Family Dollar

MATTHEWS, N.C. — Family Dollar reported sales of $2.5 billion in first quarter 2014, a 3.2% increase over the same period last year, the dollar store chain said Thursday.

For the 13-week quarter that ended Nov. 30, the chain said sales were strongest in refrigerated and frozen food, health aids and tobacco. Same-store sales during the quarter decreased by 2.8% due to fewer customer transactions and a slight decrease in average customer transaction value.

MATTHEWS, N.C. — Family Dollar Stores on Thursday announced that it has promoted Jason Reiser to the position of EVP - chief merchandising officer. Reiser will report to Howard Levine, chairman and CEO. 

The company also noted that president and COO Michael Bloom has left the company to pursue other interests. The company will conduct a search for a new president and COO. 

ATLANTA — InComm, a leading prepaid product and transaction services company, on Monday announced that six health plans across Arizona and Texas will be providing over-the-counter benefits through Medagate, InComm's healthcare platform. 

DEERFIELD, Ill. — A national gay-rights organization has given Walgreens top marks for its practices related to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people.

In its 2014 Corporate Equality Index, the Human Rights Campaign Foundation gave the Deerfield, Ill.-based retail pharmacy chain a "perfect" score of 100. 2014 is the ninth year that Walgreens has won a perfect score.

NEW YORK — The 15th annual Industry Issues Summit, presented by The Drug Store News Group on Dec. 3, proved to be a powerful, all-star lineup as some of the top minds in pharmacy retailing gathered for a candid discussion of the top issues and trends impacting the industry. On top of that, brand-building genius and TV celebrity Daymond John of ABC’s “Shark Tank” delivered an exclusive lunchtime keynote.

MATTHEWS, N.C. — Family Dollar Stores last week announced that Jeffrey Macak, EVP supply chain, has resigned from the company for personal reasons, effective Nov. 27. 

The dollar store operator intends to conduct a search for Macak’s replacement.

Macak had been named to the post in September. He had come from Bed Bath & Beyond, where he served as VP global supply chain for 13 years. 

NEW YORK — A bill that would implement federal tracking and tracing of drugs and strengthen federal regulations on pharmacy compounding has passed in the Senate and will go to President Barack Obama for his signature.