Drug Store News articles from November 2002

Drug Store News archives from November 2002

U.S. Bankruptcy Court. (Newsbites).(Phar-Mor employees)(Brief Article)
November 27, 2002... YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio -- The U.S. Bankruptcy Court here has approved a modified version of a bonus retention plan for Phar-Mor employees who slay on the job while the bankrupt company winds down operations. The plan's total cost is estimated at...

Fleming's retail group. (Newsbites).(Keith Durham and Tim Otte resign)(Brief Article)
November 27, 2002... LEWISVILLE, Texas -- Keith Durham, senior vice president of operations for Fleming's retail group and Tim Otte, chief financial officer for the retail group, have resigned, according to a company spokesman. As previously reported,...

Schering AG and Organon. (Newsbites).(jointly developing male birth control)(Brief Article)
November 27, 2002... BERLIN -- Expanding the choices for male birth control, drug makers Schering AG and Organon are teaming up to develop hormone fertility control for men. The goal is to have the male pill available for U.S. and European markets in the next...

West Coast dock-workers. (Newsbites).(Brief Article)
November 27, 2002... WASHINGTON -- Retailers received good news this week as West Coast dock-workers and management agreed to a six-year contract. "Even though dockworkers have been back on the job since Oct. 9, the docks have been operating far under capacity...

Snyder's Drug Stores. (Newsbites).(renames warehouse facility)(Brief Article)
November 27, 2002... MINNETONKA, Minn. -- Snyder's Drug Stores, which acquired a 10-year lease to the warehouse formerly operated by Phar-Mor, has renamed the facility the Western Wholesale Distribution Co. Snyder's plans to have it fully operational by...

BJ's to highlight pharmacy with expanded, reset HBC areas.(BJ's Wholesale Club)(Brief Article)
November 27, 2002... NATICK, Mass. -- In extending its pharmacy test, BJ's Wholesale Club intends to revisit how it markets the operation in existing stores. Additionally, the club will rework HBC sections in selected stores, in part to make them more pharmacy...

Longs Drug Stores, BJ's see boost in third quarter profit.(Brief Article)
November 27, 2002... WALNUT CREEK, Calif. -- Longs Drug Stores saw its third quarter profit increase slightly, driven by solid pharmacy same-store sales. The Walnut Creek, Calif.-based drug chain reported last Wednesday that net income for the 13 weeks ended...

Shoppers Drug Mart tests bio-medical waste program.(Brief Article)
November 27, 2002... TORONTO -- Ontario Health Minister Tony Clement helped launch two patient-responsive health initiatives Friday with Shoppers Drug Mart. In a test program launched throughout Ontario, Shoppers Drug Mart will be destination centers for...

SureScript Systems teams up with four supermarket chains.(Ahold USA, A&P, Hannaford Bros. and Safeway)(Brief Article)
November 27, 2002... ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- SureScript Systems, an e-prescribing venture, has reached agreements with four major supermarket chains, Ahold USA, A&P, Hannaford Bros. and Safeway. The four supermarkets have agreed to work with SureScript to develop...

Rite Aid judge steps down from case, new judge named.(U.S. Middle District Senior Judge Sylvia Rambo now handling criminal case)(Brief Article)
November 27, 2002... HARRISBURG, Pa. -- U.S. Middle District Judge Yvette Kane Thursday removed herself from the fraud case involving former and current Rite Aid executives, a reversal of her previous decision not to remove herself from the case, according to...

Safeway ratifies contract; looks to sell Dominick's.(Brief Article)
November 27, 2002... PLEASANTON, Calif. -- Now that Safeway has reached a contract extension agreement with union workers at its 113-unit Chicago-based Dominick's chain, the company is now looking to sell Dominick's. Dominick's has pharmacies in all but nine of...

Kroger expects to operate 130 Food 4 Less stores by February.(Brief Article)
November 27, 2002... LOS ANGELES -- Kroger's Food 4 Less division has begun converting eight recently acquired Las Vegas-based Raley's supermarkets to the Food 4 Less banner. Five of the locations have pharmacies. By Jan. 31, Food 4 Less stated that it...

