Drug Store News articles from September 2002

Drug Store News archives from September 2002

Under an agreement reached with the Disability Rights Council of Greater Washington. (Newsbites).(Brief Article)
September 25, 2002... WOONSOCKET, R.I.--Under an agreement reached with the Disability Rights Council of Greater Washington, CVS will provide enhanced accessibility for customers with disabilities in CVS stores throughout the greater Washington area.

Fourth Annual National Association of Chain Drug Stores Foundation Charitable Dinner. (Newsbites).(Brief Article)
September 25, 2002... NEW YORK--Former New York City mayor Rudolph Giuliani will be the guest speaker at the Fourth Annual National Association of Chain Drug Stores Foundation Charitable Dinner. The event is scheduled for Dec. 3 at New York's Sheraton Hotel &...

Rite Aid will hold a Health and Beauty expo (Newsbites).(Brief Article)
September 25, 2002... DETROIT--Rite Aid will hold a Health and Beauty expo Sept. 27 and 28 with health screenings, hairstyling and beauty makeovers--all in exchange for a non-perishable food donation. Several celebrities will make a guest appearance at the Pontiac...

The Kroger Co. (Newsbites).(Brief Article)
September 25, 2002... CINCINNATI--The Kroger Co. has elected Richard Davidson to the board of directors. Davidson is chairman and chief executive officer of Union Pacific Corp., based in Omaha, Neb. He has held that position since 1997.

Clarification.(Brief Article)
September 25, 2002... An item in last weeks NewsFirst should have stated that Gene Bailey, former director of purchasing programs for NACDS, is now vice president of sales for the food chain division at Atico, a general merchandise product development and sourcing...

Rite Aid narrows second quarter loss; raises 2003 outlook.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 25, 2002... CAMP HILL, Pa. -- Rite Aid was bullish on the chain's future earning potential yesterday, raising its EBITDA guidance for fiscal 2003 after announcing a narrower loss for its second quarter. Rite Aid posted a net loss of $105.3 million...

Study: African-American women are sophisticated shoppers.(Brief Article)
September 25, 2002... NEW YORK -- African-American women are a distinct consumer group, largely underserved by today's marketers, according to findings released yesterday by Essence Communications Partners, publishers of Essence magazine. The "Wow...

Kmart to pay $25 million in lawyers' fees, expenses.(Brief Article)
September 25, 2002... CHICAGO -- Jack Butler, lead attorney for bankrupt retailer Kmart, sought and received approval from the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Chicago to pay out more than $25 million in fees and expenses to participants in the process. And that's just...

Rite Aid, CVS to settle Pa. lawsuits for $2 million.(Brief Article)
September 25, 2002... CARLISLE, Pa. -- In a $2 million settlement, Rite Aid and CVS have offered to give cash reimbursements or discounts to traffic accident victims who claim they were overcharged for medications in three separate class-action lawsuits, according...

Eli Lilly, Amylin to develop Amylin's diabetes treatment.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 25, 2002... INDIANAPOLIS -- Eli Lilly and Amylin Pharmaceuticals have signed an agreement to develop and commercialize Amylin's type 2 diabetes treatment, AC2993. If approved, the treatment could represent the first of a new class of compounds that...

Childrens' Rx use soars in past five years.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 25, 2002... FRANKLIN LAKES, N.J. -- Spending on prescription drugs for infants, children, adolescents and young adults has soared 85 percent during the last five years, surpassing senior citizens and baby boomers as the fastest-growing segment of...

Target could double sales, add 500 stores in five years.(Brief Article)
September 25, 2002... COLUMBUS, Ohio -- In the next five years, Target could become a $65 billion retailer with more than 1,500 stores, according to a recently released report from Retail Forward, a global management consulting and market research firm...

Shares of Amylin Pharmaceuticals. (Financials).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 25, 2002... INDIANAPOLIS -- Shares of Amylin Pharmaceuticals soared $1.50 Friday to close at $13.90 following the news that it has partnered with Eli Lilly to develop Amylin's diabetes treatment, AC2993. Shares of Lilly rose $1.01 Friday to close at...

Shares of AstraZeneca. (Financials).(Brief Article)
September 25, 2002... SILVER SPRING, Md. -- Shares of AstraZeneca soared $1.24 to close yesterday at $30.64 following the news that U.S. regulatory advisers backed its drug Iressa for treating patients with advanced lung cancer. A FDA advisory panel voted 11-3...

Merrill Lynch. (Financials).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 25, 2002... ISSAQUAH, Wash. -- Merrill Lynch on Friday upgraded Costco from "neutral" to "buy." Costco's same-store sales increase of 6 percent in August "allayed our concerns that Costco would face comp difficulties in the event of a consumer slowdown,"...

