COSTCO

CHICAGO — The real question behind the introductions of a store-brand beer from both Walgreens and Supervalu is whether or not the new brews will be hits by year’s end. In other words, can Big Flats 1901 and Buck Range Light be to beer what Trader Joe’s Two-Buck-Chuck was to wine?


ISSAQUAH, Wash. — Vic Curtis has come a long way since he began working for Costco Wholesale in 1991 as a pharmacy manager. 


Recently, he was promoted to SVP pharmacy and has seen action in prescription and OTC merchandising, pharmacy operations, mail-order and Internet-based pharmacy, and pharmacy benefit management services, as part of Costco’s team led by Charlie Burnett, the “dean” of Costco’s pharmacy/health and beauty business.

LOS ANGELES — Warehouse mass merchandiser Costco will use an online portal to increase in-store product knowledge and enhance shoppers’ experiences.

Shopper marketing agency Creative Channel Services announced Tuesday that Costco would use its CyberScholar Retail Network and had integrated it into its U.S. employee-development strategies for consumer electronics products.

NOVI, Mich. — “Do you know what 2:30 in the afternoon feels like?” Not if you have Living Essentials’ 5-Hour Energy on the shelf. The company peppered the airwaves with its commercial message, positioning 5-Hour Energy shots as an alternative to coffee for those 30-somethings in the work force.


ISSAQUAH, Wash. — Net sales for December at Costco rose 11% to nearly $9.2 billion for the five weeks ended Jan. 2, compared with the year-ago period.

Same-store sales rose 4%, while international same-store sales rose 12%.

Costco currently operates 582 warehouses, including 425 in the United States and Puerto Rico.

ISSAQUAH, Wash. — Mass merchandiser Costco had global sales of $18.82 billion during first quarter fiscal 2011, which ended Nov. 21, according to a regulatory filing Wednesday.

That represented an 11% increase over $16.92 billion in first quarter fiscal 2010.

Profits for the quarter were $312 million, compared with $266 million a year ago.


NEW YORK — Walgreens. Costco. CVS Caremark. Rite Aid. H-E-B. Wegmans. Kerr Drug. The list goes on. In all, it was a veritable who’s who of retailing as Drug Store News’ annual Industry 
Issues Summit, which also included a Specialty Pharmacy Roundtable and Diabetes Roundtable, attracted more than 200 attendees — a new attendance record — and featured the most diverse retail panelists to date.


NEW YORK — The entire retail store is a diabetes destination, and pharmacists are critical in educating and communicating with consumers to help them and their loved ones better manage the chronic disease. That was one of several important messages that industry leaders expressed during Drug Store News’ 8th Annual Diabetes Roundtable discussion on Tuesday in New York at the New York Athletic Club. More than 100 leading industry players gathered for the event, which also included the 12th Annual Industry Issues Summit in the afternoon.