Walgreens. (Financials).(earnings forecast)(Brief Article)
November 27, 2002... DEERFIELD, Ill. -- Citing weakened front-end sales, Merrill Lynch cut its first quarter 2003 earnings forecast for Walgreens to 20 cents per share from 21 cents. The move--along with a "sell" recommendation on Walgreens' stock earlier this...

Sunbeam. (Financials).(changing name to American Household Inc.)(Brief Article)
November 27, 2002... BOCA RATON, Fla. -- Sunbeam announced yesterday that the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York confirmed its plans of reorganization. Accordingly, Sunbeam expects to close the transactions under the plans and emerge from...

Shares of Safeway. (Financials).(shares rise 17%)(Brief Article)
November 27, 2002... PLEASANTON, Calif. -- Shares of Safeway soared 17 percent last week to close Friday at $23.41 following news that it planned to shed its Dominick's division. The supermarket chain and its union workers ratified a labor contract on Sunday,...

ShopKo Stores. (Financials).(third quarter sales)(Brief Article)
November 27, 2002... GREEN BAY, Wis. -- ShopKo Stores reported that its third quarter sales were $769.6 million versus last year's $797.5 million. Earnings were $877000, or 3 cents per share, compared with a loss of $5.2 million, or 18 cents per share, last year....

The beauty beat.(pH Beauty)(Del Laboratories)(Rite Aid)(Brief Article)
November 27, 2002... NEW YORK -- Total beauty requires a 360-degree approach to the category, which may explain the slew of line extensions slated for this spring. pH Beauty got a jump start on the line-extension game with the fall debut of a new foot care...

American Red Cross. (Newsbites).(CVS makes donation)(Brief Article)
November 20, 2002... VAN WERT, Ohio -- CVS donated more than $10,000 worth of CVS gift cards and care packages of merchandise to the American Red Cross to be distributed to families here who lost their homes or otherwise were displaced by last week's tornadoes...

Discount Drug Mart. (Newsbites).(running promotion to win new car)(Brief Article)
November 20, 2002... MEDINA, Ohio -- Discount Drug Mart hopes to drive holiday shoppers to its locations with a promotion that began Nov. 13. The grand prize for local entrants is a 2002 Hyundai Accent from Ganley West Side Imports. The contest will run through...

Procter & Gamble and Clorox have agreed tentatively to establish a joint venture to develop new products under the Glad, GladWare and related brands. (Newsbites).(Brief Article)
November 20, 2002... CINCINNATI -- Procter & Gamble and Clorox have agreed tentatively to establish a joint venture to develop new products under the Glad, GladWare and related brands. The agreement is subject to final negotiations and approval. P&G would...

Rhode Island Country Club. (Newsbites).(CVS makes donations )(Brief Article)
November 20, 2002... WOONSOCKET, R.I -- CVS made donations worth $800,000 earlier this month to 38 local charities--proceeds from the 2002 CVS Charity Classic golf tournament held June 22 to 24 at the the Rhode Island Country Club--at a press conference. "In the...

Albertson's tests Toys "R" Us sections in Chicago stores.(Brief Article)
November 20, 2002... BOISE, Idaho -- Albertson's, following a trend set by Giant Foods and Stop & Shop, has become the latest supermarket retailer to test mini Toys "R" Us departments in five of its Chicago-based Jewel-Osco food and drug stores. The design...

SureScripts links with InstantDx to speed e-prescribing network.(Brief Article)
November 20, 2002... ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- Extending its drive to establish a nationwide electronic prescribing network, SureScript Systems has agreed to ally with InstantDx, a technology provider for the medical community. The move will boost SureScripts' access to...

Kroger promotes more execs.(Donna Giordano and Katie Wolfram)
November 20, 2002... CINCINNATI -- Kroger has made several key executive changes, including promoting Donna Giordano, former vice president of sales and marketing for Denver-based King Soopers, to president of Quality Food Centers, which operates 86 stores in...

