Content about Economy of the United States

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Pfizer president and general manager for specialty care and oncology, Geno Germano, will deliver the “State of the Pharma/Biotech Industry Address” at the 2011 Armada Specialty Pharmacy Summit, Armada Health Care said Tuesday.

The summit, which will take place in Las Vegas in May, is in its seventh year and is expected to bring 1,500 participants representing 400 specialty healthcare organizations, including specialty pharmacy providers, pharmaceutical and biotech companies, wholesale distributors and others.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Walmart's philanthropic arm announced a $2 million donation to help food banks save money on energy bills.

This funding, the Walmart Foundation said, will help 16 food banks "go green" by becoming more energy efficient through lighting, refrigeration or heating and air-conditioning equipment upgrades.

This initiative is a part of Walmart's commitment to fighting hunger. In May, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation announced a $2 billion cash and in-kind commitment through the end of 2015, including:

NEW YORK — Walmart is looking to target little beauty mavens in their tweens with the launch of a new beauty brand dubbed GeoGirl, according to published reports.

GeoGirl, which is owned by Pacific World, will debut in February and reportedly will replace the Mary-Kate and Ashley beauty line at Walmart, according to reports.

The line is positioned as "the first complete collection of fun, informative, natural makeup and skin care for Generation Z."

SALISBURY, N.C. — Food Lion family of stores and Bottom Dollar Food donated a record 1.5 million lbs. of food to local food banks.

The retailers kicked off their eighth annual Hunger Has a Cure campaign, and sold roughly 250,000 boxes in the effort, which ran from Nov. 17 to Dec. 28, 2010.

The food was donated to food banks affiliated with Feeding America.

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS Caremark's retail-based clinic operator, MinuteClinic, is experiencing exponential gains in utilization and posted a 22% increase in acute visits during the past year, Larry Merlo, CVS Caremark president and COO, told investors Wednesday during the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — A 2.3% same-store sales gain at Kmart was not enough to offset a 6% decline at Sears, resulting in an overall 1.7% decline for the combined companies' domestic operations during the five-week December reporting period ended Jan. 1.

WEST BRIDGEWATER, Mass. — Shaw’s Supermarkets, a Supervalu banner, on Wednesday announced five store closures in the coming week — three in Massachusetts and two in Rhode Island — according to published reports.

Shaw’s currently operates 174 stores in New England.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Shortly after announcing a record-setting first quarter last month, Walgreens reported on Wednesday that its December sales rose 7.5% to $6.8 billion.

The chain said that Duane Reade stores, which Walgreens acquired in April 2010, contributed 2.5 percentage points.

Meanwhile, Walgreens also raked in a 9.5% increase for its total front-end sales, thanks to a spike in customer traffic and basket size. Pharmacy sales for the chain, which accounted for 58.6% of total sales for the month, saw a 6% boost.

WHITESTONE, N.Y. — Call him “Stewie Rah Rah.” He doesn’t mind. Stewart Rahr, the man in the bright yellow sunglasses who led Kinray to become the nation’s top independently owned pharmaceutical wholesaler, soon will have more time for his other interests.

ROGERS, Ark. — If the eyes are the window to the soul, then Walmart’s suppliers are the window to its future, thanks to the truly unique relationship the retailer enjoys with its trading partners. Walmart brought new meaning to the concept of collaboration when it pursued a strategy of data transparency decades ago that enabled fact-based decision-making. Suppliers embraced what, at the time, was a novel approach in the retail industry, and their support over the years facilitated Walmart’s expansion, sales growth for all concerned and low prices for consumers.


ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Kodak's popular wireless frame with its own e-mail address is keeping up with the times.

The new generation of Kodak Pulse digital frames, which have Wi-Fi capability, will allow users to comment on photos they receive from friends and family with a Quick Comment button on the frame's touchscreen. What's more, the Pulse frame also connects to Facebook and Kodak Gallery albums, so pictures automatically are streamed to the frame.

LAKELAND, Fla. — Publix is rolling out imported and domestic private-label specialty cheeses in its deli department.

Publix customers will have the opportunity to learn about the specialty cheeses — including such varieties as asiago and Spanish manchego — now offered at stores through weekly sales ads, Publix.com and in-store promotions and presentations, the company said.