Content about 2nd millennium

July 19, 2012
CVS Caremark raises 2012 estimate of impact from Walgreens-Express Scripts stalemate

In light of Thursday’s news that Walgreens will re-enter Express Scripts' broadest network on Sept. 15, CVS Caremark stated that it now is better able to clarify what it believes will be the overall estimate of the impact from the impasse for the remainder of 2012.

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — In light of Thursday’s news that Walgreens will re-enter Express Scripts' broadest network on Sept. 15, CVS Caremark stated that it now is better able to clarify what it believes will be the overall estimate of the impact from the impasse for the remainder of 2012.

July 13, 2012
Giant-Carlisle completes acquisition of Genuardi's stores in Philadelphia

A division of Ahold USA has completed its acquisition of stores in the greater Philadelphia area.

AMSTERDAM — A division of Ahold USA has completed its acquisition of stores in the greater Philadelphia area.

Giant-Carlisle officially closed its acquisition of 15 Genuardi's stores, a subsidiary of Safeway. The deal was previously announced in January and was approved by the Federal Trade Commission last month.

As previously reported, during the conversion process, five stores at a time will temporarily close for about a week. The three-phase staggered approach is expected to be completed on July 22.

May 29, 2012
GoodNites to sport Spider-Man on underwear

Kimberly-Clark has partnered with Marvel Entertainment to bring the latter’s Spider-Man character to GoodNites underwear.

DALLAS — Kimberly-Clark has partnered with Marvel Entertainment to bring the latter’s Spider-Man character to GoodNites underwear.

Marking the first use of licensed characters by the GoodNites brand, the underwear for boys will feature graphics of the famed web-crawler for a limited time beginning this month.

May 17, 2012
CVS Caremark All Kids Can, Cedars-Sinai partner to bring mobile medical clinic to Los Angeles schools

CVS Caremark, through its All Kids Can program, announced on Thursday a partnership with Cedars-Sinai to expand the medical center's Coach for Kids and Their Families program to provide health services to more vulnerable children in South Los Angeles who otherwise would not have access to health services, including immunizations and dental screenings.

LOS ANGELES — CVS Caremark, through its All Kids Can program, announced on Thursday a partnership with Cedars-Sinai to expand the medical center's Coach for Kids and Their Families program to provide health services to more vulnerable children in South Los Angeles who otherwise would not have access to health services, including immunizations and dental screenings.

April 27, 2012
Weis Markets increases capital budget by 25% to $125 million

Weis Markets on Thursday announced it will invest $125 million in its 2012 growth program, a 25% increase compared with 2011.

SUNBURY, Pa. — Weis Markets on Thursday announced it will invest $125 million in its 2012 growth program, a 25% increase compared with 2011.

"Our budget includes two new stores and 18 major remodels," Weis Markets vice chairman Jonathan Weis said. "In addition, we expect to soon complete the purchase of three Genuardi's units near Philadelphia which we hope to reopen later this summer."

April 25, 2012
CVS Caremark, The Miracle Project aim to connect with children with autism

CVS Caremark announced today its partnership with The Miracle Project, a nonprofit organization that creates social skills programs for children with autism through the performing arts, to expand The Miracle Project School Inclusion Program to public schools in San Diego and San Jose, Calif.

SAN DIEGO — CVS Caremark announced today its partnership with The Miracle Project, a nonprofit organization that creates social skills programs for children with autism through the performing arts, to expand The Miracle Project School Inclusion Program to public schools in San Diego and San Jose, Calif.

April 20, 2012
Bayer donates $25,000 to benefit tornado victims

Bayer on Friday announced that it is providing monetary support for disaster relief efforts through a $25,000 donation from the Bayer USA Foundation to the American Red Cross of southwestern Indiana.

PITTSBURGH — Bayer on Friday announced that it is providing monetary support for disaster relief efforts through a $25,000 donation from the Bayer USA Foundation to the American Red Cross of southwestern Indiana. The state of Indiana was among several states affected by tornadoes on March 2, which caused extensive damage to rural communities such as Henryville, Clarksville and Newburgh.

April 9, 2012
Safeway's finance chief adds president to role

Safeway on Monday evening promoted Robert Edwards to president of the company. Edwards had served as Safeway's EVP and CFO since 2004.

PLEASANTON, Calif. — Safeway on Monday evening promoted Robert Edwards to president of the company. Edwards had served as Safeway's EVP and CFO since 2004.

April 4, 2012
CVS/pharmacy's Rob Price named to 2012 Class of Henry Crown fellows

Rob Price, CVS/pharmacy’s SVP and chief marketing officer, has been named to the Aspen Institute's 2012 Class of Henry Crown fellows.