The Hershey Trust Co. (Financials).(Brief Article)
September 25, 2002... HERSHEY, Pa. -- The Hershey Trust Co., as Trustee for the Milton Hershey School, last week voted to end the process of trying to sell Hershey Foods, rejecting a $12 billion-plus bid from Win. Wrigley Jr. Co. and a joint bid from Nestle SA and...

NASDAQ SmallCap Market. (Financials).(Brief Article)
September 25, 2002... HAUPPAGE, N.Y. -- NASDAQ has OK'd Twinlab's application to have its common stock transferred from the NASDAQ National Market to the NASDAQ SmallCap Market. Twinlab will trade under its current symbol TWLB.

Meijer has named Larry Zigerelli senior vice president of marketing and advertising. (News Bites).(Brief Article)
September 18, 2002... GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- Meijer has named Larry Zigerelli senior vice president of marketing and advertising. Zigerelli formerly headed up merchandising at CVS. He left CVS in January after two years. His title at the time was executive vice...

National Association of Chain Drug Stores. (News Bites).(Gene Bailey joins Atico)(Brief Article)
September 18, 2002... ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- Gene Bailey, former director of purchasing programs for the National Association of Chain Drug Stores, is now vice president of sales for Atico, a general merchandise product development and sourcing firm. He is expected to...

Snyder's Drug Stores/Drug Emporium. (News Bites).(names executive vice president of marketing)(Brief Article)
September 18, 2002... MINNETONKA, Minn. -- Snyder's Drug Stores/Drug Emporium has named Rich Juliano executive vice president of marketing. He previously served as executive vice president of supply chain for Supervalu. Previously, he was vice president of...

Visa and MasterCard. (News Bites).(trial is set in antitrust suit)(Brief Article)
September 18, 2002... NEW YORK -- After numerous delays and unsuccessful appeals, more than 7.6 million notices to merchants who are class members in the antitrust suit against Visa and MasterCard are in the mail. The trial is scheduled for April 28, 2003.

Allure magazine's seventh annual Best of Beauty Awards. (News Bites).(Brief Article)
September 18, 2002... NEW YORK -- Mass products such as John Frieda Frizz Secret Weapon Flawless Finishing Creme and Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Cherries in the Snow were among the 129 winners of Allure magazine's seventh annual Best of Beauty Awards held...

Jean Coutu Group says it is not in acquisition talks.(Brief Article)
September 18, 2002... MONTREAL -- Francois Jean Coutu, president and chief operating officer and soon-to-be chief executive officer of the Jean Coutu Group, told Drug Store News that the company is not involved in any acquisition talks with any U.S. drug chains,...

Kroger to buy 18 Raley's stores; posts 2Q results.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 18, 2002... CINCINNATI -- In a move to expand its presence in Las Vegas, Kroger plans to purchase 18 Las Vegas-bases Raley's stores. Ten of the stores have pharmacies. Kroger has plans to operate seven of the stores, which average 46,000 square...

Kmart struggles to boost traffic amid $377m 2Q loss.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 18, 2002... TROY, Mich. -- Kmart's troubles remain far from over as the bankrupt retailer posted a $377 million loss during the second quarter as sales lagged and customer traffic dwindled. The company also revealed Monday that a premature recording...

CVS opens first store in Phoenix, Eckerd is next.(Brief Article)
September 18, 2002... WOONSOCKET, R.I. -- It seems that CVS beat Eckerd to the punch in the Phoenix market, where the chain opened its first store Monday, officially entering a market dominated by the likes of Walgreens and Albertson's. The new store in C...

ShopKo targets teenagers with new 'Urbanology' store.(Brief Article)
September 18, 2002... GREEN BAY, Wis. -- ShopKo Stores is looking to differentiate itself and take a slice of the lucrative teen market with the launch of its new "Urbanology" shop. The one-stop shop will focus on funky fashion accessories and quirky home...

Pfizer kicks off campaign to boost Share Card program.(Brief Article)
September 18, 2002... NEW YORK -- Amid strong early demand for its Pfizer for Living Share Card program, Pfizer stated Monday it will kick off a national television advertising campaign to increase enrollment in the discount program. The promotion will air for six...

Florida retailers help promote Together Rx discount card.(prescription discount card for senior citizens in Florida)(Brief Article)
September 18, 2002... TAMPA, Fla. -- Continuing a five-city rollout around the United States, Together Rx and the Pharmacy Care Alliance will join local drug retailers to promote the Together Rx prescription discount card at the Senior Sun Fun Fest here Friday....

