Content about president and CEO

June 23, 2011
Rite Aid trims losses as loyalty program, new formats drive same-store sales

Sales may have been flat overall, but a closer look revealed there was a lot to be positive about in Rite Aid’s fiscal first quarter 2012 earnings, as the company managed significant expense improvement and stronger same-store sales growth. Bottom line: Rite Aid narrowed its losses considerably, and that ain’t all expense control.

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Sales may have been flat overall, but a closer look revealed there was a lot to be positive about in Rite Aid’s fiscal first quarter 2012 earnings, as the company managed significant expense improvement and stronger same-store sales growth. Bottom line: Rite Aid narrowed its losses considerably, and that ain’t all expense control.

June 21, 2011
Walgreens to walk away from Express Scripts in 2012

Walgreens on Tuesday announced the company no longer will participate in the Express Scripts network beginning Jan. 1, 2012, citing unsuccessful renewal negotiations.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens on Tuesday announced the company no longer will participate in the Express Scripts network beginning Jan. 1, 2012, citing unsuccessful renewal negotiations.

June 21, 2011
Walgreens' hard stance against PBM dominates earnings call

Soon after reporting double-digit earnings per share growth Tuesday morning, Walgreens announced it would forego as much as $5.3 billion in annual sales, representing some 7% of the company’s business and 90 million prescriptions, as it walks away from its relationship with pharmacy benefit manager Express Scripts.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Soon after reporting double-digit earnings per share growth Tuesday morning, Walgreens announced it would forego as much as $5.3 billion in annual sales, representing some 7% of the company’s business and 90 million prescriptions, as it walks away from its relationship with pharmacy benefit manager Express Scripts.

Wall Street reacted badly to the news — sales of Walgreens’ stock were down more than 6% to $42 and change in mid-morning trading.

June 20, 2011
A slow ride on the Walmart Express

The new small-format Walmart Express stores that opened earlier this month are an interesting concept with intriguing growth potential. But for the time being, and possibly for much longer, competitors need not concern themselves with the small stores.



BENTONVILLE, Ark. — The new small-format Walmart Express stores that opened earlier this month are an interesting concept with intriguing growth potential. But for the time being, and possibly for much longer, competitors need not concern themselves with the small stores.


At least that’s what Walmart wants the marketplace to believe following the opening of the first few of the 15,000-sq.-ft. stores earlier this month in northwest Arkansas.


June 20, 2011
Schiff looks to probiotics acquisition for growth

Schiff Nutrition president and CEO Tarang Amin promised to infuse some new energy into the company with his appointment earlier this spring, and he wasted no time with the Schiff acquisition of two probiotic brands — Sustenex and Digestive Advantage — in June. 


SALT LAKE CITY — Schiff Nutrition president and CEO Tarang Amin promised to infuse some new energy into the company with his appointment earlier this spring, and he wasted no time with the Schiff acquisition of two probiotic brands — Sustenex and Digestive Advantage — in June. 


June 17, 2011
Coming soon: More Walmart Market stores

Walmart is moving forward with what could be characterized as a rollout of its Neighborhood Market format nearly 13 years after the first unit opened in fall 1998. Just don’t call it a Neighborhood Market.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Walmart is moving forward with what could be characterized as a rollout of its Neighborhood Market format nearly 13 years after the first unit opened in fall 1998. Just don’t call it a Neighborhood Market.

June 17, 2011
Let the speculation begin about Walmart Market

Walmart has rebranded the small-format food-and-drug combo store Neighborhood Market as Walmart Market.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — Walmart has rebranded the small-format food-and-drug combo store Neighborhood Market as Walmart Market.

(THE NEWS: Coming soon: More Walmart Market stores. For the full story, click here.)

June 16, 2011
Bilbrey officially steps in as Hershey head

Just one month after filling in as the interim leader of chocolate giant Hershey, John Bilbrey officially took the reigns as president and CEO of the company.

HERSHEY, Pa. — Just one month after filling in as the interim leader of chocolate giant Hershey, John Bilbrey officially took the reigns as president and CEO of the company.

Bilbrey also was elected to Hershey's board of directors, Hershey said Wednesday. Bilbrey, who served as the company's EVP and COO until May, replaced David West, who left his post after 10 years to become the chief executive at Del Monte Foods.

June 16, 2011
Genesis Today brings Wake Me, Relax Me to Walmart

Genesis Today has introduced two functional beverages exclusively at Walmart.

AUSTIN, Texas — Genesis Today has introduced two functional beverages exclusively at Walmart.

The company said that its Wake Me and Relax Me drinks are designed to help consumers respectively energize and relax in a healthy way.

