Content about California

NEW YORK — Safeway pharmacists will use a program developed by the University of California San Francisco School of Pharmacy to help people quit smoking, under a partnership with the supermarket operator announced by the university.

Safeway pharmacists will receive training in smoking-cessation counseling techniques developed by the UCSF pharmacy faculty, while stores will locate OTC nicotine-replacement therapies near pharmacy areas, giving customers convenient access to the pharmacist.

PALO ALTO, Calif. — Shopkick, a shopping app, on Wednesday announced that Nielsen ranked Shopkick No. 34 out of approximately 1 million apps in December 2012. While still trailing giants like Facebook, YouTube and Twitter overall, Shopkick dominated the shopping category during the holiday season, with more frequent and prolonged usage than all physical retailers' own apps including Starbucks, Walmart, Walgreens, Kroger and Safeway, the app developer noted. 

JERUSALEM — Teva Pharmaceutical Industries has added a University of California at Los Angeles medical professor to its board of directors, the Israeli drug maker said.

Teva announced the appointment of Arie Belldegrun, who is a director at the UCLA Institute of Urology Oncology and professor and chair of urologic oncology at the David Geffen School of Medicine. The company appointed Belldegrun at its Feb. 5 meeting to fill a vacancy, and Belldegrun's term will extend the drug maker's 2013 annual shareholder meeting.

COCOA, Fla. — Sun & Skin Care Research announced on Monday that it has completed the acquisition of the Bull Frog sunscreen brand from Chattem, a division of Sanofi U.S.

CITY OF COMMERCE, Calif. — Net sales at 99 Cents Only Stores increased 8.8% in third quarter 2013, the company said.

The dollar-store chain announced sales of $439.5 million, a $35.6 million increase over third quarter 2012, while comps increased 4.3%. For the first three quarters of fiscal year 2013, sales were $1.23 billion, an 8.7% increase over the same period last year, while comps increased 4.3%. Profit for the quarter was $12.7 million, compared with $22.2 million at the end of third quarter 2012.

GLENDALE, Calif. — Nestle today announced new additions to its line of Valentine’s Day offerings.

This season's collection includes the new Wonka Lik-M-Aid Fun Dip Mystery Flavor Valentine Exchange Kit. Returning this year are Lik-M-Aid Fun Dip Valentine Exchange Kit, Nestlé Crunch and Butterfinger Hearts, Wonka's best-selling Nerds , Pixy Stix, or Laffy Taffy Candy and Card Kits, Wonka Sweetarts Lollipops and Wonka Sweetarts Hearts.

IRVINE, Calif. —  West Coast Chill Pure Energy drink, which contains no sugar, no caffeine and no artificial sweeteners, and which is also available in the world's first self-chilling beverage can, patented and licensed by the Joseph Co. International, has expanded distribution and is now available in locations from coast to coast.

ATLANTA — The flu epidemic is in full swing in the West and across the Southwest, as just about every state west of the Mississippi through to California is in the red on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention weekly FluView for the week ended Jan. 26. 

As expected, many of those living in areas with high influenza-like illness activity were visiting their local drug stores for symptomatic relief. Drug store front-end sales were up 7.4% for the four weeks ended Jan. 26, according to reports citing Nielsen data. 

MODESTO, Calif. — Save Mart Supermarkets has committed to raising more than $400,000 this year to increase awareness and promote education about the risks of heart disease to women, the chain said.

Save Mart said it would raise the money in collaboration with the American Heart Association and its Go Red for Women movement.

WALNUT CREEK, Calif. — Aetna is offering individual health insurance plans to Costco members in California, the health insurer said.

The Costco Personal Health Insurance program includes five plans and offers broad medical benefits, dental options and a large network of doctors and hospitals. The program also is available to members of the club retailer in Arizona, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Texas and Virginia. Aetna plans to expand the program to other markets in the coming months.

FALLBROOK, Calif. — As tattoos increasingly penetrate mainstream culture, Wrenchers Body Shop has seen an uptick in sales within the body art industry of its Hands Maid and Babied Hands line of botanical skin care launched in early 2012, and now the company is seeking manufacturer representatives to assist in marketing.