Content about Michigan

LIVONIA, Mich. — Kroger is installing Avery Weigh-Tronix's tabletop pharmacy automation systems in its stores, Avery said.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — According to new research conducted by the University of Michigan, more than 1-out-of-10 parents of young children use an alternative vaccination schedule, a practice that may put children's health at risk.

FLINT, Mich. — For the last several years, Diplomat Specialty Pharmacy has been widely recognized as one of the top privately owned companies in the country, but now it's aiming even higher.

President and co-founder Phil Hagerman told the Flint, Mich., Journal that Diplomat is hoping to earn $1 billion in revenues next year. The company is expected to have more than $800 million in revenues this year.

CINCINNATI — Kroger has announced the promotion of Joe Fey as president of the Quality Food Centers division.

Fey, 57, has been VP merchandising for the company's Michigan division. He succeeds Donna Giordano, who was recently promoted to president of the Ralphs division in California.

FLINT, Mich. — Diplomat Specialty Pharmacy has made Inc. magazine's list of the country's fastest-growing companies for the third consecutive year, the specialty pharmacy provider said.

Diplomat came in at No. 1,201 in Inc.'s list of the country's 5,000 fastest-growing companies, having generated $410 million in growth over the past three years. In addition, the company ranked eighth in total revenue among listed companies operating in the healthcare industry and, when combining revenue and growth rates of those companies, second.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Meijer announced that it has opened a new, smaller-format grocery store in the Chicago area.

The 90,000-sq.-ft. Meijer Marketplace store in Melrose Park will feature national and Meijer brand grocery items, along with a full-service pharmacy offering a variety of national and Meijer brand health and beauty products, the company reported.

ALLEGAN, Mich. — Perrigo is planning to launch more than 45 new products in fiscal 2012 that will translate into approximately $190 million added to annual Perrigo sales, Perrigo chairman, president and CEO Joe Papa told analysts during the company's fourth-quarter conference call Tuesday.

And while none of these new over-the-counter private-label products will help reduce cholesterol levels, Papa did set the stage for a future store-brand equivalent to Pfizer's blockbuster statin Lipitor.

ALLEGAN, Mich. — Generic drug maker Perrigo reported sales of $2.76 billion and profits of $341 million in fiscal year 2011, according to an earnings report released Tuesday.

The company's sales represent a 21% increase over fiscal year 2010, while its profits represent a 52% increase. Much of the increase in sales came from the acquisition of PBM Holdings and Orion Labs, as well as $192 million in new product sales.

NOVI, Mich. — The Chain Drug Marketing Association recently announced that the debut of its “Make More Money Table Top Show” will take place in Philadelphia from Sept. 23 to 24. The show will provide CDMA-member regional drug chains, regional drug wholesalers and independent pharmacies an opportunity to preview table-top displays of CDMA's hot items, with items from various categories, including seasonal, health-and-beauty and soft goods, among others. 

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — Just as National Convenient Care Clinic Week gets under way and healthcare professionals gather in Orlando, Fla., to attend the fourth annual Retail Clinician Education Congress, the convenient care industry continues to evolve as MinuteClinic seals the deal on yet another clinical collaboration and a newcomer prepares to open its doors in Pennsylvania.

ALLEGAN, Mich. — Generic drug maker Perrigo has closed its purchase of Paddock Labs, the company said Tuesday.

Perrigo acquired privately owned Paddock, a manufacturer of generic prescription and over-the-counter drugs based in Minneapolis, for $540 million.

“We are very pleased to welcome the Paddock team to the Perrigo family,” Perrigo chairman and CEO Joseph Papa said. “This acquisition is another important step forward in executing Perrigo’s strategy to expand our specialty portfolio of generic Rx products.”