Drug Store News articles from October 2008

Drug Store News archives from October 2008

FTC to examine tug of war for Longs.(NEWS & ANALYSIS)(Federal Trade Commission)(CVS Caremark Corp. buys Longs Drug Stores Corp.)
October 6, 2008... WALNUT CREEK, Calif. -- Barring a successful takeover by Walgreens, it appears CVS Caremark holds the advantage in the tug of war for Longs Drugs, As the Sept. 22 issue of Drug Store News went to press, the Longs acquisition had turned...

Ho-ho-hum holiday season looms for retail: in part one of a two-part series, Drug Store News examines the impact that the present state of the economy is having on the retail pharmacy business.(SPECIAL REPORT: ECONOMIC IMPACT)
October 6, 2008... NEW YORK -- For retailers, the Grinch this year is the American economy, as several retail prognosticators have predicted a less-than-merry Christmas sales season. Higher-than-last-year fuel prices; ever-increasing prices for such necessity...

Standley returns to Rite Aid as COO in executive shakeup.(NEWS & ANALYSIS)(Rite Aid Corp. has appointed John Standley)
October 6, 2008... CAMP HILL, Pa. -- One of the original engineers of Rite Aid's turnaround earlier this decade has returned to Camp Hill. Rite Aid named John Standley president and chief operating officer on Sept. 25--the same day Rite Aid readjusted earnings...

Study: higher copays mean greater drug compliance.(NEWS & ANALYSIS)(Survey)
October 6, 2008... PLYMOUTH MEETING, Pa. -- Conventional wisdom suggests that people with lower prescription drug copays will be more faithful to their medication regimens, but a study conducted by SDI and Experian Marketing Services indicated the opposite. ...

Shoppers Drug Mart.(Shoppers Drug Mart Ltd.)(Brief article)
October 6, 2008... Shoppers Drug Mart plans to open 150 Shoppers Simply Pharmacy outlets--a new 1,000-square-foot format designed for medical buildings. "We have 15 stores at this point in time," Jurgen Schreiber, Shoppers' president and chief executive...

Lornamead.(Lornamead Ltd. has appointed Randy Sloan)(Brief article)
October 6, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Lornamead, a marketer of personal care brands whose portfolio includes Aqua Net, Finesse and Yardley, has appointed former Del Pharmaceuticals executive Randy Sloan as president. Sloan, who sits on the board of...

National Association of Chain Drug Stores.(Heidi Ann Ecker)(Brief article)
October 6, 2008... Building up its grassroots lobbying efforts, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores has hired advocacy veteran Heidi Ann Ecker as director of government affairs and grassroots programs, a new position. "Grassroots is a major...

Institute for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians.(Brief article)
October 6, 2008... On-demand testing should be the universal method of testing for pharmacy technician certification, the Institute for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians said. The Exam for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians is a national,...

Cash-strapped employers turn to clinics.(NEWS & ANALYSIS)(Comprehensive Health Services Inc. (Detroit, Michigan))
October 6, 2008... NEW YORK -- Soaring healthcare costs and a renewed focus on employee productivity has prompted many U.S. employers to take a closer look at the benefits of corporate health centers, and many are turning to third-party vendors for help. ...

Duane Reade continues exec restructuring.(NEWS & ANALYSIS)(Rick Dreiling and Joseph Magnacca)
October 6, 2008... NEW YORK -- Pharmacy retailer Duane Reade continues to restructure its senior management team with the appointment of two key executives. The news comes amid the resignation of longtime pharmacy executive Jerry Ray. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]...

Save Mart offers 19-min. fills.(NEWS & ANALYSIS)(Save Mart Supermarkets)(Lucky Stores Inc.)(Brief article)
October 6, 2008... MODESTO, Calif. -- Long waits at the pharmacy could become ancient history for customers at Save Mart and Lucky stores, The supermarket chain announced the launch of its "19-Minute Promise" guarantee Sept, 17, whereby it promises to fill up...

