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February 23, 2012
Coming out of 2011, Safeway looking toward higher comps, stronger pharmacy biz

Pharmacy and identical-store sales were identified as positives for Safeway, which discussed its fourth-quarter results with analysts on Thursday.

PLEASANTON, Calif. — Pharmacy and identical-store sales were identified as positives for Safeway, which discussed its fourth-quarter results with analysts on Thursday.

February 2, 2012
Target saves Q4 with January comps increase

Target appears to have salvaged its fourth-quarter sales results with a 4.3% same-store sales increase in January to offset a disappointing 1.6% increase in December and a 1.8% increase in November.

MINNEAPOLIS — Target appears to have salvaged its fourth-quarter sales results with a 4.3% same-store sales increase in January to offset a disappointing 1.6% increase in December and a 1.8% increase in November.

January 27, 2012
Procter & Gamble announces second-quarter results

Procter & Gamble announced on Friday that second-quarter net sales and organic sales rose 4% as net earnings dropped 49%.

CINCINNATI — Procter & Gamble announced on Friday that second-quarter net sales and organic sales rose 4% as net earnings dropped 49%.

January 10, 2012
Perrigo forecasts sunny days now and in the future for private-label OTC

Over the past year, store-brand sales of over-the-counter products have helped maintain a slight growth through the sector, and with the number of proposed prescription-to-OTC switches on the horizon, the future looks especially bright, Joe Papa, Perrigo chairman, president and CEO, told attendees of the 30th Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference held Monday.

NEW YORK — Over the past year, store-brand sales of over-the-counter products have helped maintain a slight growth through the sector, and with the number of proposed prescription-to-OTC switches on the horizon, the future looks especially bright, Joe Papa, Perrigo chairman, president and CEO, told attendees of the 30th Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference held here Monday.

January 5, 2012
Target fumbles during holiday playoff run

Target chairman, president and CEO Gregg Steinhafel assured investors last month that December comps would exceed November’s 1.8% increase, but then Thursday morning reported a disappointing 1.6% increase and a reduced profit forecast.

MINNEAPOLIS — Joe Namath he’s not. Target chairman, president and CEO Gregg Steinhafel assured investors last month that December comps would exceed November’s 1.8% increase, but then Thursday morning reported a disappointing 1.6% increase and a reduced profit forecast.

November 1, 2011
Winn-Dixie posts consecutive quarterly same-store sales increases

Winn-Dixie's transformational remodel initiative is setting the stage for a strong 2012, the company reported Tuesday morning during its first-quarter conference call.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Winn-Dixie's transformational remodel initiative is setting the stage for a strong 2012, the company reported Tuesday morning during its first-quarter conference call.

October 27, 2011
P&G's fiscal year 'off to a good start' as Q1 net sales climb

Procter & Gamble delivered “strong” first-quarter sales growth, kicking off a “good start to the fiscal year” as net sales climbed 9% and organic sales grew 4%, the company announced on Thursday.

CINCINNATI — Procter & Gamble delivered “strong” first-quarter sales growth, kicking off a “good start to the fiscal year” as net sales climbed 9% and organic sales grew 4%, the company announced on Thursday.

October 21, 2011
Former P&G head A.G. Lafley appointed to board of Legendary Entertainment

Former chairman, president and CEO of Procter & Gamble A.G. Lafley has joined Legendary Entertainment’s board of directors.

BURBANK, Calif. — Former chairman, president and CEO of Procter & Gamble A.G. Lafley has joined Legendary Entertainment’s board of directors.

Lafley joins a board comprising Legendary's chairman and CEO Thomas Tull, as well as Jim Breyer, Larry Clark, Dick Cook and Joe Roth.

Legendary Entertainment is a media company with film (Legendary Pictures), television (Legendary Television) and comics (Legendary Comics) divisions.

October 13, 2011
Safeway sales positive thanks to fuel, loyal shoppers

Sales at Safeway are looking up thanks in large part to fuel gains, but the grocer's loyalty card program is expected to continue driving that sales momentum into next year as the company rolls out its Just for U digital marketing platform and explores health-and-wellness initiatives.

