Drug Store News articles from September 2001

Drug Store News archives from September 2001

Wal-Mart.(Walgreens will no longer accept debit cards using the Visa Interlink network)(Brief Article)
September 26, 2001... DEERFIELD, III -- Following in Wal-Mart's footsteps, Walgreens will no longer accept debit cards using the Visa Interlink network, effective Oct. 13. Both companies will accept debit cards processed through other networks, including Star,...

Kmart.(names David Montoya executive vice president of store operations)(Brief Article)
September 26, 2001... TROY, Mich. -- Kmart has named David Montoya executive vice president of store operations. He previously worked for several retailers, including Wal-Mart super-centers. Kmart also promoted Lee Viliborghi to senior vice president of the...

Labor Market.(hurts consumer confidence)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 26, 2001... NEW YORK -- The weakening labor market and business conditions pushed down the Consumer Confidence index 16.4 points to 97.6 this month, the Conference Board reported yesterday. This is the largest drop in confidence since October 1990, when...

National Association of Chain Drug Stores.(studies prescription drug thefts)(Brief Article)
September 26, 2001... ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- Responding to an increase in prescription drug thefts from drug stores, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores has launched a study to help retailers identify ways to protect their employees, customers and stores....

Winn-Dixie Stores.(launching ad campaign)(Brief Article)
September 26, 2001... JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Winn-Dixie Stores is launching an ad campaign, called the "Real Deal." As part of the campaign, eight TV commercials will be begin airing Oct. 3, as well as radio and print ads.

Phar-Mor files for bankruptcy; to close 65 stores.(Brief Article)
September 26, 2001... YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio -- Phar-Mor, which filed for bankruptcy protection on Monday, plans to liquidate or close roughly 65 of its 139 stores over the next several weeks and to use the proceeds to partly pay down unsecured debt of approximately...

CVS to boost promotional spending, readjusts earnings.(Brief Article)
September 26, 2001... WOONSOCKET, R.I. -- CVS will further increase its promotional spending as part of an effort to improve sales and earnings performance for the remainder of the year, according to chairman, president and chief executive officer Tom Ryan. ...

Duane Reade works to recover from WTC terrorist attacks.(reopens New York stores, readjusts earnings projections)(Brief Article)
September 26, 2001... NEW YORK -- Duane Reade has reopened all but two of the 20 stores that were forced to close by the Sept. 11 terrorist attack here. But the chain reported that those temporary closings, combined with lower customer traffic across the...

Snyder's wraps up purchase of 77 Drug Emporium units.(Snyder's Drug Stores)(Brief Article)
September 26, 2001... MINNETONKA, Minn. -- Snyder's Drug Stores said Monday it has completed its purchase of Columbus, Ohio-based Drug Emporium, culminating a months-long process of extracting the discount drug retailer from bankruptcy and welding it to the U.S....

Merck-Medco to open Tampa-based call center.(Brief Article)
September 26, 2001... TAMPA, Fla. -- Pharmacy benefits manager Merck-Medco is opening a Pharmacy Customer-Care Call Center here. The facility, scheduled to open by year's end, is expected to field 200,990 calls a week, answering anything from billing inquiries...

West Virginia seniors to get Rx discount cards.(Brief Article)
September 26, 2001... CHARLESTON, W. Va. -- About 400,000 West Virginia seniors are receiving state-sponsored discount cards in the mail this week, entitling them to discounts on prescription drugs and other goods. The "Golden Mountaineer Card" has been used...

2001's Rx count to exceed 3 billion, says NACDS.(prescriptions filled, according to National Association of Chain Drug Stores)(Brief Article)
September 26, 2001... ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- More than 3 billion prescriptions will be filled this year in community pharmacies and other outpatient settings, according to the latest projections issued by the National Association of Chain Drug Stores. Using data...

Longs buys RxAmerica.(Longs Drug Stores)(Brief Article)
September 26, 2001... WALNUT CREEK, Calif. -- Longs Drug Stores completed the acquisition of pharmacy benefits management company RxAmerica--buying out Albertson's half of the company. The terms of the deal were not disclosed. "The company meshes well...

Consumer spending may improve by holiday season.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 26, 2001... WASHINGTON -- Consumers, still shaken by the recent terrorist attacks, are returning to the stores, but only out of necessity not desire--a trend that is expected to end as the holiday season approaches. "We expect consumer spending...