NACDS HIPPA conference to study Rx discount card.(National Association of Chain Drug Stores)(Brief Article)
September 18, 2002... ALEXANDRIA, Va.-- The National Association of Chain Drug Stores has promised to include the patient privacy implications of the Bush administration's controversial "Medicare-endorsed discount card" on its list of topics at the second HIPAA...

D&K Healthcare Resources. (Financials).(stock statistics)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 18, 2002... ST. LOUIS -- Shares of the distributor D&K Healthcare Resources fell to a 52-week low yesterday after the company reduced its earnings projections for the first quarter. D&K previously projected a profit, before special items, of 30 cents to...

Longs Drugs Stores. (Financials).(attests to accuracy of financial filings)(Brief Article)
September 18, 2002... WALNUT NUT CREEK, Calif. -- Longs Drugs Stores reported this week that president and chief executive officer Harold Somerset and senior vice president, chief financial officer and treasurer Steve McCann have filed documents with the SEC...

The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co. (Financials).(hires PricewaterhouseCoopers as auditor)(Brief Article)
September 18, 2002... MONTVALE, N.J. -- The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co., better known as A&P, has appointed PricewaterhouseCoopers as its independent auditor for 2002, replacing Deloitte & Touche.

The Alberto-Culver Co. (Financials).(enters revolving credit facility with four banks)(Brief Article)
September 18, 2002... MELROSE PARK, Ill. -- The Alberto-Culver Co. has entered into a three-year, $300 million revolving credit facility with a group of four banks. The revolving credit facility, which replaces a five-year, $250 million facility that expired Sept....

Albertson's has promoted Larry Wahlstrom, former vice president of sales and marketing for the drug division, to president of its Florida division. (News Bites).(Brief Article)
September 9, 2002... BOISE, Idaho -- Albertson's has promoted Larry Wahlstrom, former vice president of sales and marketing for the drug division, to president of its Florida division. John McGovern, former vice president of human resources for the drug division,...

James Marcil, former mid-Atlantic region director of human resources for CVS, has joined Weis Markets as vice president of human resources. (News Bites).(Brief Article)
September 9, 2002... SUNBURY, Pa. -- James Marcil, former mid-Atlantic region director of human resources for CVS, has joined Weis Markets as vice president of human resources. Steve Michaelson has been named senior vice president of marketing and merchandising...

Cardinal Health has promoted Mark Rosenbaum, former executive vice president of Health-Systems, to executive vice president of corporate sales and marketing, a new position. (News Bites).(Brief Article)
September 9, 2002... DUBLIN, Ohio -- Cardinal Health has promoted Mark Rosenbaum, former executive vice president of Health-Systems, to executive vice president of corporate sales and marketing, a new position. The new position consolidates three previously...

Medicine Shoppe International. (News Bites).(ranked highest in customer satisfaction in a national poll from Wilson Health Information)(Brief Article)
September 9, 2002... NEW HOPE, Pa. -- For the second straight year, Medicine Shoppe International has ranked highest in customer satisfaction in a national poll from Wilson Health Information, a pharmacy satisfaction research firm.

Clairol will introduce on Sept. 16 an eight-week TV ad campaign that will focus on four Clairol color brands. (News Bites).(Brief Article)
September 9, 2002... NEW YORK -- Clairol will introduce on Sept. 16 an eight-week TV ad campaign that will focus on four Clairol color brands--Hydrience, Nice n' Easy, Natural Instincts and Clairol Herbal Essences--tied together under the signature...

Many drug chains faced soft front-end comps in August.(same-store sales)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 9, 2002... NEW YORK -- August proved to be a challenging month for many drug chain retailers, as expected by analysts, with same-store sales missing expectations or coming in at the low end of the plan. At Walgreens, total sales during August...

Walgreens' Jorndt sets his sights on 10,000 stores.(chairman Dan Jorndt seeks expansion)(Brief Article)
September 9, 2002... NEW YORK -- Why stop at 6,000 stores? Walgreens has its sights set on 10,000 units. "We see ample opportunity to put over 10,000 Walgreens stores across America," stated chairman Dan Jorndt at last week's Goldman Sachs' Global Retailing...

Pharmacy leaders, lawmakers attend Massachusetts hearing.(controversial Massachusetts Medicaid cuts)(Brief Article)
September 9, 2002... BOSTON -- Pharmacy leaders and state lawmakers gathered here last week for a lengthy hearing on the state's cash-strapped Medicaid program before the Massachusetts Division of Health Care Finance and Policy. Acting Gov. Jane Swift set...