PLEASANTON, Calif. — Sales at Safeway are looking up thanks in large part to fuel gains, but the grocer's loyalty card program is expected to continue driving that sales momentum into next year as the company rolls out its Just for U digital marketing platform and explores health-and-wellness initiatives.

October 11, 2011
P&G CEO tells shareholders company is making 'solid' growth progress

Procter & Gamble chairman, president and CEO Bob McDonald acknowledged during the company's annual meeting on Tuesday that P&G has “work left to do to deliver the growth” shareholders expect but stressed that the company is making solid progress in fiscal year 2011 despite business and economic challenges.

CINCINNATI — Procter & Gamble chairman, president and CEO Bob McDonald acknowledged during the company's annual meeting on Tuesday that P&G has “work left to do to deliver the growth” shareholders expect but stressed that the company is making solid progress in fiscal year 2011 despite business and economic challenges.

October 3, 2011
Overseer of Target's Canadian expansion quits

Michael Francis, Target's EVP and chief marketing officer, and the person charged with leading the retailer's expansion into Canada, has left the company, Target announced Monday.

MINNEAPOLIS — Michael Francis, Target's EVP and chief marketing officer, and the person charged with leading the retailer's expansion into Canada, has left the company, Target announced Monday.

“We would like to thank Michael for his many contributions and wish him the best in his future endeavors” said Target chairman, president and CEO Gregg Steinhafel said.

August 30, 2011
Sales down, market basket up: Winn Dixie enters 2012 with confidence

According to Winn-Dixie's chief Peter Lynch, Winn-Dixie is riding a strong headwind into fiscal 2012 powered by a number of influencers, including a marketing program that better sustains margins, its loyalty program Fuelperks!, an improved stocking system and a significant focus on improving the customer experience.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — According to Winn-Dixie's chief Peter Lynch, Winn-Dixie is riding a strong headwind into fiscal 2012 powered by a number of influencers, including a marketing program that better sustains margins, its loyalty program Fuelperks!, an improved stocking system and a significant focus on improving the customer experience.

August 19, 2011
NexMed gains FDA approval of Tolnaftate-D

NexMed USA on Thursday received clearance from the Food and Drug Administration to market the company's first over-the-counter antifungal drug, Tolnaftate-D.

SAN DIEGO — NexMed USA on Thursday received clearance from the Food and Drug Administration to market the company's first over-the-counter antifungal drug, Tolnaftate-D.

NexMed USA's Tolnaftate-D incorporates NexACT, a proprietary drug delivery technology that transiently loosens the tight junction between the cells of the sealed skin to allow more permeation.

August 17, 2011
Perrigo 2012 targets: Prevacid 24HR and Align; Lipitor on the horizon?

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.

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.

July 29, 2011
McKesson's rollout of enhanced solutions will benefit from strong Q1

A little less than a month following the company's IdeaShare 2011 conference held in San Francisco, McKesson reported a strong first-quarter headwind that will help support many of the initiatives announced at the show, particularly for its Health Mart independent pharmacy group.

SAN FRANCISCO — A little less than a month following the company's IdeaShare 2011 conference held here, McKesson reported a strong first-quarter headwind that will help support many of the initiatives announced at the show, particularly for its Health Mart independent pharmacy group.

July 15, 2011
Safeway's Dominick's division president resigns

Safeway on Thursday announced the resignation of Don Keprta, president of its Chicago-area Dominick's Finer Foods division.

PLEASANTON, Calif. — Safeway on Thursday announced the resignation of Don Keprta, president of its Chicago-area Dominick's Finer Foods division. 

"Don has contributed significantly to the Dominick's stores. His commitment and innovation helped the stores evolve to best serve the Chicagoland customers,” stated Steve Burd, Safeway chairman, president and CEO. “We are fortunate that he has produced a team that is prepared to continue to build on our current momentum.”

July 7, 2011
Health care, beauty contribute to Target’s June comps

The 4.5% increase in same-store sales Target reported for June was at the higher end of the company’s expectations and came on top of a prior-year increase of 1.7%.

MINNEAPOLIS — The 4.5% increase in same-store sales Target reported for June was at the higher end of the company’s expectations and came on top of a prior-year increase of 1.7%.

The gain primarily was driven by an increase in average transaction size, while growth in the overall volume of transactions appeared to be somewhat moderate.

