Content about forward

CHICAGO — BlipCare on Tuesday launched the BlipCare Wi-Fi Weight Scale, one of the first weight scales to provide reminders of the time users prefer to step on the scale. 

Whenever the user steps on the scale, the scale stores the reading with a time stamp and transmits it to the user's account over their home Wi-Fi network. The user or their caretaker can now track, chart and trend the data from anywhere.

Each year, we say good-bye to the current year and welcome in the New Year full of hope and aspirations for a successful year ahead. Customers turn out in droves for “New Year, New You” specials and when they reach the register, the retail pharmacy world knows the scenario quite well. In a few short weeks’ time, you and your staff will be asking these all too familiar questions, “Did you have any insurance changes? Did you have a change in benefits?  Did you know your brand drug is now available in generic?” and so on.

NEW YORK — Canada's federal government has allowed the approval process for a generic opioid painkiller to go forward despite objections from provincial and other authorities, according to published reports.

The Associated Press reported that Canadian health minister Leona Aglukkaq turned down requests from provincial and aboriginal tribal authorities to delay approval of a generic version of Purdue Pharma's OxyContin (oxycodone). OxyContin will lose its patent protection in Canada on Sunday.

Men’s shaving/grooming and deodorants may continue to dominate the male grooming segment, but there’s no doubt that guys are increasingly taking greater notice of skin care products — a trend that is expected to gain greater momentum going forward.


PLANO, Texas — Cracker Jack is celebrating the 100-year anniversary of "a prize in every box" by teaming up with Walgreens stores to give consumers the chance to win a diamond ring valued at $1,000, the company announced Monday. 

HAMILTON, Ohio — Kroger has extended a pharmacy call center pilot project with Koncert IT through February 2013, according to a report published Tuesday by JournalNews. 

"Right now [Kroger is] looking at possible infrastructure expansion in the event that it continues to move forward," Walt McLaren, president of Koncert IT, told JournalNews. 

Oh, Canada. In some ways, you’re showing your much bigger neighbor in the south the way forward in taking pharmacy to a higher level of practice. And if we’re smart, we’ll pay attention to the results. I’m talking about last week’s announcement by the provincial government of Ontario to expand the role of pharmacists so they can offer services that were previously the exclusive turf of the province’s 25,000 doctors.

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Shopko announced Wednesday that Mike Bettiga has been named interim CEO to replace Paul Jones, who resigned to pursue another opportunity.

Bettiga is a 35-veteran of the company and most recently served as EVP and COO, a role he has held since April 2009. He began his career with Shopko as a pharmacist in 1977, and has held a number of positions during his tenure, including executive leadership of store, pharmacy and optical operations, retail health merchandising and responsibility for the Shopko Express stores.

 NORTH LIMA, Ohio — Perfecta Products, the national manufacturer and distributer of Zim's consumer health products, on Wednesday announced the appointment of RedLetter as its public relations agency of record to oversee the company's national media outreach and social media strategy.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The National Association of Chain Drug Stores Foundation today announced retired Gen. Colin L. Powell, former U.S. secretary of state and former chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, will be the keynote speaker for the 2012 NACDS Foundation Dinner on Nov. 27 in New York City.

For years, Wall Street — and customers, too — rewarded Walgreens for being the hedgehog of retail. A homage to the old Aesop fable, unlike the fox, the hedgehog is steady and methodical. And, that’s just how Walgreens operated its business. It didn’t make big acquisitions; it grew organically and built its own stores. It didn’t hire a lot of experts from other fields; it tended to cross-pollinate and promote from within. 


DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens on Tuesday announced several new senior management roles, including an expanded role for CFO Wade Miquelon and the appointment of current SVP and chief strategy officer Robert Zimmerman as the lead executive responsible for the Walgreens-Alliance Boots' "synergy team." Succeeding Zimmerman as chief strategy officer will be Brad Fluegel.