Marc Glassman acquires two former Phar-Mor locations.(opening stores in Austintown, OH, and Boardman, OH)(Brief Article)
November 20, 2002... CLEVELAND -- Marc Glassman, regional operator of deep discount drug stores, has acquired the leases to two former Phar-Mor stores and plans to reopen them as Marc's Discount Drug Stores early next year. One store is located in Austintown,...

Eckerd to offer seniors 30 percent off generics.(Brief Article)
November 20, 2002... CLEARWATER, Fla. -- Eckerd announced Thursday that it will offer a savings of 30 percent on most generic prescription medications to participants in the Together Rx program beginning this week. "Eckerd is pleased to lead the industry by...

Elephant Pharmacy to bow flagship store this weekend.(Brief Article)
November 20, 2002... BERKELEY, Calif. -- Elephant Pharmacy plans to open the doors to its flagship store here this weekend and will hold a grand-opening celebration with free product samples and live music tomorrow. The retail concept behind Elephant features...

Navarro, ADA team up to reach Hispanic consumers.(American Diabetes Association)
November 20, 2002... MIAMI -- Navarro Discount Pharmacies this month partnered with the American Diabetes Association in reaching out to the Hispanic community by providing free literature at the chain's 16 Florida locations. In addition, several Navarro...

CVS settles overtime suit with Alabama pharmacists.(Brief Article)
November 20, 2002... WOONSOCKET, R.I. -- CVS has agreed to settle a lawsuit with current and former CVS pharmacists in Alabama regarding unpaid overtime, the company reported last week in a Securities and Exchange Commission filing for its third quarter, which...

Snyder's names warehouse, carves deal with union.(acquires warehouse )(Brief Article)
November 20, 2002... MINNETONKA, Minn. -- Snyder's Drug Stores, which has acquired a 10-year lease to the Austintown, Ohio, warehouse formerly operated by bankrupt Phar-Mor drug stores, has renamed the 750,000-square-foot facility the Western Wholesale...

IMRA: practicality will drive holiday sales at drug, mass.(Brief Article)
November 20, 2002... ARLINGTON, Va. -- Holiday shoppers are favoring more practical categories, such as consumer electronics and crafts, according to results of the International Mass Retail Association's first holiday survey. IMRA'S consumer survey revealed...

Walgreen Co. (Financials).(2003 first quarter forecast )(Brief Article)
November 20, 2002... DEERFIELD, Ill -- Merrill Lynch on Monday reduced its first quarter 2003 earnings forecasts for Walgreen Co. to 20 cents per share from 21 cents because weak front-end sales "will make [expense] leverage demanding, especially with pharmacy...

Target Corp. (Financials).(third quarter results )(Brief Article)
November 20, 2002... MINNEAPOLIS -- Target Corp. reported last week that its net income rose 50 percent in the third quarter to $277 million, or 30 cents per share. The per-share total exceeded Wall Street's estimates by two cents per share. Sales rose 9.2...

Federal Trade Commission. (Financials).(Kroger acquires Raley's stores in Las Vegas)(Brief Article)
November 20, 2002... CINCINNATI -- The Federal Trade Commission allowed Kroger to complete its acquisition of 18 Raley's stores in Las Vegas. As a result, Kroger and Raley's were expected to close the transaction late last week. Smith's and Food 4 Less, two...

USA reported that sales at its U.S.-based supermarket divisions rose 3.4 percent in the third quarter ended Oct. 6. (Financials).(Ahold USA)(Brief Article)
November 20, 2002... ZAANDAM, Netherlands -- Ahold USA reported that sales at its U.S.-based supermarket divisions rose 3.4 percent in the third quarter ended Oct. 6. But comparable-store sales were up just 0.6 percent, and identical-store sales fell 0.2 percent....

