RITE AID

CAMP HILL, Pa. — In the wake of tornadoes that hit communities in Kentucky on Friday, retail pharmacy chain Rite Aid has donated to a local Red Cross chapter to assist victims.

The company said Sunday that the Rite Aid Foundation, its philanthropic arm, had donated $15,000 to the Bluegrass chapter of the American Red Cross. The foundation also will provide supplies and items to assist with disaster relief efforts. Eli Lilly Foundation also pledged to donate $100,000 to the Red Cross.

CAMP HILL, Pa. — A Rite Aid category manager has won a top award from a trade association representing candy makers.

Rite Aid said Monday that Val Stansfield had received the 2012 Confectionary Leadership Award from the National Confectioners Association. The award is given to people who demonstrate "exemplary leadership behaviors in business planning and collaboration," the company said. Stansfield was 1-of-3 recipients at the NCA's State of the Industry Conference last week in Miami.

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid is teaming up with a new technology vendor for dispensing drugs under a special federal discount program, the company said Tuesday.

Rite Aid announced that it had selected CaptureRx as its preferred vendor and administrator in dispensing drugs under 340B, a Federal Public Health Service program that allows health centers and hospitals to purchase outpatient drugs for less than half of their cost on the commercial market.

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid has closed a bond offering that it issued earlier this month to refinance its debt, the company said Monday.

Rite Aid said the proceeds of its offering of $481 million in 9.25% senior notes due 2020 would be used to buy back its 8.625% senior notes due 2015.

The retail pharmacy chain announced the offering on Feb. 14. The offering marked the first time that the company was able to tap the unsecured debt market in five years. Rite Aid has carried a heavy debt burden since its 2007 acquisition of the Brooks and Eckerd pharmacy chains.

DAYTON, Ohio — While Walmart maintained the No. 1 position on Interbrand's "U.S. Most Valuable Retail Brands" list for 2012, several other retailers are moving up the ranks.

Although Walmart touts a value that's more than $139 billion, this year also marked a 2% decrease for the big box retailer, Interbrand said. Second on this year's list was Target, which holds a value of $23 billion, a 1% increase over last year.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — Retailers have always been about enhancing the shopping experience, but there are two factors this year that really should underscore the importance in that customer focus. Differentiating a retail shopping trip by experience is a lot friendlier to the margins because a shopper willing to trade on shopping experience also is willing to spend a little more.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — A common feature in movies from the mid-20th century is the automat, a place where customers could plunk in a few coins and retrieve such pre-made food items as sandwiches and desserts.

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CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid is offering $481 million in eight-year senior notes to refinance debt that is scheduled to be due in three years, the retail pharmacy chain said Tuesday.

Rite Aid said it would use money from the offering to pay interest and other expenses related to a tender offer announced Tuesday for all outstanding 8.625% senior notes due 2015. The price includes the $459 million principal plus a 2.625% premium. The new notes are being offered at a 9.25% interest rate.