Barrington Research.(three analysts raise outlook for three retailers)(Brief Article)
September 26, 2001... NEW YORK -- This week the shares of several retailers were upgraded. Yesterday , Duane Reade was upgraded by JP Morgan from "long-term buy" to "buy," while Wal-Mart was upgraded by UBS Warburg from "hold" to "strong buy." On Monday,...

Rite Aid.(president Mary Sammons resigns from the board of Drugstore.com Inc.)(Brief Article)
September 26, 2001... BELLEVUE, Wash. -- Drugstore.com stated that it is "on track" to meet its third quarter expectations. The company will release results Oct. 23. In other news, Rite Aid president and chief operating officer Mary Sammons resigned from the...

J.C. Penney Co.(declares quarterly stock dividend)(Brief Article)
September 26, 2001... PLANO, Texas -- Eckerd's parent company, J.C. Penney Co., has declared a quarterly dividend of 12.5 cents per share on the company's outstanding common stock, payable Nov. 1 to stockholders of record as of the close of business on Oct. 10.

Kroger.(2nd-quarter earnings)(Brief Article)
September 26, 2001... CINCINNATI -- Kroger's second quarter earnings rose 19 percent to $262.7 million, or 32 cents per diluted share, meeting analysts' expectations. Sales rose 4.2 percent to $11.5 billion, while total food store sales rose 4.5 percent.

Credit Suisse First Boston.(Revlon postpones conference after sharp stock price fall)(Brief Article)
September 26, 2001... NEW YORK -- After falling 40 percent in last week's stock market downturn, shares of Revlon fell 18 cents Monday and 5 cents Tuesday to close at $4.77. Revlon was to make a presentation at last week's Credit Suisse First Boston 2001 Leverage...

Chains feel economic impact after WTC crisis.(retail chains, World Trade Center and Pentagon attacks)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 19, 2001... NEW YORK -- Many retailers are feeling the economic pinch as consumers, distressed over last week's devastating terrorist attacks, stayed at home in recent days amid an already fragile economic climate. Retailing giant Wal-Mart reported...

Retailers raise funds for terrorist attack victims, families.(Brief Article)
September 19, 2001... NEW YORK -- As the nation tries to cope with last week's tragic terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, retailers continue to find ways to help the victims and their families. Walgreens reported yesterday that...

CVS.(introduces new hair care products)(Brief Article)
September 19, 2001... WOONSOCKET, R.I. -- CVS has begun rolling out a new 14-SKU hair care collection called Essence of Beauty, in all of its 4,100 stores, said a company spokesman. Priced at $4.99 per bottle, the items are designed to compete with premium hair...

Shoppers Drug Mart.(Stan Thomas retirement)(Brief Article)
September 19, 2001... TORONTO -- There will be no executive search at Shoppers Drug Mart to replace Stan Thomas, the former president and chief operating officer who is retiring. According to Shoppers, the new chairman and chief executive officer, Glenn Murphy,...

Boots Healthcare USA.(Bert Schaefers appointment)(Brief Article)
September 19, 2001... NEW YORK -- Boots Healthcare USA, owner of the Clearasil brand, has hired Bert Schaefers for the new position of vice president of marketing. Schaefers was formerly with the diagnostics division of the Bayer Corp. Boots Healthcare USA was...

The North Carolina State Board of Pharmacy.(Rebecca Chater appointment)(Brief Article)
September 19, 2001... DURHAM, N.C. -- Kerr Drug will begin testing an automatic prescription refill program at one of its stores by the end of this month, the company reported. In another development, Rebecca Chater, Kerr's manager of clinical services, has been...

GMDC conference draws 650 attendees.(General Merchandise Distributors Council)(Brief Article)
September 19, 2001... PALM DESERT, Calif. -- Nearly 650 attendees representing 70 wholesalers and retail chains, as well as 179 supplier companies gathered here last week for the General Merchandise Distributors Council's annual HBA marketing conference. ...

Anthony to retire from NCPA post.(Calvin Anthony, National Community Pharmacy Association)(Brief Article)
September 19, 2001... ALEXANDRIA, Va -- Calvin Anthony, R.Ph., executive vice president of the National Community Pharmacy Association, announced Tuesday that he plans to retire at the end of the year. Bruce Roberts, R.Ph., NCPA's fifth vice president, will...

Cardinal Health.(to repurchase common stocks)(Brief Article)
September 19, 2001... DUBLIN, Ohio -- The board of directors for Cardinal Health has authorized a program to repurchase up to $500 million of outstanding common shares. In a statement Monday, the healthcare distributor reported it will hold the repurchased stock...