Eckerd records strong growth in third quarter.(Brief Article)
November 13, 2002... PLANO, Texas -- Boosted by inventory management and the continued strong performance of its reformatted stores, Eckerd's operating profit more than doubled to $79 million in the third quarter ended Oct. 26, the company reported yesterday. ...

Shoppers Drug Mart plans 40 store openings.(Brief Article)
November 13, 2002... TORONTO -- Shoppers Drug Mart, buoyed by strong sales and earnings results for its third quarter ended Oct. 5, plans to open at least 40 new stores next year and double the number of new, large-format store openings. In addition, the company...

CVS put a new spin on newest Las Vegas store.(Brief Article)
November 13, 2002... LAS VEGAS -- CVS' newest Las Vegas store--opened Oct. 21 on The Strip here--makes its presence known loud and clear with larger-than-life products built into its unique architecture. The exterior features 16-foot-high, bright yellow rolls of...

Big Apple. (Newsbites).(Target Holiday Boat to be docked for shopping at Chelsea Piers)(Brief Article)
November 13, 2002... MINNEAPOLIS -- Manhattanites lamenting the Big Apple's lack of a Target location soon will be able to satisfy their itch--at least temporarily. The Target Holiday Boat will be docked and ready for shopping at Chelsea Piers from Friday to Dec....

Food and Drug Administration. (Newsbites).(new drug application approval)(Brief Article)
November 13, 2002... PITTSBURGH -- The Food and Drug Administration has granted the first abbreviated new drug application approval for isotretinoin soft gelatin capsules, which is bioequivalent to Roche's Accutane. Mylan's branded subsidiary Bertek...

SureScript Systems. (Newsbites).(Rick Ratliff named executive vice president of technology)(Brief Article)
November 13, 2002... ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- SureScript Systems has named Rick Ratliff to the new post of executive vice president of technology. Ratliff, who was co-founder and senior vice president of Healthvision, will oversee all technology development, customer...

National Diabetes Month. (Newsbites).(Rite Aid providing information about diabetes)(Brief Article)
November 13, 2002... CAMP HILL, Pa. -- In support of National Diabetes Month, Rite Aid is hosting events in 150 of its pharmacies, providing diabetes-educating pharmacists, dieticians, blood pressure testing and product samples to customers.

Consumer Healthcare Products Association. (Newsbites).(holds 2002 Research and Scientific Development Conference)(Brief Article)
November 13, 2002... BETHESDA, Md. -- The Consumer Healthcare Products Association held its 2002 Research and Scientific Development Conference recently. Titled "Expanding OTC Access Through Education," the event was a series of educational speeches and...

Longs rolls out program to benefit eligible seniors.(Longs Senior Advantage)(Brief Article)
November 13, 2002... WALNUT CREEK, Calif. -- Longs Drug Stores has launched Longs Senior Advantage in an effort to provide seniors shopping the chain's 440 pharmacies with discounts when they pay cash for prescriptions. Eligible seniors, in addition to...

Drug Store News hones agenda for fourth annual Issues Summit.(Brief Article)
November 13, 2002... NEW YORK -- Retailers and suppliers will gather Dec. 3 at Drug Store News' fourth annual Issues Summit. Among the retailers participating in the event include Tony Montini of Rite Aid, George Riedl of Walgreens, Chris Bodine of CVS and Gary...

Kroger promotes execs.(Robert Zincke named senior vice president)(Brief Article)
November 13, 2002... CINCINNATI -- The Kroger Co. has made adjustments to its management lineup, promoting four executives. Robert Zincke was named senior vice president, responsible for several retail divisions; Zincke was president of Kroger's Southwest...

MasterCard joins with bank to launch prepaid Rx card.(PrivateBank and Trust and Macaluso Group)(Brief Article)
November 13, 2002... PURCHASE, N.Y. -- MasterCard International has allied with The PrivateBank and Trust and a pharmaceutical marketing specialist, The Macaluso Group, to launch what it calls a pioneering card product for use by patients, physicians and...

October sales performances.(Brief Article)(Illustration)
November 13, 2002... October sales performances Total Same-store monthly % increase Same-store pharmacy $ sales over sales sales Company in...