Wake Me blends together vitamins and nutrients in a tangerine-orange juice and includes 500% daily value of vitamin B12, theanine, guarana seed and green tea leaf extract.

June 8, 2011
Swipe-fee reform amendment squashed by Senate

The retail industry won a big victory in Washington, D.C., as the Senate defeated an amendment that proposed to delay swipe-fee reform for another 12 months.

WASHINGTON — The retail industry won a big victory in Washington, D.C., as the Senate defeated an amendment that proposed to delay swipe-fee reform for another 12 months.

June 7, 2011
AmerisourceBergen CEO honored by HDMA with Nexus Award

The Center for Healthcare Supply Chain Research, the research foundation of the Healthcare Distribution Management Association, and Genentech on Tuesday honored AmerisourceBergen CEO David Yost with the 2011 Nexus Award for Lifetime Achievement.

PHOENIX — The Center for Healthcare Supply Chain Research, the research foundation of the Healthcare Distribution Management Association, and Genentech on Tuesday honored AmerisourceBergen CEO David Yost with the 2011 Nexus Award for Lifetime Achievement.

The award — presented at HDMA’s annual Business & Leadership Conference — is the distribution industry’s highest recognition, honoring exceptional character, accomplishments and leadership in HDMA, the industry and the community.

June 7, 2011
HDMA announces 2011 DIANA winners

The Healthcare Distribution Management Association on Monday awarded eight leading pharmaceutical and consumer product manufacturers through the presentation of its annual Distribution Industry Awards for Notable Achievements in health care.

PHOENIX — The Healthcare Distribution Management Association on Monday awarded eight leading pharmaceutical and consumer product manufacturers through the presentation of its annual Distribution Industry Awards for Notable Achievements in health care.

June 6, 2011
AstraZeneca honored by AmeriCares, HDMA

AmeriCares and the Healthcare Distribution Management Association on Monday awarded the annual Power of Partnership Award to AstraZeneca for the company’s commitment to increasing access to health care for people in need, both here at home and throughout the developing world, during HDMA’s Business Leadership Conference on Monday.

PHOENIX — AmeriCares and the Healthcare Distribution Management Association on Monday awarded the annual Power of Partnership Award to AstraZeneca for the company’s commitment to increasing access to health care for people in need, both here at home and throughout the developing world, during HDMA’s Business Leadership Conference on Monday.

June 3, 2011
Walmart focused on serving ‘next generation’ customers

After nearly four hours of music, cheering, celebrity appearances and brief presentations by senior executives, Walmart president and CEO Mike Duke wrapped up the company’s annual shareholders’ extravaganza Friday morning by sharing five priorities associated with serving what he called the next generation of customers.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — After nearly four hours of music, cheering, celebrity appearances and brief presentations by senior executives, Walmart president and CEO Mike Duke wrapped up the company’s annual shareholders’ extravaganza Friday morning by sharing five priorities associated with serving what he called the next generation of customers.

June 2, 2011
Schiff buys into probiotic business

Schiff Nutrition on Tuesday announced its $40 million acquisition from Ganeden Biotech of the worldwide exclusive rights to use the probiotic technology GanedenBC30 in the over-the-counter and dietary supplement space, along with the brands Sustenex and Digestive Advantage, under which GanedenBC30 currently is sold.

SALT LAKE CITY — Schiff Nutrition on Tuesday announced its $40 million acquisition from Ganeden Biotech of the worldwide exclusive rights to use the probiotic technology GanedenBC30 in the over-the-counter and dietary supplement space, along with the brands Sustenex and Digestive Advantage, under which GanedenBC30 currently is sold.

May 31, 2011
CVS Caremark lands PBM contract with FEP

In a major win for its pharmacy benefit management business, CVS Caremark will handle the $3 billion mail-order and specialty prescription drug benefit for the Federal Employee Program starting January 2012, which, for the last three years, had been handled by rival Medco Health Solutions.

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — In a major win for its pharmacy benefit management business, CVS Caremark will handle the $3 billion mail-order and specialty prescription drug benefit for the Federal Employee Program starting January 2012, which, for the last three years, had been handled by rival Medco Health Solutions.

May 24, 2011
GMA names EVP global strategies

The Grocery Manufacturers Association has appointed Sean Darragh as EVP global strategies, a newly created position within the association, the organization's president and CEO announced.

WASHINGTON — The Grocery Manufacturers Association has appointed Sean Darragh as EVP global strategies, a newly created position within the association, the organization's president and CEO announced.

The EVP global strategies is responsible for expanding GMA’s international program by defining and effectively executing a global policy and advocacy strategy that is fully integrated into the GMA strategic plan, the association reported.