Raley's pharmacists, union reach tentative settlement.(Raley's Food Stores and the Independent Pharmacists Association)(Brief Article)
September 9, 2002... WEST SACREMENTO, Calif. -- Raley's Food Stores and the Independent Pharmacists Association, which represents about 241 Raley's pharmacist and interns working in 60 of Raley's northern California stores, have reached a tentative settlement,...

Former Rite Aid CEO Grass seeks to relocate jury trial.(ex-Rite Aid chairman and chief executive officer Martin Grass and three other former Rite Aid associates seek change of venue)(Brief Article)
September 9, 2002... HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Attorneys defending ex-Rite Aid chairman and chief executive officer Martin Grass and three other former Rite Aid associates last week moved to relocate a jury trial outside of Harrisburg because heavy media coverage may...

Pfizer's 'Connection to Care' to assist Iow-income, uninsured.(Pfizer Connection to Care program providing free medicines to low-income, uninsured patients)(Brief Article)
September 9, 2002... NEW YORK -- Pfizer has launched Connection to Care, a program providing free medicines to low-income, uninsured patients. The program lowers income eligibility requirements in a move that will expand access to 5 million more patients....

Many seniors avoid filling Rxs, skip doses because of cost.(rising cost of prescription drugs is affecting some older patients' compliance with their pharmaceutical regimens)(Brief Article)
September 9, 2002... WASHINGTON -- The rising cost of prescription drugs is affecting some older patients' compliance with their pharmaceutical regimens, according to a survey from the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Commonwealth Fund. Of seniors polled, 22...

Duane Reade's board has adopted a shareholder rights plan to protect against unsolicited takeover bids. (Financials).(Brief Article)
September 9, 2002... NEW YORK -- Duane Reade's board has adopted a shareholder rights plan to protect against unsolicited takeover bids. Under the plan, each common shareholder will receive a dividend of one right for each share held of the common stock of the...

Albertson's reported that second quarter net earnings were $253 million, or 62 cents per share, versus a loss of $151 million, or a loss of 37 cents per share, last year. (Financials).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 9, 2002... BOISE, Idaho -- Albertson's reported that second quarter net earnings were $253 million, or 62 cents per share, versus a loss of $151 million, or a loss of 37 cents per share, last year. According to Thomson Financial/First Call, analysts...

Wal-Mart and Target reported Thursday an increase in August sales. (Financials).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 9, 2002... NEW YORK -- Wal-Mart and Target reported Thursday an increase in August sales. The Wal-Mart division's sales for the month rose 11.8 percent to $11.8 billion. Same-store sales at Wal-Mart rose 4.3 percent. At Target Corp., sales at its Target...

Looking to help New England families who lost loved ones in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Brooks Pharmacy has donated $200,000 to the Massachusetts 9/11 fund. (Financials).(Brooks Pharmacy donates $200,000 to the Massachusetts 9/11 fund)(Brief Article)
September 9, 2002... BOSTON -- Looking to help New England families who lost loved ones in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Brooks Pharmacy has donated $200,000 to the Massachusetts 9/11 fund. The creation of the Massachusetts 9/11 Fund was announced in January.

August sales performances.(for major drug stores and discount chains)(Brief Article)(Illustration)(Statistical Data Included)
September 9, 2002... August sales performances Total Same-store monthly % increase Same-store pharmacy $ sales over sales sales Company in billions...

Albertson's and the Men's Health Network are promoting "Time Out for Men's Health". (Newsbites).(Brief Article)
September 4, 2002... BOISE, Idaho -- Albertson's and the Men's Health Network are promoting "Time Out for Men's Health," a national campaign to educate men about the importance of regular check-ups and health screenings. Men ages 40 and older are eligible for the...

The Pharmacy Care Alliance. (Newsbites).
September 4, 2002... CLEVELAND -- The Pharmacy Care Alliance and local drug retailers will promote the Together Rx drug savings prop ram at Senior Celebration Day at the Cleveland Zoo Friday, marking the launch of a nationwide educational effort. Pharmacists from...

Bristol-Myers Squibb. (Newsbites).(formal investigation into wholesale inventory by SEC, schizophrenia treatment receives FDA approval letter)(Brief Article)
September 4, 2002... PRINCETON, N.J. -- Bristol-Myers Squibb reported last week that the Securities and Exchange Commission's inquiry into its wholesaler inventory situation has become a formal investigation. Separately, BMS announced yesterday that the Food and...

Snyder's Drug Stores. (Newsbites).(three stores opened)(Brief Article)
September 4, 2002... MINNETONKA, Minn. -- Snyder's Drug Stores revealed Monday it has opened three new drug stores, including two new Drug, Emporium outlets in Union City, N.J., and Allentown, Pa., and a Snyder's Western Drug unit in Helena, Mont.