WASHINGTON — Rob Price, CVS/pharmacy’s SVP and chief marketing officer, has been named to the Aspen Institute's 2012 Class of Henry Crown fellows.

March 26, 2012
Ahold stores to stop carrying 'pink slime'

Ahold's 756 stores in the Northeast will no longer carry a beef filler product that has attracted significant controversy among consumers lately.

QUINCY, Mass. — Ahold's 756 stores in the Northeast will no longer carry a beef filler product that has attracted significant controversy among consumers lately.

Stop & Shop, Giant-Landover and Giant-Carlisle simultaneously announced that they would no longer purchase ground beef containing finely textured beef, which often is derided as "pink slime" due to its pink color and viscous texture.

March 23, 2012
Is a new beauty format on the horizon for CVS/pharmacy?

The news that CVS/pharmacy is closing all of its upscale Beauty360 stores may have raised a few eyebrows — or perhaps not — but now it will be interesting to see the changes that occur in store and online in beauty.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — The news that CVS/pharmacy is closing all of its upscale Beauty360 stores may have raised a few eyebrows — or perhaps not — but now it will be interesting to see the changes that occur in store and online in beauty.

(THE NEWS: CVS/pharmacy to close all Beauty360 locations. For the full story, click here)

March 20, 2012
L'Oréal Paris, Toronto International Film Festival ink partnership

Beauty brand L'Oréal Paris has signed on as a major sponsor and official beauty partner of the Toronto International Film Festival and will roll out an array of programs designed to provide the ultimate Hollywood Red Carpet beauty experience to festival goers and fashion followers across Canada.

MONTREAL — Beauty brand L'Oréal Paris has signed on as a major sponsor and official beauty partner of the Toronto International Film Festival and will roll out an array of programs designed to provide the ultimate Hollywood Red Carpet beauty experience to festival goers and fashion followers across Canada.

March 15, 2012
Dollar General appoints EVP store operations

A former Safeway executive has joined Dollar General as its EVP store operations.

GOODLETTSVILLE, Tenn. — A former Safeway executive has joined Dollar General as its EVP store operations.

Effective March 19, Greg Sparks will assume all responsibilities for the operations of more than 9,900 retail stores in 38 states and serve on Dollar General's real estate and store development committee, the company said. Sparks will report to chairman and CEO Rick Dreiling.

Sparks most recently served as president of Safeway's Seattle division. His departure from the supermarket retailer was announced earlier this week.

March 15, 2012
Fundamentals, not M&A, could drive Rite Aid shares back up, analyst says

A takeover by Walgreens is "highly unlikely," but Rite Aid shares could stay past the $2 mark due to the company's fundamentals, an analyst said Thursday.

NEW YORK — A takeover by Walgreens is "highly unlikely," but Rite Aid shares could stay past the $2 mark due to the company's fundamentals, an analyst said Thursday.

March 14, 2012
Reports: WAG-RAD merger speculation drives RAD stock to four-year high

Shares of Rite Aid crossed the $2 mark Wednesday afternoon following analyst speculation about the prospects of a takeover by Walgreens, according to published reports.

NEW YORK — Shares of Rite Aid crossed the $2 mark Wednesday afternoon following analyst speculation about the prospects of a takeover by Walgreens, according to published reports.

February 13, 2012
Weis to buy three Genuardi's from Safeway

Weis Markets on Monday announced it has entered into an agreement to purchase three Pennsylvania-based Genuardi's stores from Safeway.

SUNBURY, Pa. — Weis Markets on Monday announced it has entered into an agreement to purchase three Pennsylvania-based Genuardi's stores from Safeway.

"We're extremely pleased to be adding these stores to our store base," Weis Markets president and CEO David Hepfinger said.  "We look forward to serving these communities as the lead local merchant as we have in 33 counties throughout central, eastern and Northeastern Pennsylvania. We will also be reaching out to the associates of these stores to discuss employment with our company."

February 10, 2012
Rival PBMs plan to take advantage over last month of Express Scripts-Medco uncertainty

The regulatory review of the Express Scripts-Medco merger now is in its final stages, and with the clock ticking down to that 30-day deadline, you can expect a full court-press from retail pharmacy interests looking to block the deal.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — The regulatory review of the Express Scripts-Medco merger now is in its final stages, and with the clock ticking down to that 30-day deadline, you can expect a full court-press from retail pharmacy interests looking to block the deal. The time for the three-point finesse shots from the corners of the court has passed, it's now time to charge the net and jam the message home; an Express Scripts-Medco merger is bad both for the retail pharmacy business and for consumers. However, it just might be good for CVS Caremark.

