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ATLANTA — Kroger on Thursday announced plans to host the largest Cinco de Mayo celebration in the Southeast at Fiesta Atlanta at Centennial Olympic Park this Sunday.

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid's same-store sales decreased 4% in April compared with April 2012 due to an earlier Easter and introductions of new generic drugs, the retail pharmacy chain said Thursday.

The numbers released Thursday included a 3.5% decrease in sales on the front end and a 4.2% decrease in pharmacy sales, but the pharmacy figure included a 4.54% negative effect due to new generics. Same-store prescription count decreased by 0.2%.

Total sales for the month were $1.902 billion, a 4.6% decrease over April 2012's $1.993 billion.

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — PharmaSmart International's blood-pressure screening program is in use in all the stores of a regional retail pharmacy chain in the Northeast.

PharmaSmart said it had deployed the peer-reviewed and clinically validated program at Kinney Drugs, which operates 97 stores in upstate New York and Vermont.

NEW YORK — Two Hy-Vee stores in Iowa will start composting food waste, produce and floral trimmings, according to published reports.

The Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Gazette reported that Hy-Vee stores in Iowa City and Cedar Rapids had partnered with Des Moines, Iowa-based organics recycler Green RU, which will pick up the waste from the stores and haul it to nearby compost centers. The newspaper reported that the company was considering whether to expand the pilot program throughout the chain.

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — The year appears to be off to a good start, and CVS Caremark executives were optimistic Wednesday morning as the company pulled in a “strong” first quarter and narrowed its 2013 guidance to reflect higher-than-expected performance.

MATTHEWS, N.C. — Family Dollar Stores on Monday announced Charles Gibson, EVP supply chain, will leave the company to pursue other interests effective April 30.

“Charlie has overseen the growth and development of our supply chain network and has been a valued part of our team,” stated Howard Levine, Family Dollar chairman and CEO. “We appreciate the contributions Charlie has made to the company’s success, and we wish him all the best in his future endeavors.”

LOS ANGELES — Growth in spending on Mother's Day will be nearly flat this year as more Americans return to work and have less spare time, according to a new report by market research firm IBISWorld.

The report forecast a 0.2% rise in purchases on Mother's Day gifts this year over last year, for a total of $17.1 billion.

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS/pharmacy has reportedly entered the Wichita, Kansas, market with the opening Sunday of its first of several store locations in the market, according to a local news report.

The retailer has two additional locations slated to open in the area in July, the Wichita Eagle reported and quoted CVS/pharmacy spokesman Mike DeAngelis as saying that other locations are “in the pipeline.”

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."

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — With National Drug Take Back Day scheduled for April 27 and in light of a new national study revealing that 1-out-of-4 teenagers has misused or abused a prescription medication at least once, CVS Caremark is reminding families that proper management, storage and disposal of their medication can reduce access to drugs by young people in their homes.

SEATTLE — Amazon on Thursday reported a net sales increase of 22% to $16.1 billion for its first quarter ended March 31. Of that, $9.4 billion was sourced from the North American market. North American sales of electronics, health and beauty products, among other merchandise, reached $6.1 billion for the quarter, up 28.4%. 

During a conference call with analysts, Amazon CEO Tom Szkutak declined to confirm rumors that Amazon is investing in additional refrigeration equipment across its fulfillment center footprint with plans to expand AmazonFresh. 

VALLEY FORGE, Pa. — AmerisourceBergen's base of 3,452 independently owned Good Neighbor Pharmacies will be another benefactor out of the wholesaler's blockbuster agreement with Walgreens and Alliance Boots, AmerisourceBergen CEO, president, director and chairman Steven Collis told analysts during a conference call Thursday.