Retailers, suppliers to convene for the 2011 NACDS Pharmacy & Technology Conference

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The National Association of Chain Drug Stores is gearing up for this year’s Pharmacy & Technology Conference in Boston in late August, an event that will bring together more than 130 retail companies representing more than 80,000 retail outlets.

This year’s conference will take place Aug. 27 to 30 at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center.

The conference will bring together more than 130 retail companies comprised of chain drug stores, supermarkets and mass merchants, representing more than 80,000 retail outlets and more than $200 billion in annual sales for prescription drugs, OTC products and home health care.

The conference features business and educational programming, speakers and opportunities for retailers and suppliers to do business. The program includes:

• Meet the Retailer, which is designed specifically for first-time attendees from small and mid-sized associate member companies, and will offer multiple 45-minute sessions with senior retail executives from retailers companies. Participants include Rite Aid, H-E-B, Chain Drug Consortium, Supervalu and Walgreens;


• Meet the Rx Market, which will pair retailers and suppliers for personalized appointments to discuss products and services;


• Daily business programs, which offer attendees the opportunity to hear from industry experts and keynote speakers on a variety of issues that impact day-to-day business. Speakers include Robert Loeffler, chief administrative officer of H-E-B and NACDS chairman; Steve Anderson, president and CEO of NACDS; Debbie Garza, divisional VP government and community relations for Walgreens and NACDS Pharmacy & Technology Conference chair; Michael Leavitt, former secretary of Health and Human Services and current chairman of Leavitt Partners; Douglas Long, VP industry relations at IMS Health; and Harry Totonis, president and CEO of SureScripts; and


• Attendees also will be able to obtain continuing education credits from 22 education sessions throughout the four-day conference.