RETAIL NEWS

LONDON - Boots and IBM on Wednesday announced that Boots has launched Sales Assist, an IBM MobileFirst for iOS app, across its U.K. stores to make it easier and simpler for customers to get hold of the products they need.

BOSTON — Health Dialog on Wednesday announced the availability of its Interactive personal health portal. Based on more than 20 years of analytics and health coaching experience, the new portal maximizes patient engagement by delivering highly personalized health content and resources along with live coaching to the right person at the right time. The portal is available to risk-bearing organizations seeking a fully integrated, cost-effective way to engage an entire population in changing their behavior to achieve their health improvement goals.

DALLAS  - The Kroger Dallas division on Tuesday invited customers to try ClickList, an online grocery ordering service, at select stores in the area.

ClickList, which is exclusive to Kroger, allows customers to shop online and pick up their order curbside at a participating store location. Kroger plans to enable 20 locations to operate the new service by the beginning of fall.  

TORONTO -- ModiFace, which creates augmented reality technology for the beauty and medical industries, has launched the world's first conversational beauty adviser for Facebook Messenger.

The ModiFace chatbot, which has expert knowledge of over 5,000 beauty products, enables shoppers to search for their perfect makeup products by conversing with ModiFace and asking questions about color, brand name or shade name. 

WOONSOCKET, R.I. - MinuteClinic, the retail medical clinic of CVS Health, has opened eight new locations inside Target stores in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.

There are now 50 MinuteClinic locations in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, including clinics in select CVS Pharmacy stores.

NEW YORK - More than eight in 10 affluent Americans are interested in health and wellness products and services, with 54% interested in "luxury" health and wellness offerings, according to a recent report released by Robb Report. The proportion was even higher (66%) among the "Wealthy" demographic (annual household income above $500,000).

WOONSOCKET, R.I. - CVS Pharmacy on Tuesday unveiled plans to improve its convenient food offerings with healthier foods and beverages across more than 2,900 locations, up from an inititial 500 pilot stores announced last year. Throughout the year, 100 stores each week are being enhanced with a carefully curated selection of national and niche better-for-you brands that make healthier eating on-the-go, convenient and affordable.