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NEW YORK — Costco has entered the pharmacy benefit management business, according to published reports.

In an article in the January 2013 issue of Costco Connection magazine, the club warehouse retailer is promoting the new PBM, Costco Health Solutions, to small business owners. Pharmaceutical industry consultant Adam Fein noted on his blog, Drug Channels, that Costco was seeking to emulate the tactics already used by CVS Caremark, Walgreens and Walmart to drive prescription growth.

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Mass-merchandise chain Shopko has appointed a new president, the company said Friday.

Shopko announced the promotion of Jill Soltau to president and chief merchandising officer. Soltau began working for Shopko in 2007 as SVP and GMM apparel and accessories, before receiving a promotion in 2009 to EVP and chief merchandising officer. She previously worked for retailers such as Sears and Kohl's.

NEW YORK — Vasinee Food, the leading importer of Foco 100% Pure coconut water in the United States, is now introducing Foco in five tropical fruit flavors: pineapple, mango, pomegranate, pink guava and lychee.

Foco 100% Pure coconut water has received excellent reviews for its sweet, pure, refreshing taste. With the addition of these all-natural, tropical flavor splashes, the brand now offers consumers more ways to "Go loco for Foco," as its new advertising slogan suggests.

Walmart's Arkansas Payment Improvement Initiative aims to create a more patient-centered and cost-efficient payment system for the retailer's home state. 

The latest move by Walmart is as sure an indication as any that health care is becoming less about fee-for-service and more about basing compensation on ratings derived from patient outcomes.

NEW YORK — Abbott Labs has spun off its specialty drug division into a new company called AbbVie, which the new company's leaders heralded Wednesday by ringing the first opening bell of 2013 at the New York Stock Exchange.

CHESAPEAKE, Va. — "Dollar Tree has grown steadily for 26 years,” said Bob Sasser, president and CEO of Dollar Tree. That steady growth has led Dollar Tree to expand its Marietta, Okla. distribution center by 400,000 sq. ft., the company announced.

The facility in Marietta opened in 2003 and is currently 603,000 sq. ft. This facility supplies products to our stores across eleven states, including all of Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado, New Mexico and Texas, and portions of Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota, Wyoming and Montana.

WASHINGTON — A federal judge in Washington has dismissed a suit against the FDA brought up by Mylan for withholding approval for the company to sell a generic version of Novartis AG’s heart pill, Diovan.

U.S. District Court Judge John D. Bates said in an opinion filed on Dec. 27, that the FDA did not act “capriciously” when it denied Mylan exclusivity to market its version of Diovan. Bates also said Mylan did not show it suffered “irreparable harm” as a result.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens on Thursday announced $100,000 in additional donations to Hurricane Sandy relief efforts. The company, which includes Duane Reade in New York and New Jersey, is making two $50,000 contributions, one to the Empire State Relief Fund announced by New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, and the other to the Hurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief Fund established by Gov. Chris Christie.

SEATTLE — A former executive of Car Toys has been appointed CFO of Bartell Drugs, the Seattle-based retail pharmacy chain said.

Rob Jensen has been appointed CFO of Bartell, where he will provide financial analysis and support for the 58-store chain, including supervisory oversight of accounting and finance, information technology, loss prevention and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act operations.

WASHINGTON — The American Telemedicine Association, the leading nonprofit membership organization for remote medical services, is working with three minority legislative caucuses to educate lawmakers and introduce model legislation for telehealth in statehouses around the country. ATA has formed partnerships with the National Organization of Black Elected Legislative Women (NOBEL), the National Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL) and the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators (NHCSL) with the goal of maximizing state-government support of telemedicine.

JERUSALEM — Xenon Pharmaceuticals is licensing an experimental pain drug to Teva Pharmaceutical Industries in a deal worth up to $376 million, not including royalties, the companies said.

CARLISLE, Pa. — Several stores in the Giant Food Stores chain will collect used respiratory inhalers under a program sponsored by drug maker GlaxoSmithKline, the supermarket chain said.

Giant, an Ahold-owned banner also known as Giant-Carlisle to distinguish it from fellow Ahold banner Giant Food of Landover, Md., said 48 stores in Pennsylvania would participate in GSK's "Complete the Cycle" recycle program for respiratory inhalers used to treat asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, allergies and flu.