Personal care products.(Helen of Troy reports second-quarter sales)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 19, 2001... EL PASO -- Personal care products maker Helen of Troy posted second quarter sales ending Aug. 31 between $105 million and $110 million, beating its forecast of above $100 million, the company announced. It also reaffirmed full-year results of...

Barr Laboratories.(to repurchase common stock)(Brief Article)
September 19, 2001... POMONA, N.Y. -- Barr Laboratories, which recently entered into a merger agreement with Duramed Pharmaceuticals, announced Monday that its board of directors has authorized managment to allocate up to $100 million to repurchase shares of...

Wal-Mart.(cancels annual meeting due to World Trade Center and Pentagon attacks)(Brief Article)
September 19, 2001... BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Wal-Mart reported on Monday that because of last week's tragic terrorist attacks, it has cancelled the annual analyst meeting scheduled for Oct. 2 and 3. The meeting will be replaced with a three-hour Webcast.

American Greetings.(acquires Bluemountain.com)(Brief Article)
September 19, 2001... CLEVELAND -- American Greetings has agreed to acquire Bluemountain.com for $35 million in cash, just two years after Excite+Home paid $780 million in cash and stock for the e-mail greeting card publisher. The deal should help AG expand its...

Stock Performances.(includes stock prices for September 18, 2001)(Brief Article)(Illustration)(Statistical Data Included)
September 19, 2001... Stock performances 9/10 9/17 Net 9/18 Net Company close close change close change Albertson's $34.51 $32.65 -1.86 32.20 -45 AmerisourceBergen 64.88 64.02...

Retailers aid rescue workers, victims of terrorist attacks.(drugstores struggle to hand out perscriptions, and give aid to victims)(Brief Article)
September 14, 2001... NEW YORK -- Joining a massive rescue and relief effort, pharmacy retailers in New York and throughout the United States struggled to cope with the devastating aftermath of the terrorist attack that brought down the World Trade Center and left...

Retailers dig deep into pockets to aid terrorist attack victims.(Brief Article)
September 14, 2001... NEW YORK -- Chain retailers nationwide are ponying up thousands, and even millions, of dollars to aid terrorist attack victims. Among the groups leading the effort is Wal-Mart Stores, which pledged to donate $2 million for national relief...

Judge temporarily blocks Bush's Rx discount card plan.(Paul Friedman blocks senior citizen prescription discount card plan)(Brief Article)
September 14, 2001... WASHINGTON -- President Bush's plan to offer a prescription discount card to seniors hit a major snag last week when a judge ruled to temporarily block the proposal. The Sept. 6 injunction was filed by U.S. District Court Judge Paul...

REX.(World Trade Center attacks delay Annual Retail Excellence Awards)(Brief Article)
September 14, 2001... NEW YORK -- Because of Tuesday's devastating terrorist attacks, the Annual Retail Excellence Awards (REX) is postponed until Oct. 24. The event will be held 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Pier 60, 23rd St. and 12th Ave. Pier 60 is currently being used...

The Kroger Co.(announces Lawrence Turner retirement)(Brief Article)
September 14, 2001... CINCINNATI -- The Kroger Co. announced Friday that Lawrence Turner, Kroger's treasurer since 1984, plans to retire in early 2002 after 28 years with the company. Scott Henderson, Kroger's vice president of planning, will succeed Turner as...

Happy Harry's Discount Drug Stores.(opens Maryland location)(Brief Article)
September 14, 2001... NEWARK, Del. -- Happy Harry's Discount Drug Stores celebrated on Monday the grand opening of its 55th store in Perryville, Md. The new 11,000-square-foot facility features a drive-through pharmacy and a photo finishing lab.

Jitney-Jungle stores.(Winn-Dixie to rename acquired stores)(Brief Article)
September 14, 2001... JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Winn-Dixie is renaming the last 48 Jitney-Jungle stores that were acquired in October 2000. Twenty stores located in markets where Winn-Dixie had stores in operation were changed to the Winn-Dixie name right after the...

May's Drug.(opens new location)(Brief Article)
September 14, 2001... SAND SPRINGS, Okla. -- May's Drug recently celebrated the grand opening of a new 14,000-square-foot unit here. The facility offers a drive-through pharmacy, a one-hour photo lab and a Groceries-To-Go frozen food, snack and beverage...

Retailers report solid August sales gains.(Walgreens, CVS)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 14, 2001... NEW YORK -- Several retailers experienced double-digit sales gains for the month of August. Walgreens' August sales climbed to a healthy $2.2 billion, up 17.2 percent from $1.8 billion in the year-ago period. Same-store sales rose 11 .6...

