Content about Person Attributes

PINE BLUFF, Ark. — Stephen LaFrance, 71, former owner of USA Drug, passed away Wednesday morning, DSN has learned. 

Additional details were not immediately available, though the passing was unexpected. 

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa — Hy-Vee has hired an NBA player to promote health and fitness among children around the Midwest, the supermarket chain said Wednesday.

VALLEY FORGE, Pa. — AmerisourceBergen on Thursday elected Lon Greenberg, 62, to its board of directors, effective immediately. Greenberg fills the vacancy created by Charles Cotros’s retirement from the board in February 2013. Greenberg also joined the audit and corporate responsibility committee and finance committee of the board. AmerisourceBergen's board of directors is currently comprised of 10 directors.

NEW YORK — The seventh annual Delete Blood Cancer Gala held on May 1 at Cipriani Wall Street broke all records of previous years and raised $3.7 million to support the fight against leukemia and other blood-related cancers. The money raised jointly by beauty company Coty Inc. and Delete Blood Cancer, part of the world's largest bone marrow donor center, will help register 55,000 new bone marrow donors and help patients worldwide.

HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. — Mars Chocolate, the makers of Snickers brand candy, announced today that the company is teaming up with jockey Rosie Napravnik as she attempts to make history in this weekend's Kentucky Derby race.

Mars Chocolate North America officially partnered with Rosie by announcing Snickers will give away 1 million Snickers Bites — which are unwrapped, bite-sized versions of the candy bar — if she wins the famous race on May 4.

PLEASANTON, Calif. — Safeway late Monday announced that Robert Edwards, currently the company's president, will succeed Steven Burd as CEO when Burd retires as chairman and CEO on May 14. Edwards, 57, will also join the company's board of directors.

"Since he arrived here in 2004, Robert has successfully met every challenge he has faced," Burd stated. "He has demonstrated the ability to lead the company in all facets of its operations, and has earned the respect of the entire organization."

QUINCY, Mass. — Ahold USA and its Stop & Shop banner have donated half a million dollars to a charitable organization set up to aid victims of the recent terrorist attacks in Boston.

The company announced the donation of $500,000 to The One Fund Boston, formed by Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick and Boston Mayor Thomas Menino.

"Words cannot express the tragedy that took place at the Boston Marathon," Stop & Shop New England Division president Joe Kelley said. "We mourn with all of of those who were affected."

MADISON, N.J. — Pfizer Consumer Healthcare on Thursday launched its Advil Relief in Action campaign in support of both Habitat for Humanity and Wounded Warrior Project.

Beginning May 1, a portion of the price of participating Advil bottles will go to Habitat for Humanity International and Wounded Warrior Project. The Advil Relief in Action program will also be on-site at Habitat for Humanity builds and in conjunction with Wounded Warrior Project at Tough Mudder events.

SCHAUMBURG, Ill. — Generic drug maker Sagent Pharmaceuticals has appointed James Hussey as its president, the company said.

Sagent said the board of directors' appointment of Hussey, 53, would be effective Monday. Hussey will be responsible for the company's commercial operations, including development, regulatory affairs, supply chain activities, sales, marketing and human resources.

WINNEPEG, Manitoba — Manitoba Harvest Hemp Foods on Wednesday named John Durkin VP sales. Durkin will lead the sales team in expanding sales of Manitoba Harvest’s award-winning Hemp Hearts raw shelled hemp seeds, and the newly rebranded line up of hemp protein powders.   

“We are thrilled to have a seasoned professional like John join our dynamic team,” stated Mike Fata, Manitoba Harvest CEO. “John brings an abundance of experience and expertise that will boost Manitoba Harvest’s rapid growth.” 

AVERY ISLAND, La. — Paul McIlhenny — chief executive of McIlhenny Co., makers of Tabasco sauce, and great-grandson of Edmund McIlhenny, who invented Tabasco sauce after the Civil War — passed away on Saturday. He was 68.

Paul Carr Polk McIlhenny was born in Houston on March 19, 1944, with his twin sister, Sara. He attended the Woodberry Forest School in Virginia and the University of the South in Tennessee, and served stateside in the Marine Corps Reserve.

WAYNESVILLE, N.C. — Retired Eckerd president Harry Lambert, age 79, died on Wednesday, Feb. 06, after a long battle with Parkinson's disease.