Content about South Carolina

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The National Association of Chain Drug Stores on Monday announced that state health policy professional Leigh Knotts will serve as director of state government affairs, responsible for advocacy in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina and Tennessee.

Knotts will join NACDS’ state team, for a total of six state directors, all of whom report to Sandra Guckian, NACDS VP state government affairs.

GREENVILLE, S.C. — The proposed acquisition of Winn-Dixie by fellow Southeast grocer Bi-Lo would create a regional pharmacy operator with almost 500 pharmacy operations and pharmacy revenue of around $780 million, according to Drug Store News projections.

That would make the Bi-Lo/Winn-Dixie combination No. 24 on Drug Store News' PoweRx50 — a list of the top 50 pharmacy retailers operating in the U.S. — falling in just behind Albertsons LLC (which posted $787 million in pharmacy revenue in 2010) and well ahead of Fred's ($628 million).

WOONSOCKET, R.I. and CHARLOTTE, N.C. — CVS Caremark’s MinuteClinic has entered a clinical affiliation with Carolinas HealthCare System, which provides medical services at more than 650 care locations in North and South Carolina. The collaboration includes 16 MinuteClinic locations in the greater Charlotte area.

This marks the first such arrangement in North Carolina for the two organizations.

MINNETONKA, Minn. — A UnitedHealth Group company announced its plans to acquire a sponsor of Medicare Advantage health plans in an all-cash transaction.

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Colonial Life and Accident Insurance last week released its top five trends and predictions for health care in 2012 — three of which may have some direct impact on retail pharmacy.

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS Caremark’s in-store health clinic business MinuteClinic has opened a new clinic inside the CVS/pharmacy store in downtown Charleston, S.C. — marking the first clinic to open in the Charleston metro area and MinuteClinic's 17th location in South Carolina.

MinuteClinic plans to open seven additional clinics along the South Carolina coast between now and early 2012. The new clinics will be located in the Charleston, Hilton Head and Myrtle Beach metropolitan areas.

SALISBURY, N.C. — Food Lion unveiled on Wednesday six new stores in the Greenville, S.C., area market.

The stores, located in Anderson, Greenville, Greer, Seneca and Simpsonville, replace former Bloom locations. As part of the transition to Food Lion stores, the newly opened supermarkets will carry a variety of natural and organic products, as well as fresh seafood, produce and other specialty items, Food Lion SVP James Egan said.

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Whole Foods will make its Columbia, S.C., debut next year.

The new store will occupy approximately 37,876 sq. ft. in the 74,326-sq.-ft. Cross Hill Market retail center.

The projected construction start date is Jan. 1, 2012, with an anticipated opening date of October 2012.

COLUMBIA, S.C. — A new study conducted by researchers at the University of South Carolina found that unhealthy food products that tout healthy names may dupe dieters into considering them as good-for-you items.

"The Impact of Product Name on Dieters' and Non-Dieters' Food Evaluations and Consumption" found that among more than 520 study participants, dieting tendency has no effect on product evaluations if foods carry a healthy name, such as salad, although dieters are more mindful if a product touts a name that is considered unhealthy, such as pasta.

GREENVILLE, S.C. — Bi-Lo has developed and launched its own nutritional tagging system that identifies healthful attributes in particular foods.

The retailer said the system features a wide range of categories established by Bi-Lo’s registered dietitian, Monica Amburn. Amburn said the system allows customers to create positive attitudes about healthy eating.

The tags highlight such benefits as "low sodium" or "an excellent source of vitamin C," as well as gluten-free and organic products.

HOUSTON — Drank has expanded its distribution to the Carolinas.

The makers of Drank, Innovative Beverage Group Holdings, said that Adam's Beverage, an independent distributor, will bring the relaxation beverage to North Carolina, as well as to additional cities in South Carolina.

Drank hit the market in early 2008.

RALEIGH, N.C. — Kerr Drug, North Carolina’s regional pharmacy power, had a busy year in 2010. After shedding 11 stores in the Charleston, S.C., market in 2009, the 90-store chain turned its full focus to serving the healthcare needs of North Carolina’s population.


It was, in retrospect, a wise move. Kerr has launched a series of initiatives in pharmacy care, store design, community health services and iPhone technology at a breathtaking pace, easily sustaining its reputation as one of chain pharmacy’s leading innovators.