Content about Companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange

VALLEY FORGE, Pa. — AmerisourceBergen on Wednesday announced the election of former Campbell Soup president and CEO Douglas Conant to its board, effective immediately. Conant’s election increases the number of AmerisourceBergen directors from nine to 10.

“Doug’s extensive business experience, exceptional leadership capabilities and proven track record for growing brands and businesses make him an excellent addition to our board,” stated Richard Gozon, AmerisourceBergen chairman.

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid announced a special series of 50th Anniversary customer appreciation savings as the culmination of RA50, its 50th anniversary celebration, which began last September. By participating in the sales events running through early March, customers can receive up to $100 in additional +UP Rewards on top of the savings they already earn through their wellness+ membership.

CAMP HILL, Pa. — The Rite Aid Foundation has announced that it is making a donation of food items valued at $15,000 to the 1199SEIU Child Care Corp.

Items including pasta, soup, sauces, instant coffee, tea and other non-perishable food items will be delivered to the union’s warehouse in North Bergen, N.J., where they will then be distributed to member families affected by Hurricane Sandy. Rite Aid and 1199SEIU officials will receive the delivery at the warehouse on Dec. 28. 
 


CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid's fundamentals are improving, and Wall Street has taken notice. 

Rite Aid stock was up slightly by three cents late Thursday afternoon from its previous close of $1.41 per share. But shares were trading at $1.02 per share on Dec. 19, the day before Rite Aid announced third quarter results. 

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid beat analyst expectations in third quarter 2013 as the generic wave and retention of Express Scripts customers helped drive better-than-expected adjusted EBITDA and produced the company's first profitable quarter in five years.

"I am proud that we have achieved this significant milestone by putting our customers first and challenging ourselves to better serve them," Rite Aid president, chairman and CEO John Standley said in a conference call with Wall Street analysts Thursday morning.

CINCINNATI — Long-time Fred Meyer executive Lynn Gust was named president of the 133-store Kroger division.

Gust, 59, joined Koriger in 1970 as a parcel clerk and most recently served as the company’s SVP of operations. Gust was appointed to that position in 2011 and prior to that he served as EVP of corporate merchandising and advertising. During his career Gust also served as VP of the Fred Meyer food group and SVP of store operations.

MINNEAPOLIS — Target announced plans to open a new store in Baltimore by October 2013. The retail giant has said approximately 200 new team members will be hired for the new location, part of the Canton Crossing Shopping Center on Boston Street.

CAMP HILL, Pa. — As expected, Hurricane Sandy left its mark on Rite Aid's monthly sales as the chain reported a decline in comps for November.

The company said the 3% decrease in same-store sales for the five-week period ended Saturday included a 0.5% decrease in front-end comps and a 4.2% decrease in pharmacy comps, while same-store prescription count increased 2.2% compared with the same time last year.

Drug stores, especially chain drug stores, brand themselves differently. But once customers step through the doors, they tend to only see slight variations of the same thing: the same shelves, too tall for mere humans to reach the top without a ladder; the same product categories every other drug store carries; the same pharmacy counter in the back of the store; and the same cash registers in the front. Some stores have carpets, others have tile floors.


CINCINNATI — Kroger remained one of the few outperforming supermarket operators Thursday morning as the grocer exceeded analyst consensus adjusted earnings per diluted share by 3 cents with 46 cents per share. Actual reported net earnings were even higher — 60 cents per share — as Kroger benefitted from a settlement with Visa and MasterCard and from a reduction in the company's obligation to fund the UFCW consolidated pension fund created in January. 

Kroger shares were up 3.4% to $25.90 in late morning trading. 

Ultimately, there’s no “retail pharmacy” without the “pharmacy,” and that’s true of any store that dispenses prescription drugs — whether it’s a small independent drug store, a nationwide chain, a supermarket or a mass merchandiser. But in many respects, Rite Aid is trying to make the “pharmacy” component of that phrase just a little bit bigger.


CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid is offering Black Friday discounts early at its stores this year.

The retail pharmacy chain said it would open its stores from at least 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day and emailing Black Friday survival guides with shopping tips and savings to customers. The National Retail Federation predicts that 71 million shoppers will visit retailers over Black Friday weekend.