Content about E-mail

CHICAGO — Canned peaches, criminal records and political contributions were among the top shareholder concerns expressed at Target’s annual meeting on Wednesday afternoon.

MINNEAPOLIS — April same-store sales at Target increased 1.1% and helped the company achieve a 5.3% first-quarter comps increase that was the highest in six years. How much of the performance was due to record warm weather versus good execution of a solid strategy against the back drop of an improved economy is debatable.

SAN FRANCISCO — Lotus Bakeries has introduced a crunchy version of Biscoff Spread.

Biscoff Spread, which is an an all-natural alternative to peanut butter, does not contain nuts, artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. The spread, which first was launched in a creamy variety, now includes a crunchy alternative that features Lotus Bakeries' Biscoff caramelized cookies and a crispy texture intermingled with a creamy spread.

NEW YORK — Pharmacists should see significant growth over the next decade, making the profession one of the top jobs for 2012, according to U.S. News & World Report magazine.

Independent pharmacies with a significant business in diabetes supplies will be facing their next big challenge to that business in January 2013 when competitive bidding of durable medical equipment goes into effect for mail order, Chris Smith, director of policy and regulatory affairs for the National Association of Community Pharmacists, told Drug Store News.

Texting and social media have not killed the traditional greeting card business. “Facebook has caused most people to acknowledge more birthdays than ever before, but they aren’t sending fewer cards as a result,” said Susan January, president of the Greeting Card Association and VP of Leanin’ Tree Cards.

WASHINGTON — A report released Thursday by Bloomberg said that U.S. consumer confidence held last week at the second-lowest level of 2011 as the highest number of households in three years said it was a bad time to spend.

The Bloomberg Consumer Comfort Index was minus 49.3 in the period to Sept. 11, near the 2011 low of minus 49.4 reached in May. The buying climate gauge slumped to the lowest level since October 2008.

According to the report, the majority — 9-out-of-10 — of Americans polled had a negative view on the economy.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT’S IMPORTANT — This isn't just about mail order in New York state. This is about the future of the pharmacy benefit management market and what payers are more likely to spend their money on. It's about choice. And because of that, this is just another story in what has been a very busy news cycle on the PBM front, driven primarily by the anti-mandatory mail-order bill battle in New York, reactions to two contradictory studies on patients regarding mail order and adherence, and continued challenges to the proposed ESI-Medco merger.

DUBLIN, Ohio and ST. PAUL, Minn. — A healthcare services company will continue to serve as the primary pharmaceutical supply chain partner for a pharmacy benefit manager's mail-order business.

NEW YORK — Marukome has introduced an easy-to-use miso product.

New Miso & Easy is an all-natural liquid that comes in an unbreakable squeeze bottle and is available in original and ginger-tomato flavors. Miso is a seasoning made with soybeans and rice or barley and is cultured or fermented for a period of time.

Formerly only available in Asian markets, Marukome Miso & Easy now is available at such retailers as Ralph’s, Safeway and Fairway.

NEW YORK — After Apple began giving consumers the option to receive paperless receipts, it seems that other retailers are following suit, according to published reports.

While it's common knowledge that cutting back on the use of paper has a positive impact on the environment, eco-conscious consumers that would prefer to receive their receipts electronically (via e-mail) now may have more options.