Content about Arkansas

As Drug Store News suggested last month, legislation under consideration in Tennessee and Kentucky that would make the popular decongestant pseudoephedrine only available by prescription has, in fact, sparked interest in neighboring states. Arkansas shares a border with Kentucky, where a PSE prescription-only bill was filed in January, and Mississippi, one of two states that already has passed PSE prescription-only legislation.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The National Association of Chain Drug Stores and the National Community Pharmacists Association have expressed their support for H.R. 891, the Medication Therapy Management Benefits Act of 2011, as it would expand the pool of Medicare Part D beneficiaries who can qualify for the service provided by a licensed pharmacist to any patient with a chronic medical condition. Currently, only those patients suffering from multiple chronic conditions are eligible.

Reps. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., and Mike Ross, D-Ark., introduced the bill.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Walmart said it will present more than $1.5 million to nonprofits in six U.S. communities, thanks to Facebook users' help with the retailer's commitment to fight hunger through 2015.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Despite gains in its international sector, Walmart experienced its seventh straight quarterly sales decline in its U.S. stores division for the period ended Jan. 31.

Walmart said although sales at its international stores rose 27%, its U.S. store sales fell short of its own projections for the holiday period. Sales at U.S. Walmart stores fell 0.5% to $71.1 billion, and were down 1.8% on a comparable-store basis, the company said.

CHICAGO — Beauty retailer Ulta said it will award more than $100,000 in scholarship grants across 13 U.S. cities to female high school seniors.

The 2011 Enrich, Empower and Enlighten Scholarship program will offer each winner an $8,000 scholarship to the educational institution of her choice. Applications will be evaluated on community involvement, leadership qualities, academic achievement and commitment to continuing their education, Ulta said.

Participating cities in the program include:

• Yorkville, Ill.;

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Sam's Club pharmacies, which ranked highest among retailers in the prescription ordering and pickup process category in the J.D. Power and Associates 2010 U.S. National Pharmacy Study, is expanding its services this month.

Throughout the month of February, Sam's Club is emphasizing its pharmacy segment by offering customers a free prescription checkup on any medication, as well as a free 10-count sample of its Member's Mark fish oil supplements (except in Puerto Rico-based stores).

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — The Project 
Portfolio initiative at Sam’s Club may sound a lot like Walmart’s less-than-successful Project Impact undertaking, but the key distinction is that Sam’s variant of the strategic initiative has important ramifications for the health-and-wellness area. Overseeing those departments is Sam’s Club vet Todd Matherly, VP and divisional merchandise manager of health and wellness following a promotion last year.


BENTONVILLE, Ark. — In a swift move by Walmart, Duncan Mac Naughton has been appointed the retailer's chief merchandising officer for its U.S. division, less than three months after being named the company's merchandising EVP.

Mac Naughton, who joined Walmart in October, was part of the big-box retailer's restructuring of the merchandising department, which involved divvying the responsibilities among four EVPs, directly reporting to Walmart U.S. president and CEO Bill Simon. Mac Naughton oversaw the consumables, health-and-wellness and Walmart.com businesses.

ROGERS, Ark. — The beginning of a new year is weight-loss season, and to help those who made such a resolution track their progress, this Target store in Rogers, Ark., featured scales on an endcap.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Walmart's philanthropic arm announced a $2 million donation to help food banks save money on energy bills.

This funding, the Walmart Foundation said, will help 16 food banks "go green" by becoming more energy efficient through lighting, refrigeration or heating and air-conditioning equipment upgrades.

This initiative is a part of Walmart's commitment to fighting hunger. In May, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation announced a $2 billion cash and in-kind commitment through the end of 2015, including:

PINE BLUFF, Ark. — USA Drug grew up in Arkansas, home turf of Walmart. But to characterize the 140-unit drug store operator as David to Walmart’s Goliath doesn’t do justice to this feisty retail innovator, which wields plenty of clout across the nation’s midsection, under a variety of store banners.