Shoppers Drug Mart. (Newsbites).(Brief Article)
September 4, 2002... TORONTO -- Shoppers Drug Mart has elected Leslee Thompson to its board of directors. Thompson currently is executive vice president and senior operating officer of Sunnybrook and Women's College Health Science Centre.

Medicare Rx card program looms; pharmacy balks.(Brief Article)
September 4, 2002... WASHINGTON -- The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on Friday unveiled the Bush administration's final plan for a Medicare-endorsed prescription discount card and said the national launch of a card for seniors would occur "as soon as...

HHS launching new pharmacy benefit option.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 4, 2002... WASHINGTON -- In an election year bid to offer at least some of the nation's seniors partial relief from escalating drug prices, the Bush administration last week unveiled a new pilot program to expand health plan options for many Medicare...

Walgreens promotes executives in operations.(Brief Article)
September 4, 2002... DEERFIELD, Ill. -- Walgreen Co. last week announced a string of executive promotions. Robert Kral has been promoted from store operations vice president to vice president of operations/merchandising development and marketing, a new...

Wegmans Food Markets opens first stand-alone Rx.(Brief Article)
September 4, 2002... DOWINGTOWN, Pa. -- Wegmans Food Markets, a 63-store supermarket chain that operates in-store pharmacies, recently opened a temporary stand-alone pharmacy here. The pharmacy is located in the same plaza where the family-owned company will...

Duane Reade, N.Y. high school offer on-site retail program.(Brief Article)
September 4, 2002... NEW YORK -- In an effort to prepare high school students for potential careers in retail management and pharmacy, Duane Reade, with Public Education Needs Civic Involvement in Learning and the Brooklyn and Staten Island high schools district,...

Kmart gets OK to lose more money, subpoena power.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 4, 2002... CHICAGO -- Kmart, which withdrew its request to increase borrowing power by $500 million to $2.5 billion to cover expenses during its reorganization under Chapter 11, received court approval to increase the amount it could lose before...

Albertson's to invest $500m in Southwest through 2005.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 4, 2002... PHOENIX -- Albertson's, which completed the conversion of all 36 traditional Albertson's food stores to its Albertson's Osco combination format in Phoenix, plans to spend about $500 million in the Southwest through 2005. Coupled with the...

Wal-Mart, Walgreens to offer new Code Moxie tween line.(Brief Article)
September 4, 2002... SALT LAKE CITY -- This fall, both Wal-Mart and Walgreens will launch a new tween cosmetics line by Symbiosis, dubbed Code Moxie. Up-Grip, a flavored lip-gloss infused with shimmer and SPF 15, will be the first product to kick off the line...

Following August revolt, Mass. gov. holds hearing.(Brief Article)
September 4, 2002... BOSTON -- showdown between pharmacy retailers and state lawmakers will take place Thursday, when pharmacy leaders will get the chance to vent their frustration over a reduction in pharmacy reimbursements for the state's Medicaid program. ...

C.L. King & Associates and Merrill Lynch downgraded Pathmark. (Financials).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 4, 2002... CARTERET, N.J. -- Shares of Pathmark fell $2.33 to close at $11.15 yesterday after C.L. King & Associates and Merrill Lynch downgraded Pathmark to "neutral" from "strong buy" and "buy," respectively. Analysts cited concerns over the tough...

Kroger Co. (Financials).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 4, 2002... CINCINNATI -- Shares of Kroger Co. fell 6 percent, or $1.16, to $18.34 Thursday after the chain stated that it would not participate in any investor meetings. Kroger was scheduled to speak today at the Goldman Sachs Global Retailing...

Lek Pharmaceutical and Chemical Co. (Financials).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 4, 2002... BASEL, Switzerland -- Novartis expects to offer $800 million to buy Lek Pharmaceutical and Chemical Co., a Slovenian generic drug maker. The move would give Novartis a solid footing in Eastern European generics markets. The deal also would...

Ahold NV. (Financials).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 4, 2002... THE NETHERLANDS -- Ahold NV last week reported a second quarter loss of 197,5 million euros versus last year's profit of 323.8 million euros. The loss, which was Ahold's first in decades, was due to hefty charges related to its Argentina...

Wild Oats Markets. (Financials).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 4, 2002... BOULDER, Colo. -- Wild Oats Markets has sold 4.45 million shares at $11.50 per share, raising proceeds of $48.3 million. The 101-store chain will use a portion to open up to 13 stores in 2003, 20 in 2004 and 25 in 2005. Separately, Merrill...