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GRAPEVINE, Texas — A member-owned cooperative has inked a deal with a technology company that develops and provides integrated data-driven solutions for healthcare inventory logistics.

Topco said it selected Supplylogix to provide pharmacy inventory management and demand forecasting services, which will improve inventory positions and forecast demand for more than 60,000 pharmaceutical products sold across more than 1,000 pharmacy locations nationwide.

GLENVIEW, Ill. — Kraft Foods has put the spotlight on Athenos with the brand's first-ever advertising campaign.

Athenos' portfolio, which includes Greek yogurt, hummus and pita chips, is being brought to life with a campaign highlighting yiayias, or Greek grandmothers, and their no-nonsense, unsolicited opinions of the world. The ads, created by Droga5, show that while yiayias criticize their grandchildren for their attire, lack of job or living with their significant other before marriage, the women do approve of Athenos products.

ATLANTA — Coca-Cola is expanding the reach of its Seagram's line of beverages across the United States.

The beverage giant said it would begin a several-phase marketing strategy for Seagram’s, beginning with new radio and out-of-home advertisements for Seagram’s ginger ale.

NEW YORK — The flu may drive consumers to bed, but drug store sales are expected to benefit from an increase in flu activity, according to a Credit Suisse research note.

Credit Suisse research analyst Edward Kelly on Monday noted that as Walgreens and Rite Aid would report their monthly sales on March 3, comparable pharmacy sales would be driven by increased flu activity.

PHILADELPHIA — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a GlaxoSmithKline drug for a rare blood disorder, GSK said Friday.

The drug maker announced the approval of Promacta (eltrombopag) for chronic immune thrombocytopenic purpura, or ITP, in patients who have not responded adequately to other therapies. Chronic ITP results in increased destruction of inadequate production of platelets in the blood, creating an increased risk of bruising and bleeding.

The FDA granted Promacta orphan drug designation in May 2008 and accelerated approval in November 2008.

NORTHFIELD, Ill. — A U.S. appellate court denied Kraft Foods' request for a preliminary injunction against Starbucks, upholding a lower court's ruling.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit's denial of the injunction will allow Starbucks to end its strategic partnership with Kraft before an arbitration proceeding. The arbitration process currently is under way, Kraft said.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Two lobbying groups representing the nation's pharmacies are emphasizing how community pharmacies can help lower prescription drug costs, as well as the importance of maintaining the right of military families and veterans to choose where they fill their prescriptions through the Tricare program.

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. — Freeman Beauty has launched for 2011 its new Pssssst instant dry shampoo for wavy or curly hair.

The new transparent version of the dry shampoo is specifically formulated for wavy or curly hair. It is designed to reduce frizz and does not need to be brushed out, so curls or waves are left intact. In addition to cleaning and deodorizing hair, the formula promises to instantly boost volume and movement.

The new Pssssst instant dry shampoo for wavy or curly hair has a suggested retail price of $6.99.

DUBLIN — British drug maker Shire again is trying to win approval for a hereditary angioedema drug that the Food and Drug Administration had previously declined to approve.

Shire said Monday that it had submitted a response to the "not approvable letter" the FDA sent to German subsidiary Jerini AG in April 2008 for the drug Firazyr (icatibant).

PLEASANTON, Calif. — Safeway has promoted Mir Aamir to lead Safeway’s loyalty programs and oversee digital and mobile efforts related to loyalty.

Aamir will serve as customer loyalty and digital technologies president, reporting to Diane Dietz, EVP and chief marketing officer. Aamir also will continue to be responsible for marketing strategies, shopper analytics and insights, club card strategies and pricing.

NEW YORK — Bazooka Candy Brands' latest confection is offering consumers a personal and fun way to stay connected with each other.

Sweet Tweets is a colorful candy that's available in four flavors and touts a cute emoticon attached to a decorative paper board featuring fun, illustrative designs. The candy, the company said, adds a personal touch to social interactions by providing a short, handwritten note with the perfect punctuation.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — As Walgreens pays tribute to its store brand via hard-hitting ads that position its health-and-wellness products as the ones that its pharmacists recommend, CVS/pharmacy officially has unveiled its new Just the Basics private-label line — both developments that should serve as warning signs to vendors.

(THE NEWS: CVS/pharmacy's Just the Basics line makes debut. For the full story, click here)