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A satisfied customer could just offer the highest return on investment of any marketing vehicle available to a retail pharmacy, according to the most recent Patient Views infographic. In all, 72% of patients say they would recommend their preferred pharmacy to their friends and family, according to an exclusive survey of nearly 800 patients conducted by AccentHealth and DSN in late July and early August. And again, grocery stores finished at the top (80%).

Restricted pharmacy networks are becoming more prevalent, and mandatory mail has long been a threat, but the good news among Patient Views panelists is that more than 8-out-of-10 say their insurance allows them to go to the pharmacy of their choice, according to an exclusive survey of nearly 800 patients conducted by AccentHealth and DSN in late July and early August.

Stay tuned this week, as Patient Views further explores pharmacy satisfaction and what it would take to get them to break allegiances and switch pharmacies.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Winn-Dixie Stores on Wednesday announced the donation of a 50-ft. refrigerated semi-trailer to Second Harvest North Florida, the regional food bank that supplies food to 450 local nonprofit organizations across 17 counties in northern Florida.

Winn-Dixie donated the trailer after learning the food bank's existing trailer was no longer road-worthy and is being used as an auxiliary refrigeration unit to store perishable foods. The trailer was loaded with approximately 13,000 lbs. of food to restock the food bank's nearly empty warehouse.

WAYNE, N.J. — Bayer HealthCare and Onyx Pharmaceuticals are seeking approval for a new drug to treat tumors of the gut, the companies said.

Bayer and Onyx announced the submission to the Food and Drug Administration of an application seeking approval for regorafenib in patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumors, or GIST. Bayer developed the drug and formed a partnership with Onyx in 2011, whereby Onyx will receive a royalty on future global net sales of the drug in cancer-related indications. Both companies will promote the drug in the United States.

More than one-third of pharmacy patients say that the pharmacist is a very important factor for them when choosing a preferred pharmacy — and 92% of patients say they have a preferred pharmacy, according to an exclusive survey of nearly 800 patients conducted by AccentHealth and DSN in late July and early August. But when asked which types of pharmacies they believed had the most professional and trained pharmacists, 33% answered traditional drug store chains, such as Walgreens and CVS.

More than 90% of pharmacy patients have a preferred pharmacy — and for 98% of that group, it isn’t mail order. But how do patients choose a preferred pharmacy, you ask? According to an exclusive survey of nearly 800 patients, conducted by AccentHealth and DSN in late July and early August, after convenience/location (among the top three factors selected by 75% of patients), the second most critical reason is customer service (top three for 57% of patients).

QUINCY, Mass. — Peapod has launched a new service through which customers can order their groceries online and pick them up at a store.

The Peapod Pick-Up service initially has been rolled out to a Stop & Shop store located in Abington, Mass. For a limited time, Peapod Pick-up will be offered free of charge ($2.95 value) and shoppers can choose a convenient one-hour pickup time between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. Sunday through Friday, and 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday.

ALLEGAN, Mich., and MONMOUTH JUNCTION, N.J. — Perrigo and Tris Pharma have launched a private-label version of Delsym extended-release oral liquid suspension containing dextromethorphan polistirex.

The comapnies said the product, which is indicated for the temporary treatment of cough due to minor throat and bronchial irritation, will be marketed under major U.S. retailer and wholesalers' store brands or own label brands.

Almost 2-in-3 patients reported that the individual pharmacist plays a key role in which pharmacy they choose, but less than one-third of patients tap into that accessible health resource on a regular basis, according to an exclusive survey conducted by AccentHealth and DSN. 


For the full report, click here.

RICHMOND, Va. — Eight supermarkets in the Richmond, Va., area are using one of the most important parts of the store to promote healthy eating: the checkout lane.

Martin's Food Markets, part of the Ahold USA's Giant-Carlisle chain, announced it had partnered with the Richmond City Health District and Greater Richmond Fit4Kids in launching "Healthy Ideas" checkout lanes at the stores. Items will include fruit, nuts, snack packs from the store's Nature's Promise natural and organic section, nutrition bars and 100% fruit juice.

LEWISVILLE, Texas — TIGI Haircare — whose brands include Bed Head, Catwalk, Rockaholic and TIGI Cosmetics — has tapped gymnastic medalist Nastia Liukin to be its newest spokeswoman.

TIGI will embark on a multiyear deal with Liukin, involving her in many facets of the brand, including campaign advertising, social media, consumer promotions and appearances, as well as a co-branded product line.

LOS ANGELES — FaceLube, an anti-aging skin care line for men, has partnered with the STA-BIL Lawn and Garden Mower Racing Series by becoming the official sponsor of the “FaceLube Best New Face Award,” honoring the U.S. Lawn Mower Racing Association Rookie of the Year as lawn mower racing celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2012.