Schnucks debuts urban prototype.(NEWS & ANALYSIS)(Schnuck Markets Inc.)(Brief article)
October 6, 2008... ST. LOUIS -- Schnucks is taking a detour from its usual practice with a new format for the store it plans to open downtown here spring 2009. The company said the store would be a new urban prom-type for serving the approximately 100,000...

Rite Aid gets confidence boost in uncertain times.(Rite Aid Corp.)(Editorial)(Viewpoint essay)
October 6, 2008... You better believe these are tough times in America. People are scared. The financial crisis that brought Lehman Brothers and AIG to its knees last month is being called the biggest financial meltdown since the The Great Depression. TV...

In uncertain times, supermarkets hold their own.(SUPERMARKET RX)
October 6, 2008... In times of uncertainty and economic turmoil, Americans still have to eat and take their medicines. That essential marketplace truism isn't lost on supermarket pharmacy operators. Trading on the enormous appeal of one-stop shopping...

Powerhouse Kroger maintains strong lead in Rx.(SUPERMARKET RX)
October 6, 2008... Question: which retail chain has risen to become the nation's sixth-largest pharmacy operator, with nearly 2,000 prescription centers, coast-to-coast market penetration and $7 billion in pharmacy revenues? The answer, of course, is Kroger...

Safeway: new healthcare division not a PBM.(SUPERMARKET RX)
October 6, 2008... Safeway made a splash a month ago when Steve Burd, chairman, president and chief executive officer, told the Goldman Sachs Global Retailing Conference that the company would launch a healthcare services consulting division. While some...

Supervalu store tours focus on nutrition, diabetes.(SUPERMARKET RX)
October 6, 2008... When Supervalu acquired major parts of Albertsons-Sav-On, and a passel of food and drug combination stores, it suddenly became a major pharmacy player--the ninth-biggest in the United States--a role that it has embraced and made central to its...

Ahold bets grocery coupons boost Rx biz.(SUPERMARKET RX)(Royal Ahold N.V.)
October 6, 2008... The new branding scheme that Dutch supermarket operator Royal Ahold unveiled for its Stop & Shop and Giant Foods banners in August has accompanied a host of new health-and-wellness efforts. Ahold announced the new branding on Aug. 22 for...

Online shopping lists link health, food for Publix.(SUPERMARKET RX)(Company overview)
October 6, 2008... Publix has built a reputation for providing good service in good stores at a good price. And by remaining consistent in all three areas, the company not only has thrived in Florida, but managed to expand throughout the Southeast. The company's...

Candidates' advisers affirm support for generic drugs.(CHAIN PHARMACY)(Brief article)
October 6, 2008... WASHINGTON -- For the hard-pressed generic drug industry, the 2008 presidential election looks like a win-win, no matter which candidate makes it to the White House. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Senior campaign advisers for both Barack Obama...

Ranbaxy vows to correct FDA violations.(CHAIN PHARMACY)(Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd.)
October 6, 2008... NEW YORK -- Ranbaxy Laboratories hit a speed bump when the Food and Drug Administration announced that it would ban the import of drugs made at two of its plants in India, into the United States. The FDA issued two warning letters to the...

Passing the test: Ray Swanson, Centice.(Q&A)(Interview)
October 6, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] According to a study from Auburn University, some 52 million errors occur each year in the United States during the prescription-filling process. Technology gurus have long sought to develop systems to help...

Diabetes drugs prove effective as diagnoses soar.(DIABETES CARE)
October 6, 2008... NEW YORK -- The United States has seen an alarming increase over the last few years in the prevalence of diabetes, particularly Type 2. The disease affects 23.6 million Americans--8 percent of the population--and the number of people who...

Kerr Drug education focuses on classes, Web site.(DIABETES CARE)
October 6, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] NEW YORK -- A retail pharmacy in the Carolinas has made combating diabetes one of its chief missions. Kerr Drug, which operates more than 160 stores in North Carolina and the Charleston, S.C. area, has started a...