May 23, 2011
Don’t call it the end of an era

Neither one of the co-
recipients of this year’s Fantle Award would want you to call it the end of an era. 


Neither one of the co-
recipients of this year’s Fantle Award would want you to call it the end of an era. 


May 20, 2011
CRN responds to Lazy Cakes controversy

The Council for Responsible Nutrition on Thursday issued a statement regarding the growing controversy surrounding Lazy Cakes — a brownie containing melatonin, an ingredient that helps establish more normal sleeping patterns — that has been cited in a New York Times article as having “flagrantly mimic[ked] the soothing effects of hash brownies.”

WASHINGTON — The Council for Responsible Nutrition on Thursday issued a statement regarding the growing controversy surrounding Lazy Cakes — a brownie containing melatonin, an ingredient that helps establish more normal sleeping patterns — that has been cited in a New York Times article as having “flagrantly mimic[ked] the soothing effects of hash brownies.”

Other published reports suggested the Arizona Department of Health issued a mandatory recall of Lazy Cakes following the report of an adverse event.

May 18, 2011
John Bilbrey steps in as Hershey's interim president, CEO

Hershey's leader is bidding the confectioner farewell, the company announced Wednesday.

HERSHEY, Pa. — Hershey's leader is bidding the confectioner farewell, the company announced Wednesday.

David West, who has worked at Hershey for 10 years and serves as its president and CEO, is leaving his post to become CEO of Del Monte. The candy maker's board of directors appointed EVP and COO John Bilbrey to serve as the company's interim president and CEO.

Bilbrey joined Hershey in 2003 as SVP and president, Hershey International.

May 17, 2011
Walmart Q1 EPS beats guidance, but U.S. comps still a sore spot

Walmart reported first-quarter earnings that were above the company's guidance, reflecting stability and strength in global operations, according to company president and CEO Mike Duke.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Walmart reported first-quarter earnings that were above the company's guidance, reflecting stability and strength in global operations, according to company president and CEO Mike Duke.

Walmart's net income was $3.4 billion, or 98 cents per diluted share, compared with net income of $3.3 billion, or 87 cents per diluted share.

May 16, 2011
Taylor Wallace succeeds Andrew Shao at CRN

The Council for Responsible Nutrition on Monday named Taylor Wallace to the post of senior director, scientific and regulatory affairs.

WASHINGTON — The Council for Responsible Nutrition on Monday named Taylor Wallace to the post of senior director, scientific and regulatory affairs.

“Dr. Wallace’s background will nicely complement that of our well-established scientific team, and we’re looking forward to the fresh perspective his background will provide,” CRN president and CEO Steve Mister said. “We were impressed with the amount of work he has published in his short career along with the relationships he has built within the scientific research community.”

May 11, 2011
Missouri's Rx-only PSE legislation moves to state Senate

Missouri’s House of Representatives on Monday voted 100 in favor and 50 opposed to reclassifying pseudoephedrine as a prescription-only remedy and subsequently moved the matter to the state Senate.

ST. LOUIS — Missouri’s House of Representatives on Monday voted 100 in favor and 50 opposed to reclassifying pseudoephedrine as a prescription-only remedy and subsequently moved the matter to the state Senate — this despite the fact that electronic track-and-trace has been up and running for the past six months, blocking more than 30,000 potentially illegal PSE purchases, stated Scott Melville, president and CEO of the Consumer Healthcare Products Association.

May 10, 2011
CVS Caremark releases 2010 corporate social responsibility report

CVS Caremark announced on Tuesday the release of its 2010 corporate social responsibility report, which provides an overview of the company's commitments to environmental stewardship, improving patient health outcomes and positively impacting people's lives through its social investments.

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS Caremark announced on Tuesday the release of its 2010 corporate social responsibility report, which provides an overview of the company's commitments to environmental stewardship, improving patient health outcomes and positively impacting people's lives through its social investments.

The report, titled "Innovation, Leadership, Commitment," marks the company's fourth annual CSR report, which is available online at Info.cvscaremark.com/CSR.

May 6, 2011
Former Supervalu executive joins iControl

Mike Jackson was named to the board of directors of iControl Systems USA, where he also will serve in the capacity of senior adviser to iControl president and CEO Tal Zlotnitsky.

ROCKVILLE, Md. — Mike Jackson was named to the board of directors of iControl Systems USA, where he also will serve in the capacity of senior adviser to iControl president and CEO Tal Zlotnitsky.

Jackson is a 30-year veteran of Supervalu who retired from the company in late 2009 as president and COO.