RETAIL NEWS

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid on Tuesday promoted Derek Griffith from SVP operations in the Northeast and Midwest to EVP store operations.  In this position, Griffith will be responsible for all aspects of the company's chainwide store operations. He will report to Bryan Everett, COO Rite Aid stores.

CAMP HILL, Pa. — As the annual Medicare Part D enrollment period gets underway, from now through Dec. 7, 2017, Rite Aid pharmacies nationwide are providing senior customers with free resources to help select the right prescription drug plan or update their existing coverage for 2018.  

 MINNEAPOLIS — Supervalu on Wednesday announced its acquisition of Associated Grocers of Florida in a transaction valued at approximately $180 million.

In just the past few months, Walmart announced plans for a naturally positioned color cosmetics line called Found. CVS has pumped in more than 2,000 natural, organic and naturally inspired items, such as Organic Doctor and Burt’s Bees cosmetics into 3,000 doors. And earlier this year, Target substantially built out its natural assortment and dubbed natural skin care as a business contributing double-digit percentage sales lifts.  

Consumers are increasingly weighing the health consequences of all of their purchasing decisions, including products for their four-legged family members.

From food and treats to toys and grooming products, shoppers are seeking items for their pets that offer the same healthy attributes as the products they buy for themselves.

Why here? And Why now?

Two great questions as I begin my journey as the editor in chief of Drug Store News. Why here is an easy one. I am joining one of the premier retail business publications in the land, one that has a long and storied record of closely covering the rapidly changing and pretty complex chain pharmacy industry over the years. DSN has a well-deserved reputation for keeping retailers and suppliers in the know of what is going on now, as well as what may be happening down the line.

Can other retailers find a comfortable — and profitable — niche in the marketplace, while Amazon.com and Walmart go toe-to-toe in their seemingly endless battle for retail supremacy?

The answer will not only define retail for the next generation or two, but also determine who will survive what many call the “new normal” in what is becoming a more complex and risky arena.

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — With the inaugural National Check Your Meds Day taking place on Oct. 21, CVS Pharmacy is encouraging its patients to bring their prescriptions medications and supplements to their local location for free medication reviews. The day is being established by Consumer Reports and the Dept. of Health and Human Services.