Target chairman, president and CEO Gregg Steinhafel said he was very pleased with the company’s performance at the upper end of a guidance range that called for a low- to mid-single-digit improvement.

June 20, 2011
Target’s five-step plan for success

Target is poised to become an even more significant player in the world of health, wellness and beauty in the coming years, assuming the company can execute a range of initiatives designed to grow sales to $100 billion and double earnings per share to at least $8.



MINNEAPOLIS — Target is poised to become an even more significant player in the world of health, wellness and beauty in the coming years, assuming the company can execute a range of initiatives designed to grow sales to $100 billion and double earnings per share to at least $8.


May 18, 2011
Target tops earnings view, but tempers profit outlook

First-quarter sales at Target increased 2.8% to $15.6 billion, and same-store sales increased 2%, the company reported.

MINNEAPOLIS — First-quarter sales at Target increased 2.8% to $15.6 billion, and same-store sales increased 2%, the company reported.

The modest sales growth translated into earnings per share that advance 9.8% to 99 cents, 4 cents better than analysts’ consensus estimate of 95 cents, and net income that increased 2.7% to $689 million. Share repurchase activity contributed to the earnings-per-share growth as Target spent $819 million during the first quarter to buy back 15.4 million shares at an average price of $53.32.

May 4, 2011
P&G announces organizational changes

Procter & Gamble has announced a string of organizational changes, including the retirement of Edward Shirley, vice chairman of beauty and grooming, after 33 years of service.

CINCINNATI — Procter & Gamble has announced a string of organizational changes, including the retirement of Edward Shirley, vice chairman of beauty and grooming, after 33 years of service.

Shirley will retire from P&G, effective Jan. 1, 2012. Until that time, effective July 1, 2011, Shirley has been named vice chairman on special assignment, continuing to report to Robert McDonald, P&G chairman, president and CEO. Shirley will be focused on ensuring the seamless transition of the beauty and grooming business, P&G stated.

April 25, 2011
Safeway rebounds with sharper focus

After being hemmed in by recession, cash flow problems and costs, a venerable lion of West Coast food and drug retailing is roaring again. 


April 25, 2011
Target preps cross-border, urban moves

Target is branching out.


Buoyed by surging profits and customer satisfaction scores, the Minneapolis-based giant is reaching into Canada, preparing a new small-store format for urban areas and going after a bigger share of the nation’s grocery dollar. Target also is spending billions on store renovations, aggressively leveraging a new loyalty card program and growing its commitment to health at its pharmacies and in-store clinics.


April 7, 2011
Target's March sales drop

Target's March sales dropped 4.5% to $5.95 billion, compared with the year-ago period.

MINNEAPOLIS — Target's March sales dropped 4.5% to $5.95 billion, compared with the year-ago period.

The retailer also disclosed that comparable-store sales for the five weeks dropped 5.5%, which was in line with expectations, as they reflected the later timing of the Easter holiday, according to the company's chairman, president and CEO, Gregg Steinhafel.

"Our stores are well-prepared for the upcoming Easter season, and we continue to expect a mid-teens increase in Target's April comparable-store sales," Steinhafel noted.

April 4, 2011
Drew Crawford takes helm at Benecard PBF

Former Caremark Rx executive Drew Crawford has been appointed president and CEO of Benecard PBF, an administrator of prescription benefits and services to public and private plan sponsors.

ORLANDO, Fla. — Former Caremark Rx executive Drew Crawford has been appointed president and CEO of Benecard PBF, an administrator of prescription benefits and services to public and private plan sponsors.

Crawford is a former member of the executive management of Caremark Rx and is the son of Mac Crawford, who served as chairman, president and CEO of Caremark Rx and also is the former chairman of CVS Caremark.

March 24, 2011
Making 'fresh & local' a reality

COVINGTON, La. — Winn-Dixie’s chairman, president and CEO, Peter Lynch, calls them “state of the art.” The company’s VP pharmacy, John Fegan, calls them “transformational.” They’re talking about the Jacksonville, Fla.-based supermarket chain’s glitzy new prototype store, an upscale and eye-popping showcase for everything from locally sourced foods to gluten-free and specialized dietary offerings.