone--and Jasco has introduced its award-winning GE 4-in-1 headset to meet the needs of the changing market. The microphone can be connected to the...

Barnie's Coffee & Tea Co.(new vending machine)(Brief Article)
March 6, 2006... Barnie's Coffee & Tea Co. has introduced the ready-to-drink, vending machine-compatible Coffee Cooler, available in double vanilla and decadent dark mocha flavors. The 11-ounce bottled drinks are shelf-stable for nine months, with no...

Anheuser-Busch.(new Michelob Ultra Amber beer from Anheuser-Busch Companies Inc.)(Brief Article)
March 6, 2006... Anheuser-Busch introduced Michelob Ultra Amber, an American-style light lager with a deep amber color. The beer is brewed with darker roasted malts to increase flavor while maintaining low calorie and carbohydrate content. The 12-ounce...

Vroom Foods.(Supplier News)(new Foosh Energy Mints)(Brief Article)
March 6, 2006... New Foosh Energy Mints from Vroom Foods are peppermint-flavored blends of energy-producing ingredients, including caffeine, taurine and five B vitamins to enhance performance, increase endurance and stimulate metabolism. One of the Foosh mints...

Simply Orange Juice Co.(new products Simply Lemonade and Simply Limeade)(Brief Article)
March 6, 2006... Simply Orange Juice Co. is extending its not-from-concentrate concept from orange juices into chilled juices with the introduction of Simply Lemonade and Simply Limeade. The two new fresh-squeezed-style flavors are available in the 59-ounce...

Elite FX's.(2005 Best New Product Award from Beverage Industry )(Brief Article)
March 6, 2006... Elite FX's Celsius, a soft drink clinically proven to burn calories, has earned the 2005 Best New Product Award from Beverage Industry magazine. The drink, which features a combination of green tea, EGCG, ginger, caffeine, B vitamins and...

Tampico Beverages.(Supplier News)(new Tampico Plus fruit drink)(Brief Article)
March 6, 2006... New Tampico Plus fruit drink from Tampico Beverages contains 50 percent less sugar than many regular juice drinks, with an 8-ounce serving containing 25 percent of the recommended daily allowance of vitamin C and 10 percent of the RDA in...

As low-carb craze ends, retailers eye health-oriented snack alternatives.(Atkins Nutritionals Inc bankruptcy)
March 6, 2006... The low-carb craze may officially be over. With the bankruptcy of Atkins Nutritionals Inc., retailers are clearing their shelves of low-carb products and are wondering what new products will take their place. Drug stores added a lot of...

Starbucks launch heats up segment.(instant coffee, Iced Coffee)(Brief Article)
March 6, 2006... Starbucks has served up a new offering in the ready-to-drink coffee category with the introduction of Starbucks Iced Coffee. The drink made with Starbucks Italian-roast coffee and a touch of milk and sugar, comes in response to a reported trend...

A two-pronged attack on generics.(reductions in Medicaid reimbursements to pharmacies, budget)
March 6, 2006... WASHINGTON -- The Bush administration's proposed 2007 budget deals a double blow to the generic drug industry, and both patients and the pharmacies that dispense their medications will feel the pain. The budget calls for a $1.3 billion cut...

A note from the moderator ...(Drug Store News organizes Diabetes Roundtable 2006)(Brief Article)
March 6, 2006... Given the rate of innovation in the detection, treatment and control of diabetes, it is a topic that generates insightful commentary and a dynamic exchange of ideas. I was pleased to be asked once again to direct the dialogue on this topic for...

Diabetes Roundtable 2006.(drug stores and pharmacists' services)(Panel Discussion)
March 6, 2006... BRIAN HILLE corporate director of pharmacy care * Safeway Drug Store News: Why is the pharmacist ideally suited to address the needs of a patient with diabetes, and why should this be the primary focus for pharmacy? HILLE: I really...