AmerisourceBergen to be profitable in 3 years.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 14, 2001... VALLEY FORGE, Pa. -- Newly merged AmerisourceBergen will be fully integrated and profitable within three years, executives reported. During the integration of Amerisource and Bergen Brunswig, whose merger was completed Aug. 29, 51...

PlanetRx.com re-emerges.(liquidates assets, avoids bankruptcy)(Brief Article)
September 14, 2001... MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Although PlanetRx.com has ended its career as an online drug store, it has avoided bankruptcy and is now in the process of liquidating assets. With about a month to go before the liquidation process is complete, the...

Albertson's plans to acquire Cub Foods stores in Colorado.(from Food Mark Stores)(Brief Article)
September 14, 2001... BOISE, Idaho -- Albertson's has agreed to purchase three Cub Foods supermarkets in Colorado Springs, Colo, from Food Mark Stores. The deal will boost the chain's presence in the market to eight stores and bolster market share in Colorado,...

August sales performances.(retail store sales, year 2001)(Brief Article)(Illustration)(Statistical Data Included)
September 14, 2001... August sales performances Total Same-store monthly % increase Same-store pharmacy $ sales over sales sales Company in billions last year...

J. C. Penney Co.(to offer convertible subordinated notes)(Brief Article)
September 14, 2001... PLANO, Texas -- J. C. Penney Co., Eckerd's parent company, intends to offer, subject to market conditions, about $500 million in convertible subordinated notes. The notes are expected to mature in seven years and will not be callable until...

Pathmark.(reports second-quarter sales)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 14, 2001... CARTERET, N.J. -- CARTERET, Pathmark reported that for the second quarter same-store sales rose 3.5 percent. Sales climbed 7.3 percent to $997.7 million. Net earnings were $5.2 million, or 17 cents per diluted share, compared with a net loss...

French cosmetics company.(L'Oreal announces net profits)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 14, 2001... PARIS -- French cosmetics company L'Oreal posted a 26 percent increase in net profit, from 465 million euros to 587 million euros ($528 million U.S. dollars), driven by strong sales in hair care, skin care and perfumes. Sales in the United...

Procter & Gamble.(reaches Unilever settlement agreement)(Brief Article)
September 14, 2001... CINCINNATI -- Procter & Gamble and Unilever have reached an agreement over P&G's admission of unethically retrieving Unilever hair care documents. P&G will pay Unilever $10 million and will be monitored by an auditor to ensure that it does...

The Dial Corp.(sells lotion and cosmetics product lines)(Brief Article)
September 14, 2001... SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - The Dial Corp. was paid $12 million in the recent sale of the Sarah Michaels lotions and Freeman cosmetics lines, according to published reports. Dial purchased the companies for $260 million in 1998.

Allan Goldman has Joined CVS.(Brief Article)
September 5, 2001... WOONSOCKET, R.I. -- Allan Goldman has Joined CVS as vice president of general merchandising, reporting to senior vice president of merchandising Chris Bodine. Goldman previously served as senior vice president of business development for...

Kmart is offering up to a $100 credit.(Brief Article)
September 5, 2001... TROY, Mich. -- For a limited time in some markets, Kmart is offering up to a $100 credit to consumers who transfer prescriptions to Kmart. Each prescription transferred to and filled at Kmart before Sept. 15 qualifies for a $10 credit on a...

P&G veteran.(Procter and Gamble promotes Barb Hartman)(Brief Article)
September 5, 2001... CINCINNATI -- Barb Hartman, a 26-year P&G veteran, has been promoted from drug channel director for North America to general manager of national customers for North America. In addition to P&G's existing drug store customers, Hartman said she...

Walgreens returned to Manhattan.(Brief Article)
September 5, 2001... DEERFIELD, Ill.-- Walgreens returned to Manhattan last week with the opening of a new store in the Union Square neighborhood. Walgreens recently opened a store in the New York borough of Staten Island and is preparing store sites in the...

Correction.(Brief Article)
September 5, 2001... NEWARK, Del. -- Happy Harry's bath line, Happy Moments, has 25 SKUs, not 30, and is targeted for consumers 20 and older. It will retail between $3.99 and $6.99, not $7.99, as previously reported.

Albertson's reveals details of its restructuring plan.(Brief Article)
September 5, 2001... NEW YORK -- The new management team at Albertson's came here yesterday to reveal a few more details of the chain's ongoing restructuring program and to restore confidence with the investment community. Among the upcoming initiatives...