January 31, 2012
Safeway appoints president of Vons division

Safeway on Monday named Lori Raya president of its Vons division.

PLEASANTON, Calif. — Safeway on Monday named Lori Raya president of its Vons division.

January 26, 2012
Integrity Health targets 30-something women with Canadian diet aid

Integrity Health Products is bringing a line of diet aids from Canada, specifically targeting women between the ages of 30 and 50 years, to the U.S. market.

ATLANTA — Integrity Health Products is bringing a line of diet aids from Canada, specifically targeting women between the ages of 30 and 50 years, to the U.S. market.

"Most [diet aids] appeal to a younger woman, one who still buys into the 'magic pill' philosophy," the company stated. "We are speaking to the woman who's 'been there, done that' and expects more."

January 23, 2012
Six pharmacy retailers recognized for diversity business opportunities

Walmart ranked No. 1 out of six retail pharmacy operators who were identified as part of the “Top 50 Organizations for Multicultural Business Opportunities" by DiversityBusiness.com last week. Other pharmacy retailers on the list included, in order, Kroger, Supervalu, Target, Walgreens and Ahold USA.

SOUTHPORT, Conn. — Walmart ranked No. 1 out of six retail pharmacy operators who were identified as part of the “Top 50 Organizations for Multicultural Business Opportunities" by DiversityBusiness.com last week. Other pharmacy retailers on the list included, in order, Kroger, Supervalu, Target, Walgreens and Ahold USA.

January 17, 2012
Former Revlon head joins Saks' board of directors

Former Revlon executive Jack Stahl has been appointed to Saks’ board of directors, effective Jan. 16. He also will serve on the audit committee of the board.

NEW YORK — Former Revlon executive Jack Stahl has been appointed to Saks’ board of directors, effective Jan. 16. He also will serve on the audit committee of the board.

January 5, 2012
Safeway prepares to exit Philadelphia market

Safeway on Thursday announced the sale of 16 of its Genuardi's stores in the greater Philadelphia area to Giant Food Stores, a division of Ahold USA.

PLEASANTON, Calif. — Safeway on Thursday announced the sale of 16 of its Genuardi's stores in the greater Philadelphia area to Giant Food Stores, a division of Ahold USA. Safeway will continue to operate these stores until the transaction closes, and the company is working through an orderly transition for all of these stores.

In addition, Safeway plans to close three Genuardi's stores and sell the remaining eight Genuardi's stores, which it will continue to operate while it is working with potential buyers.

January 3, 2012
Styling products create wave in hair care

Whether it’s creating beachy waves, sexy curls or modern ponytails, women aren’t shying away from styling their best fashion accessory: hair. 


Whether it’s creating beachy waves, sexy curls or modern ponytails, women aren’t shying away from styling their best fashion accessory: hair. 


Sales of styling products are on the upswing, according to the data provided by SymphonyIRI. The market research firm reported that for the 52 weeks ended Nov. 27 at food, drug and mass (excluding Walmart), sales of hair spray/spritz rose just shy of 1% to about $418.8 million, while sales of hair-styling gel/mousse rose 1.8% to about $642.7 million.


December 21, 2011
Bi-Lo, Winn-Dixie combo would create a $780 million-plus pharmacy operation

The proposed acquisition of Winn-Dixie by fellow Southeast grocer Bi-Lo would create a regional pharmacy operator with almost 500 pharmacy operations and pharmacy revenue of around $780 million, according to Drug Store News projections.

GREENVILLE, S.C. — The proposed acquisition of Winn-Dixie by fellow Southeast grocer Bi-Lo would create a regional pharmacy operator with almost 500 pharmacy operations and pharmacy revenue of around $780 million, according to Drug Store News projections.

That would make the Bi-Lo/Winn-Dixie combination No. 24 on Drug Store News' PoweRx50 — a list of the top 50 pharmacy retailers operating in the U.S. — falling in just behind Albertsons LLC (which posted $787 million in pharmacy revenue in 2010) and well ahead of Fred's ($628 million).

December 20, 2011
At Analyst Day, CVS Caremark unveils host of new initiatives across the board — front-end, pharmacy, clinics and PBM

At its annual Analyst Day in New York on Tuesday, CVS Caremark executives outlined strong growth for 2012 and unveiled several new offerings and initiatives that are expected to help drive profitable long-term growth as it works to reinvent pharmacy and focus on its “integration sweet spots.”

NEW YORK — At its annual Analyst Day in New York on Tuesday, CVS Caremark executives outlined strong growth for 2012 and unveiled several new offerings and initiatives that are expected to help drive profitable long-term growth as it works to reinvent pharmacy and focus on its “integration sweet spots.”