Congress clamping down on illegal online Rx.(PHARMACY AUTOMATION)
October 6, 2008... WASHINGTON -- Pharmacy advocates are hailing new legislation to clamp down on illegal online pharmacies. On Sept. 23, the House passed the Ryan Haight Online Pharmacy Consumer Protection Act of 2008. As of Sept. 24, when Drug Store News...

Kirby Lester.(Supplier News)(Brief article)
October 6, 2008... Kirby Lester has launched the KL20 counting and verification system, which allows pharmacy technicians to fill scripts using the system's new software and touch screen, while pharmacists use the same system to verify orders. The system offers a...

InforMedix Holdings and Audiopoint have announced that they will provide voice-enabled communications through the MedePhone system, a notification system for medication adherence, making sure patients take their medication by issuing cell phone alerts.(Supplier News)(Brief article)
October 6, 2008... InforMedix Holdings and Audiopoint have announced that they will provide voice-enabled communications through the MedePhone system, a notification system for medication adherence, making sure patients take their medication by issuing cell phone...

QS/1.(Supplier News)(Brief article)
October 6, 2008... QS/1 is enhancing its point-of-sale system to allow retailers to conform to new IRS healthcare reporting mandates, which require pharmacies to implement, by Jan. 1, 2009, a new POS technology known as the Inventory Information Approval System,...

ScriptPro's.(Supplier News)(King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center in Riyadh begins operating its main outpatient pharmacy with ScriptPro)(Brief article)
October 6, 2008... King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, has begun operating its main outpatient pharmacy with ScriptPro's SP central workflow and robotic prescription dispensing systems. ScriptPro's global drug database...

Pharmitas.(Supplier News)(University of Washington Department of Pharmacy )(Brief article)
October 6, 2008... Pharmitas and the University of Washington Department of Pharmacy will partner as a medication therapy management program. Using its software as a service platform, Pharmitas will facilitate real-time delivery of medication therapy management...

Varolii.(Supplier News)(Brief article)
October 6, 2008... Varolii has launched Adherence Outreach, a fully managed, on-demand patient-notification service that helps retail, mail-order and specialty pharmacies improve prescription medication adherence. Adherence delivers HIPAA-compliant communications...

AmerisourceBergen.(Supplier News)(Brief article)
October 6, 2008... AmerisourceBergen has introduced the Fast Fill 120, a robotic dispensing system designed for pharmacies that fill 200 to 500 prescriptions a day, and is capable of automating up to 120 oral solid medications while dispensing 150 scripts per...

Wal-Mart adds diabetes diagnostics to low-cost healthcare offerings.(OVER THE COUNTER)(Editorial)(Brief article)
October 6, 2008... BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Determined to become the destination for low-cost health care, Wal-Mart last month announced that it would incorporate its ReliOn diabetes-management products into the retailer's affordable pharmacy program by selling all...

FDA considers at-home pandemic flu kits.(OVER THE COUNTER)(Editorial)
October 6, 2008... ROCKVILLE, Md. -- Treatments to be used in the event of a pandemic flu epidemic may one day be available over the counter in the form of MedKits--kits containing antivirals designed to be kept in a home that would supplement the mass...

Products move to make telehealth a reality.(OVER THE COUNTER)(Editorial)(Brief article)
October 6, 2008... BELLEVUE, Wash. -- Telehealth is fast becoming a reality, as demonstrated by the number of product announcements out of the Microsoft HealthVault Solutions Conference held in June. Several new devices and device categories--including weight...

Tums touts QuikPak relief.(WHAT'S HOT)(Editorial)(Brief article)
October 6, 2008... PITTSBURGH -- While the overall antacid category is relatively flat--Information Resources Inc. reported a decline of 0.6 percent on a $1.1 billion sales base across food, drug and mass (minus Wal-Mart) channels for the 52 weeks ended Aug....

