RETAIL NEWS

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Shopko customers donated hundreds of pounds of food for Feeding America and thousands of toys for the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation.

According to Shopko, all food items were distributed to community food pantries prior to Thanksgiving, while toys were donated in time for holiday celebrations. In addition to the food items collected, the Shopko Foundation donated $100,000 to Feeding America to support its network of food banks in Shopko communities across the country.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Fred’s Pharmacy on Tuesday adopted a shareholder rights plan, often called a “poison pill,” in an effort to prevent an outside entity from acquiring a majority stake of the retailer.

This initiative was put in place after Alden Global Capital acquired approximately one-quarter of the company’s outstanding shares in just a one-month period from later November to late December.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Federal Trade Commission will rule on the Walgreens Boots Alliance-Rite Aid merger before the Trump Administration takes office on Jan. 20, according to the New York Post. The newspaper added approval of the transaction is “not guaranteed.”

“It is most likely [FTC] Chairwoman Edith Ramirez addresses it before she leaves,” a source close to the situation told the news outlet, and not leave it to a Republican-led FTC.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Automation could threaten the jobs of “lower-paid, lower-skilled and less-educated” workers, leading to greater U.S. income inequality, according to “Artificial Intelligence, Automation and the Economy,” a new report issued by the Executive Office of the President.

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Now that the divestiture of 865 Rite Aid stores to Fred’s Pharmacy for $950 million has been announced, Walgreens Boots Alliance’s acquisition of Rite Aid is moving forward, with an expected closing date of early 2017.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens is launching its safe medication disposal kiosk program in New Jersey with the installation of drug take-back kiosks at 16 Walgreens drugstores.

The launch is part of Walgreens effort, announced earlier this year, to install safe medication disposal kiosks at more than 500 of its drugstores around the country. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie visited an East Brunswick store to kick off the drug take-back program in New Jersey.

BOISE, Idaho — Employees and customers of the Albertsons Companies have donated millions of meals and thousands of toys during the company's 2016 Holiday Giving Campaign.