Royal Numico. (Financials).(selling Rexall Sundown)(Brief Article)
November 13, 2002... AMSTERDAM -- Royal Numico has decided to put up for sale its Rexall Sundown unit. Rexall has strong potential, Numico president and chief executive officer Jan Bennink stated, but don't think [Numico], as it is at the moment, can fix all the...

Cardinal Health. (Financials).(Brief Article)
November 13, 2002... DUBLIN, Ohio -- Cardinal Health chairman Robert Walter told shareholders at last weeks annual meeting he is confident in the company's continued growth. "The financial momentum of last year continued strongly into the first quarter of fiscal...

New York Stock Exchange. (Financials).(Safeway stocks)(Brief Article)
November 13, 2002... PLEASANTON, Calif. -- Safeway shares hit a sixyear low of $1 9.08 Monday after the chain reduced its earnings forecasts for the fourth quarter and 2003 in a meeting with Wall Street analysts late last week. Chief executive Steve Burd said...

Food Marketing Institute. (Financials).(retail food industry reports increased net profits and operating income)(Brief Article)
November 13, 2002... WASHINGTON -- The Food Marketing Institute reported this week that the retail food industry increased net profits 1 .36 percent and operating income 3.22 percent in 2002, marking the second consecutive annual increase for both numbers.

AmerisourceBergen Corp. has promoted Kurt Hilzinger, formerly executive vice president and chief operating officer, to president and chief operating officer. (Newsbites).(Brief Article)
November 6, 2002... VALLEY FORGE, Pa. -- AmerisourceBergen Corp. has promoted Kurt Hilzinger, formerly executive vice president and chief operating officer, to president and chief operating officer. In his new role, Hilzinger continues to report to R. David...

Maybelline has hired Mike Indursky as vice president of U.S. marketing. (Newsbites).(Brief Article)
November 6, 2002... NEW YORK -- Maybelline has hired Mike Indursky as vice president of U.S. marketing. Previously, Indursky served as senior vice president of strategic planning and marketing at Unilever Cosmetics International.

Eckerd has named Joan Gallagher vice president of public relations. (Newsbites).(Brief Article)
November 6, 2002... CLEARWATER, Fla. -- Eckerd has named Joan Gallagher vice president of public relations. Gallagher will be responsible for media, regulatory agencies, trade associations, and management staff on public relations and external communication...

Walgreens and Enesco Group. (Newsbites).(team to release holiday gifts)(Brief Article)
November 6, 2002... DEERFIELD, Ill. -- Walgreens and Enesco Group, a provider of giftware, are teaming up to create an exclusive offering of collectibles based on the film classic, "It's a Wonderful Life," for the 2002 holiday season.

AmerisourceBergen Corp. plans to buy Bridge Medical. (Newsbites).(Brief Article)
November 6, 2002... VALLEY FORGE, Pa. -- AmerisourceBergen Corp. plans to buy Bridge Medical, a provider of barcod-enabled point-of-care software, for about $27 million in common stock. The deal also includes incentive payments of up to $55 million based on...

Front-end sales sluggish in October at major chains.(Rite Aid, CVS and Walgreens see slow sales figures )(Brief Article)
November 6, 2002... NEW YORK -- Drug chains Rite Aid, CVS and Walgreens released lukewarm October sales results this week as a weak economy and a possible U.S. attack on Iraq weighs heavily on consumers' minds and wallets. Camp Hill, Pa.-based Rite Aid...

Longs Drug Stores names Kroger's Bryant as CEO.(Warren Bryant succeeds Harold Somerset)(Brief Article)
November 6, 2002... WALNUT CREEK, Calif. -- Longs Drug Stores has hired former Kroger executive Warren Bryant as its new president and chief executive officer. Bryant also has been elected to Longs' board of directors. He succeeds Harold Somerset, who will...

