Content about Seattle

SEATTLE — The combined store count of the county's largest dollar store chains outnumbers that of the largest retail pharmacy chains as continued economic difficulties drive the channel's growth, according to a new study released Monday by Colliers International.

SEATTLE — Drug maker Eli Lilly is donating more than $4 million to the Infectious Disease Research Institute, the company said Thursday.

The company said the funding, which brings its total donations to IDRI to more than $20 million and its total funding for anti-tuberculosis efforts to more than $170 million, will support early-phase drug discovery efforts focused on identifying new drugs for tuberculosis, including strains of the virus that have grown resistant to multiple drugs. The Lilly TB Drug Discovery Initiative was started in 2007.

SEATTLE — Starbucks announced Thursday plans to reinvent the $1.6 billion premium juice market with its all-cash purchase of San Bernardino, Calif.-based Evolution Fresh for $30 million.

The acquisition, which is part of a strategy to move beyond coffee into the health-and-wellness segment, gives Starbucks a path to open new health-and-wellness stores in the coming year, it said, although Starbucks has not yet revealed many stores it will open, their location or the name.

SEATTLE — For 21 years, a great troll has resided beneath the Aurora Bridge in Seattle's Fremont neighborhood.

No, seriously: Underneath the bridge is a giant concrete sculpture of a troll grabbing an actual Volkswagen Beatle, built by local artists. The neighborhood has long been known as a counterculture and arts center.

SEATTLE — Jones Soda has launched its pure cane soda in 16-oz. cans.

The new product is specifically aimed at the convenience store channel, the company said. The product was unveiled at the National Association of Convenience Stores Show and will hit store shelves later this month.

Jones pure cane soda cans retail for $1.29.

SEATTLE — Bartell Drugs has unveiled its latest store concept, the chain said Friday.

Bartell's, the country's oldest drug chain, announced the opening of what the company called its "next generation" store format, a remodel of an existing store in Seattle's Roosevelt neighborhood. The company developed the new concept in conjunction with Hartmann Group, a consumer consulting firm based in Bellevue, Wash.

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Seattle-based regional retail pharmacy Bartell Drugs has replaced its in-store photo processing lab systems with Kodak Adaptive Picture Exchange, Kodak said.

The upgrade converts Bartell's processing lab systems from silver halide "wet lab" technology to APEX thermal dry labs.

SEATTLE — Regional retail pharmacy chain Bartell Drugs has launched its flu vaccination campaign, the Seattle-based company said Tuesday.

Bartell said it would offer a full schedule of in-store vaccinations for individuals on a walk-in basis and a program servicing area businesses. The "in-the-workplace" vaccination program, now in its fifth year, serves businesses with 25 or more employees.

In addition to regular vaccines, the chain is offering Sanofi Pasteur's Fluzone High-Dose vaccine designed for patients 65 and older.

SILVER SPRING, Md. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new biotech drug for treating two types of lymphoma, the agency said Friday.

NEW YORK — Pacific Northwest retailer Bartell Drugs recently used social networking to attract attention to its photo department, according to published reports.

Online news site GeekWire reported that Bartell sponsored a "Free Print Weekend" promotion last week in which people who "liked" the Seattle-based chain's Facebook page received up to 20 free photo prints from its Kodak picture kiosks. Bartell operates 58 stores in the Puget Sound region, the metropolitan area around Seattle.

SEATTLE — Jones Soda has partnered with a lifestyle brand to create a collection of limited-edition glass bottles.

In their limited-edition collection, Jones Soda and So So Happy teamed up to roll out four 12-oz. glass bottles that are adorned with four So So Happy characters. The bottles will be sold as four-packs and include one bottle of each flavor with accompanying So So Happy images on the label.

LOS ANGELES — John Frieda has hit the road to provide women with hair care advice.

The hair styling brand commenced the John Frieda Destination: Style Salon Tour this past weekend in Los Angeles, with future stops planned in Seattle, Chicago, Minneapolis and Atlanta.