Content about Economy of the United States

NEW YORK — It’s official. Actress Drew Barrymore — through a collaboration with Maesa, a creator and manufacturer of beauty products — is launching her new Flower cosmetics line in Walmart.

Last week in a much anticipated move, Cerberus Capital Management acquired 877 supermarkets from Supervalu for $100 million in cash and the assumption of $3.2 billion in debt.  Also part of the deal, a Cerberus-led investor consortium will provide the remaining Supervalu business an influx with the purchase of up to 30% of Supervalu stock at a purchase price of $4 per share. 

Walgreens chief Greg Wasson had a new vision to share with the pharmacy operator's faithful shareholders for 2013. It was a vision that firmly placed the Express Scripts dispute in the rear-view mirror and refocused on the road ahead, that includes expanding the role of pharmacy and even what it means to be a U.S. pharmacy operator with its acquisition of Alliance Boots. 

MINNEAPOLIS — In a move that will reunite all Albertsons stores under one operator, Supervalu on Thursday morning announced a definitive agreement under which it will sell 877 stores across the Albertsons, Acme, Jewel-Osco, Shaw’s and Star Market banners and related Osco and Sav-on in-store pharmacies to AB Acquisition, an affiliate of Cerberus Capital Management, in a transaction valued at $3.3 billion.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — More than a dozen executives in Walmart’s merchandising organization, including several with key healthcare responsibilities, will begin the new fiscal year with different responsibilities following a restructuring announced on Thursday.

An internal announcement from Duncan Mac Naughton, Walmart’s chief merchandising and marketing officer detailed the moves involving executives with responsibilities for food, consumables, health and wellness, general merchandise, merchandise execution and private label.

 CHICAGO — "[The year] 2012 was definitely an important year for Walgreens," Greg Wasson, Walgreens president and CEO, told shareholders here, at the Navy Pier, Wednesday afternoon, at the chain's annual shareholder meeting. "We did make some tough choices to protect and solidify … our position for the long term," he said. "[But] our vision is crystal clear to become the first choice for health and daily living in America."

CINCINNATI — Procter & Gamble has announced that current P&G director Johnathan Rodgers has decided not to seek re-election at P&G’s annual shareholder meeting in October 2013, choosing to retire from the board at that time.

The company also announced the appointment of Terry Lundgren, chairman, president and CEO of Macy’s to its board, effective immediately.

NEW YORK — Pharmacy benefit manager Catamaran Corp. hopes to expand business with client Cigna Corp. and foresees other opportunities, according to published reports.

MINNEAPOLIS — Target Corp. has launched a campaign to price match online retailers, the mass-merchandise retailer said Tuesday.

The Minneapolis-based retailer said it planned to price match online retailers like Amazon.com, Walmart.com, BestBuy.com and Toysrus.com year-round; Target stores would also price match items on the company's own website.

NEW YORK — According to a Bloomberg report published Friday morning, Abbott Laboratories, Johnson & Johnson and Sanofi are all potential suitors for Bausch & Lomb's eye care business in a deal that could be valued as high as $10 billion. 

B&L is being shopped by private equity firm Warburg Pincus, which is working with Goldman Sachs Group, Bloomberg reported, and both Abbott and Sanofi have contracted financial advisors as well. 

Other companies who have been invited to bid include Merck and Pfizer. 

Following the "People’s Choice Awards," Walgreens is celebrating its involvement in the awards by hosting “Night at the W” events at its stores nationwide on Jan. 10.

The “Night at the W,” which leverages the expertise of its beauty advisers, is yet another example of how the pharmacy retailer is elevating the beauty experience at mass. And the event is an ideal way to promote its beauty advisers.