CVS rolls out senior discount card program in select areas.(CVS H.C. Inc., services available in Cleveland, Columbus, Pittsburgh, Knoxville, Rochester, Detroit, Atlanta, and Philadelphia)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 5, 2001... WOONSOCKET. R.I. -- As the industry battles the Bush administration's plan to offer a prescription discount card under Medicare, CVS has begun to roll out a discount card program of its own for those ages 50 and over. The program, known...

Shoppers Drug Mart's president, COO to retire Sept. 15.(Shoppers Drug Mart Ltd., Stan Thomas)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 5, 2001... TORONTO -- After about a year serving as president and chief operating officer of Shoppers Drug Mart, Stan Thomas is retiring, effective Sept. 15. A successor has not yet been selected, according to a company spokesman. The news...

Ahold to acquire Bruno's Supermarkets, Alliant.(Koninklijke Ahold N.V. acquisition of Bruno's Supermarkets)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 5, 2001... THE NETHERLANDS - Ahold, an international food retail and food service company, has entered into an agreement to acquire Bruno's Supermarkets, which operates 56 in-store pharmacies. The Birmingham, Ala.-based supermarket chain stated that...

Drug Emporium, Snyder's Drug deal to close Sept. 19.(U.S. Bankruptcy Court confirmation, Snyder's Drug Stores Inc. to control 77 Drug Emporium Inc. stores)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 5, 2001... POWELL, Ohio - A U.S. Bankruptcy Court has confirmed Drug Emporium's reorganization plan, opening the way for Snyder's Drug Stores to take control of 77 Drug Emporium stores. Earlier this year, Drug Emporium went into Chapter 11...

Longs reports August sales.(Longs Drug Stores Corp.)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 5, 2001... WALNUT CREEK, Calif. - Longs Drug Stores reported late last week that sales for the month of August increased 4.2 percent to a preliminary estimate of $314 million vs. the same period last year. For the four-week period ended Aug. 23,...

AmeriSource, Bergen Brunswig complete merger.(AmeriSource Health Corp. merges with Bergen Brunswig Corp. to create AmeriSourceBergen Corp.)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 5, 2001... VALLEY FORGE, Pa. - AmeriSource Health Corp. and Bergen Brunswig have merged to create the pharmaceutical services company, AmerisourceBergen Corp. The deal was approved by shareholders in independent meetings he Ed last week. Under...

Meijer highlights pharmacy, HBC with new store layout.(Meijer Inc., health and beauty care)(Brief Article)
September 5, 2001... GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Meijer, out to dispel the notion that supercenters are less convenient than chain drug stores, has elevated its reputation with a new store design. Some of the retailer's most sweeping changes involve the pharmacy,...

CVS is paying the government.(CVS H.C. Inc., paying to settle lawsuits)(Brief Article)
September 5, 2001... WOONSOCKET, R.I. - CVS is paying the government $4 million to settle lawsuits filed against CVS and several other companies in the 1990s, alleging over-billing of "partial-fill" prescriptions covered by federal and state health insurance...

Ahold reported that in the United States.(food retail sales rose in second quarter)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 5, 2001... THE NETHERLANDS - Ahold reported that in the United States, food retail sales in the second quarter rose 8 percent to $5.4 billion. Comparable sales rose 5.5 percent and identical sales rose 5.1 percent. Ahold's Web-based grocery operation,...

Fred's announced last week that it will offer 1.65 million.(Fred's Inc., 1.65 million common stock shares)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 5, 2001... MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Fred's announced last week that it will offer 1.65 million shares of common stock, with the net proceeds going toward store and pharmacy growth. Fred's operates 337 stores and 200 pharmacies in 11 states throughout the...

Kroger has completed the previously announced purchase of seven Furrs stores in New Mexico.(Kroger Co., Furr's Inc.)(Brief Article)
September 5, 2001... CINCINNATI - Kroger has completed the previously announced purchase of seven Furrs stores in New Mexico. The stores will operate under the Smith's Food & Drug Stores banner. Kroger also completed the sale of five Smith's stores to Fleming....

Allou Health & Beauty.(Allou Health and Beauty Care Inc. new credit facility)(Brief Article)
September 5, 2001... BRENTWOOD, N.Y.- Allou Health & Beauty has secured a new $200 million revolving credit facility. Allou distributes health and beauty aid products, branded and generic prescription pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and more.