Chains turn to Plan B under states' mandate pressure.
March 20, 2006... BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Wal-Mart earlier this month announced that its more than 3,600 pharmacies will begin carrying the emergency contraceptive Plan B following mandates to sell the controversial morning-after pill in Illinois and Massachusetts...

Scramble is on to fix Medicare.(News)
March 20, 2006... WASHINGTON -- The Medicare Part D drug benefit program for seniors now is in its third month. But confusion over the complicated program and its slew of competing drug plans has kept millions of seniors on the sidelines, raised the ire of...

PharmaCare emerges with Chrysler pact.(DaimlerChrysler AG. Chrysler Group contracts with PharmaCare Inc.)
March 20, 2006... WOONSOCKET, R.I. -- Automobile manufacturer DaimlerChrysler has given CVS' pharmaceutical benefit manager division, PharmaCare, the green light to administer pharmacy benefits to its U.S. employees, retirees and dependents. The deal not only is...

Backyard prototype provides view of Rite Aid's future.(News)
March 20, 2006... MECHANICSBURG, Pa. -- Rite Aid cut the ribbon March 2 to celebrate the opening of its first Customer World prototype right in its own backyard--just a short drive for companies calling on the chain's Camp Hill headquarters. In addition to the...

Lights, camera, action: CVS goes prime time.(CVS Corp. sponsoring American Broadcasting Companies Inc.'s new program 'Miracle Workers')
March 20, 2006... WOONSOCKET, R.I. -- CVS has stepped from behind the pharmacy counter and in front of the television cameras to take part in a new ABC series about people overcoming insurmountable odds with the help of a team of medical professionals. ...

Take Care eyes rapid growth.(TakeCare Inc. raised funds from Beecken Petty O'Keefe & Co.)(Brief article)
March 20, 2006... CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa. -- In what its leaders say is the biggest injection of working capital in a health care services firm in recent years, fast-growing in-store clinic operator Take Care Health Systems revealed March 6 it had raised $77 million...

Workman's comp, PBM do heavy lifting for Longs' strong earnings.(Longs Drug Stores Corp. )
March 20, 2006... WALNUT CREEK, Calif. -- Strong fourth-quarter earnings got even better for Longs Drug Stores last month when a windfall of revenue nearly doubled its projected earnings. The strong performance was welcome news for Longs as it begins to ramp up...

IRI Conference stresses innovation.(Information Resources Inc.)
March 20, 2006... SAN FRANCISCO -- The need to rebuild brands and retail strategies was the main topic for discussion at Information Resources Inc.'s "Re-Inventing CPG & Retail Summit" last month in San Francisco. More than 1,300 reps from key retailers and...

New head of specialty group appointed at Wal-Mart.(Wal-Mart Stores Inc. appointed Bill Simon )
March 20, 2006... BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Wal-Mart's pharmacy business is poised for an infusion of fresh ideas following the recent appointment of Bill Simon as executive vice president of Wal-Mart's specialty division. In that capacity, Simon will be...

Del eyes market leadership with N.Y.C. New York Color.(Del Laboratories Inc. launches marketing campaign)
March 20, 2006... UNIONDALE, N.Y. -- Del Laboratories is breaking new ground with the launch of an aggressive multimillion dollar integrated marketing campaign aimed at positioning its N.Y.C. New York Color brand not only as a market leader in the value...

Kroger announces fourth-quarter sales.(Brief article)
March 20, 2006... CINCINNATI, Ohio -- Kroger's total fourth-quarter sales increased 7.5 percent to $14.7 billion for the period ended Jan. 28, the company reported. Comparable sales increased 6.2 percent at stores with fuel; 4.7 percent at stores without fuel,...

U.K. retailer looks to expand in U.S.(Tesco )(Brief article)
March 20, 2006... CHESHUNT, England -- U.K. retailer Tesco has announced that it will enter the United States via California by 2007 and expand significantly. Its stores are expected to be high-end convenience/grocery units based on the chain's "Express" format...