Content about Europe

NEW YORK — Royal Ahold executive Kimberly Ross is joining beauty company Avon as EVP and CFO, reporting to Andrea Jung, Avon's chairman and CEO.

Ross currently is EVP and CFO and a member of the executive board of Royal Ahold NV, a Netherlands-based international group with more than 2,970 stores and supermarkets spanning Europe and the United States.

PITTSBURGH — Giant Eagle is celebrating its locally and regionally grown produce with a new video on its website.

The retailer said that it is taking several steps to educate consumers on which fruits and vegetables are at their peak season throughout the year, and is further relaying this message through its video, which can be viewed on the company's website.

LONDON — GlaxoSmithKline on Thursday identified the remaining noncore over-the-counter brands that it intends to divest as the company focuses its Consumer Healthcare business around a portfolio of fast-growing priority brands and emerging markets.

GSK said it planned to contact companies interested in acquiring the brands over the next few weeks and expected to complete all divestitures by late 2011.

PARSIPPANY, N.J. — A rise in visits to professional outlets for skin care treatments in 2010 gave way to sales growth for the professional skin care products market, with Europe and the United States posting rebounds, according to a recently released study by consulting and research firm Kline.

PHILADELPHIA — An increase in consolidation among generic drug companies could be in the works, according to a new report from Thomson Reuters.

According to the report, “Gaining Market Share in the Generic Drug Industry Through Acquisitions and Partnerships,” generic drug makers face competition, as well as government-mandated price cuts in Europe and such policies as lowest-price tendering. As a result, many could seek deals that would cause them to diversify their portfolios.

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Global Industry Analysts on Wednesday released its report on the future growth of the diabetes diagnostics market.

In "Diabetes Diagnostics: A Global Strategic Business Report," GIA projected that the global market for diabetes diagnostics is expected to reach $26 billion by 2015. GIA noted that the United States is the largest regional market, followed by Europe. The report also noted that the increasing number of diabetics worldwide will prompt boosts in certain segments, including blood-glucose test strips and meters.

NEW YORK — The new flagship Walgreens store in the heart of bustling Times Square is an impressive location with an exterior wrapped in massive digital signage and an interior that displays the latest in innovative merchandising at mass retail—and the beauty department is no exception.