Color makes meters less clinical.(OVER THE COUNTER)(Bayer Diabetes has introduced color meters )(Editorial)
October 6, 2008... NEW YORK -- With the growing prevalence of diabetes--the latest American Diabetes Association estimates place the number of people who have diabetes at 23.6 million, or 8 percent of the U.S. population--the stigma once associated with managing...

Home Diagnostics.(Supplier News)(Home Diagnostics Inc.)(Editorial)(Brief article)
October 6, 2008... Home Diagnostics recently received 510(k) clearance from the Food and Drug Administration for the world's smallest blood glucose meter, TRUE2go, and for TRUEresult, the company's latest advanced performance, no-coding meter for at-home testing....

Water-Jel Technologies.(Supplier News)(appointment of Herb Baer)(Brief article)
October 6, 2008... Water-Jel Technologies last month named Herb Baer its new chief marketing officer and vice president of consumer sales, a new position for the company. "We created this new position to help drive the growth we foresee in both existing and...

Competitive discounting among the bone and joint supplement health business may be nearing its end, thanks to rising raw ingredient costs, Bruce Wood, Schiff Nutrition International president and chief executive officer, told analysts during a conference call last month.(Supplier News)(Editorial)(Report)
October 6, 2008... Competitive discounting among the bone and joint supplement health business may be nearing its end, thanks to rising raw ingredient costs, Bruce Wood, Schiff Nutrition International president and chief executive officer, told analysts during a...

Nail care sales show luster as economy trims salon visits.(BEAUTY CARE)(Editorial)
October 6, 2008... With the recent collapse of Lehman Brothers, and the Federal Reserve and central banks scrambling to pump billions into markets to ease the credit squeeze and calm investors' nerves, the economic picture continues to look bleak. ...

Israeli company says 'Yes to' U.S. market.(BEAUTY CARE)(Yes to Inc.)(Editorial)(Brief article)
October 6, 2008... NEW YORK -- Yes to Inc., which markets the Yes to Carrots line of natural personal care products, has roots in Israel where it originally sprouted in about 16 stores, but today, the Yes to Carrots brand is making its mark in the United States....

Procter & Gamble.(Supplier News)(Procter & Gamble Co.)(Brief article)
October 6, 2008... Procter & Gamble's CoverGirl cosmetics has confirmed that Ellen DeGeneres is its newest face, marking the first beauty campaign for the comedienne and Emmy-award-winning talk-show host. DeGeneres will be the focus of new advertisements...

Alberto-Culver.(Supplier News)(Alberto-Culver Co.)(Editorial)(Brief article)
October 6, 2008... Alberto-Culver has appointed former Motorola executive Kenneth "Casey" Keller president of U.S. operations. Keller will develop and execute strategy for the company's continued growth in the United States. Most recently, Keller served as chief...

Private equity fund Hispania Capital Partners has completed the sale of Samy Companies, a maker of hair care products, to Hoyu Co., a privately held international hair care products company based in Nagoya, Japan.(Supplier News)(Brief article)
October 6, 2008... Private equity fund Hispania Capital Partners has completed the sale of Samy Companies, a maker of hair care products, to Hoyu Co., a privately held international hair care products company based in Nagoya, Japan. Terms of the deal were not...

Adding polish to oral care.(WHAT'S HOT)(Brief article)
October 6, 2008... CINCINNATI -- Procter & Gamble's Crest brand is looking to drive incremental sales in the oral care aisle with its new Crest Weekly Clean intensive cleaning paste. The launch marks Crest's first and only weekly cleaning paste that polishes...

Craft beers hit it big as seasonal favorites.(CONSUMABLES)
October 6, 2008... Seasonal craft beers are a bright spot in the otherwise flat beer category. While the in-and-out nature of a category based on limited-time, limited-edition brews can pose a merchandising and inventory headache for retailers, experts said the...