CVS 3Q earnings up 33 percent, selects K*B toys as supplier.(Brief Article)
November 6, 2002... WOONSOCKET, RI. -- CVS reported Oct. 30 that third quarter earnings increased 33 percent to $1 64.4 million, or 40 cents per share--in line with Wall Street's expectations. Net earnings, including a $4.4 million net gain from nonrecurring...

Shaw's Supermarkets looks to buy 18 Ames locations.(Brief Article)
November 6, 2002... WEST BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- Shaw's Supermarkets is bidding on 18 sites once operated by bankrupt Ames Department Stores. According to Rolando de Aguiar, Ames' president, Shaw's has bid $48.5 million for the sites, which include seven in...

Snyder's, Giant Eagle ink deal on former Phar-Mor warehouse.(Snyder's Drug Stores/Drug Emporium)(Brief Article)
November 6, 2002... YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio -- Snyder's Drug Stores/Drug Emporium and Giant Eagle nave reached an agreement on the lease and operation the Tamco distribution center, formerly operated by Phar-Mor. The facility, based in Austintown Township, Ohio,...

Kmart, Cardinal Health to continue Rx deal, court says.(except in Puerto Rico )(Brief Article)
November 6, 2002... TROY, Mich. -- Cardinal Health will continue to provide prescription pharmaceutical products to all Kmart locations, with the exception of stores in Puerto Rico, a bankruptcy court recently ruled. According to a Dow Jones report, bankrupt...

Medicine Shoppe plans to open 100 stores in China.(partners with Pacific Gateway Capital and Neptunus Star)(Brief Article)
November 6, 2002... ST. LOUIS -- Medicine Shoppe International, which operates more than 1,000 pharmacies in the United States and more than 200 pharmacies in eight other countries, announced Friday that it has entered China. Medicine Shoppe International...

Safeway may sell Dominick's in labor contract dispute.(Brief Article)
November 6, 2002... PLEASANTON, Calif. -- Supermarket chain Safeway may dispose of its Dominick's division if the company is unable to rectify a labor contract dispute, the company stated in a recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. ...

Albertson's to invest $300m in Colorado through 2005.(Brief Article)
November 6, 2002... BOISE, Idaho -- Albertson's plans to expand its presence in Colorado and invest more than $300 million in the state through 2005 for new store and fuel center construction, as well the remodeling of existing stores. The company currently...

AmerisourceBergen's fourth quarter earnings more than doubled to $95 million, or 86 cents per share. (Financials).(Brief Article)
November 6, 2002... VALLEY FORGE, Pa. -- AmerisourceBergen's fourth quarter earnings more than doubled to $95 million, or 86 cents per share. Analysts expected 85 cents per share, according to Thomson Financial/First Call. Sales rose 97 percent to $11.6 billion....

Shares of AstraZeneca fell $2.13 to close at $35.42. (Financials).(Brief Article)
November 6, 2002... ST. LOUIS -- Shares of AstraZeneca fell $2.13 to close at $35.42 Friday following news that the FDA approved Kudco's generic version of AstraZeneca's Prilosec.

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries will join the NASDAQ-100 Index, effective tomorrow. (Financials).(Brief Article)
November 6, 2002... ISRAEL -- Teva Pharmaceutical Industries will join the NASDAQ-100 Index, effective tomorrow. "This is an important milestone in Teva's trading history, which will provide our company with increased visibility among potential investors in the...

Shares of Albertson's fell $5.11 to close at $22.31. (Financials).(Brief Article)
November 6, 2002... BOISE, Idaho -- Shares of Albertson's fell $5.11 to close at $22.31 last Thursday after it lowered its third quarter outlook. Albertson's had expected earnings per share from continuing operations of 52 cents, but now expects profits to be...

Revlon. (Financials).(Brief Article)
November 6, 2002... NEW YORK -- Revlon reported last Thursday that it narrowed its third quarter loss to $22.1 million, or 42 cents per share, versus a loss last year of $22.9 million, or 44 cents per share. Revenues were $323.2 million versus $320.2 million...