Content about Katz Group of Companies

As part of DSN's Executive Retailer Viewpoint series, DSN sat down with Jason Reiser, VP health and wellness, ops/compliance at Sam's Club, at DSN's Industry Issues Summit to discuss how to better engage customers and the impact of the economy on business in 2012.

Canada's Rexall Pharma Plus has officially taken the lid off a reinvention of its business, from its stores and its brand, to the products and services in its stores.

Beginning about 18 months ago, the company undertook a strategic reinvention of its entire business, and during that time, much work has been underway to enhance the business and the lives of its shoppers.

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario — The team of pharmacists at Rexall Pharma Plus administered 190,000 of the more than 200,000 flu shots provided by pharmacists in Ontario this flu season, the Canadian retailer announced on Thursday.

Rexall Pharma Plus offered flu shots at all of its more than 250 Ontario pharmacies any time, with no appointment necessary. Rexall is Katz Group Canada’s flagship national chain.

NEW YORK — As New York City enjoyed the first snowfall of the winter season, industry leaders gathered for the 14th annual Industry Issues Summit to discuss the top issues and trends impacting the industry, including the importance of seizing “whitespaces.”

The all-day event was held on Tuesday at the New York Athletic Club, located just across the street from Central Park.

PALM BEACH, Fla. — On the final evening of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores' annual meeting in Palm Beach, Fla., the organization honored two industry leaders with chain pharmacy's highest honors.

NACDS recognized Andrew Giancamilli, former Rexall Pharma Plus CEO and past NACDS chairman, with the Sheldon W. Fantle Lifetime Achievement Award. M. Jerome Brown, former Unilever VP industry and customer development, received the Robert B. Begley Award.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — The move by Katz Group to shed its independent and franchise businesses marks a shift in the Canadian market and likely sets the stage for even more changes north of the border. And while it remains unclear just how the pharmacy retail landscape in Canada will look in the years ahead, what is clear is that the winds of change are blowing, and industry eyes will remain fixed on the Canadian market, perhaps now more than ever.

Rather than take off for Christmas, the editors of Drug Store News took a look at the year ahead and the stories, issues and trends that will make headlines in retail pharmacy in 2012.

NEW YORK — CVS/pharmacy. Rite Aid. Walgreens. Sam’s Club. Ahold. H-E-B. The Katz Group. Giant Eagle. Good Neighbor. Health Mart. The list of participating companies in the 13th Annual Drug Store News Group Industry Issues conference — which will be held Tuesday, Nov. 29, here at the highly prestigious New York Athletic Club — reads like a “who’s who” of pharmacy retailing.

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario — The retirement of Katz Group Canada CEO Andy Giancamilli come February will mark the rise of pharmacy veteran Frank Scorpiniti, who will take the helm of the Canadian retailer.


Scorpiniti joined Katz Group Canada in April 2011 as COO. Long regarded as one of the bright young executives in retail pharmacy, Scorpiniti now will get a chance to lead a progressive Canadian pharmacy chain, with a hot new Rexall Healthy Living concept, a national presence under Rexall and a slew of innovative programs like the employer-based Rexall Network program.


ROCHESTER, N.Y. — PharmaSmart unveiled its new medication therapy management software at the National Association of Chain Drug Stores' Pharmacy and Technology Conference in Boston, the blood-pressure monitor manufacturer said.

TORONTO — Katz Group Canada, Canada’s largest integrated retail pharmacy network, has appointed Ken Keelor as chief merchandising officer, effective immediately. Keelor will oversee all merchandising and marketing functions for the Rexall family of pharmacies.

Keelor joins the organization from Sobey’s, a national multibanner grocery chain, where he held a number of executive positions during his 10 years with the company, most recently VP private-label procurement and global sourcing.

Beauty junkies in Canada have a new option when shopping for products. A new format recently unveiled by Katz Group Canada’s flagship Rexall drug store chain is aimed at making its stores “an innovative health destination.”


The Rexall Healthy Living Pharmacy format features a combined skin care and beauty care department. The goal: to focus on derm versus just cosmetics.