Poll shows wave of U.S. coupon use.(CONSUMABLES)(Brief article)
October 6, 2008... NEW YORK -- Americans are using more coupons--particularly for grocery items. A recent consumer poll conducted by Prospectiv, a customer acquisition consultant, found that nearly two-thirds of consumers increased their coupon use over the past...

Bud Light Lime hits home run.(WHAT'S HOT)(Brief article)
October 6, 2008... ST. LOUIS -- Americans have been wedging slices of lime into their Coronas for years and Miller beat Anheuser-Busch to market with Miller Chill last year, but the south-of-the border pairing of beer and citrus has really taken off for A-B. ...

Fashion Week proved to be a high-profile time for foodies as well as fashionistas.(Supplier News)(Brief article)
October 6, 2008... Fashion Week proved to be a high-profile time for foodies as well as fashionistas. Mars Snackfood U.S. used the weeklong celebration of high fashion to launch its new M&M's Premiums collection. The shimmering, jewel-toned M&M's made a splash at...

Hungry Girl Lisa Lillien.(Supplier News)(Brief article)
October 6, 2008... It may not have the punch of a mention on Oprah, but manufacturers are finding that a seal of approval from Hungry Girl Lisa Lillien can boost sales. Lillien, whose Hungry Girl newsletter reaches more than 500,000 subscribers, has become the...

Energy-junkies get blast from loaded mints.(CONSUMABLES)(Brief article)
October 6, 2008... CORONA DEL MAR, Calif. -- Chronically fatigued Americans are making energy mints and gum a growing category. More mints and gums touting caffeine and promising an energy boost are showing up on the market. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "We...

Ready-to-drink coffee sales perk up.(CONSUMABLES)
October 6, 2008... Ready-to-drink iced coffee could get a boost from some introductions with unique positioning in the segment. The still-small iced-coffee category experienced strong growth in recent years, but the segment cooled considerably in 2007, according...

Digital-download technology could be next wave for DVD kiosks.(GENERAL MERCHANDISE)(Blockbuster Inc. was adding in-store digital downloads, testing kiosks for DVD kiosks)
October 6, 2008... How consumers receive entertainment is changing so rapidly that it's difficult to predict just where the market will be in a few years. However, drug chains that partner with technologically adept service providers could remain players as the...

Runway dolls are in fashion.(WHAT'S HOT)(Brief article)
October 6, 2008... VAN NUYS, Calif. -- Project Runway remains a phenomenon, placing at the cable ratings acme as it approached this season's finale. Creativity Inc., is building off the buzz with its Westrim brand's Project Runway designer dolls. Creativity...

DVD-burning cools, but kiosks still hot idea.(GENERAL MERCHANDISE)(joint venture between Walgreen Co. and Sonic Solutions to developed software )
October 6, 2008... OAKBROOK TERRACE, Ill. -- Kiosks may be critical to the future of DVD operations at drug chains, but that doesn't mean everything works. Kiosks that download and bum DVDs were set to debut at Walgreens this spring in a test of consumer interest...

Summer's gone, holidays approach and retailers are starting to see a parade of hit DVD titles with "Iron Man," from Paramount Home Entertainment, already having launched on Sept. 30.(Supplier News)(Paramount Home Entertainment has launched DVDs)(Brief article)
October 6, 2008... Summer's gone, holidays approach and retailers are starting to see a parade of hit DVD titles with "Iron Man," from Paramount Home Entertainment, already having launched on Sept. 30. During the week of Sept. 28, CVS featured "Iron Man" on...

Paramount.(Supplier News)(digital videodisks)(Brief article)
October 6, 2008... Paramount keeps the hits rolling with "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" on Oct. 14, in a two-disc special edition release including a behind-the-scenes feature from director Steven Spielberg. "Kung-Fu Panda" debuts on DVD and...

Twentieth Century Fox.(Supplier News)
October 6, 2008... Twentieth Century Fox will debut "Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears a Who" on DVD Dec. 9 in a two-disc special edition DVD and in promotional partnership with Macy's, Energy Star and L'Oreal. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.(Supplier News)(Brief article)
October 6, 2008... On Nov. 18, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment will launch an award-winning lineup of 11 iconic features, titled the "Columbia Best Pictures Collection," as a 14-disc DVD boxed set at a suggested retail price of $135.95. Among the collection's...

ITFavoritesHIT.(Supplier News)(Brief article)
October 6, 2008... On the kids side of the equation, ITFavoritesHIT "Snow Days" features a collection of winter-themed DVD offerings debuting Nov. 4 for the preschool set, with the "talent" to include Barney, Thomas & Friends, Bob the Builder, Angelina Ballerina,...

Lionsgate.(Supplier News)(Lionsgate introduced animated television programs Dvds)(Brief article)
October 6, 2008... Lionsgate will introduce "Shaun the Sheep" from "Wallace & Gromit" fame on DVD Nov. 11. Already, on Sept. 26, Lionsgate hit the stores with "Bob the Builder ON SITE: Houses & Playgrounds." [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Look for Disney's "Wall-E" in early December.(Supplier News)
October 6, 2008... Look for Disney's "Wall-E" in early December. Among- holiday-themed releases, DreamWorks Animation's "Shrek the Halls," which originally appeared on ABC television in November, 2007, debuts on DVD Nov. 4.

Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment and MGM Home Entertainment are working with the Susan G. Komen organization on a promotion dubbed DVDs for the Cure to support the fight against breast cancer.(Supplier News)(Brief article)
October 6, 2008... Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment and MGM Home Entertainment are working with the Susan G. Komen organization on a promotion dubbed DVDs for the Cure to support the fight against breast cancer. The multi-title promotion rolled out on...

No vote of confidence from Rx industry: campaign 2008.(NEWS & ANALYSIS)
October 20, 2008... WASHINGTON -- The battle for the White House between Barack Obama and John McCain has energized millions of American voters and unleashed a national dialogue about the fundamental role of government in the troubled economy, in the healthcare...

Pinched by economy, retail crime on the rise: this is part two of a three-part series of reports on the impact the economy is having on retail pharmacy.(SPECIAL REPORT: ECONOMIC IMPACT)
October 20, 2008... NEW YORK -- Retail crime is up. Economic conditions are poor. And while some may question how much recession economies spur otherwise-honest people to adjust their moral compasses to the point where pinching a tube of toothpaste or a can of...

Rein out as Walgreens leader.(NEWS & ANALYSIS)
October 20, 2008... DEERFIELD, Ill. -- In a surprise announcement that sent shock waves through the tightly knit community of big-chain retail executives, Walgreens announced Oct. 10 the immediate retirement of Jeff Rein as chairman and chief executive officer....

FDA considers new rules for kids.(NEWS & ANALYSIS)
October 20, 2008... WASHINGTON -- Pharmacy retailers can expect parents to be even more confused about what to give their sick kids this year during cold and flu season. The confusion follows an Oct. 2 Food and Drug Administration hearing on the appropriate use of...

Walgreens pulls bid.(NEWS & ANALYSIS)(Brief article)
October 20, 2008... DEERFIELD, Ill. -- Walgreens has withdrawn its bid to snap up Longs Drug Stores, citing repeated refusals by Longs' management to have a discussion and the deterioration of the economy in recent weeks. The move is one more indication that CVS...

Judge snuffs out Walgreens' attempt to stop ban.(NEWS & ANALYSIS)
October 20, 2008... SAN FRANCISCO -- A judge has turned down an attempt by Walgreens to obtain an emergency injunction to stop San Francisco's ban on tobacco in retail pharmacies, which took effect Oct. 1. Walgreens, which operates 52 stores in the city, has said...

Photo out of the picture at Wegmans.(NEWS & ANALYSIS)(Brief article)
October 20, 2008... ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- After 24 years, Wegmans exited the photo-processing business as of Oct. 11, including all in-store photo departments and its central photo lab. "With the increase in digital camera use, fewer people are utilizing our...

Weis expands discount generics.(NEWS & ANALYSIS)(Brief article)
October 20, 2008... SUNBURY, Pa. -- Weis Markets has expanded its 90-day generic drug program, which covers more than 350 different prescriptions for $9.99, into all of its 118 stores. Introduced in August in 59 Weis Harrisburg, Lancaster and York, Pa.,...

Steal this column.(OPINION)(Editorial)(Conference notes)
October 20, 2008... Why not? I did. I stole every idea from Health and Human Services secretary Mike Leavitt, CMS acting administrator Kerry Weems, Rhode Island Gov. Donald Carcieri and a few others earlier this month in Boston at the National E-prescribing...

Big Pharma needs retail pharmacy to beat odds.(PUBLISHER'S PERSPECTIVE)
October 20, 2008... You think retail pharmacy's got it tough? Take a look at what the drug companies are up against: * Expiring drug patents * Increasing pricing pressure * Lower reimbursement rates * Laborious new drug launch processes *...

Walmart: RX for an upgrade.
October 20, 2008... The pharmacy at Wal-Mart is in for some major changes in the coming years as the retailer looks to upgrade its prescription drug departments in keeping with a broader strategy to make the customer experience at its stores fast, clean and...

Neighborhood Market waiting in the wings.(Walmart)
October 20, 2008... The location and merchandising strategy of Wal-Mart's newest Neighborhood Market store in the St. Petersburg, Fla., suburb of Pinellas Park says a lot about how a retail format introduced a decade ago this month may yet realize its unfulfilled...

Smart Network seeks to unlock store traffic.(Walmart)
October 20, 2008... Health and beauty suppliers to Wal-Mart soon will have a new means to grow their sales, as the nation's largest retailer embarks on a plan to reinvent its in-store television network. Wal-Mart marketing executives at a presentation in New...

Words to live by.(Walmart)
October 20, 2008... Wal-Mart's adoption of the phrase, "Save money. Live better," came at a particularly opportune time last fall as the nation's economy went into a tailspin, and the prospect of saving money resonated loudly with consumers. Company...

California grants long delay in e-pedigree requirements.(CHAIN PHARMACY)
October 20, 2008... SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- A stroke of the pen by California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has given pharmacy operators in the state until 2017 to adopt the expensive track-and-trace technologies needed to establish electronic pedigrees for the drugs...

NACDS urges DEA to change rules on controlled substance e-prescribing.(CHAIN PHARMACY)(National Association of Chain Drug Stores )
October 20, 2008... ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- With the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration mulling a change in rules regarding electronic prescribing of controlled substances, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores is weighing in with its own proposed changes....

Roche.(Supplier News)(Brief article)
October 20, 2008... Ample supplies of the flu medication Tamiflu will be available throughout the United States during flu season, manufacturer Roche stated. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has cited Tamiflu (oseltamivir phosphate) as an...

Ipsen.(Supplier News)(Brief article)
October 20, 2008... The FDA has notified Ipsen that it has extended the Prescription Drug User Fee Act action date for the company's approval application for using botulinum toxin drug Dysport to treat cervical dystonia to no later than Dec. 28. The company...

Link Medicine.(Supplier News)(Brief article)
October 20, 2008... Cambridge, Mass.-based biotech Link Medicine has said that it raised $40 million to fund clinical trials for a drug to treat Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease from two biotechnology investors, Clarus Ventures and SV Life Sciences. It...

Bayer Innovation.(Supplier News)(Brief article)
October 20, 2008... A biotech company in Kentucky plans to work with Bayer Innovation to develop drugs from tobacco plants, Bayer has announced. Bayer Innovation and Kentucky BioProcessing will develop vaccines for influenza and non-Hodgkin lymphoma, Bayer...